American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-09-10

ing before, in an equal degree as after the trea-
ty with Spain in 1919, oil the title, which, on
the ground of discovery, we could assert to the
country, drained by the waters of the Colum-
bia, and which, if good for any thing, was valid
beyond the SID parallel oflatitude; our govern
ment at no time proposed a more northern
boundary than the parallel of 81, and never de-
manded more than that of 40. Having some
knowledge, from my official position at that
time, Of the policy and objects of the conven-
ton of 1928, am quite persuaded that its main
design was TO lead in future partition of the
territory to the recognition of our claim to the
country, not north, but south of the forty-ninth
parallel, and between that and the Columbia
river. A division ofthe country upon that prin-
| ciple, with reasonable regard to rights grow
ing up under the joint possessions, always APP
peared to me to afford a Just and practicable
basis for an amcable and honorable adjustment
| of the subject. Such, also, was satisfied, were
the views of my own government at the time
engaged in my recent mission, and in earnestly
and steadily laboring to effect settlement up
on that basis, was but representing the policy
of my own government, and faithfully promot-
ing the intentions and wishes of the President.
II must be very rare, if, in complicated diff
ferenees between great nations, peaceful rea-
tons can be preserved without some modfica
ton of extreme prctenSions; and upon the pre-
sent occasion, from the length Of time for which
the question had been depending, together with
the oft repeated propositions on both sides, the
two governments could not have been reason
ably expected to come to an amicable arrange
ment without some mutual concession of their
former demands. |, on our side, by dividing
on the 49th parallel and the Straits of Fuca,
we yielded the Southern cap of Vancouver's Is
land, Great Britain surrendered her previous
claim TO the navigation and unoccupied terri
tory between the 49th parallel and the Column
bia river. At the same time we have effected
material modification of our former offer of
the surrender Of the perpetual navigation of
the Columbia river to British trade and British
subjects generally. Although from Difference to
the views and opinions of others, which it was
no less my wish than my duty to respect, ear
nestly endeavOred to effect settlement upon
the basis of allowing the navigation of the
river TO the general trade for period of twenty
years, when that, from causes which need not
now particularly refer, proved to be impract-
cable, in, nevertheless, suggesting and urging
that it should be restricted TO the Hudson Bay
Company, thought was effectiDg an object
even less Objectionable.
1t seems to me that in the present state Of
practice of nations, independent of some invet-
crate notions of colonial policy already yielding
to more enlightened views, to allow the great
est freedom of rivers and ports to the trade of
the world; and 1t may be observed, that until
| the U. States and Great Britain shall deter
mine to abandon the reciprocity secured by their
! existing commercial convention, the recent
Oregon treaty confers fewer privileges of navi-
CATION than may be claimed and enjoyed under
the commercial convention. | felt confident,
moreover, that long before the two govern
ments would desire to alter their existing COM
mercal freedom, if, indeed, they should ever
desire to do so during the continuance of peace,
the Hudson's Bay Company would cease to
have any occasion or motive to navigate suoh
river as the Columbia is known to be. II
would not be easy to imagine any use they
could make of it during a state of peace, in
consistent with the commerce and interest Of
our own citizens.
! Universal satisfaction at the adjustment ola
difficulty SO complicated and inveterate was
scarcely to be expected, and yet it is a source
of satisfaction to know that its general accep-
tableness to the country at large affords sure
guarantee of the continuance of our future
peace. The tone and temper with which the
negotiation was conducted in their several de-
! pdEt'iSHts Wy nave Ueen
creditable to their wisdom and moderation, and
have already served to elevate our own in the
opinion of other nations.
! sincerely believe that these efforts cannot be
too highly appreciated; and ifany portion of our
fellow citizens in any section of the country
should feel that they have not obtained all the
territory or advantages they had expected to &C.
quire, it will be hoped that they will neverthe-
less be satisfied that the national honor, so far
from suffering, has really been elevated by the
result, and that in preserving the blessings of
peace, and keeping our country steadily in
career of glorious prosperity, they will be amply
compensated for any disappointment they may
have experienced, and they gain far mere than
an equivalent for any doubtful advantage only
10 be sought through the fundamentally of
war. Having now effaced, upon honorable
| terms, the last cause that threatened the peace
oftwo people of kindred origin, and associated
by commercial relations more extensive and
important than exist between any other two
nations of the earth, may we not now hope to
begin new career of International intercourse,
and by the uninterrupted pursuit of commerce
and the arts, extend and cement our relations.
1t ought to be considered as fortunate that these
results have happened at moment when, by
the wisdom and courage of British statesmen,
a new and important step mas been taken IN
the enlargement of commerce, by which the
trade of different nations must be widely ex-
tended, and the motives of harmonious relations
indefinitely multiplied. AS between the United
States and Great Britain especially the causes
which ought naturally to associate the two
people upon an honorable basis, and contribute
to their mutual prosperity, may now have fair
play, and our competitions in future be confin-
ed to generous rivalry in all that can advance
the happiness of the people of both countries,
and Of mankind at large
l would do injustice to the occasion, if
| should omit to state it as my opinion, that in
the country and among the people have JUS,