The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-08

resolution of the Senate Of the 18th utmo, request
| ing the President "to communicate TO The Senate a
copy Of all the correspondence which mas taken
| place between this government ana uhat OF Gfeal
Britain relative the Oregon treaty together with the
dispatches and instructions Forwarded 70 our minis
| ter Mr.. MeLane, and full and complete copy OF
his dispatches and communications TO this govern
ment on the subject, not heretofore communi-
correspondence has taken place between this govern
ment and ihat of Great Britain, relative TO the Ore
gon treaty, which has not heretofore been eommu-
nicated 10 the Senate. r
The Secretary Of State herewith submits to the
Presiden, copies of all "the dispatches and instruc,
tons forwarded 10 our minister, Mr.. McLane, ana
and also full and complete copy Of his dispatches
and communications to this government on The sub
ect of the Oregon treaty, not heretofore commune
Gated TO Congress" He also submlts the copy OF a
note from Lord Aberdeen to Mr. MeLsne, dated on
| the 22d May last. .-aaEn OF ~. -.su.. ......
in regard 10 his own ''despatches and instruc-
tons" TO Mr.. McLane, the secretary Is not aware Of
any public considerations which now oppose their
transm isson 70 the Senate On the contrary, he
deems il eminenty proper that entire copies OF them
all should be Furnished TO thai body without farher
delay. ..1.| .. r".-.-.. ... =.
In regard to the dispatches Of Mr.. MeLane to this
government, u serious question aries as TO the pro-
| prety Of communicating them 10 the Senate ms
question he deems il proper TO present TO the PresE
dent for his determination because lis decision may
involve consequences for all future time, essentially
affecting the ability Of the Executive department oi
the government conduct our Intercourse with for-
eign nations in such manner as best to promote the
/ public interest ..r Ill" ... ..... ..t
| IL is a primary duty Of foreign minister TO COM
municate freely 10 his government oil that he sees
or hears, which can have any bearing upon the
interests of his country together with his own opln-
| u.sA alaftn
home or abroad, connected with the objects OF his
mis-, ion IL is his business to seek Information from
every source within his reach, and 10 place his
own government in possession OF all that ne ae-
quires Such information Is essential TO enable tnls
government successfully to perform It's duties TO the
country, in our present extended intercourse with
| foreign nations Whatever, therefore, would tend
70 close up the sources of information against our
diplomatic agents abroad, or TO deter them from
! freely communicating all the information IN their
possession, could not fail to prove seriously der'-
\ mental TO the national interest. . ~
| Mr.. McLane has, in the fullest manner, per-
formed his duty in this respect His dispatches are
! both numerous and voluminous. He has kept the
department well advised of all that it necessary
for il TO know in relation TO the different and vary
| ing aspects which the Oregon question has assumed
in England. No person, however, who peruses these
dispatches can suppose that with the exception OF
very small portions Of them they were intended for
publication or that the probability Of such an event
l had been contemplated by him. -..1 p.
! IT, under such circumstances, his conversations
with individuals in Office and out of Office, viii
l from their very nature were confidential should
published to the world, this would have stro
tendency to obstruet every avenue of information
against our diplomatic agents, and greatly to i'm
pair their usefulness; and, on great occasions, the
possibility Of candid disclosure 70 them OF the In
tenons Of foreign government, or OF the real mo-
tives which might control the action Of its ministers
ha NJ he
trusted with the conduct Of foreign affairs IN other
countries would feel the necessity Of observing to-
wards our diplomatic agents guarded silence, dit
erent from the course which might safely be pursued
towards the ministers of other powers, The pri-
vate and confidential intercourse between ministers
Il of different countries which ofton leads 10 the most
important and beneficial results, would cease to ex-
list in regard TO the ministers Of the United States
In this manner one OF the great purposes of sending
ministers abroad would be defeated.
Besides, the publication OF such communications
especially il coupled with the minister's unreserved
comments, made con6dentially TO his own govern
] ment, would place him in position towards those
, whose confidence he had thus been made Instru.
mental in violating, which no honorable man would
desire to occupy. w.. .... -. ....
: The publication of such dispatches would exer.
else an unhappy influence upon the conduct OF oui
: Diplomatic agents In order to shield themselves
{ from reproacb they might then be induced either
: to communicate important information, wUh thei'
observations upon il, in private letters and througn
other channels not subject to oicallnspection, or to
refrain altogether from making communications eX
cept such as might be published to the world with
out unpleasant consequences to themselves In the
first case that information which ought to exist II
the archives of the department for the use OF th'
government in all future time, would be conhned te
few individuals; and in the last, the government
might be deprived of the information necessary tt
avert danger from the country or TO promote th tt
best interests of the people in their intercourse WIFI
foreign nations. M..y..
: The secretary is deeply sensible that, from tn
very nature of our institutions, the greatest puocf
n ty ought to be given to the conduct of all pubic
8 agents There should be no exception to this rule
f unless in cases where the public interest imperative
/ " demands it, Whether this be such case, IS re
spectfuly presented for the decision Of the Presl
G dent.
4 Public considerations alone have induced the Sec
n retary Of State to make these suggestions. In per
forming this duty he need scarcely say that ever,
facility for this purpose will most cheerfuly be at
forded at the Department of State to any senate
: who NAV desire to peruse the dispatches of MI
y McLane.
!, All which is respectfully submitted by
List of accompanying papers,
= Mr.. Buchanan to Mr.. McLane, July IL, 1845.
Same to same, Sept l3, 1915.
n Same to same, Nov. 5, lS45.
4 Mr.. McLane to MIR. Buchanan, Dec. /, 1916. ES
tracts.
Mr. Buchanan to Mr.. McLane, Dec. 10, lS45.
Same to same, Dec 90, l845.
Same to same, Jan. 49, 1886. .-.-
MIR. McLane to Mr.. Buchanan, Feb. 3, 1876. E'
tract. s4... LII. 49,. -
= Mr.. Buchanan to Mr.. McLane, Feb. 70, 1916. IL
" tracts
Same to same, March 2S, 1916. 800
Same to same, with enclosure0 April %, 1916.
Same to same June 6, 1876.
q, Sa~. IN On me lime IA lSd6.