The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-02-25
Great Britain and the United
States.
States

abstract Of the late correspondence between
Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Pakenham. twill
be seen that another unsuccessful attempt
has been made to effect settlement pc
tween Great Britain and the United States
relative to the Oregon Territory. Our
government has properly refused 10 submit
q the arbitration of Sovereign or State,
the question Of an equitable division Of the
territory"-for were it to adopt such
course. Mr.. Buchanan states, that i would
amount to an express acknowledgement on
the part Of our government that England
had rights to q portion of that Territory,
and would "preclude the United States
from claiming the whole before the arbitra-
tOr." In reply, Mr.. Pakenham' has reques-
ted to know whether or not, It would be
consonaut to the views Of the United States
Government, to leave the question OF tue
to the whole territory, instead of partition
as at first proposed, toarbitration, provided,
that should neither party be ascertained to
possess perfect title, that the territory
should be divided according to the claims OF
the cOntending parties. Mr.. Buchanan has
replied that the precision annexed to the last
proposition, renders it liable to the same OBJ
lection urged against the previous one
He states Elf the government of the uni
ted States should consent to an arbitration,
upon such condition, this might, and pro-
badly would be construed into an intima-
ton, if not direct invitation to the arbitra-
tors to divide the territory between the two
parties"-that if the President were to con-
sent to an arbitration, the title, alone, would
be referred to the arbitrators. He moreO-
yer declares that the territorial rights Of our
country cannot be considered as proper
subjects for arbitration, and that even if it
were Left to the decision Of third party it
would, in all probability +" involve the ques-
ton in new difficulties" He then proceeds
in mastery manner, to show of how much
greater Importance is the territory in dis
pute to our government than Great Britain.
For while it lies contiguous to the territory
Of the former, and will be "an avenue
through which tha commetce of our Yves.
tern States can be probably conducted
with Asia and the westerf' coast OF this
continent is situated far distant from
the latter, and can never be Of more than
minor advantage to her.
The position which Of government has
taken win meet with the cordial approval
Of The great body Of the American people.
They can never consent to place their just
rights ii the hands Of those who are in
tended in arresting their onward march to
greatness, to be disposed Of as they may
deem proper.
But the most important Intelligence which
the correspondence develOPes, is the con-
fession on the part of Lord Aberdeen to
Mr.. McLane, that although the great naval
and military preparations, which have been
recensly made Il England were not with
direct reference to 4 difficulty with the Uni
ted States Onthe Oregon question, yet, they
lrere compelled to look q he possibility q
such az eUent! Mr.. McLane's letter CON-
municating the result Of his enquiries relative
to the great military and naval preparations
England has been making, declares that
the vessels are "Preeisely Of the character
to be most appropriate in war with oE
country" and that, I" / am by no means
prepared to admit that the apprehension OF
difficulties with the United States had no
share ia them; and it is very clear that i
a rupture with the United States should
grow out Of our present difficulties, Eng
Land win be as fidlyaad 6ect,'ally prepared
lor il at ell points, and for all possible Pur-
poses, as if that, and that alone, had been
he object Of all heriwarlike preparations, .
a. moreover she SOiH Be N situation
b strike as promptly and sigHaLy as she
could hare been citk her energies crcll-
sfueIv dinscisd to that end" Thus it APP
pears th.l while England has been quietly
making extensive preparations, 50 that she
can wage q war Of determination, and hurl
her thunder bolts With power and eHeci, The
r.oreseutstivss Of the psoDlo of the Uniled