Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-05-14

The following is an extract from an article on the
Oregon question, which appeared in the London
Times of the 18th ult Winners European Times
remarks that the repued connection OF that journal
with the Foreign Secretary, Lord Aberdeen gives
% the extracts an importance which will be best ap
preciated perusal The writer after STATING that
all the leading statesmen in the Union, OF all parties
regard the 10Th parallel as the utmost concession.
proceeds:
Tin the whole course of these negotiations that
which has changed most completely is the claim set
up by the Americans in 1918 and 1896 The ter
rltory In dispute expressly asserted and clearly
understood to be comprised between the AID and
49th parallels OF latitude. As for the more northern
tract, between 40 and sd 40, we are not aware that
the paramount claims of Britain to that part of it
We're then called in question. The proposals Of
partition ranged between the mouth of the Column
ba, and the 10Th degree, but not beyond, and the
American plenpotenary unsuccessfuly claimed
the whole OF that region, but no more Since that
time, and IN the more recent discussion, they have
raised their demands, they have laid their claims to
the whole country, and then, as if it were the fur
thest limits Of condescension and concession they
revert to their original offer, the very same which
was before rejected. A man, bargaining with ano-
ther, offers to sell him horse for ego; the buyer
says 1t Is too much, and goes away Some time
afterwards, the seller asks him gI00 for the same
mer, he ends by Offering him the horse at ESQ. as a
very great bargain. That is precisely the course of
this American dealing. They have raised claim
to the whole OF Oregon, not with any expectations
OF acquiring the entire province, but in order 10 re-
conclle us to the terms have before declared to be
inadmissble; but the truth is, that the bare 10Th
parallel is, to all intents and purposes, the same
thing that it was twenty years ago.
We intimated an opinion some time AGO. that the
49th parallel might conveniently serve as the basis
OF an arrangement, but il is clear that such propo
sal must be accompanied with more extensive con
dltions than those heretofore annexed to it by the
Americans II must leave us the whole OF Van
couver's Island, the navigation and harbor of the
straits of Fuca, the free use of the Columbia
and the Northern branches, down to the sea and an
indemnity or compensation TO the Hudson Bay Com
pany, for the Posts they would be called upon tn
surrender. We do not pretend to point ont all the
stipulations which 1t would be the part of prudent
aud just policy to require, an equivalent Tor q
concession so much below our original claims and
as we firmly believe, our just rights. But the cos
sion Of the vacant soil might be polite and erd,a
bic, provided the private rights. already Iopo ac
CURED and enjoyed by British subjects, were duv
respected and they must beyond all question. no
protected by the mtimatum Of England
Between these two proposals lies the question OF
peace or war; narrowed, as these controversies AL
ways are, TO small issue. but. nevertheless. broad
enough 70 swallow up tho peace of the world