Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-02-05
oREGoN-MR. GALATIANS PRoPo-

OREGON-MR. GALATIANS PROPO-
SITION.
Hon. Albert Gallatn 10 his fourth and last letter
to the National lntegencer on the Oregon Cues.
ton, thus states the proposition which he has 10
bored to establish:
1t has been attempted in those papers to prove
LIST. That neither of the two powers has abso-
lutte and indsputable right to the whole contested
territory that each may recede from its extreme
pretensions without impairing national honor or
wounding pride and that the way is therefore still
open for renewal Of negotiations.
I'd That the avowed object Of the United States,
in giving notice Of the abrogation Of the conven.
uon, is the determination to assert and maintain
their assumed right of absolute sovreigny over
the whole territory; that Great Britain is fully COM
mitted on that point and has constantly and explic
lily declared that such an attempt would be resist.
ed, and the British interests in that quarter be pro-
ectcd and that war is therefore the unavoidable
consequence Of such a decisive step-a war not
only necessarily calanous and expensive, but in
its character aggressive, not justfable by the mag-
nitude and Importance of its object and OF which
the chances are uncertain.
3D. That the Inconvenience Of the present state
of things may in great degree be avoided; that, if
no war should ensue, they will be the same if not
greater, without than under the convention: that
not single object can be gulned by giving the no.
tlce at this time, unless it be to do something not
permitted by the present convention, and therefore
provoking resistance and productive of war. If any
other advantage can be gained by giving the notice.
let it be stated
4th. That it has been fully admitted by Great
Britain that whether under or without convention,
the United States have the rights as herself
to trade, to navigate, and to occupy and make set
Elements in and every part Of the territory;
and that, If this State of things be not disturb
ed, natural causes must necessarily give the whole
territory to the United States.
Under these circumstances, it is only asked, that
the subject may be postponed for the present that
Government should not commit itself by any pre-
mature act or declaration; that instead of ncreas-
ing the irritation and excitement which exist on all
sides, time be given for mutual reflection, and tor
the subdual and subsistence of angry and violent
feelings Then, and then only, can the deliberate
opinions of the American people on this moment
Gus question be truly ascertained. 1t is not per-
ceiyed how the postponetnent for the present and
Tor time can, in any shape or in the slightest de-
gree, injure the United States.
! The establishment of kindred and friendly DOW
or on the Northwest Coast of America, is al that
England can expect, all perhaps that the United
States ought to desire. 1t seems almost incredible
that, whilst that object may be attained by simply
not impeding the effect of natural causes, two kin
dred nations having such powerful motives to re-
main at peace, and standing at the head Of Euro
pcan and American civilization, should, in this en-
! lightened age give TO the world the scandalous
spectacle, perhaps not unwelcome to some of the
beholders, of an unnatural aud unnecessary war;
that they should apply all their faculties and ex-
haust their resources in infctlng, each on the 9TH
err, every injury in their power, and for what pur-
pose? The certain consequence, independent of
all the direct calanltes ans mseries Of war, will
be mutual increase Of debt and taxation, and the
ultimate fate OF Oregon Will be the same as If the
war had not taken place.