The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-27

may be Withdrawn. The free navigation oftho Co
Iambia appears 10 him TO be privilege which ought
NOT, on any terms, TO be accorded by the American
government and on this subject his opinion is SO
hrmly liked, that Mr.. Pakenham--tho British min
s'sr al Washington--despanng TO convince the
Pfcsidept, had abandoned all discussion on tba,
point. convention, passed on the 9Th Of August,
1897, between the two nations, stipulated that,
pending defnitiye arrangement, the territory
should be occupied eonoinlly by The two parties
Al the time article Of the convention spu-
sics that when one OF the two parties should wish TO
puta period 10 this combined occupation ID should
give ono years notice In advance. Ms. Polk prorooes
To tho Congress to take advantage OF this urtici. TO
disclsim The convention of 1921 and 70 signify 10
the British government that in future the United
States propose to exercise sovereign jurisdiction
over the entire OF the Oregon. The passage of the
Presidents message this subject Is explicit and
well calculated to smbaIrass tho British eoyern.
menI IL may lie recollected that during the last
session Sir Robert Peel publicly engaged i'm thr
name Of the cabinet, not desist from the claims
already announced. One or other of the govern
ments must, however, give way or the difference
must he settled by force Notwithstanding the gray
NY OF this question, believe that the affair will
De arranged. Reciprocal concessions will be made
Tho American government has never been 90 abso-
late % "A appeansat present The rights which Mr.
FOLK siirms 10 bs 50 clear, are, on the contrary,
eon'ssiabie. hs predecessors oPeoed The way 10
compromise, and he win, no doubt return TO the
same course. England was wrong not To have ac-
eepted al former period the arrangement proposed
10 her. She has, as she has frequently done pre-
viousiy, erred through being too obstinate. But at
present she viii, no doubt, prefer 10 war which
would be disastrous to the two nations the propo-
sal which was previously refused. The question,
moreover, Is now placed such grounds that no
further adjournment is possible, and the attention
Of The two countries ought therefore, To be directed
TO il Immediately. IL is not doubtful that in the
American chamber Of representatives, the views
Of the President will obtain considerable majority
The election Of speaker, which took place on The
ID OF this month, Is IN this respect certain indca-
ton. The candidate Of the administration party Mr.
Davis, was eleetod by 100 votes 10 ~ given 10 the
Will candidate. But there is reason TO believe that
the Senate will declare against the measures which
may be voted. In the interval which will ensue, in
consequence of this inevitable conflict the British
government would do well 10 commence decisive
negotiation, fit wishes 10 escape serious compca-
tons abroad. This Is the course expected on the
Stock Exchange in London and in the city; for al
though the public mind was excited by the tone
which pervades The message, the public funds were
not paralyzed by it,"
"We want time and space" says the Nationrl-
ITO appreciate, in becoming manner, the clear,
firm, and decided language Of Mr. Polk We will
content ourselves today with stating that the meas
ures proposed by the President, from the abroga-
Of military posts clearly indicate the resolution of
the American government to occupy the contested
not temporarily, bu. permanently. The
English press which affects to find he Presidents
message more moderate than IL expected, will no
doubt explain 10 us what il had to dread than
the formal declarations-lst that the right Of Amer
lea over Oregon absolute, and that she was de-
necessary, to assert it by the force Of
arms; I'd, that no compromise is practicable; 3D.
that the temporary convention must expire in a
year; 4th, finally, that the soldiers laws and post
Office Of the United States shall extend 10 the con-
tested territory, and render il hereafter truly
American land. M. Guizot and his theory of the
European balance of power applied TO the Ameri-
can continent, will find it difficult TO triumph over
the principle which Mr.. Polk means to uphold with
regard to Europe"
"As respects the Oregon question, says the Con-
49,. :. .. - g - 4.
sit is easy to perceive that the President was
abashed by the bad effect of the philippies of his
Journal After the tcarfiks dsclamatons Of the Wash.
ington 'Union-afaer the semiofhcial announce
ment OF some of The democratic Journals that the
message would contain a complets vIndcation of the
rights of the United States, and reject all idea Of
compromise--the language of Mr. Polk must an
pear singularly pale and subdued. The President,
after referring to anterior negotiations, and announ-
eng that, compromise being longer possible it
was time to renounce that course and set up claim
to the entire Of Oregon, contented himself with pro-
posing the abrogation Of the convention of 1928.
lie next recommended the adoption of measures of
protection on behalf of the Americans already settled
IN Oregon. he says nothing of the mode of con-
Quoting that negotiation with England nor does he
allude IN the least to the less probable ne
cessity of recurring to arms to terminate the differ
ence. So far from that, Mr.. Polk subscribes be-
iorehand, and most heartily, to any measures diff
ferent from his own which Congress may think
proper TO adopt, IN order TO settle the question
That language little in accord with the declaration
of the Union, or the menacing and provoking tone
assumed last year by Mr.. Tyler on the subject of
Texas and Oregon" 1
The Steele observes, that the messages of the
Presidents of the American Union exceed in general
all the limits assigned to documents of similar ma
ture in the European states. Mr.. Polk, whose DO
sition is truly difficult, has enlarged the practice of
his predecessors, and the twelve columns of our
journal would scarcely suffice to republish the de-
tailed exposition which he thought proper to make
of his policy. We shall confne ourselves at pres
ent to Indicate the principal features Of that message
IN which all Europe, and in particular France and
England, have been rather rudely cast at the feet of
the United States 1t will be seen from The perusa
OF the Presidents message, that without having more
intimately conciated England NJ. Guzof has sue
ceeded in producing serious GOODNESS beipeen France
and the United States ,rhich are our natural allies
Not only did not the minister for foreign affairs pre-
vent the annexation Of Texas by his unfortunate in
ervention but he has deprived himself Of the part
raised on the Oregon territory. Never, says Mr..
Polk, will the United States submit this question to
the arbitration of third power. The President
after having given historical statement of the ne
go,iations, commenced by his predecessors, declares
that England, after having refused all the proposals
made to her, and not having proposed in return any
that were acceptable, the negotiations had closed for
the present. Mr. Polk does not refuse to enter into
compromise. He declares himself disposed to
follow in this respect the instructions given him by
the Congress; but at the same time he declares him
self determined to dissolve the convention Of 1896,
by virtue OF which joint occupation has been held,
and TO solicit from the Congress certain measures
to extend imms diately the protection Of the Amer-
can laws TO the cooniss Of the Oregon. The Joint
occupation ceasing after a notice Of twelve months,
the question must then be solved by force or by
diplomacy. But it is difficult to affirm that the
Congress will sanction Mr.. Folks proposal, al
though the democratic party reckons strong ma
joriy in the chamber Of representatives, and ma
jority Of six votes in the Senate"
THE FREscH VIEW OF BRIrrsB roLrTios.--In the