Democratic banner., 1846-01-10
OREGON.

dispute concerning this territory. There
seems to be a deep anxiety felt from one ex-
ltremc Of the Union to the other about the
proper adjustment of the difficulty. Many
believe our title to the whole territory clear
and incontroycrtiblc; yet they are willing to.
compromise upon liberal terms with a ma
ton which they think possesses little more
than the shadow of a claim rather than see
two of the greatest and most enlightened
nations on earth involved in a destructive
and bloody war. -Actuated by this feeling
and governed by the prcccdents of his pre-
dcccssors, our President offered England
more than either he or a majority Of the
American people believed to be her right.
Though he believed our title to the whole
of Oregon good against England, he deem
ed it his duty as far as he could consistent
Ily with the national honor and the prccc
dents set him by his predecessors, to cndcav-
Or to effect a compromise OF the difficulty
This he did. even at the risk of diSplcasing
a powerful portion of his OWE party, and
alternating many of his most stcadtast friends.
Yet this liberal offer containing the whole
TERRITORY north of the 10Th degree of lati-
tudc. and the free use of the ports and har-
.bors about Cape kuldra and N~ancouvcr's
Island, South Of that degree, was promptly
rejected. Under the circumstances we
were surprised to see that the otfcrhad been
rejected. Its rejection however. lmmcdl-
atclv ended the negotiation; for President
Polk, believing that in a spirit of conciiia-
ton and compromise he had yielded more
than strict Justice required and more than
the civilized world would hold him bound 20.
yield, Immediately onitS rejection withdrew
the offer. He saw in the re lection of this
liberal proposition a determination on the
part of Engl md to encroach by diplomacy
upon whath deemed and what the .Amcri-
can people believed to be our rightful ter
ritory. Consequently he did not feel him.
self bound to continue an offer which had
been made, not as a matter of right, but for
the purpose of compromise. We are glad
that the offer was withdrawn. President
Polk, af cr having, in a conciliatory spirit,
exestcd himself to compromise the Difficult
ty has now placed himself upon elevated
ground where he will be almost unanimous
ly sustained by the American people
Though w preierncsotiation to war, we feel
that our government cannot now hOnorablv.
make another offer in that way. 1.-THE qucS-
ton be adjusted by negotiation England
must now submit the proposition. Ncmade
our offer as the ultinatum-it has been re-.
Ject,d-wc cannot now 60 further without
dishonor. The question of war or pcaca
now with her. Lcthcr decide and be
the consequences Of tina; decision on her
own head. 1t is rumorcd that her minister
will be instructed to accept the rejected of
This We doubt-for though a great
majority of hcrlaborins people may desire il,
there is 4 powerful aristocracy and a rich
company, whose wishes must be subscrvcd.
These have from the earliest history of her
Government led her on contrary to the wish
cs of tn" people to act, of aggression and
knowing her disposition upon questions
Of territorial agrandizcment, and aware Of
The active preparations making i'll her army
and nav, we believe that the chances are
n flavor OF war, and that We should prepare ,
to meet the emergency.
IE7We give place to the communication of
We are pleased to know that he concurs
With US in the p~ropriety of holding district con-
'en'lon, although we cannot agree with him in
St.Chlrles the most eligible place for
ioliing the convention. But we must defer our
for want ofroom. !