Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-02-19

dress to him on fhe 9th of last month.
The note of the undersigned propos-
ed to the government of the United
States, that the whole question Of an
| equitable partition Of the Oregon terri
sory should be referred to the arbitra-
ton Of some friendly sovereign or
state.
In his nnswer,the Secretary of State
informed the undersigned that his prop
os:tion could not be accepted. Thai,
/ it did moi propose TO refer TO arbiira
|t:on the question Of Tie title to the Or
egon ierritory claimed BY the two pow
ers respectively. That in proposing
to refer to a friendly sovereign or state
merely the partition or equitable divi-
sion Of the territory between the parties,
it assumes the fact that the title OF
Great Britain TO q portion Of the terri
tory is valid, and thus takes for granted
the very question in dispute. That
under this proposition the very terms
ofthe submission would contain an ex :
press acknowledgment of the right Of
Great Britain to a portion Of the terri
tory, and would necessarily preclude
the United States from claiming the
whole te,rito lefore tie arbitra-
tor; and this, too, the Secretary of
State goes on to observe, in the face Of
his note to the undersigned of 3Oth
August, by which the President had
asserted in the most solemn form the
title ofthe United States to the whole
territory,
1t is not the purpose Of the under
signed in the present note to renew the
discussion as to the tile of either par
ty, Great Britain or in the United
States, TO the whole or to any part of
the Oregon territory. He must, how
ever, beg leave, with reference TO the
observation which he has just quoted,
to remind the United States Secretary
of State, that if The government of the
United States have formally advanced
claim to the whole OF the Oregon
territory, it is no less certain that
Great Britain has, in manner equally
formal, declared that she, too, has
rights in the Oregon territory, incom-
pa,ib!e with The exclusive clam advanc-
ed BY the United States.
This declaration, arising from con-
viction equally sincere, will, the under
signed is persuaded, be viewed with
the same consideration by the govern
ment of the United States, as they ex-
pee, that their own declaration should
receive at the hands Of the govern
ment Of Great Britain.
This promised, the object Of tie I'M
designed in addressing 10 Mr.. Buch-
anan the present communication is to
ascertain from him whether, supposing
the British government to entertain no
objection to such course, it would
suit the views of the United States
government to refer to arbitration, not,
as has already been proposed, the ques-
ton Of an equitable partition of the ter
ritory, but the question of title in either
of the two powers TO the whole terrific
nv, subject of course 10 the condition
that if neither should be found, in the
opinion of the arbitrator, to possess a
complete title to the whole territory,
there should. in that case. be assigned
to each tina, portion Of territory which
would, in The opinion Of the aroilrating
power, be called for by a just appreci-
alton of'the respective claims OF each.
The undersigned has suggested a
reference on the above principle TO
! some friendly sovereign or state.
This the undersigned believes to be
the course usually followed in such ca
ses; it is that which has already been
resorted 10 by the two governments,
| (and more than cnce. But ;here-may
! be other forms ofarb,ration, perhaps,
more agreeable to the government OF
the United States.
There might bs, fosiaslance, mix
ed commission, with an umpire APP
pointed by common consent; d there.
might be a board, composed of the
most distinguished civilians and jn:ist>
of the time, appointed in such man
'''ner as should bring all pending CUES
tons To- the. decision Of the most en-
lightened, impartial, and independent
minds.
In thc.present position of affairs, and
feeling how much the interests Of both
countries require an early as we'll as an
amicable and satisfactory adjustment Of
existing difficulties, the un .ersigned
earnestly invites the Secretary of State
10 take the subject Of this note into
consideration, with view 10 such ar
rangement on'the principle Of arbitra-
ton as may seem to the government Of
the United States to be most just.