Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-09-18
MIR. McLane's Reply.

ton of our small-light President Polk.
Mr.. McLane's Reply.
Mr. Chairman and Gentcmen.--lt is so difficult ms
almost to discourage the attempt to find adequate
words in which to make you my thanks for the sense
YOU entertain Of public services and for the HITTER
ing terms in which you have been pleased. 10 give j,
expression Such compliment proceeding from such
body OF my counrymcn, wouli he an ample reward
for greater merit than could possibly pretend to and
will not attempt to disguise the sincere qualification it
has afforded me Highly as value it however it gives
me pleasure to acknowledge that. being myself upon
the occasion To which yon particularly refer only an
instrument in assisting the purposes OF others, the
greater share OF appreciation Is due to those with
Won have cC-GpPratcd.
Omittng for moment more particular reference
to the conduct and dispositions ut govern
ment, may without improperly. assure you. that
your reference TO the distinguished British statesman
by whom the negotiation on the part ut that govern
nent was directed is fully mrrej, and lint upon any
occasion OF congratulaun upon the result, too much
praise cannot be bestowed upon his manly sense, and
unwavering determination to promote an amicablc
settlement OF the question.
am free at the time to assure You, gentlemen,
that no be more sensible o the importance OF
peace oil interests of the county AMI especially TO
those which You wothly represent thrn am. o
course where the honor OF the country Is involved no
one would stop count the cost, or estimate the evils
Of war; but il is gratifying cyi tence o iii advance oi
the age in which live that the rulers OF states are
not afr lid to acknowledge that the national honor il
de hands, than by " s. AMI time!y concc SONS.
Governments, like ours especially can rarely dis
turb the peace Of the world. without ncurring weigh
" responsibility to the cause OF civilization and hui
man happiness and il not hazarding their own stah
ity without seriously hnpairng their moral influence
1ccrtanly could not have been induced TO return to
political life the Representative ot my country abroad,
unless had been persuaded that in the crisis which
you have referred. the views OF my own government
had been entirely consis,en, with such settlement OF
the Oregon question ough, to have secured an hon
nd | rut
that Nigh, be enabled in some degree TO cooperate
TO that end.
For myself, after our several conventions Of 1918,
and 1923 for the Joint occupation OF the territory (thc
latter of which received my support as a Senator oil
the United Statesl had always regarded the Oregon
question ms less dependant upon the orce OF title than
upon the principles o, an equitable partition,
Ii would have been unreasonable To expect, after
such acknowledgements OF the right of Joint occupan
cy that either party would be permitted WHO'LL 10 ui
iercsts which hnd grown up during their mutual pos
session. 1t appears TO me al So that all the previous
acts OF own government had not only been consis
tent with but alinnatory ri this view and could see
nothing III the national honor that would justify, much
less demand departure from it, Possessing before IN
ms great degree as alter. the Treaty with spain IN
1919. all the title, which, on the ground oi discovery
We could asset 10 t.lr country u,s.e. ~ the waters
of the Columbia, and which ii good i,r anything, was
valid beyond the ID parallel degree q! latitude our
government at no time proposed more northern
boundary than the parallel OF 81, and never demanded
more than that of ~. Having some knowledge from
my official position nj that time, OF the policy and OBJ
eCts of the Convention OF lS2S. am quite persuaded
that its main design was TO lead, III future partition
Of the territory, TO the recognition oi our claim To
the country, not north, but south OF the 18th parallel
an between that and the Columbia river. y division
OF the country upon that principle. with reasonable
regard to rights grown up under the olnt possession,
always appeared TO na to afford just aud practical
basis for amica5lc and honorable adjustment at the
subject. Sich, also was satisfied were the views of
GOV ,rnm nj AZ the time cnIag ,d in my
cen, mission and in earnestly and steadily laborng to
effect a settlement upon that basis, was hut represent
ing the policy OF my government and iathullv
promoting the intentions and wishes o. the President.
1t must be very rare, il in complicated differences
between great nntlons, peaceful relations can be pre-
served without some modification OF extreme preten-
sions and upon The present occasion from the length
of time for which the question had been depending
together with the often repeated propositions on both
sides, the two governments could not have been
sonably expected to come to an umcable Arrangement
without some mutual concession OF their former de
mands,
IT, on our side by diyilng on the i9th parallel an,
the Straits OF Fu,a, w yield the southern cape q
Vancouccrs Island, Great Britain surrendered her pre-
vious claim to the jurisdiction and unoccnped terrtor
between the i9th parallel aud the Coulnba nNer a
the same time have effected nlnterla modlhca
ton of former offer Of the surrender 81 the pcrpCi
ual navigation Of the Columbia river 10 British trad
and British subjects generally. Although, from defer
ence to the views and opinions OF others, which II wa
no less my wish than my duty to respect, eamestl
endeavored effect settlement upon the basis ~ al
lowing the navigation of the river 10 tine general trad
Tor period Oi twenty years nevertheless, when ina
from causes which need not now particularly ref
proved to be- nnpracticabla, in suggesting and urgiu
that il should be restricted To the Hudson Bay Compa
ny, thought was cilcctiug an object even les o!
jectionabc.
1t seems to M that, in the present state of con
merce, it is not only the Interest but the practice
nations independent oil some mveierate notions
colonial policy already yielding to more enligdtene
views to allow the greatest freedom of rivers an
ports the trade OF the world and II may b. Ohscr
ed that until the United States and Great Britain shn
determine 10 abandon the reciprocity secured by ii
existing commercial convention the recent Or, 20
treaty coniers fewer privileges OF navigation thin M
be claimed and enjoyed under the commercial co
vention. felt confident moreover, thai long befl
the two governments would desire alter their cyi,
ing commercial freedom If indeed, they should cy
desire do 50, during the continuance of peace I
HudsOns Bay Company would cease to have occasi
or motive TO navigate such river the Columbia
known TO be- II would not be easy to imnoine n
use they could make OF it, during a state of peace
consistent with the commerce and interests OF our o,
citizens
Guilty 80 comp 'ated and invetcrac, scarcely to
expected and yet il is source Of satisfaction 10 KIN
that its general acceptabeness to the country at la
affords a sure guarantee OF the continuance of our
ture peace. The tone and temper with which the
potiaton was conducted, IN Their several dcpartmei
Nv both governments, have been creditabe to Il
wisdom and moderation, and have already served
elevate our own in the opinion OF other nations.
sincerely believe thai these ELECTS cannot be
highly appreciated, and Il any portion OF our fell
cilizens in any section OF the country, should feel
thew have not Obtained all the territory ady0na
they had expected TO acquire, II may be hoped b
will nevertheless be satisfied that the national hol
30 far from suffering, has really been elevated by
result, and that IN preserving the blessings Of pet
and keeping our country steadily in a career oi 81
Gus prosperity, they vii be amply compensated for
Disappointment they may have experienced, and :
far more than equivalent tor any doubtful advaui
10 b. sought only through the instrumcn,ality OF v