The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-02-19
To the Hon. J. RucHANAN, &c. &c
Mr.. Pakenham to Mr. Buchanan.
WAsHINGToN, Jan. l6. 1916.

| MT. TuhRHHnW ~ -iuf DUSHNH"H'
WA<HINGToN, Jan. IT, 1916.
With an ANXIOUS desire 10 contribute,
BY every means IN his power. to salts
factory conclusion OF the question pending
between the two Governments respecting
| Oregon, the undersigned, her Britannia
Majrsy's Envoy Extraordinary and
| Minister PIeni polenliary, has reflected on
he contents of the note addressed 10 him
on the 8 instant bv the Secretary of
Safe of the United Safes, in answer 10
,ba, which the undersigned had the hon>
or 20 address 10 him on the 9Th OF last
month.
The note oftho undersigned proposed
to the Government OF the Unlled States
that the whole question OF an equitable
partition of the Oregon territory should be
referred to the arbitration OF some friendly
| S ,vereign or Safe.
Ia his answer, tie Secretary Of State IN
formed the Undersigned that bis propo>l,
ton could not be accepted. That II dld
not propose to refer to arbitration The qnes-
ton of the nile TO the Oregon lerrnory
claimed by the two powers respectively.
That in proposing to refer TO friendly
SOVEREIGN or State merely the partition or
eoujtabe division of the lcr'llory between
the naries, it assumes the flc lha! The IL
tie of Great Britain TO portion oil ms Ter,
rilory is valid, aud thus lakes for granted
the very question in dispute; that, under
this proposition, the very trrms oil the sub
mission, would con ain an express ac'
acknowledgement OF the right Of Great Bri-
tain to portion Of the TERRITORY, and
would necessarily preclude the United
States from claiming the whole territory
+ before the arbitrator; and this TOO, the Sec
retarv OF Sale goes on 10 observe, In the
flee of his note to The undersigned of 81 h
of August, by which the President had as
serted 10 the most solemn iorm the title OF
the United States to the whole territory.
II is no. the purpose Of the undersigned
in the present GO e 10 renew the discussion
as TO the title Of either party, Grea. Bri;a n
+ or the United States, to the whole or TO
any part of the Oregon territory. Tie
mus, however, beg leave. with reference
to the observation which he has uSl quo
ted, to remind the Uned States Secretary
of State. that if the Government OF the
United States have formally advanced IA
claim 10 the whole of he Oregon terrific
nv, il is no less certain that Great Britain
has, 10 a manner equally formal, declared
, that she too has rights in the Oregon terri
tory, incompatible with the exclusive
claim advanced by the United States.
This declaration, arising from con-
= vic,ion equally sincere, will, the under
=. signed is persuaded, be viewed with the
same consideration by the Government Of
the Unled States, as they expect that Their
=. own declaration should receive at the
hands of the Government Of Great BIi'
, tain.
f This promised. the object Of the under
4 stoned in addressing to Mr.. Buchanan the
y nrrseot communication is 10 ascertain
y from him whether supposiog ne BfHlsF
g Government 10 entertain no objection 4
>. such course, it would suit the views o
# the United States Gpvernme"t to reler tt
Y arbitration, not as has already been pro
Z posed, the question Of an equitable parnL
is ion of the territory, butthe question OF II
5. tie ia either Of The two Powers to lh
! whole territory, subject of course to tn
o condition that if neither should be found
:. ia the opinion Of The arbitrator, TO posses
N comp !ee li'le to the whole territory
r. there should, 10 that case, be assigned
,e each that portion of territory, whic
h would, in the opinion of the arbi'rat'n
i'd Power, be called for by just apprecla
lie ton of he respective claims Of each.
o The Undersigned has suggested rel
n erpnce on the above prlaelp e to SON.
j. friendly Sovereign or Stale.
n. This he undersigned believes TO be I'll
course usually followed in such cases;
III ia hat which has already been resorttd
eli by the lwo governments (and more 'ha
S. u1ce) Bal there may be other forms
d. arbitration. perhaps. more agreeable
at the Government Of the United States.
to There might De for instance, NIKE
us commission, win an umpire appointed
ef common consent or there might be
e- board, composed Of the most Distinguish
8. civilians and jur.sts Of The time, aPpoin
ys I'd in euch manner as should br'og
pcnd!ng Qpe~icns to 'ho det'S'oo OF Il