Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-05-23
OREGON QUESTION-1N ENGLAND


The accounts carried out by the Uiber.
MIA, from New York on the LIST of April,
excited good deal of attention. The mes.
sage of Mr.. Polk was not considered war.
like; indeed, some of the public writer's pro.
TESS to see the best guaranty for the con.
tinuance Of peace in the expense to which
the United States will be pu, by arming for
the conflict. The speech of Mr.. Webster
in favor of the 49th degree, had been much
noticed and freely commented on.
The following is an extract from an ar.
tice on the Oregon question, which appear.
ed in the London Times of the 18th ult.
Willmer's paper remarks that the reputed
connection of that journal with the Foreign
Secretary, Lord Aberdeen, gives to the e1-
tract an Importance which will be best
appreciated on perusal. The writer, after
stating tina, all the leading statesmen in the
Union, of all parties, regard the 49th paral.
lei as the utmost concession, proceeds:
"ln the whole course OF these negotiations, tina
which has changed most completely is the claim
set up by the Americans in 1918 and 1926. The
territory in dispute was expressly asserted anc
clearly understood 10 be composed between the
42d and 49th parallels OF latitude. AS for the
more northern tract, between AZ and 81 40, We
are not aware that the paramount claims OF Britain
TO that pant oft were then called in question.
Tie proposals Of partition ranged between the
mouth Of the CoIumbia and the 49th degree, but
not beyond, and the American plenipoenares
unsuccessfuly claimed the whole Of that region
bu; no more. Since that time, and in the more
recent discussion, they have raised their demands
they have laid their claims to the whole country
and then, as it were the larlhe5t limits Of condo
scenson and concession, they revert to the
original offer, the very same which was before
rejected. A man, bargaining with another Offers
to sell him horse for go; the buyer says it is toe
much and goes away Some time afterwards, the
seller asks him f100 for the same, and, after ar
elaborate attempt 10 outwit his customer, he ends
by offering him the horse at ESQ, as a very rres
bargain. That is precisely the course OF hi!
American dealing They have raised claim 4
the whole Of Oregon, not with any expectation
of acquiring the entire province, but in order t.
reconcile US 10 the terms we have before declare
10 be nadmissible; but the truth is, that the bar
49h parallel is, 10 all ntents and purposes, tn
same thing that it was twenty years ago, w
ntimated an opinion some time ago, that the 49i
parallel might conveniently serve as the basis {
an arrangement, but it is clear that such propc
sal must be accompanied with more extensiv
conditions than those heretofore annexed to it b
the Americans. 1t must leave US the whoI
Of Vancouyer's Island, the navigation and hal
Dor OF the straits Of Fuca, the free use OF tn
Columbia and the northern branches, down to tn
sea, and an indemnify or compensation to TIT
Hudson's Bay Company for the Posts they wou
be called upon to surrender. We donot preten,
to point GU. all the stipulations which it woul
be the par! Of a prudent and just policy to require
as an equivalent for a concession so much belo,
our orig inal claims, and, as we firmly beiev,
our just rights. But the cesson Of the vacant sol
might be polite and endurabIe, provided the pr
vo,e rights already long acquired and enjoyed b
British subjects. were duly respected; and the
must beyond all question, be protected by tn
ulimatum of England.
Between these two proposals lie the quoSlio
Of peace OF war narrowed as these con!royesie