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

III 10 WIN pleasure mat we lay before our read
ers the able communication of our much esteemed
correspondent, = E. c. in relation to the Oregon
question. As We have frequent, remarked here
tofore, our columns are always open to articles
whether they advocate or oppose the positions we
have taken, or the opinions we have advanced up
on any Of the prominent topics OF State OF Nation.
al politics. In this country nothing can ever b.
lost to truth from the freedom Of political discus
sion. Its one Of the strongest bulwsrk Of iber
~. axd long ii is preserved free from the ex
IRENE violence Of partisan feeling, it cannot fai
to advance the cause of humsn rights. on the pro.
per maintenance Of which depend the future desi
MES OF the human lace. Il may possibly be the
case, that our people are sometimes too prone tC
investigate but one side of questions which In
volve important interests that clash and conflict
with those Of other Nations. We suppose IL i,
for this reason, and acting under this belief. tba
our correspondent has undertaken to develop III,
grounds upon which the English Government has.
their prctensions to what he calls . beneficial in
terest in the Oregon territory. While We nppre
ciate bis motives, Wa emrhscally dissent from hi,
positions, and shall attemp, in our humble name,
to demonstrate their fallscy.
We cannot undertake to say that the argument,
and facts we shall advance in tho progress Of oul
Undertaking will Approximate to correct palitica
principles, if subjected the test Of political par
tssn.hip; but va are confident they are America,
in their character, and A. such must challenge TIE
approval of the patriotic Citizens Of the Who'll,
country. Nor do we positively assert that the po
stions we have already taken in reference to ihi,
absorbing question approximate to our correspon.
thing we do we'll know they wsre on the sid.
Of eur Country. and what we considered her JUS
rights. and. therefore, we think, will contrast favor
ably with the advocacy Of British pre,ensions in
which our correspondent, slthoush. a. we scknow.
Lodge with the pursst motives, has bern pleased "a
indulge. The correctness of our relative position.
must necessarily be . matter Of opinion; and We
are willing refer the decision Of the question to
the tribunal Of an enlightened public. confident 81
we are. that il we have erred. We have done so on
=
der all circumstances, is tho Alpha and Omega Of
our hopes and wishes.
Before proceeding to brief and suceinct OK
animation Of the positions Of our correspondent, we
would offer remark upon one of hi. prelimins.
ry observations. 1.-THE great difference" he OBJ
serves, "be,ween the Wing and Loco Foco party al
present. appears to be, that we are generally viii
ling to negotiate, and pay soms respect to British
claims upon the territory, whilst their cry 10 'slI
none, which fpe,severed in mus, inevitably pro.
duce war;" We would respectfully ask of our Cor.
respondent. whether after Mr.. Polk attempt I'D
just the difficulty by der Of nearly one hsl II
ofthe territory in dispute, this 10 "rendering unto
Cesar tho things that are CssarsT The c,y Of
"a or none" originated we admit, with ihe official
organ at Washington, but it was subsequently sof.
tened by explanation. and the avowed action of the
government has been entirely opposed to that
position. ~ 10 secure the emphatic appreciation Of
those distinguished Wing statesmen. Me.srs. Ar
cher and Mangum, and TO produce an extr.ordIps
~ union of sentiment, among the politicians of the
country. We express no opinion to tho propre-
~ of an immediate termination Of the joint occupa
ton of the Oregon territory, bur- wi'L the evidences
contained in tie public journals before US. we do
not hesitate to say that the American title 10 the
rhoie of Oregon. has a hundred sdvocstes in this
country at the present Time where it had before
the publication of the diplomatic correspondence
between the British and American PIenipotentia-
ries.
With these remarks we .hsll proceed to examine
The positions taken by our correspondent.
Our respondent rntertains tho opinion that
Great Britain has sone &C aims, almost amounting
to rights, throughout the whole territory. found
ed on The Nootka Sound Convention, and our sx6.
sequens Conventions 9th her"
We cannot suppose tina, our intelligent CORES.
pendent really believes that Great Britain derives
'sny claims, almost amounting to rights" from the
Convention Of Joint occupancy agreed upon in g.
Is, and subsequently rel ewed IN 1897. BY the 81
article Of that Convention, far from yielding any
thing either side it wa. expressly stipulated that
The claims of the two Governments should remain
in the same condition as before. without prejudice
10 either The sole object OF that Convention vas
to postpone the adjustmen, of the controversy until
such time both nations should be more fully pre-
pared to enter upon il. The United States .urren-
dered not one ot or little of their previous claims.
and at the Presen, moment occupy the same posi-
tion as TO title as they did before thst Convention
was made. We shall dlsmiss this part Of the sub
lect without farther comment.
But it ia by the Nooks Sound Convention of 1890
that Great Britain possesses 'csims almost amour
ting TO rights"
10 treating this subject, it may be we'll TO lay
down some authority 10 relation TO compscls be-
tween nations to guide us 10 our inveslig s,iens.-
We happen to possess one. which, in reference to
this very controversy has been quoted with sppro-
baton in England.
General compac;s between nations"
says Mr.. Wheaton, may be divided INTO
what are Gale d transitory conventions. and
treaties properly so termed. The frat
are perpetual in their nature, so that being
once carried into effect, they subsia indie
pendent Of any change in the sovereignty
and form Of government Of the contracting
parties; and although their operation msy
in some cases be suspended during pay.
they reuipe on The return Of peace 1iihout
any erpresss stipulation. Sucn are treat
les Of ccssion, boundary, or exchange Of