The daily union., 1846-10-01
THE PRESIDENT AND THE OREGON
QUESTION.


our conclusions as the course Of the President in
the Oregon negotiation, admitting substantially the
completeness and the cogeney OF the proof-docu-
menlary and other-by which they are established.
Il is thus forced 10 content itself with a feeble
attempt TO find in the recent language Of Mr. Me
Lane in his reply to the New York Chamber Of
Commerce, n contradiction Of our statements, sus-
tanned, they eonessedy are by citations from the
records of the negotiation. But the lntelligencer
shall state Its case; and we viii then show that
when Mr.. MsLane's language is eandidly and fair
ly read, there il such contradiction the Intel
iigencer seeks 10 make out That journal says:
"The positions assumed by the Union are as fol-
lows
"'lst That the President adhered intieribly,
throughout the whole controversy, To his original
convictions as 10 the validity Of our ute up to iy-
four forty.
"'2i That no repeated the ancient American prop
oson Of compr1mile sOley IN Difference to the pre-
yious action OF the government and that, In so re-
peang 1t, he refused TO consent TO British partcipa
tion IN the navigation Of the Columbia.
"'3d. That, when his offer had been rejected and
Withdrawn, lie planted himself again end inlm0Uabiy
upon the strength Of title TO the 1hols territory
"'4th. That, in this inhexible position, he refused
TO make any other offer Of compromise whatsoever;
hvowed that he would receive no proposal frum
England which did not eoncede to us the whole ter
rOry, with any other purpose than ~ submit II TO
the Senate for its previous advice; and finally that
he would not even submit to that body any
proposition which should he substantially more un-
favorable to the United States than the offer which
our government had repeatedly made Of the forty
ninth parallel @.
18th. That, in this state of the question, the
President declared his purpose TO lay the whole
matter before Congress, and that he did submit il
in his annual message, recommending the notcs TO
terminate the conyentIOn together with series of
measures looking to the full maintenance Of our
rights in Oregon.
10th. That this firm and bold procedure Of the
President, though only partially sustained by the
Senate, produced, without delay, from the British
government, wholly new and more favorable con-
sIderation of the American claim, which resulted in
proposition from England involving prompt set
tlement Of the question, and concession by the
British government OF terms substantially fayora-
ble as in past years had claimed, and more
three times offered to accept and
"'7. That when this Blush offer, thus advantage
Gus, was submitted TO the President IN fuhlment of
the pledge which he had given, he refused for him
self to accept it, referred it TO the Senate for their
previous advice and OF last consented 10 rafy it IN
a treaty, only in Difference to the advice of more
than the constitutional majority of ftwo-hrds OF that
body
"Such, then, is the position which the Union
claims for the President in relation to the Oregon
question. Now let us see how this harmonzes with
MIR. McLane's evidence. That gentleman, in his
New York address, says:
"'A division of the country upon that principle,
1.-THE 49th parallel, with onable regard to rights
grown up undar the joint possession always appear
ed me TO afford Just and practical basis for an
amicable and honorable adjustment Of the subject
Such, also, icaS satisfied, WERE the Uiecs Of our
government AT THE TIME | ENGAGED IN
MY RECENT MISSION; and in earnest
ly and steadily aboring to effect settle
ment upon that basis, | was but representing the
policy of my own government, and faithfully PRO-
NOTING THE INTENTIONS AND WISHES THE
PRESIDENT
"The Union says the President adhered inferibIy,
throughout the whole controversy, to title up TO
ffty-four forty
"Mr McLane says, 'in laboring to effect settle
ment the basis Of forty. .nins was faithfully pro
noting The intentions and ,oishes Of The President
"The Union says, the President planted himself
immopaby upon our title to The i1hoe territory and
that, when the British proposition of Jortynnt was
offered, he refused, for HIMSELF to accept il, and at
last consented only to ratfy it in treaty in defer
ence to the Senate
'Mr. McLane says on the contrary, that in ma
king that treaty he 'was faithfully promoting the
toisheS Of The PRESIDENT"
ofour government" and ''the wshca and intentions
of the President not adverse TO a settlement on
the basis of the forty-ninth parallel, Mr. McLane
pointedly and expressly in the gerry same SEN
hnce limits that understanding his part to
the time when he ENGAGED" in his OMISSION"
He says in substance that phen he tctnt 10
England, he understood that our government
would not refuse to compromise on the forty.
ninth parallel. He was right in this. He went to
England in May. Al that tms-as we have half
a dozen times stated and as we state in the extract
above quoted-the President did feel constrained and
committed by the past action of the government to
propose the forty-nnth parallel partition line,
reserving to ourselves the exclusive navigation of
the Columbia. So constrained and committed, the
President made that proposition on the 18th Of
July, 1545-that is, at The commencement of
Mr.. McLancs mission. And, on The uny same
dan, instructions were written to Mr.. McLane,
stating ,olv tho President made the offer and
directing him to commend the offer to the favor
able consideration Of the British ministry. All this
is a part Of our case, and we have before quoted
these first instructions to Mr. McLane under date
of 18th July, 1916, to prove it.
But the Presidents proposition made on the 18th
Of July, l845, was rejected by Mr.. Pakenham on
the 29th Of the same month; and oithdra,On by Mr..
Buchanan thirty days qtsr1cards, on the Both of Au
gust. And does Mr.. McI4ane say that after that
timc-afler the rejection and withdrawal of our offer
he understood the President to express or enter
tain any "wish or intention to compromise on the
49th parallel Not at all. He says, on the contra.
ry, that "af The time ohen he engaged in his mission"
that is, Just before the President submitted his
offer and pending its submissionhe understood the
"yiews, and wishes, and intentions" of our govern
ment to look to compromise on the 49th parallel
This only shows that Mr.. McLone was truly
"instructed" as to the views and intentions of the
administration on the 18th of July, 1s45!
But after the rejection and rOithdraOuI of the prop
osition which the President had thus made, as Mr.
McLane was informed solely in Difference to the
mast action of the government; after that event