The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-10
THE LATE NEGOTIATION.

our respect OF the character oil It's author lie puts
forth his views with great ingenuity and force But
we must also repeat our conviction, that the offer
was not only made with good faith )" in the writer's
sense Of the term; but that the President being
tuated by the considerations which he describes in
his message, was also under the impression that the
British Plenipotenrsry might probably scceptit His
rejection Of H. indeed has given the President the adj
vantage which our correspondent claims the prob
able leading motive Of the proposition. IL has served
TO unite our own peoplsin the assertion ofour rights
by showing the unreasonable spirit of the adverse
ry party. The President, not having designed the
accomplishment ofsuch purpose, is the more en-
titled to profit by the advantage which il has OBJ
tanned him. That advantage is, as our correspond
ent states, that "by uniting people, and putting
adversary in the wrong he ha, doubled their po,osr
10 accomplish their irJts" lie has placed our adver.
sary so far IN the wrong that he cannot venture to
resort to hostile measures without placing himself
much further, and indeed desperately in the wrong
IN the eyes of the whole civilized world. By such
a course he would lose the sympalhes of the peo-
pie Of Europe in the proportion as We have so
justly secured them.
But this is not the only advantage we have
reaped from the recent negotiation. The pens OF
our secretaries have won a new triumph to our
cause by the force Of their Arguments. The Amer.
can title has never been 20 clearly demonstrated.
Our title to the whole Of Oregon has been writ
ten in letters Of lght-so distinctly as not only to
satisfy our own people Of the imprsgnable force Of
our "cesr and unquestionSble" title, but we have
reasonable hope that it will make its way to the
hearts Of the people OF Europe, and of England her.
self When they come calmly to and to weigh
the strength Of our claims will they not confess that
we have infinitely the best title TO the whole Of Ore
gon' And yet they see US, in the spirit Of concla.
ton, prepared to give up half of what is our own
property, for the purpose Of securing peace with
England. Will not all this clamor about our coun-
trymen being ambitious Of ACKNOWLEDGMENT and
greedy of land, abate, when il is seen with what
moderation We proposed to yield half of our rights
and with what pernscty Great Britain has rejected
our conciatory propositions, for the sake OF ndul-
ging her own dreams Of empire. The moral sense
Of mankind must be arrayed on our side, in case
Great Britain should rush to hostile extremites
Such is the fruit Of our successful and triumphant
diplomacy. IL has at once demonstrated the Justice
OF our title, and the moderation Of our views II
has placed the United States decidedly in the right
and Great Britain decidedly in the wrong Il
will contribute to give an honorable peace, or il
necessary, an honorable war.
Thrice is he srmd who hath his quarrel iusty
New YoRK, Jan. 6, 1886.
To the Editor Of The Union:
Listening to the remarks made in relation to tn,
belief expressed by the Hon. Preston King, thai
President Polk had offered the fortynnth degree a.
the northern boundary Of Oregon knoicing that 4
could be rejected, have been struck with the neces
| sity of looking well to definitions If this be so
says one, Mr.. Polk has acted in bad firth" say.
another, Mr. King charges the President with act
| ing in dad faith"
Now, what is "bad faith" in such natter When
two parties meet to make bargain, is there any
"bad faith" in one making to the other a PROPOSE
ton he kotos ,ciH not be accepted? II co. most mer
are guilty OF breach of faith in the first PROPOSE
tons they make on such occasions IL so, Dego-
citation is hardly ever entered upon without an ac
Of chad faith" at the beginning; and no nation has
been guilty of more such acts than Great Britain
In this very case, she proposed the Columbia river
as the boundary, kno,cing full pe that 10 ,oouH not b
aeesded to by he Unled States; yet nobody imputes
to her "bad filth" in doing so.
bad faith" in such matter, consists in the
offer Of proposition you do not intend to abid. bv
yourself If acceded to by the other party. Does
any one believe that President Polk would have re-
fused to make treaty on the basis Of the 49th de-
gree II the British government had accepted his of
fer' Nobody entertains such belief; vet to make
that offer one Of "bdd faith, he must have entertain
ed such an intention.
l hold that it was the duty of the President ia
offer the 49th degree; and knowledge that it would
be rejected, if really existed oniu made that dat,
more imperative. My reasoning is this: no party in
IN this country rs willing to greater conces-
sion than the 49th degree, but large party would
insist that in preference war. II was the duty
of the President, in case must have war; by
! every honorable means TO harmonic parties, that
we may present TO our enemy an undivided front.
If, by harmless offer, (harmless because he knew
1t would be rejected, the President could show the
peaceparty that Great Britain herself is the grasp.
ing, ambitious power, resolved not to be satisfied
with any reasonable concession, thus uniting our
whole people In support of our just claims, il
| not his duty 10 make IL l think it was.
Again II is the duty of the President, not only
to do right, but, as far as he can, to prove him.
self and his country in the right to the satisfaction
of the civilized world Great Britain herself had
made an offer which she knew would not be accept.
ed and was ready to say to all christendom "You
to ad just this matter on fair terms, and made the
first advance. 1t has been repealed without the
slightest advance towards compromise on their
| sde-not even that which their government has
twice. heretofore made. With government so ra.
pacious we have no alternative but war;" And
with language like this and the facts as they stood
she would have had all Europe on her side Was
it not the duty Of President Polk to disarm her OF
this weapon if he couldi If by making PROPOSE
ton he knew would be rejected he could satisfy all
christendom that Great Britain herself is the all
grasping power-who, with half of the North Amer
lean continent, the best part of Asia, and portions
of Africa "annexed" TO her proud ISLE is now deter.
mined, By force, to 'anner" all Of Oregon also ma
king offer to take only twothirds as q cover for
| Selling the whole--,uas IL moi his duty 10 do so {?
think II was.
The happy effects of this offer are already con-
spicuous. Our people ut home are so far united
that no one dares to say our government should
yield an inch more than it has offered to yield The
nation is ready for war; if necessary to sustain the
government in the position it has taken. A portion
of the English press, having been informed of this
offer before the departure of the last steamer had
taken ground against their own government for not
accepting 1t. We may expect the continental press
to take the same ground with great unanimity.
What true patriot ought to complain of harm
less offer which produces harmony at home and
carries with the public opinion of the civilized
world Nobody ought to be so grateful to the Pres