The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-17
WASHINGTON, Feb. IA, 1876.

WASHINGTON, Feb. IA, 1876.
In looking at the present position Of the Secretary
Of State, every must be struck with its extreme
difficulty, not only regards the settlement Of the
great questions at issue between foreign powers
and this country; but also referedfe y the Secre-
tary himself, az political man. N
No one will deny to Mr.. Buchanan the possesaien
of considerable abilities, both as a legislator and
urist, as his course IN the Senate Of the United
States, upon all questions Of that character, will
proves but it is clear to all-and his friends do not
disguise it-that the State Department, is not one
which is congenial either to his habits feelings.
Mr. Buchanan is not at home in it, and only re
mains there out of difference to the wish Of the Ex
cutive, rather than in compliance with his own de
sire. His department one which requires man
of Z prompt and decisive cast Of chara cter-an
abiding confidence IN his own CONVICTIONS OF right
the moral courage to enforce and carry them out
and who, at glance can understand the bearing OF
his own propositions, as well as those OF an acute
and subtle adversary. MI. Buchanan may under
stand very well the technical points of case al
law, or the value Of section in an act Of general
legislation but he has not had any great snare OF
experience in the art Of diplomacy This il no dis
credit to him. as many men o. ,s n,. ess ,sn.
fully with an adversary like Mr.: Pakenham =
His last correspondence with Mr. Fakenhsm
shows this. In that correspondence the Bri-
fish Minister very cunningy proposed, tnat In
plete title to the Oregon territory, fair division OF
It should be made. Instead OF telling Mr. Psken-
ham, az ne ought to have done, that neither party
mad a complete title to il, but that the American
government had the best one, he raised several
questions in regard to it, which the British Minister
had not mooted, and about which there was no dis
cusson, and then throwing himself back upon this
tells his adversary that he would not arbi-
trate or terminate the dculty, except ne strike his
flag at once and accede 70 these views. was
cumstances Of the case! ! think NOT HAD
Mr.. Buchanan permitted the negotiation SUI
to have gone on, and suffered the proposition
of arbitration to remain an open quosuon, =.
In state OF sbeyancs, the nLiu ,'1s .ccens The
offer Of the 10Th parallel in consldersuon o. an az
surance from this government OF in oeterminauon
10 reduce the duties upon British aorcs 20 me rcve-
nue. standard. In continuation oI uiis nypotiess,
will mere observe, that Lord Aberdeen, on hearing
IS M pskrnham's unqualified refusal to receive
~. asy, nj Tins government, remarkeds Ii ought
s W. hsve heen rejected before having been SUBJ
m;,,ed Tor consideration TO me- Although TINS de-
nIara,ion was not direct censure upon the course
~ the British Minister, it manfestly implied some
at his course, and showed mat ne
Rr,,,sh government would not have closed the me-
DONATIONS, without making another effort to settle
the question upon something approximaung TO tnat
basis. That Mr.. Pakenham had not exceeded me
limits Of his instructions, in declining that oner,
will do that gentleman the justice 70 say ; ou1. In
deciding the point for himself, without informing
his government first OF the offer, even u ne nao
been instructed to do it, IN the event OF sucn oeink
made, was, to say the least an ossisfIs r w ,s.n
i N nero,iators have erred TO consldersoe eA-
J. !. yyh,sh IL = their duty to correct forihwitn,
uoless each be determined to act the part Of the oog
in The panQer, which refused to eat the hay nmsen,