Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-02-12

Jet TO arbitration the title, and the title a
lone, detained trCn every ether consideration
- the only questions which could be submit
ted. III not coninedto single point. 80 strong
a. TIC natural disposition oi aTbliIstoTs 10
please both parties that IA almost avery insi-
anoe, " whether OF %nstioual or individual con
trovers'es, they make u compromising award.
We have a memorable example OF tins IN our
las, osbitration with Great Britain.
Notwithstanding that the arbitrator. under
tic terms ol the saonission, VAS clearly ana
explicitly confined 10 the decision OF which
was the line o. i:hlaidsdesCribcd In the tres-
~ 81 pence OF 1883. yet. iusiesd OF pursuing
any range oil highlands whatever. he advised
tlat the line should run along the bed OF a
TIVCT, and actually disiicl,the territory IN dis
puic between ths parties by 'the middle OF
nc deepest channel OF the 81. johns
III undcrsigned might content himself, IA
answer TO the pcssut proposition. with a rel
lcTenCc TO the observations contained IN his
i4st nots 10 MIR. Pakcuaam OF the 81 ulumo.
ln that. IL was plainly iuunatcd not only that
there arc . other conclusive reasons for decli-
ming the proposition independently oil the
one which had been prominently stated. but
u WAS expressly asserted. as the belief oil the
President. that ANY attempt TO rcicr tins
question To a ihiud power would inNolScit IN
a liculties.'
The undersigned vii. however. proceed to
state a single reason which, aTat, from the m
tmsic difficulties OF selecting a suitable arbi-
t1tor. a. VIII as Other considerations that
mightic adlucei, j. conclusive on the mind
ut the Prcsi tent ogsinst a rsfepac- ct this
ques ION 20 arbitration, in any form which oan
b. devised, no matter what may bc the char
aCter OF the arbi,Iator-whsthsT sovereign,
citizen or subject. This reason IL. that he
does not believe the territorial rights of this
nation To BE- a proper subject Tor arbitration.
IL may BE- true, that dnicf peculiar circum-
stances, II the interests at stake were compar-
a;ivcly small, and II both parties stood upon
an equal footing, there might b. no insupcra-
BILE objection to such a course.
But what is the extent of t~cuitory in dispute
on the present OCCASION IL embraces nearly
thirteen degrees OF ALTITUDE along the northwest
coast al the Pacific. aul striches eastward to
the summit OF the Rocky mountains. Within
its limits several powerful and prosperous
States oi the Union may be ombrIccd. IL
lies contiguous. on this continent, to the ac-
khowlcigrl territory at thc UniteF States,
aud j. destined, at 40 distant day, 10 b. poo-
Piled by our citizens.
This territory pres -njs the avenue through
which the comm rec oi oar stern States
can w. profiably con lucted with Asia aud
tic western coasts of this continent, AMI its
ports, the only harbors belonging 90 the Uni.
tel Safe, tu which our numerous whilcrs aud
other vessels ia that region can resort. Aud
yet, vast as ere It's dimensions. II contains not
a single saie and commoJiols lnrbor from It's
southern extremity uni we ePPnach the 10Th
parallel of latitude.
IL Is Ear from the intention of the under
signed again To open the discussiono the con
nictIng claims OF the two powers 10 the Oregon
territory. IL j. sufficient inr him TO state the
cont iucl conviction OF the President that the
United States hold tic bcst title in existence
10 the whole of this territory. Under this
conviction, he cannot consent TO %jcoparl for
his country all the great interests involved.
aud BY ANY possibility, however r!motc, to
deprive the republic of all the good harbofs on
the coast, by referring the question TO srbitn-
ton.
Neither is the territory in dispute OF equal,
OF nearly equal value to tho two powers
Whilst IL Ia invaluable to the United States. IL
- OF comparatively ssnah Importance To Grea,
Britain. foheT, Oregon would h but a dis.
isnt colonial posS sion OF doubtful value,
and which, from the natural progress of hu,
man events, she would not problbly lonr
enough cnjoy 10 derive from IL essential bcne.
hts; whilst 10 the United States il would b..
come an integral snd essential portion OF tn,
republic. Tbs gain la Gmat Britain ia,
would never sensibly feel; whilst The loss 1,
the United States would be irreparablc.
The Undersigned * perfectly aware that sncl
considerations can have no bearing upon III,
question Of the title OF either party. The
are presented solely ios the purpose of ex
planning ihe views of thc President i'm his n.
ioSai 80 adopt any measures which shout,
Withdraw our title from the control of IN,
government aud the people OF the Unite,
States, snd place IL within the discretion O
any arbitrator, no mitter how Intelligent an,
respectable.
The President cordially concurs with IN,
government of Great Britain in desiring tina
the present controversy may be amicubly nd
Jusled. OF this, he has given the s,tonges
proof before the whole world. lie b.lieve
That, as there 5rc no two nations on the cart
more closely bound together by the ties O
commerce, 30 there are none who ought To- b
mon able or willing to do each other Justice
withoutthe interPosition OF any arbitrator.
The undersigned svsils himself OF this os c
sioa 90 renew To Mr.. Paksnham the assuranc
of his high consideration.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Right Hon. RICHARD PAkENHAM, sc. &c.