Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-02-19
FROM WASHINGTON,
From the Boston Courier.
Important Oregon Correspondence.
WASHINGTON Feb. 7, Saturday evening. J

WASHINGTON Feb 7, Saturday EVENING"
The President OF the United States, to-day, has
transmitted important correspondence to Congress,
upon the Oregon question. 1t IS made up OF letters
from Mr.. Buchanan to Mr.. McLane-of the purport of
conference between Lr McLane and the Earl Of
Aberdeen, upon the need of the preparations making
in England for the defence of the country, and of
important correspondence between the British minister
and the Secretary of State the last letter being from
the Secretary of State, and bearing the date of the
4th inst.
Mr.. Buchanan requests Mr.. McLane to obtain an in-
terview with Lord Aberdeen, and to inquire Of him
whether the preparations making for de ence have any
reference to the state of affairs between England and
the United States. Lord Aberdeen answers that they
have reference to the possibility of such rupture, but
that they originated in no such anticipation, having
been commenced before the present state of our affairs
with England
Mr. McLane said that his interview was frank and
straightforward he believes the preparations had
reference to the state of affairs in Europe-but that it
is unimportant to us what the reason of prepare
tions since it is made. England in of war, would
undoubtedly her utmost power to destroy the COM
merce and business of the country.
1 Mr. Pakenham, on the 9th December, proposes to
offer the territory immediate dispute to arbitration
Mr.. Buchanan on the Sd Of January, declines this,
because the question of title to the whole territory ia
not proposed to be submitted to arbitration
Mr.. Pakenham rejects this, and asks MIR. Bicho ~,
how the proposition to refer the question of .,o u"
third power will be received by him, if o.ao S H.
British government In case q an r,nu,ingross ~
refer arbitration to crowned ho1ds ,nxod
with umpire OF board of onrossioners + s ,,g-
gested, may be selected. a proposition to arbraie
through friendly powers ri persons, fhe British Minis
ter says VIII prove to tie world that England not only
nus the utmost corr ldence in her title, but that she is
most desrous OF preserving peace between the United
States and the world Mr. Pakenham says he makes
the rst ocr to arbitrate for the disputed part of the
territory (between 46 and 49 under instructions from
ms government. The second, be lntimutes, may be
offered upon the question of te should the Secreta-
ry of State give inmation that it will be accepted
f." Mr. Buchanan in behalf of the President, replies
that if the government of the United States would con-
sent to negotiate at ALL will be only upon the ques-
ton of title. Further on he says that the claims of the
United States of undoubed character that 1t
cannot consent to eopardze the claims of the govern
ment by arbitration at all. The territory was of but
little Importance to England and Of the highest mpor-
lance to the United States. Many states might be
made there to become hereafter part of the Union
l. No matter how respectable the arbitrarors or how in
tegen whether Of sovereigns states or citizens the
government of the United States, Mr.. Buchanan says
will not consent to refer its claim to the whole terrific
; ry to arbitration.
The correspondence was ordered to be printed with
out debate though the debate upon the main question
4 has been before the committee through the day.