Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-04-04
IN SENATE--MARcH 80.
THE OREGON QUESTION.


The following resolution, offered days ago by Mr.. j.
M. CLAYTON, coming up in its order
Mr.. WEBSTER and said | shall advise my honora-
BILE friend the member from Delaware, to forbea from press
ing this resolution for few days.
There is doubt that there letters from Mr. McLane
but the Chairman q the Committee Foreign Relations
opposes this motion, am 10 presume that the Executive Go
veInment finds to those letters to
the Senate, at the present moment
Yet II Is obvious that the Senate called 10 perform
legislative act it ought before the hour Of It's decision
comes to be put in possession Of every thing likely to in
fuence its judgment otherwise would be required to per-
form high Legislative functions confidence. There
Is certainly some embarrassment in the II the Execu
tive Government deems the communication of the coespon-
dece inconvenent only be because negotiation still
going fsuspended is expected to be resumed So far
as negotiation is concernsd the communication, publica
on, OF the correspondence, properly be thought
convenient But then, the President has recommended the
passage OF law resolution, by the two Houses Of Con-
gress. In support of this recommendation, he himself sent
unasked, at the of the session, the
pondence up to that time Now if that necessary, the
rest Is necessary. five entitled to part entitled
70 the wholc.
In my opinion, the mistake in calling Congress to
authorize notice to England of the dsconnuance Of has
been called the joint occupation until negotiation had been
exhausted. Negotiation should have been tried FIRST and
when that had failed, and finally failed then, and till
then, should Congress have been called upon
now the ground of course, that the notice for dis
continuing the joint occupancy properly be given by
honty OF Congress point which do not discuss
1t is said, indeed, that notice is to be used weapon,
an instrument in negotiation hardly understand this 1t
is metaphor Of very obvious application. weapon
seems to imply, not facility add but the
either OF defence against attack, of making attack 1t
sounds not altogether friendly and pacific doubt exceedingly
WHETHER under present circumstances notice would hasten
negotiation and yet such those circumstances that there
may be much Inconvenience standing still in going
forward.
The truth is that great embarrassment from the
eme preensons and opinions put forward by the President
IN his inaugural address, year ago. and IN his last
December But for these notice would have been harmless
perhaps would have been authorized by both Houses with
out much opposition and received by England without dsa
hsacton But the recommendation of the notice. coupled with
the Presidents repeated declarations that he held title
the whole Of the territory be clear and unquestionabe
alarmed the country. And well it might And if notice
required in order TO enable the President push these extreme
10 and every result then notice ought to be refused
by Congress- unless Congress ready support these pre-
tensions at all hazards. Here lies the difficulty Congress
not prepared and the country is not prepared as believe,
to make the Presidents opinion of clear and unqucstopabe
right TO the whole territory umatum. he wants notice
for such purpose he certainly must that becomes
| grave question whether Congress will grant it.
II was great, very great mistake to accompany the re-
commentator of notice with positive assertion Of
right to the whole territory. Did the President to adj
here TO that, to the extremity of war If SO, he should
have known that after what has happened in past the
country not likely sustain him. Did he say
this and afterwards recede from If so, why say it at all
Surely the President could not be guilty of playing small
part endeavor show himself to possess spirit and
bodness and earesness of England, than his pede
cesso his counymen and yet do all this in the confident
hape that serious collision would arise between the two
countries So low AMBITION such paiy motives, ought
be imputed When the President declared that in his
Judgment title the whole Of Oregon clear and
gestonahe /" dill ha "a express official mere
personal opinion If the latter, certainly had NO place an
official communication II the formern he ntdDded a
solemn official opinion, upon which he resolved 10 ct
officially, then a very grave question how far he is just
fe without lights, any change of circumstances to
place the claims o country this respect other grounds
than those which they had stood under his predecessors
and with the of all branches OF the Government
fo many years for il is not be doubted that the United
States Government has admitted, through long series Of
years, that England has rights the northwestern parts OF
this continent which re entitled to be respected.
Mr. President who has observed attenyely what has
transped here and in England within the last three MONTHS
must think perceive that public opinion in both countries
coming conclusion that this controversy ought to be
settled and is not very diverse, in the country and the
other to the general basis Of such settlement That basis
is the offer made by the United States TO England in 1926
There is to doubt, think, that this country is
ready stand by that offer substantially and in effect Such
my opinion least and circumstances certainly Indicate
that Great Britain would not in all probability would not
regard such proposition unfit to be considered said,
weeks ago, that did intend to discuss titles at
LENGTH and certainly not adduce arguments against
own claim. But appears TO that there is concurrence
Of arguments considerations, favor Of regarding the
49th parallel the just line of demarcation, which both
countries might well respect II has for many years. been
the extent of claim We have claimed up 49o, and
nothing beyond it. We have offered yield every thing
north Of it. II is the boundary between the countries
this side the Rocky Mountains and has been since the pur
chase of Louisiana from France.
do not think it important either prove dispovc the
fact that under the treaty of Utrecht establish
ed the 49h parallel the boundary between the English and
the French possessions in America Ancient maps and de-
scrpons represent saying that this line Of boun
dairy is TO indefinitely west others saying in terms
that extends "to the northwestern ocean, But what is
important have considered this boundary estab
shcd by the treaty of Utrecht least this side Of the
Rocky Mountains. II the strength Of this that
drove back the British pctensions, after had obtained
Louisiana NORTH from the head waters of the Mississippi,
this parallel Of 49o.
duced others act the idea that this boundary
tuay established It stands in the treaty between the
United States and England IT, the general notion Of
coatigty, continuity, this line be continued "indef
nitely west" is allowed to to the "norhwesern
ocean then leaves side the valley Of the Columbia
to which, in my judgment, title is mantainabe on the
ground OF Gray's discovery.
The Government Of the United States has offered
any line south of forty ninc with the navigation Of the Co
umba) and ii WILL IL behoovcs all concerned TO
gard this settled point As TO the navigation Of the Co
umba, permanently for of years. that is all matter
for just reasonable, and friendly negotiation. But the 49h
parallel must be regarded the general line OF boundary,
and TO be departed from for any line further south As
all straits and sounds and islands the neghborng
all these fair subjects for treaty stipulation. II the gene
raj basis be agreed TO, all the rest be presumed may
be accomplished by the exercise Of spirit Of fairness and
amity
And now, Mr. President il this be SO, why should this
settlement be longer delayed Why should either Govern
ment hold back longer from doing that which both, think,
be DONE If they would avoid rupture Every
hours delay injurious the interests of both countries 1t