Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-01-29

pcuieBA. dfuttpn Is recommended and
desired. On what principles ought that
partition 10 be made Evidently on iAoss
OF equal benefit and advantage.
! In our view of tho question. the Amer.
cans, having no exclusive right Of sover.
} elgniv, cannot trPat cur fellow subjects
as mere.ienants-ai-will nor drive them
J to whatever corner Of the Oregon thew
choose, at the same time claiming for
| themselves greai credit Tor forbearance.
| They have both an tqual RICH, TO the dis.
puted territory "a tlgist arising from oc.
scupati0n yearly identca. in time aud sim.
liar ~ purpose. And IL greater share
az land is 70 be accorded 10 one than to
the other, this award must be made, not
as a recognition right, but Of those con.
sidefaions which the proximity. numbers,
and the past labors Of American settlers
Introduce as necessary elements in tho
adjustment Of the dispute considerations
which, IN all suel important matters, tits
impossible TO merge in the technicalities
oi law or the minutie o! title.
But ii the award CT territorial distric,
may be modified by these considerations,
care mus, be taken that no such moda.
cation be carried to she extent OF positive
deprivation; and that though TIE British
settlers may lose IN the superficial measure.
ment Of their area, yet that they she'll not
lose of those collateral advantages which
are absolutely indispensable for the pro.
secution OF their trade--such as the
great water privilege Of the Columbia and
the harbor at its mouth. Now, in what
way can this pal tltlon BIO made so as to
reserve these advantages, ard at The same
time TO give TO tho counter claimants not
only al that they may demand as the
right oil their possession, but all TO which
their numbers and proximity enil,le lhemi
An equal line Of partition would be con-
thu 4hon from the Rocky Mountains, not
Of that line which has already been fixed
on as the commencement Of the boundary,
bot Of a line one degree to the south Of il,
drawn to the southern cape on the outline
OF Juan de Fuca's Straits.
This would, as nearly as il is possible,
be the divisional line OF the disputed dis
trict, and would give US greater extent
OF coast land to the north than we care
to claim. But the 49lh parallel Of north
latitude having already been fixed on by
the Convention Of London as the com.
mencemens Of the boundary, such dyis-
ion is Of course out OF the question. We
only notice it to show that our starting
point is not one OF perfect equality. As
the matter already stands, previous con.
vention has ratified certain principle of
concession. We have not claimed all
that the circumstances Of the case and
the ambiguity Of right would have justif.
ed US in claiming. And, knowing this,
We feel that we are bound by our duty to
our own countrymen resident in those
districts. to protest against any wanton or
careless compromise OF their Interests
+ We are not soliciious to push our right TO
its extreme point. We, therefore, will
not caim for them, nor for ourselves. that
capaclous district between the soulh.e cas-,
band Of the Columbia and the Rocky
Mountains. We concede thls-we con-
cede it because We prefer settlement 10
a litigation, q compromise 10 contest,
pr ace 10 war. We concede naked right
for the retention of an undeniable good.
But we cannot acquiese in the surrender
OF positive and long enjoyed benefits.
We think, then, tina. every purpose
both Of honor and interest would be an
swered, il the British Minister, on whom
now deyolyes the duty Of making fresh pro-
posals to the Government OF the United
States, Were 10 renew on his part the offer
made to England by Mr.. Galatin in the
presidency and under the direction of Mr..
Adams. That proposal was to take The
49th degree oinorth latitude as far as the
sea as the the boundary line, reserving 10
Great Britain Fancouyer's Island, the bar.
Dor OF st. Juan de Fuca; and the free nayi.
CATION oetae Columbia. This would be
concession as far as superficial area Of
ground is concerned. 1t would leave the
United States masters OF tho greater part OF
the Oregon. But il would secure the prln.
ci2al advantage OF the country, the free
navigation Of the Columbia, to the servants
of the Hudson's Bay Company, es well as
harborage, anchorage, aud settlements for
English vessels trading with China and our
posse ssions in Australia and New Zealand.
1t would concede all that The most sue
cess(ul war cosld acquire--a sovereign
but barren dominion; out it would secure
all the commercial blessings Of an honorn-
ble compromise ard rational peace. II
would not deprive the native Americanso
any equitable advantage, but it would re-
tain for Fnglishmen that privilege to which
they are justly ertitled-lhe privilege Of
sharing in the traffic between North
America and the English settlements ia
the Pacific. No impartial man can ex.
pect that an English Minister would sver
consent to transfer TO the United States the
monopoly Of the carrying trade between
Hudson's Boy aud English colonies oliha9
sea.
The London Times OF Dec "a, ia a long article
summing up the dideren, points Of the Presidents
Message, concludes with the following remsfssia
relation TO oregon:-
The terms OF the Message imply, then,
the alternative of war or conclusive mo-
po.iation. War IS too monstfous 10 DO
thought Of for moment, except after eV'
cry effort q, compromise has been ex'
haasied. Britain aud America must DO
I 49,. .o,s;hl., oT thar mutual benefits mu-