The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-07

sion OF cltizens and subjects OF tho TWO govern
ments. The quotation above is not the opinion o.
the Journal alone, but 10 oonourred In by the leading
presses Of that party IN this State. Ii defines III.
wing position on this question: position they
have taken far too hastily, and from which they
will retire or be driven, with about such laurel,
as they obtained in the Texas war OF snhsxs
| ton.
THAT an American, who has examined the sub.
jet, should be willing TO submit our claims to Ore
gon to the decision ofany umpire, seems strange to
US; and we cannot help believing that opposition to
the President has had not 4 little TO do in bring
ing any one TO Eadvoests so dangerous a scheme
We admit that, in ordinary matters between indi-
yduals arbitration is often very proper and salts
factory mode Of settling difficulties; and il might dc
IN national controversies Of minor importancei and
even those OF greater moment might be thus settled
where The Interest Of each party was nearly equal
and an impartial arbiter could be found. But such
Is not now the case.
"Mr. Buchanan has ably set forth the reasons why
the United States cannot put tho decision Of her
right TO Oregon out Of her own hands; and among
these is mentioned the fact that the territory is OF
vast importance to US, while il 10 of little eonse-
quence to England. Indeed, il will soon be worth
nothing TO her. except to keep us from direct COM
municatlon from the Pacific ocean, 10 contract our
limits, 10 obstruet our commerce. and give us wide
extent Of inland frontier, scarcely susceptible oil
defence, But theee objects are sufficient TO make
Ehblduu ucoHc OIckOut "nllc al inc ltHc hcy
are not Of so great moment that she would not be
willing TO risk their partial loss, rather than engage
IN war with us, just n0to. We desire tho undis-
turbed and undivided possession Of Oregon, because
1t belongs 70 US by right Of our own discovery and
purchase from Span because IL 10 contiguous 10
the settled portions OF our country, because Il Is
destined TO be the future home OF those hardy pion-
GERS whose enterprise is constantly extending our
empire westward, and TO whom, and those like
them, we are indebted for the development OF the
riches Of the Mississippi valley; because Our COM
merce increasing, and we need depot for II upon
this western coast and because we do not desire to
be hemmed in on all sides by government whose
power is great and whose institutions adverse
10 our own. Our Interests are too vast 10 be thus
put 10 hazard,
"But what would be the probable consequence of
arbitration We have offered, for the sake Of peace,
TO concede TO England all the territory north Of the
49th degree Of north latitude. She has offered 10
take the Columbia river as the boundary. II we
judge OF the future by past experience, the arbtra'
tor would not look much TO the rights Of the
tending parties, as to the compromise Of the dis.
putei and he would very naturally run the line
about half way between the mouth Of the Colum-
bia and the i9th parallel. And what would be the
effect upon us Of such arrangement Why, that
we would not have a single safe and capacous hsr-
Dor upon our western coast no place Of resort for
our navy, no depot for our commerce; and at the
same time England would be amply provided in this
respect Were the compromise line agreed upon
which we have offered, England would have the ad-
vantage Of us in point Of harbors; ami even were a
boundary further north conceded to US, England
would have ample protection TO her shipping inter-
est; but this would not be the case with US were
the line further south. We have offered, then,
every inch which we can spare, without reference
to our right to the whole territory, and this too,
without the Intervention Of an arbitrator. Justice
to our interest will not allow the President to do
al
ton az shall impose upon it the obligation to accede
to boundary south Of 49 degrees (shoud arbiter
30 decde,) he does what may work gross injustice.
But we have no fears on this head. Will those
wings who are now such advocates Of arbitration,
tell us what We gained by referring the northeastern
boundary question: Were our rights adjudicated at
alp By no means. Neither would they be were
the Oregon controversy submitted in like manner;
and we have shown that our offer already has left
no room for compromise award, after the fashion
of that in reference the Maine boundary"
From the Richmond Enquirer, March
ave presume that the National Intelligencer,
which led of triumphantly in its assaults upon the
administration, for promptly, though coureously and
pacifcaly, rejecting arbitration, hos long since be-
come thoroughly satisfied of itsextraordinary error
in referring TO only two thrccjournals sustaining
the President on tina, point. The mails from North
and South have come tn freghted with articles in
the papers, both neutral and wing, fully jusfying
the noble and manly stand of Mr.. Polk. On no
isolated question have we seen more universal har-
mony Of opinion. We confidently believe that
we're the naked question submitted to the people,
whether Mr.. Polk or was not right in declining
the offer Of arbitration, but feeble echo would be
heard in the negative.
''To our minds the question involves every consid-
Grafton that can be dear to us. If we give up our
territory TO be arbitrated away, what guarantee
have we against submitting to the fatal trLu-
and rnht. Hath,
at home and abroad BY the same process of rea-
soning, citizen who has in his possession all the
muniments of title TO piece of aad, should be
duired, upon the demand Of tenant at will, or by
sufferance, to peril his genuine title by placing it in
the power of partial and corruptible umpire. All
Europe or America qualified to aTbitrate. But, say
the whigs why not call in the arbitrament of pri-
vate citizens We not unusually distrustful Of
the honesty of mankind; but we confess our
deliberately formed apprehensions of the nat
ural effect of the fascinating arts and bound
less resources Of English diplomacy upon the
frmest and most patriotic minds. The decision
Of such momentous Questions of territorial rights
should be left to the selected agents of the people,
sworn to do their duty and responsible for their acts
We have confidence in the honesty and sense of
justice and patriotism of the government, without
calling in the aid of irresponsible individuals, whose
award would not be conclusive upon either govern
be speedily arranged by negotiation. Were arbi-
tration agreed upon, we have every fear that it
would not only produce delay, but engender still
more embarrassment and irritation, and lead to an
outbreak, which we all desire to avoid.
"To show the sentiment of the country on this
question, we extract few striking and unanswera-
BILE passages from the newspaper press, leaving out
Of view the democratic journals. The New Orleans
Picayune (neutraD says, for the stand which the
President has taken, every American must praise
him.
"The New York Commercial (whig) adds: g,
"A few words more respecting the refusal Of the
offer to arbrate. We do not see in it, az our cor
respondent does, a refusal, because in arbitration
should run the risk Of losing part, and therefore
evidence of determination to have the whole. The
risk was Of losing the WHOLE at least of the only
valuable partto wit: that between the 49,h parallel
and the Columbia river. 1.-THE British offer had Sc
cured to all south ofthe 18th PARALLEL and proposed
arbitration as To the rest, then probably it would
have been accepted. At all events we should say
it ought to have been accepted But the proposition
covered the whole; Of it placed at risk our
final possession of any part, and we believe, the
people Of the United States would not sanction any
such arrangement.
FINALLY an To public opnion and feelinp Our