True Democrat., 1846-02-25
OregOn-Thc Notice.


he Senate have postponed the consideration o
he Oregon bill till the 10th of February, but
n other respects, we confess the aspect of affairs
seems to US unsatisfactory
The whig members of the Senate have as il
generally understood, come to the conclusion
TO oppose the notice bill; if this be 90, and il
there is any considerable detection from the
administration ranks, that measure must be de-
feated-a result we are clearly of opinion, Of
very i'll omen to the maintenance of peace.
The whig party seem most unaccountably
TO have worked themselves into the belief that
the notice bill is war measure, and they op.
pose it as such. 1t seems 10 us, however, clear
ly the only course likely to preserve peace. The
negotiation is broken off; we have made an off
er which the nation is satisfied is the best we
ought to make; no one thinks that we ought 10
settle the Oregon question by any line south of
the forty-ninth degree, or without an equitable
division of the ports on the Pacific. This oher
has been refused with little courtesy, to say the
best oft and the administration now call on the
national legislature TO do WHAT not at all; sim
ply to terminate the joint occupation treaty-in
other words, to give notice that the matter must
in some way or other be settled.
The joint occupation was very ineligible so
long as both parties were willing to postpone
the adjustment OF the question But ii becomes
absurd the moment both nations are convinced
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
prolongalion OF doubt and uncertainty. The
Oregon question, therefore, must be settled.
This is our noSfu YiOD
How then is it to be settled2 Negotiation is
for the present closed Nobody supposes that
the government can nobody Suggests that it
should, make a new offer. 10 repeat the former
would be absurd; to make a less favorable pro-
position would by the whole country be secuted
We have nothing, therefore, to do but 10 remain
absolutely passive, or to, give the notice. But
the day of 'maSterly inactivity" is passed. 1t
was very good policy once but it is no longer
n possible policy. Inactivity means inactivity
of speech as well as of action, and after decIar-
ing our right to the whole Of Oregon, and our
absolute determination not to take less than the
entire territory south of the 4Qlh, the line of
passive conduct has been completely and forever
abandoned We must act, and act at once, with
frmness and prudence.
AS we have SAID, we think there is no press.
ing haste about the Oregon bil the 10th of
February is better than the 10Th of January, and
any time would do before the end OF the session. |
but il, by union of the whig portion of the |
Senate with few OF the administration IN embers |
the measure should be defeated, and Congress |
rise without doing anything, it seems to US that j
the peace oft the country would be inevitably |
placed in jeopardy.
1t will then stand thus we make great de-
clarations Of our rights, but take no steps to en-
force them We leave a question of the most |
irritating nature entirely open, and take no mea-
sure that can lead TO an adjustment and finally |
the government, with clear nominal majority
in both houses, is beaten on its own vital mea-
sure. A more absolute proclamation Of nation
al incapacity could not be made, aud that Great
Britain will take advantage of that incapaciry
it requires no prophet to foresee.
We have vet TO find the first instance where
she has spared an imbecle or helpless power
II the government cannot carry through this
question of notice, it cannot command the ma
onal force; and there is not single fibre of its
that would not feel the paralysis
ofthe shock And the worst oft is. that ii this
is now postponed, it is indefinitely post.
poned. There is no reason to expec, any change
in the state of parties in the Senate likely 10
lead to different result :
We are well satisfied that this Oregon matter
,annot be safely carried through except by an
administration sustained by prudent but decisive
uppou in each House No nation can deal s
With England, if it paltcrs, or irfcs, or hcsi,a
es. /,
1t is no such course that. in our Judgment !,
will secure peace. Ii was no such course that !,
secured US from war with France in 1886. -
Great Britain cannot but see that we are entitled
o ports on the Pacific She cannot but see
hat the 49th parallel leaves her liberal share
f the territory. She will see all this plain
nough, If our government can command sup. >
'or at home and respect abroad But she will '
either see nor hear il she finds that the admin. =,
sration canno, rally its own friends in such an :,
mergcncy as this. :
No one can Guido rs in devotion to peace We
espise n our souls the braggau clustering to e
hi:h, day aier day. the House of Representa-. ],
YES reechoes; we abhor the insane policy Of I
iiddings. But, IN our judgment, a firm policy
the only way 10 prevent war. !
The result will prove who is right. In that
sSut lie the lives, the fortunes the happiness Of
lilions, and we can only express the devout
ope that in these high debates neither local
interests nor personal jealousy may be allowed
D turn the scale. Let all give the administration
andId construction, liberal support, and God
ave the republic-N Y Ere Post