The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-14
.LATRST EN1BLLIGBNCE.
BY THE MAILS.

MY buchanan dnd Mr.. Polk stM Fifty -Four
Forty Men
You will recoect that said in one of my letters
published week ago, that Mr. Buchanan and
Mr.. Polk are still as much fifty-lour forty men as
ever. The publication Of the official correspond
ence between Mr.. Buchanan and Mr. McLane,
and between the President and The Senate, am
ply proves the truth Of my assertion. Mr.. Blu
chanan has been severely censured by the ultra
fifty four-iorty men for alleged Inconsistency
But the publication OF this correspondence proves
beyond all question, thar MS sentiments were
hrely unchanged even up 10 the lasr hour Of the
negotiation, ane that the acceptance OF the offer
made by Grea' Brian was reluctantly forced
upon hun and upon the President by the action
OF tlc Senate. IL Is clear that netncf the Presi-
dent or Mr. Buchanan, or even Mr. M'Lane, en-
iertaned any .dea that the projet Offered by the
British government, would BE gravey n atrd as
an ultmatum by the Senate, and hat Il would be
recommended TO the Pres dent by three-iourths Of
that body-8 10 l2-without single word of as
teraton, "a the basis of a treaty.
When Mr.. Buchanan first became Secretary of
State, or shortly after, an oiier was made by the
President 10 settle the Oregon question the basis
OF the 49th parallel 1hswas ected by ihcBritish
plenipotentary. Mr. Pakenhtrn, and a. was inn
mediatey Withdrawn The President in his an
nual message in December last, INSISTED on our
right 10 the whole territory, and this was followed
up by Mr.. Buchanan IN ms instructions TO our
minister at Lo don. la his despatch to Mr.. Nc
Lane, OF the 18th Of January last, he says;-
1.-THE Presiien, will abandon the position he has
taken in his message Clearly convinced OF the right of
the United States TO the whole territory dispute and
relieved by the refusal OF the British government to
cept this offer OF compromise from the embarrassment in
which the acts OF his predecessors had placed him. he
would not authorize the con ;Iuson OF treaty
thai basis But the Senate his constitutional adfisers,
in session The question OF peace or w9r may
be involved he issue They branch of'the
making as well as of the treaty making power In de-
ference to the Senate under these circumstances he
would in the first inst feel it to he his duty to sub
NIT such proposition for their previous advice
The President will accept nothing less than
the whole territory unless the Senate should otherwise
determine.
IL various other communications to Mr.. Nc.
Lane, he puts our title in clear light. giving it
us his own opinion, and that of the President,
that our title to the whole OF Oregon is good, and I,
should be upheld; but N the same time saying
that should the Senate advise compromise, the
President would feel constrained 10 adopt their
advice. In despatch 10 Mr.. McLane, dated
Feb. &C. 1916, he says: 4.
1.-THE President, since the date of his message, has
to change his opinion either in regard to
title to Oregon to the manner in which II ought
to be asserted But the federal constitution has made
the Senate to certain extent coordinate branch OF
Inc treaty we TS e o S%d
be ntusted to wiser better hands Besides in their
legislative character they constitute portion of the war
making in their executive capacity they compose
part Of the treaty making power They are the repre-.
sentatves of the sovereign States OF this Union and are
regarded the best index Of the opinion OF their constt
enis rejection of the British utmaum might proba
bly, leah to and branch of the Legislative pow
err il would be incumbent upon them authorize the
necessary preparations render this successful.
Under these considerations the Presil lent in Difference
to the Senate and to the true theory the
responsibilities of the different branches Of the govern
will forego his opinions lar as to submit TO
that body any proposition which may be made by the
British Cover not in his judgment wholly incon-
sisten with the rights and honor the country Norris
the fact be disguised that from the speeches and pro
adjust the Oregon question on the parallel degrees
wouid ree.ip, their faporabie consideratfon"
On the 18th of April, Mr.. buchanan writes
again in relation to the above reiieration OF the
positions assumed in The Presidents message:
"Upona careful review of my despatch to you (No. 2a
of the 26th February last the President finds nothing
change. II will still continue to be tic guide of your
conduct"
Now, this disposition on the part Of the Senate,
to come TO a settlement on the parallel OF AZ, was
manifest to everybody. Mr. buchanan and
Mr.. Polk knew that should they reject prop
osition emanatng from the British government
to arrange the question OH the parallel of 40, they
would not be sustained in so doing by the Senate
OF the United States and Notwithstanding that
their sentiments remained unchanged as to the
duty as well as the expediency OF adhering to the
positions taken in the Presidents message OF De-
cember last, they nevertheless felt constrained,
situated as they were to lay the proet of the Bril-
fish Government which formed the basis OF the
treaty, before the Senate. But what above all
fully and conclusvely vindicates the President
and Mr. Buchanan from the charge of inconsis-
tency is the declaration contained in the Presi-
dents message to the Senate, accompanying the
message dated June 10, 1916, the President says;
"My opinions and my action the Oregon question
were fully made known to Congress il my annual mes
sage OF the second Of December last aud the spi~sons
therein expressed remain unchanged
Now, neither the President nor Mr. Buchanan,
as before remarked, had any idea that the Senate
would accept the proposition without one word
of change and lest there should be any doubt
in the m nd, OF the Senate concerning the cha
racrer of the proposition, the President accompa-
MED the documents with extracts from the de-
spatch Of Mr.. McLane, of May Is, 1916, in which
he says
81 still entertain the opinion, and although from
rety of causesin part perhaps ffom an expectation
that in the United this point "a limit to the period
of Tree navigation Of the Columbia) may not be abso
lutely insisted upon and in part Iom defe TO nte
and impressions at homee1 could mol be induced
in the first instance to make an oder With sucha quail
fcaton yet the adjustment oil The 1c-stoD should De
found depend upon this point only, LEY would yield
the demand to the permanent navigation OF the river,
be content to accept for such number Of years
as would afford all the substantial advantages to those
interests they have particularly in view that could be
the nstmen of the Oregon question depended should
be whether the navigation VI the Columbia river should
be granted for period sufficient to subserve all the pur-
DO of British subjects within the disputed territory
whether the right should be extended indefinitely TOT
partic class OF British subjects must beucve that
no English esmsn the face OF his denial OF sim
lar privilege 70 American citizens in regard to the 81
Lawrence would take the hazard upon this point alone
of disturbing the peacs Of the world
otis SCARCELY necessary for me to that the pro-
position submitted, has not received my counte
nance | have, therefore, fcit 4 duty
10 any expectation that would be accepted
by the PRESIDENT or ii submitted to that body approved
by the Senate"
"FeeIing very sure however that the present oferi
NOT made or intended uitimafup. ] think 1t only
reascnabe infer expectation he part OF those
who Offering it. not only tina, notifications may be
suggested. but that they may he reasonably required
Sc
1t may be considered certain, also. in my opinion
that the oder be made not to be submitted as an
uumatum, and Is not intended as suoh"
Now taking all these facts IN connection, the
message oil tue President, of December last, de-
claring our right TO the whole oil Oregonn,he re-
pea.ed instructions and explanations of Mr.. Blu
chanan to Mr.. McLane, all tending o discou-
rage the slightest surrender OF our rights IN Ore
gon, at the same time judlciously defeirng TO the
instructions OF the Senate, # they should even
prove contrary to his own views--the Presidents
nnessao, nj he IOth of June declaring that his