True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-02-18
OYcgOn-'Thc Notice.


We entirely approve Of the vote by whicl
the Senate have postponed the consideration 0
the Oregon bill till the 10Th Of February, bu
in other respects, we confess the aspect of affairs
seems TO us unsatisfactory,
The wing members of the Senate have, as i
is generally understood, come to the conclusion
TO oppose tie notice bill; if this be so, and j
there is any considerable detection from the
administration ranks, that measure must be de.
feated-a result we are clearly OF opinion, Of
very Ill omen to the maintenance of peace.
The wing party .seem~most unaccountably
to have worked themselves into the belief that
the notice bill is war measure, and they op.
pose it as such. 1t seems to us, however, clear.
iythe only course likely TO preserve peace The
negotiation is broken off; we have made an off
or which the nation is satisfied is the best we
ought to make; no one thinks that we ought to
settle The Oregon question by any line south Of
the forty-ninh degree, or without an equitable
division Of the ports on the Pacific This offer
has been refused with little courtesy to say the
best Oft, and the administration now call on the
national legislature to do what? not at all; SIM
ply to terminate the joint occupation treaty-in
other words, to give notice that the matter mast
IN some way or other be settled,
The joint occupation was very Ineligible so
long as both parties were willing to postpone
the adjustment Of the question But it becomes
absurd the moment both nations are convinced
that the matter must be closed; and we believe
no one supposos that the Oregon question can,
with any safety be left open any longer To
leave it thus would lead to inevitable collision.
in addition to the infinite evils resulting from
prolongation OF doubt and uncertainty. The
Oregon question, therefore, must be settled.
This is our poslulate-our axiom.
How then is it to be settled? Negotiation is
for the present closed. Nobody supposcs that
the government can nobody suggests that it
should make new offer. To repeat the former
would be absurd to make less favorable pro.
position would by the whole country be secuted.
We have nothing, therefore to do but to remain
absolutely passive, or to give the notice Bat
he day Of "masterIy inactivity" is passed. Il
was a very good policy once but ii is no longer
| possible policy Inactivity means inactivity
If speech as well as Of action, aud after dcclar-
ne our right to the whole of Oregon, and our
lbsolutc determination not to take less than the
ntirc territory south Of the lgth, the line Of
passive conduct has been completely aud forever
Jandonod We must act and act at once, with .
irmncss aud prudence
As we have SAID, we think there is no press
ng haste about the Oregon bill; the 10Th Of I.
'ebruaryis better than the 10Th Of January. and .
ny time would do before the end oflhe session;
ut il, by union Of the whig portion Of the
cnato with few Of lheadministralon members .
&c measure should be defeated, and Congress .
Sc without doing anything, it seems to us that
lie peace Ofthe country would be inevitably
laced in jeopardy
1t will then stand thus we make great de.
arations Of our rights, but take no steps to en-
rec them. We leave question Of the most
rIiating nature entirely open, and take no mca-
ire that can lead to an adjustment; and finally
e government, with clear nominal majority
both houses, Is beaten on its own vital mca-
re. y more absolute proclamation Of nation.
incaPacily could no, be made aud that Great
rlain will take advantage ofthat incaracirv
requires no prophet TO forcScc
We have vet 10 find the first instance where
e has spared an imbocile or helpless power
the government cannot carry through this
cstion Of notice, it cannot command the ma
nal force; and there is not single fibre Of It's
ministration that would not feel the PARALYSIS
the shock And the worst oft is. that ifthis
casurc Is now postponed, it is indefinitely post
ned. There is no reason to expect any change
the state Of parties in The Senate likely 10 a
ID 10 a different result. !
We are well satisfied thatthis Oregon matter
mot be safely carried through cxcep, by an !
niniSntion sustained BY prudent bot decisive
'PoH IN each House No nation can deal g
'h England If il palters, or trihcs, or h,sita. II
1t Is no such course that, in our judgment. q
j secure peace Il was no such course that &
urod Us from war with France in 1896 y
CAT Rrifsfn .at.frf las go, Of. ., 49,. . ...f 4