The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-31
THE NEW STATE OF THE QUESTION, IN
VIEW OF THE NEWS,

the recent news from England on the Oregon ques-
ton, shall respond 10 the tone of considerable por-
ton Of the press among Us, then We in fair
way Of losing all we have gained by the frmness
and decision Of the administration. How stands
the easei For the first time in our history, this
American government, on the % Of December last,
took measures TO show Great Britain that the Ore
gon controversy really serious basinsss and that
without ado il would henesforth be so consid-
cred and treated. We confidently affirm that such
demonstration to England had never, in the whole
course Of the negotiation, been made before. In
1918, We played at protocols with the British cabi-
net for a few months, made a drawn-game, and
agreed 10 the stakes in common for ten
years. In 1924, We had another short game, and
let the stake 10 siaiu quo In ls27 we took up the
diplomatic barledOre third tims and, knocking the
issue backwards and forwards, we left il lying much
before that each party might lft il again
one years notice. In lS42, Lord Ashburton talked
il over with US, and thought il might well lie
STILL we, in psyy good nature, said nothing about
il. In 1874, Mr.. Pakenham brought it up again;
and in his last letter Of July last, in declining our
proposition, he did what he could to put il once
more asleep for a season. And then for the first
time in Withdrawing our rejected proposition and
laying the whole matter before Congress, with
Recommendation Of the notice and other measures in
pursuance Of it, the present administration actually
did take s first decided step Jor,oard in the matter.
Mark the result. The "leading journal" in Eng
land astonishes every one by taking wholly su-
isns--ehokes down most Of its wrath against thugs
American, and concludes that il is best to propose
back upon US one Of our own ancient offers. Now
insist thstin far the authority Of the "Times"
is good for anything, hi, does look If England 10
at last beginning to think il worth while to settle
the matter. We insist, moreover, that this is the
rsy6rs indication, clear faint, that England has
ever shown Of any, the slightest, dpostion or de,gn
10 settle the matter at all. Every man knows that,
through her whole negotiation game, up to lS45,
England has played shy-we do not choose to say
played false. Her offers TO us-one and all-have
been simply diplomacy turned into farce for Information.
al amu,emsnt The President at length brings the
Oregon dispute before Congress, and then, while
one cabine, after another goes to pieces in England,
in face Of the "daiiy-brs question, tho British
press really begins, a, the eleventh hour to pay us
the respect Of talking seriously about Oregon.
And then what course Of action is proposed
among ourseveS Why the Senate, and the House,
and the country urged, in viss hi, change, and
because Of this change, to oppose, and thwart, and
cripple, and cut short the policy Of the Executive
,ohieh alone produced th, change Because, by hav-
ing put our foot forward for the first time we have
brought opponent to think of offering US some
thing better than he ever offered us BEFORE there
e.. L.
and quietly possible, and place ourselves in
the very position we have stood in for twenty
en- years, without getting anything that ought to be
called the ghost of an offer; and we must so draw
back for the sake offs settling the question
Fancy Richard Roe acting in that style in his
controversy with John Doe. Richard haggles in pri-
vate with John for quarter Of century or So ta-
king great palms, and making offer after Offer really
wanting the dispute settled. John plays of, negoti-
ates, but makes no serious Offers willing to talk
but prefers decidedly not to say anything. Then
Richard seeing that thus far he has taken nothing
by his motion, begins to think, in earnest, Of
going TO tap on the matter--draws up his state
ment of facts for the lawyers, and asks them
to serve John with notice to quit; thereupon
John sends word to Richard-"Well, since you
are so much in earnest, think we may as well
try and settle your last offer but two better do
that than 60 into court" And then poor Richard
is demented enough to stay all his proceedings at
once, and say in return, ooh never mind was only
in fun don't think of going to law shan't
serve the notice on you-kt have more long
talks, just had bstore'" The books tell us Of
few Of Richards focs but has he ever been made
by the most resolute devotee Of the common law to
do anything worse than ths'
Now, If in view of the last news we send back
to England by the next steamer, that we do not
mean to give the notice, nor build any steam
ers, nor pass an Oregon bill, nor take any of the
steps in maintenance Of our rights which the Pres
ident recommendations we ask, does our cause
differ from poor Richard Roe's If we do thus
place ourselves in this wretched plight, will it be
any the less folly in US, because we look big, call
ourselves Jonathan, and have to do with John
| Buli
| We address this argument and illustration, be il
observed, to those presses and those statesmen who
are saying "The last news is pacific! .Nb,o,
we shall get along very well without the notice I"
We say it is the prospect and expectation Of the
notice, and Of the other measures by which the
President advises that the notice be followed up,
that haze alone produced The present pacific tone in
England. Is there any doubt of this' Suppose
that the President had taken another course Sup
pose that he had followed Sin the footsteps OF his
predecessors, and after the last interchange of
diplomatic notes between Messrs. Buchanan and
Pakcnham, had stated in his message that the ne.
gotistion had not reached any result yet, but he
hoped il would hereafter, and that it certainly had
been conducted in most amicabe and courteous
spirit by both the high negotiating parties: does any
man believe that in this state Of things we should
have heard anything from England Of disposition
to come back to US with Mr.. Galatin's ofer1 II
not, how in the name Of common sense can we
justify Congress in nov rfc.dng from policy,
which alone gives any hope that the English cabinet
may hereafter be brought to reasonl
The proposition which the "London Tines