The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-02-07
From the " Y Euening Post.
OREGON-THE NOTICE.

| OREGON-l II Il NO lCE.
We entirely approve of the vote by
which the Senate have postponed the
consideration of the Oregon bill till the
10th of February, but in other respects
we confess the aspect of affairs seems
to us unsatisfactory.
The whig members Of the Senate
have, as it is generally understood
come to the conclusion to oppose the
notice bill; if this be so, and if there is
any considerable detection from the ad-
ministration ranks, that measure must
be defeated-a result, we are clearly OF
opinion, of very i'll omen to the main
tenance Of peace.
The Whig party seem most unaccoun-
tably 10 have worked themselves into
the belief that the notice bill is war
measure, and they oppose it as such. -
1t seems to US, however, clearl y the
only course likely to preserve peace.
The negotiation is broken off; we have
made an offer which the nation is salts
fed is the best we ought to make; no
one thinks that we ought to settle the
Oregon question by any line south OF
the forty-ninth degree, or without an
equitable division Of the ports Of the
Pacific. This offer has been refused
with little courtesy, to say the best OF
it, and the administration now call on
The national Legislature TO do what3 to
declare war? not at all; simply to ter
inmate the joint occupation treaty-in
other words, to give notice that the
matter must in same way or other be
settled.
The joint occupation was very in
telligible so long as both parties were
wiling to postpone the adjustment Of
the question. But it becomes absurd
the moment both nations are convinc-
ed that the matter must be closed; and
we believe no one supposes that the
Oregon question can with any safety,
be left open any longer. To leave it
thus would lead to inevitable collision,
IN addition to the infinite evils resulting
from a prologation of doubt and un-
certainty. The Oregon question, there
fore, must be settled. This is our pos
tulate-our axiom.
How then is it to be settled? Nego-
tiation is for the present closed. No
body supposes that the government
can, nobody suggests that it should,
make new offer. To repeat the for
mer would be absurd: to make less
favorable proposition would by the
whole country be secuted. We have
nothing. therefore, 10 do but to remain
absolutel Y passive, or to give the no.
tice. But the day Of "masterly mac
tivity" is passed. 1t was very good
policy once; but it is no longer a pos
sible policy. Inactivity means inacliv-
ity of speech as well as of action, and
after declaring our right to the whole
OF Oregon, and our absolute determi-
nation not to take less than the entire
territory south of the 49th, the line OF
passive conduct has been completely
and forever abandoned. We must act,
and act at once, with frmness and pru-
dence. ui s
As we have said, we think there is
no pressing haste about the Oregon bill;
the 10th of February is better than the
10Th of January, and any time would
do before the end Of the session; but if,
by union Of the whig portion of the
Senate with few of the administra-
ton members, the measure should be
defeated, and Congress rise without do
ing anything, it seems to US that the
peace of tine country would be inevita-
bly, placed 10 jeopardy. b8
II will then stand thus: we make
great declarations of our rights, but
take no steps to enforce them. We
leave question Of the most irritating
nature entirely open, ,and takeno meas
ure that can lead to an adjustment; and
finally the government, with a clear
nominal majority in both houses,i is beat