The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-23
spEcuLATIoNs IN ENGLAND.
The Oregon question.

doubt however, that the first part OF Its statement
from ''ths Liverpool Mercury" must be incorrect
We hazard little in saying, that so far from any
''tems being agreed upon," no terms have been re-
Gently exchanged between the TWO countries
"Peace" may ''be secondhand we sincerely hope
uOu be secured-but that "eonsummation, deyout-
" wished for has not yet been attained. The signs
ffom England prove, as we think, beyond all doubt
that she will make no oyertures until Congress has dis
posed of the question of notice IL is to be hoped
now that the two countries will confer freely with
each other, and that an adjustment may take place
Ii il eminenty desirable TO both countries. As Mr.
Buchanan said, in his letter to Mr.. Pakenham, Of
August last "ths Oregon question presents the only
intervening cloud which interceps the prospect Of
long career Of mutual friendship and beneficial com
merce between the two nations" and this cloud he
desired To remove "The President still cherishes
the hope that this Impending controversy may yet
be finally adjusted in such manner as not to dis
turb the peace, or interrupt the harmony now SO
happily subaisting between the two nations"
public OPINION IN ENGLAND-THE OREGON
QUESTION
"Ihe Liverpool Mercury Of ID instant, journal
usually well-informed on all questions involving the
interest Of its influential commercial and manufac-
turing subscribers, explicitly declares that terms
have been agreed upon for the adjustment Of the
Oregon dispute. mutuAlyb satsfaets<y 20 both par
ties II says, Peace Is se'1ed' and the sources Of
its information are 80 authentic as 70 warrant IL in
saying that commercial enterprises may be resumed
with the fullest confidence in the truth of this decla
ration. The Mercury was one Of the first TO an
nounce the message Of peace TO America being the
proposed reduction Of the corn laws, on the 4th or
5th of December last, and hence the importance Of
its present announcement change in the minis
try or some other unexpected event, may possibly
interfere to prevent the carrying out OF the views
thus Swallowed forth. Certain Il is however, that
there is a marked change in the tone OF the leading
organs OF public opinion. The London Morning
Chronicle, hitherto most wahike begins TO talk
trade The News begs. the British govern.
ment to show its magnanimty by yielding all
that America desires for the sake Of peace
between two nations Of kindred origin. In the
British House Of Commons, March 90, Lord
George Bentinck made violent attack on the Brit
sh ministry and John Quincy Adams, the ex-
President Of America, charging the former with
making free-trade concessions to America, which
would induce the Canadas TO annex themselves to
the United States, and denouncing the latter for
blasphemousy appealing TO the word OF God in
justification Of the American title to Oregon Lord
George would not humble the British government
by thus offering TO purchase peace with America by
Tree trade, or the sacrfilce OF colonies. III the
Bible was TO be appealed TO TO let loose the bull
dogs Of in Oregon territory instead Of making
free trade concessions, he Lord q. BentinckI would
send our Notwithstanding to speak TO America 10
thunder from their broadsides Sir q. Clerk re-
piled to the noble lord, and showed the groundess-
ness of apprehensons in the effect Of the free
trade measures of ls42, by quoting the returns Of
ls44, from which it appeared that the tonnage Of
American ships chartered To British ports had in
creased two-fold, while the tonnage Of British
ships bound from American ports had in
creased ..nine-fod. Mr.. Charles Butler also
took occasion to reply to the noble lord,
who, as the leader Of his party, had unfured
the union jack Of the protectlonists. He (Mr Bul-
er) did not think it wise to come forward and vent
attacks on the members Of the American Congress,
or the royal family Of France. He thought il far
better assume a dignihed silence in the language
Of dignfed courtesy both to prevent the possibility
Of war by laying the foundation Of peaceful and
commercial relations, than bandying bombast with
the braggars of the American Congress, [cheers,
and almost justfying the vagares of poor Adams by
tone of congenal buster. fCheefs.1 There were
party organs in Canada, which for the last twenty
years, or whenever government gave an office to
their opponents, had said, 'Now is the time TO
throw of all connexion' There was a deal of
buster ending in nothing; and those who uttered
this foolish language would, when patriotism called,
rally around the Old Country as in former times.
The proposed modification Of the timber duties on
which this debate arose, then put to a vote
ayes 1872, noes 100. So my Lord George Bentinck
found jorty Of 1913 against his policy."-Nep
York Sun, .fprii %.
There are other signs in England which strike
our attention, and regard them the harbingers
of more conciliatory disposition. We hail them,
at least indications that the British prints and pc
rodicals are speaking in more subdued tone, and
with less arrogant air of their own pretensons,
and little more respect for our title. May this
spirit continue and improve, and we pledge ourselves
to pacific and harmonious temper on the part of
the United States. Among the signs which are
brought to US by the Caledonia is the last article in
the "London Quarterly Review" Of March, 1886.
The character of the Quarterly is we'll known to
our readers as being the most ultra, aristocratic,
protection, anti American periodical in Great Britain.
And yet what does it say in Its last artcle'
"The proposition Of Mr. Dagan, or some slight
modification of it, 1--WE ourselves should not be dis
inclined to see it literally adopted) appears, in
view Of the tempers and prospects Of the two ma
tons, the only that avert a war, which, to
use phrase of a distinguished American senator,
would be, 'on the part Of those who shall provoke
il, almost impieus.' War as Lord Aberdeen said
in recent debate on this subject, in spirit becom
ing Christian statesman, rs the greatest calamity
that befall nations and generally the greatest
crime which "a nation commit but, in resist
ance to injustice, or in repulsion of insult he and
| every wise and honorable man must feel that war
| may be-however painful-the first and highest Of
national duties. That duty, if forced upon her,
Great Britain was never less inclined to abandon, or
| better prepared to execute, than at this hour;
and If the United States, by the rejection
of such proposition even her own legislators
think reasonable should drive us to that extremity,
on them, and them alone, will rest the awful and
odious responsibility, and on them we trus-in the
| righteousness of our cause--wl fall the heavier
weight Of the provoked caamities."
Postscript ofthc Qsutsrly Rertw.
"Whie writing these closing lines the American
mail brings intelligence that at the close of last
month"; the Senate Of the United States was still en-
gagged with the Oregon debate; and although il seems
that the determination of the President to adhere to
his extreme views was unchanged, the opinions of
Mr.. w ebster, Mr.. Calhoun, and some of the most
influential senators, leave doubt that the resou-
tons for renouncng the convention, but at the
time keeping the door of negotiation open, will be
passed by large MISUNDERSTANDING, 1t is said