Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-03-07

10 cede away our territory :" All That was begging tn
question. What territory the very question
be decided But, If il ours, incident Of
eighty we had the same power TO convey territory we ha'
20 obtain it,
But was asked again. in tones Of indignation What
will you transfer the allegiance Of American citizens % No
at ALL What is transferred is not allegiance, but soil
American citizens determine to remain on the soil, and sub
mt TO new allegiance and jurisdiction, that the
affair the act Of their choice the act Of the
Government
This question was no novelty In settling the bounds
Florida with Spain in 1881 the question involved
stipulation made that settlers within the bounds Of tht
other party should b removed but If they chose to stay, they
were subject 10 the jurisdiction Of the other Government The
treaty did not transfer their allegiance @ the soil Of Florida
II they remained that SOIL the allegiance went with it
but that was their choice.
But all these evils were but imaginary. An American Cit
zen could MOI own foot Of Oregon, because the Government
had ms6e no grants and in point of fact there not al
this moment single American cten settled know,
within hundred miles If Ire line Of 49, which he supposed
was likely TO become the boundary.
But To return 10 the argument of our negotiator No,
costsnt with declaring that territorial rights were not HI
subject Of arbration he objected it. further because he
feared compromising award Mr. y. entertained great
spect for the talents and character Of Mr. Buchanan hr, il
really did strike hn that this was beneath the occasion.
just such objection was sometimes made by private
citizens in our courts Of GAe in questions Of very doubtful
right when oy wished to avoid arbitration because they
sppfehend st the abtrators should say divide o and
pence between you and each pay his own costs But
great and momentous naotM question like this with the
wide world to choose In could be possible there could
be found three, hve Of sufficient intelligence,
putty, and Independence Of mind place them above all
pay and selfish views Mr.. ID. would say tina.
if the distinguished negoator himself should chans 10 be
chosen Of the umpres, he would u bs acaed by
such considerations such question.
But there another objection to this proposal Of arbitration
more extraordinary STILL He said IN substance TO Great Br-
tain, We think great deal Of this territory do not,
xla M All -.
rights while you have comparatively little to lose
was sufficient merely to state such objection without at
tempting to characterize it. Here were Two neighbors
who had had dispute for twen years about their
right to certain farm, When at last weary Of quaolng,
they resolved that the question should be settled and
them ssd d the other 81 will divide the land or if you
viii not agree TO that, then will refer it TO courts
juriss civilians or any numbr of honest that you
shall choose. But his neghbor replied, "No, the farm
is Of great importance to me; The farm where
live; you a rich man, and You I've far away, and
you ought not to think much " your title TO it. and therefore
will settle the question ryselfby my ownlidgment" What
would be thought Of such reply Mr.. D. repeated that he
entcnnd The highest respect for the knowledge and ability
Of the distinguished nsgoato and if the argument he had
made was not better 1t because the subject itself admitted
OF no better argument But the world would look with dis
trust rejection of arbitration avowedy based grounds
IKE these. They would consider it cgass, as not
truly stating the principles by which were really actuated.
And he could hut think that ur people, after Pc
Rod Of reflection. woah Arrive pretty much at the udg
men striking proof that the friends of the Administration
were themselves conscious that the rejection not very de-
fensbe 10 he found in the fact that local party prints
which attempted defend il took special say nothing
about the proposal make board Of civilians and usts the
arbrators in the This carefully kept out OF sight,
while they dwet only the proposal submit to soveregns
and crowned heads with whom they say should stand
chance at getting fair play The appeal made not to JUS
ce and candor bot TO passion and prejudice What spec
ace had the entire discussion throughout the country present
ed Instead Of the calm and dgned which should
have been maintained in such conjuncture of the national
affairs what Boosting and vtuperaton had resounded through
out the land Mr. D. could but he reminded by il Of the
had received Of the British operations China
When the English troops landed and about to at
tack the. Chinese, they suddenly startled by most
unnatural and astounding nos which proceeded from gongs
and wind instruments, MI which intended deter the
outside bafbarans from the mcditaed attack. Have not
10 some extent at least initiated the Chinese example
such had been the Of diplomacy at home, had
been more fortunate abroad Mr. D. pretended TO no
education had placed him far aIoof from all pursuits Of the
kind but did to him little ridiculous that should
direct Minister in England interogae the British Go
vsrnment as to the wakc preparations in which they
engaged Wermght Mr. McLane say in his reply to those
who gave him that order, that categorical
10 inquiries of that Mr. d. should think
And the way which Lord Aberdeen had gone through his
political catechsm and the very explicit luminous and salts
factory replies be had given to ineogaones, showed in
a-strikng light the folly of such proceeding The excuse
France very different She lay within cannon-shot and
had special to make the inquiry because she understood
these military the part Of Great Britain viz
tualy breach Of the mutual understanding between Great
Britain and herself and endangerng that balance Of pow
which both held important and which consisted in
relative amounts of territory, but in relative Of armed
force Experience had warned the nations Of Europe that
whenever Of them armed the do the that
this the only safety of continental Europe The ques-
ton might be pertinent and well timed The part Of France,
and yet not little impairment and msmed coming from
In this, however, he might be mistaken ii might have
been exceeding wisdom among diplomats while my simple
apprehension exceeding foolish il certainly had one
merit (hough one, it did little harm if no good.
But there something in the outbranches Of this negoa-
ton which needs 10 be understood Why il that this
negotiation not transferred to London Was il un-
derstood by Mr. Mclean that it should be We're his
business relations arranged with view his speedy
Was not that arrangement effected purely by the understand
ing that the settlement of this question in London he would
forthwith return here These matters Of which affect
personal knowledge but ey before the public in such
shape think entities them to credence and expa
nation. Had this negotiation been removed with Mr. Nc
Lean London, from the disposition shown there hardly
to be doubted that settlement would have been effected II
not settled here, fearful responsibility will rest somewhere.
But how the question TO be settled By compromise.
Mr. d. prepared go for the resolution Of notice in the
shape proposed by the Senator from Georgia, (M Coz
eurrT,) il that be generally agreed upon He had
first been in favor Of giving notice at ALL but there
ed majority of the Senate in favor Of qualified notice
medium measure, and he should not oppose it. He
for the notice, but for stripping Of any thing like hostile
tone. He should assent 10 best calculated
to unite the Senate, and present. great national ques-
ton unbroken 'front.' That failing, he was opposed to
notice at ALL
But gentlemen asked "How will you carry out this com
promise in the details Will you abandon any portion Of
a..k.. Z. NJ a.