The daily union., 1846-10-26

uOh upon H. AS the DETERMINATION on any suoh
proposition might involve the issue OF peace or war
between the two countries, he would feel II TO be
his duty TO consult his constitutional advisers before
a final decision. | deem it necessary to give you
this information, not that you may make any such
suggestion TO the British government, but TO enable
you 70 regulate wisely your conversation ana con.
duct in the critical position in which you are now
placed WhaI the result might be IN the Senate,
cannot anticipate ri.g.anHf r i,t
Il is scarcely necessary To multiply quotations
from these letters and shall add but one other,
and this from Mr.. Buehanan's letter 20 Mr.. MeLane,
OF the 18th January, 1916;
"The President will never abandon the position
he has taken in his message. Clearly convinced of
the right Of the United States to the whole territory
in dispute, and relieved by the refusal of the Brt-
sh government TO accept his offer Of compromise,
from the embarrassment in which the acts OF his
predecessors had placed him, he would not now au-
thorze the conclusion OF treaty on that basis. But
The Senate his constitutional advisers are now m
session, The question OF peace or war may be IN
volyed in the issue. They a branch OF the war
making as well as of the treaty making power. In
defer reneo the Senate, under these circumstances,
he would In the first instance, feel u TO be his duty
TO submit such u proposition for their previous ad-
vice. IL is manifest therefore, that the British gov
ernment should a, once present their ultlmstum. II
Mr. Pakenham should offer less, in the hope that,
having thus recommended the negotiation, he might,
In its progress induce me 10 say what the President
would consent TO accept, he must be disappointed
The President will accept nothing less than the
whole territory unless the Senate should otherwise
determine. The only question which he will decide
is, whether the new proposition, should any such
be made, be Of character TO justify It's submission
| TO the Senate for their previous advice"
Whilst il was eminently proper that the ulterior
and contingent views Of the President should be pre-
sented to Mr.. McLane for the regulation Of his con-
tuct and conversation, II was absolutely necessary
for that they should not be made known TO
| the British government To them, the Presidents
determination first of all and above all, TO insist up
the American title TO the whole OF Oregon could
alone with safety be revealed. Prepared 10 assert,
even to the last extremity, what he believed to be
our just right to the whole Of Oregon, in case he
| should be sustained in this position by Congress
and the country, IL became necessary, with this
view lay the subject before them in the best man.
ner to secure their appreciation. This duty he per-
formed in his message TO both houses Of the ID De-
| cember last, from which we make the following ex-
| trucis
THE extraordinary and wholly inadmissible de-
mands Of the British government, the rejection Of
the proposition made in reference alone to what had
been done by my predecessors, and the implied OBJ
| legation which their acts seemed TO impose, afford
satisfactory evidence that no compromIse which the
United States ought TO accept can be effected With
Ibis conviction, the proposition ofcompromse which
had been made and rejected, was, by my direction,
| subsequently Withdrawn, and our title 10 the whole
Oregon territory asserted, and is believed, main
| tanned by irrefragabe facts and arguments.
"The civilized world will see in these proceed
ngs spirit Of liberal concession on the part Of the
United States and this government will be relieved
from all responsibility which may follow the failure
4 to settle the controversy.
Gan attempts at compromise having failed, II be-
comes the duty OF Congtess to consider what meas
il may be proper adopt for the security and
protection of our citizens now inhabiting, or who
1 may hereafter inhabt Oregon, and for the mante-
nance Of Just title 10 that territory. In adopt
ing measures for this purpose, care should be taken
that nothing be done to violate the stpulations OF
the convention Of 1927, which is still in force. The
faith of treaties in their letter and spirit has ever
been, and trust, will ever be, scrupulously obsery-
ed by the United States Under that convention, q
years notice is required TO be given by either party
the other, before the joint occupancy shall termi-
nate and before either rghtfuy assert or exer-
else exclusive Jurisdiction any portion Of the
territory. This notice, il would, in my judgment,
be proper to give, and | recommend that provision
| be made by law for giving it accordingly, and ter
minatng in this manner the convention Of the 9Th OF
August, 1927"
| And again
"At the end of the years notice, should Congress
think ii proper to make provision for giving that no.
/ tce we shall have reached a period when the ma
tona rights in Oregon must either be abandoned or
| firmly maintained. That they cannot be abandoned
without sacrifice of both national honor and inter-
est, is too clear to admit of doubt.
| "Oregon is a part of the North American conti-
nen to which, il is confidently affirmed the title of
the United States is the best now in existence For
the grounds which that title rests, refer you to
the correspondence of the late and present Secretary
OF State with the British plenpotentary during the
| negotiation. The British proposition Of compro-
mise, which would make the Columbia the line
south of forynlne degrees, with trihing addition
Of detached territory to the United States, north Of
fhn ail
thirds Of the whole Oregon territory, including the
| free navigation ofthe Columbia and all the valuable
harbors the Pacific, can never, for a moment, be
entertained by. the United States, without aban-
donment of their just and clear territorial rights,
| their own selfrespect, and the national honor"
Can language be more clear, firm, and, at the same
| time conciliatory' Was not the President fully
justified from the facts which have been already
stated in asserting that they afforded satisfactory
evidence that compromise, which the United
States ought 10 accept, could be effectedf' Was
there a man. bearing the heart of an American in
his bosom, who did not respond to the sentiment
that the British proposition of compromise, which
would make the Columbia the line south of 49 de.
grees with trihing addition Of detached territory
TO the United Staes north OF that river and would
leave on the British side two-thirds Of the whole
Oregon territory, including the free navigation Of
the Columbia, and all the valuable harbors on the
Pacific, can never, for moment, be entertained by
the United States, without an abandonment of their
just and clear territorial rights, their selfre
spect, and the national honor" .' '
And yet this is the message which, whilst it was
hailed with enthusiasm by the mass Of the Ameri-
can people, was, by that portion of the whig party
always devoted to the mother country, condemned,
first in indstinct murmurs, and afterwards in loud
denuncations, as reckless attempt to prec!pitate
the United States into with Great Britain.
Very different was the estimate placed upon it
throughout the civilized world In every nation on
the continent of Europein every diplomatic circle
there--it called forth the highest commentators.
Ii was translated, together with the Oregon COR
respondence which accompanied it, into different
languages, and circulated more extensively than any
document which had ever emanated from any Presi-
dent OF the United States. Every American citizen,
who has visited Europe since its publication, can
bear witness how much il has elevated the character
Of our country. Wherever IL reached, it left deep
conviction that our title was good TO the whole Of
Oregon and that this title had been asserted with
the dignity and with the frmness which became a
great nation. ... ..4a