The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-17

THE THRMs or THE NOTICE" IN THE SENATE
The Oregon debate in the Senate draws 10 close
and when the vote on the resolution Of notice shall
come, the real point at issue between the different
sections Of opinion in that body will probably be as
| to the qualification, if any, which shall accompany
the notice. Shall simple resolution of notice
pass, as proposed by the Committee on Foreign
Affairs Shall the Senate adopt that form Of no
tice which the House has chosen by an immense
majority, leaving in express terms further negotiation
open 10 the discretion Of the Executive, though refusing
by very heavy vote, TO recommend eoHPrOmtss'
or shall the Senate append 10 It's resolution Of notice
recommendation that the question be settled by com
promiss3 These, as we understand the present state
of the question before the Senate are the three main
questions to the form in which the notice shall be
given. Whistler the notice shall be given before
or after the close Of the sesson-whether the fres-
ident shall be required only authorized 10 give 1t
whether the resolution Of notice shall be intro
duced by a preamble, as Mr.. Cnltenden proposes
stating that il is given in view Of tho cherished
peace and good understanding Of the two countries ~
and to the end that renewed efforts" be made for
'settement Of their disputes'-all these questions
seem 10 US to be comparatively unimportant, or at
least, so far as they important, to be embraced in
their spirit in one of the three main varieties of form
which we have mentioned.
And as between these three forms, obviously
enough, the principal question is, Shall the Senate
recommend compromise This is the purpose Of Mr.
Coquius resolution in its second section. Its terms
are follows
| "SEc. ?. ind be il further rIoiUsd, That it is
earnestly desired that the long-standing controversy
respecting limits in the Oregon territory be speedily
settled by negotiation and compromise, in order to
tranquilize the public mind, and to preserve the
| friendly relations of the two countries"
This section Mr.. Crittenden declined 10 accept as
substitute for his form Of the notice, in which view
it was proposed. We think it should not have
been accepted. Wethink that express rteonmsn
dation of compromise should not pas, the Senate in
that form, nor in any form. Holding this opinion,
we shalt proceed to set forth the grounds Of it, say
ing all that we shall say upon the subject with the
profoundest Difference to the patriotic wisdom OF
that ilustrious body whose action we discuss.
i And in the first place. as preliminary upon this
question, let us say that we can by no means con-
cur in the view, taken yesterday in the Senate, Of
the language of Sir Robert Peel, on the second
evening OF the session OF Parliament respecting
Mr.. Pakenham's rejection Of Mr.. Buchanan's pro-
posa for division Of the territory at the 49th par
alel. The British premier's language WINS regarded
yesterday as giving positive that the British
government is now willing to meet in eompromis,
substantially upon the terms offered by Mr.. Polk.
We have not been inatentve to the state Of opinion
in England. We believe that we have noted
most of its public manifestations, and we find in
them no such assurance that England is now
. willing to come Substantially to offered terms
Certainly, stated last night, no overture has
been recently made by Great Britain-in fact no
propositions have been made by her since the offer o.
Mr.. Pakenham to Mr.. Calhoun of 26h August, 1874
We have already given in columns the articles
from the London Timss-stating at the time tina
we had good reason to believe them sem-oical-
) in which that journal expresses the opinion tina
Mr. Galatians offer, (duison al AGO, free port, ana
common navigation of the Colun,bia,) might with
honor, be returned upon US by the British govern
ment. We have also noted Lord John Russel's
statement at Glasgow-a statement the reason OF
which we cannot see-that Mr.. Folks proposal o
400 relieved the British government on the point o
honor and so made compromise altogether possible
if not easy. We have noted carefully, too, the Ian
guage of Sir Robert Peel in Parliament, spoken
some twenty-six days after the appearance of the
Times articles 1t is as follows
"SIR ROBERT PEEL.-With reference to the ques
ton just put by the noble lord, beg to say, that no
foreseeng that he would put it, | am not at present
prepared to give him an answer and have therefore
| 10 ba uyillp Mt an
other time On the subj ect of the Oregon territory
have to state that a proposal was made by Mr.. Blu
chunan, with the authority Of the President of the
United States, to Mr.. Pakenham, and the proposal
so made suggested division Of the territory
: Whether or not that proposal ought to have been
, accepted, cannot say. Mr.. Pakenham thought that
the terms proposed were little likely to be accept,
able that he did not feel himself warranted in trans
hitting the proposal to the government at home
r and on signifying this to Mr. Buchanan, the lat
ter immediately stated that the proposal was with
drawn. This is the state of the negotiations at
present, far am informed respecting the pro-
I posal submitted by MIR. Buchanan.
IL have the highest opinion Of Mr.. Pakenham. ]
have the greatest respect for his talents, and the
greatest confidence in his judgment; yet must say
that it would have been better had he transmitted
that proposal to the home government for their con-
{ sderaon, and if found in itself unsatisfactory, it
, might possibly have formed the foundation for a
further proposal 1ear.] Since that period this
country has again repeated to the United States
their offer of referring the matter to arbitration, but
no answer has yet been received to the proposal so
made With respect to the proposed increase in
the naval and military estimates it is impossible for
any one TO sec the progress Of steam navigation,
and the continued increase of colonial posses
sions, without at the time seeing the necessity
for an increase of our naval and military establish
ments."
Now, what is this language 1t 10 almost absolute
non eornmiiiaL That it is on its face. Why ii
used There was no necessity of speaking on the
matter Still less it necessary to mystify the
matter The minister might, as it seems to us, have
perfectly we'll said that he was waiting to hear how
his arbitration offer would be received. What did
he gain by getting his legs to tell Parliament tina
he had not made up his mind whether Mr.. PoIk''
offer ought to have been accepted. Why should he
not have made up his mind about it, He had In
structed Lord Ashburton the question; he had in
structed Mr. Pakenham on the question; he had
hefore him Mr. Pakenham's refusal of the proposi.