Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-02-14

traitor and this too the Secretary Of State goes on q ~
see in the face Of his note TO the undersigned Of SOh Au
gust by which the President had asserted in the most solemn
form the title Of the United States 10 the whole territory
II is not the purpose Of the undersigned in the present note
the discussion ss the title Of either party, Great
Britain or the United stss the whole o. 70 any part Of
the Oregon territory He must however, beg leave, with
mind the United States Secretary Of State hiatt. he Govern
men of the United States have formally advanced claim
The whole Of hsOrgon territory tsDo le ceran that Great
Britain has, in equally formal declared that she
has rights in the Oregon territory incompatible with the
| exclusive claim advanced by the United States.
This declaration, arising from conviction equally sincere,
will the undersigned i persuaded, Be viewed with the same
BY the Government Of the United Sate astney
expect that thar own declaration should rccaive the hands
| of the Government OF Great Britain
This pemssd, the object Of the undcrsgped IN sddresspg
Mr. Buchanan The present to ssceran from
him hsthsr supporting the British Govsrnment 70 entertain
no objection such course, il would suit the vissks Of the
United States Government relr 70 arbirato, not a. has
already bsen proposed the ques 81 oquitabls
nc sss ,s Sss ne $ssss sss ns
ton that neither should b found m the ~ sin-
traitor poess complies title TO the whole teroy, there
should in thst case DO asasne4 70 each hst poron q t
tory which would in the opinion Of the afsng Power Dc
called for by just appreciation Of the respective Claims OF
each.
The undersigned has suggested reference the above
\
This undersigned believes be the usually fol
lowed in such cases iii il that which has already been resort
ed to by the two Governments land ose tinn once But
there may be other forms Of arbitration perhaps more agee
able to the Government of the United States.
There might be- for instance, mixed commission with an
umpire appointed by consent there might be
board composed Of the distinguished civilians and urss
of the tme appointed in such should bring all
pending questions the decision Of the most enlightened inn
partial and independent minds
In the present position of AFFAIRS and feeling how much the
interests Of both countries require early well as an ami
cable and satisfactory adjustment Of existing difficulties the
Undersigned earnestly the Secretary OF State to take
subject Of this consideration, with view To sch an
arrangement on the principle Of arbitration may seem TO the
expedient.
The undersigned takes advantage of this opportunity 10
new the Hon James Buchanan the Of his high
confederation X. PAKENHAM.
To the Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN, &c &c. &C.
Mr. BUCHANAN TO Mn. PAKENHAM.
4 DKPARrmnsr or srATE,
/ WlsHISGTor, FEB. 4, 1916. y
The undersigned Secretary of State Of the United States
has the honor to acknowledge the receipt Of the of Mr.
Pskenham, her Britannia Msesty's Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Penipotentary dated ON the 18th ulmo .,
which he again proposes reference of the Oregon question
the arbitrator would not his last, be limited in terms to
the division the territory between the PARTIES but would
extend the question Of their conflicting titles There "
however condition annexed to this offer which exposes il
TO the same objection in point of fact in form, which
prominently presented in the answer Of the undersigned
to Mr. Pakenbams last proposal This condition Is thai
neither Pary should be found in the opinion Of the arb
should that case be assigned 70 Zach tst portion OF tern
IEssy which would, IN ahe opinion Of the Power b
called for by just appreciation Of the claims
each" the Government Of the United States should con-
arbitration upon such condition, this might and
probably would be construed into ntmaton, not d
invston the arbitrator divide the territory between
the parties. We're possible for the President under any
To
the title, and the title alone detached from every other con-
sderaon, the only question which could be submitted
not confined to single point 80 strong % the natural dPo
of arbators please both PARTIES that in almost
instance, whether Of national individual controversies
they make a compromising award. We have memorabls
example of this last arbitration with Great Britain
Notwithstanding that the arbitrator, under the terms Of the
submission clearly and explicitly confined to the decision
of which the line of highlands described in the treaty Of
peace Of 1885, yet instead of pursuing OF high
lands Whatever be advised that the line should along the
bed of river and actually divided the territory In dispute
between the parties by the middle Of tbs deepest channel Of
| the st. Johns"
The undersigned might content himself in to the
present proposition with reference 10 the observations
tanned in his Mr. Pakssham of the Sd ulmo. In
that plainly minated only that there other
conclusive for declining the proposition independent
of the which had been prominently stated, but 1t
expressly asserted the belief Of the President thst
attempt refer this question TO third Power would only in
volve it in difficulties"
The undersigned WILL however, proceed to state single
suitable arbitrator well other considerations that might
be adduced conclusive the mind Of the President against
reference of this question arbitration, in any form which
be devised what may be the character of the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sovereign, citizen, subject This
is that he does not believe the territorial rights Of this
ton to be proper subject for arbitration. II may be true
that under peculiar circumstances if the interests at stake
comparatively small and If both parties stood upon
equal footing, there might be nsupeabe objection such
But what is the extent Of territory in dispute
the present occasion embraces nearly thirteen degrees Of
latitude along the nohwe coast Of the Pacific and stretches
eastward the summit of the Rocky Mountains. Within its
limits several powerful and prosperous States Of the Union
may be embraced 1t lies contiguous, this continent to
the acknowledged territory Of the United States and is des
tined distant day, be Peopled by bur citizens This
territory presents the through which the commences
Western States be probly condsd with Asia sd
the Of this continent and Its ports the only
harbors belonging the United Staics 10 which our nune
whaes and other vessels in that region can resort And
yet dimensions, it contains not single safe
and commodous harbo from its southern extremity until we
| approach the 49th parallel OF latitude.
is from the intention Of the undersigned again TO open
the discussion of the conflicting claims Of the two Powers TO
the Oregon territory is sufficient for him to state the con-
nued conviction the President that the United States hold
the best title in existence the whole of this territory I'm
der this conviction he consent to leopard tor his coun
try all the great interests involved, and by any possibility