The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-08-01
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH OF
Sir Robert Peel,
BEFORE THE RESIGNATION OF THE
> BRITISH MINISTRY.

House Of Commons, Tuesday, June 80.
The house will probably recollect
that, after we had offered arbitration,
and that ofIe: had been rejected, the
President of the United States sent q
message to the house of Congress in
that country which led TO discussion
with regord to the termination Of that
convention which provided for a tenn
porary adjustment Of our Differences
at least for temporary avoidance OF
quarrel--and enabled the two countries
jointly to occupy the territory Of the
Oregon. Sir, the two houses OF the
American Congress, although advising
the President Of the United States to
signify to this country, as he was en-
powered to do, the termination Of the
existing convention, by giving years
notice, added to that advice, which
might, perhaps, have been considered
of an unsatisfactory or hostile charac-
ter, the declaration that they advised
the notice for the termination OF the
convention to be given, in order that
| it might facilitate an amicable adjust
ment of the dispute. We thought the
addition Of these words by those high
authorities, the expression of hope
that the termination Of the convention
might the more strongly impress upon
| the two countries the necessity OF am
icable adjustment. We thought that
those expressions removed any barrier
to a renewal by either country Of the
attempt to settle this difference. We
did not hesitate, therefore, within
two days after the receipt of that in
teligence of wish expressed by the
houses OF Congress that efforts might
be made for the peaceful termination
of these disputes, although the offer of
arbitration had been rejected--we did
not hesitate to do that which, in the
present state of the dispute, it became
essential 10 do--not to propose renew
ed and heightened negotiations, but to
specify frankly and at once what were
the terms on which we could consent
to partition of the country of the Or
egon. Sir, the President of the Uni
ted States, Imust say, whatever might
have been the expressions heretofore
made by him, and however strongly he
migt have beeu personally committed
to the adoption of different course,
wisely and patriotically determined at
once to refer our proposals to the SEN
ate--that authority of the United States
whose consent is requisite for the ter
mination Of any negotiation Of this kind;
and the Senate, again acting in the
same spirit, has, | have the heartfelt
satisfaction 10 state, at once advised
the adoption Of the terms we offered
them. Sir, perhaps, from the Impor-
tance of the subject, and considering
this is the last day shall have to ad-
dress the house as minister of the
crown, | may be allowed to state what
are the terms of the proposals we made
to the United States on the Oregon
question. In order to prevent the ne
cessity for renewed diplomatic negoti-
ations, we sent convention, which we
trusted the United States would accept.
The first article of that convention was
to this effect, that
"From the point on the 49th paral-
lei of north latitude, where the boun-
dairy laid down in existing treaties and
conventions between Great Britain
and the United States terminates, line
of boundary between the territories OF
her Britannia Majesty and those OF the
United States shall be continued west
ward, along the said 49th parallel of
north latitude, to the middle of the chan
mel which separates the continent from
Vancouvsr's island, and thence south
erIy through the middle Of the said
channel and of Fuca's straits to the
Pacific ocean; provided, however, that
the navigation Of the said channel and
straits south of the 49th parallel Of north
latitude remain free and open to both
parties"
| Those who remember the local con-
j formation of that country will under
stand that we proposed the continual
ton of the 4sth parallel Of latitude till
liz strikes the straits Of Fuca; that it
should not be continued acrDss Van
cOuvers island--but leaving Us in pos