The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-07
Mr.. Pakenham 10 Mr.. Buchanan.

With an anxious desire to contribute by every
means in his power to satisfactory conclusion of
the question pending between the two governments
respecting Oregon, the undersigned, her Britannia
Maesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plen-
ipotenary has reflected the contents Of the note
addressed to him on the 3D. Instant by the Secretary
of State Of the United States, in answer to that
which the undersigned had the honor to address to
him on the 9th Of last month.
The note of the undersigned proposed to the gov
eminent of the United States, that the whole ques
ton Of equitable partition Of the Oregon territory
should be referred to the arbitration of some friendly
sovereign or state. ...y...
In his ans xer, the Secretary of State informed
the undersigned that his proposition could not be
accepted. That it did not propose TO refer to ar
braton the question of the title to the Oregon ter
riiory claimed by the two powers respectively.
That in proposing to refer to friendly sovereign or
state merely the partition or equitable DIVISION OF
the territory between the parties, il the fact
that the title of Great Britain to portion OF the
territory liz valid and thus takes for granted the
very question in dispute. That under this propo-
stion the very terms of the submission would con-
tain an express Acknowledgment of the right Of
Great Britain TO portion Of the territory, and
wond necessarily preclude the United States from
claiming the whole territory before the arbitrator
and this, too, the Secretary Of State goes on to OBJ
serve, in the face of his note to the undersigned of
J0,h August, by which the President had asserted
in the most solemn form the title OF the United
States to the whole territory. ..... ...- e.. ~.
Ii is not the purpose of the undersigned in the
present note to renew the discussion as to the
title of either party, Great Britain or the Uni
ted States, to the whole or to any part OF the
Oregon territory. He must, however, beg leave,
with reference to the observation which he has Just
quoted, to remind the United States Secretary of
State that il the government Of the United States
have formally advanced claim to the whole of the
Oregon territory il s no less certain that Great Brit
Ain has in n manner equally formal, declared that
x,,hts, in he inrn
palible with the exclusive claim Advanced by the
United States.
This declaration, arising from n conviction equal
ly sincere, will, the undersigned IL persuaded, he
viewed with the same consideration by the govern
nent Of the United States, they expect that their
own declaration should receive ct the hands of the
government Of Great Britain. . H. .a Id
This Iremised the object OF the undersigned IN
addressing to Mr.. Buchanan the present communi-
cation is to ascertain from him whether, supposing
the British government 10 entertain no objection 10
such course, il would suit the views Of the United
baes government To refer to arbitration not, has
already been proposed the question of an equitable
partition of the territory, but the question OF title in
either Of the two powers to the whole territory sub
iect of course TO the condition that il neither should
be found in the opinion of the arbitrator to possess
a complete title the whole territory there should
In that case be assigned 10 each that portion 6f ter
ritorv which would, in the opinion Of the arbra,ns
power, be called for by just appreciation Of the
respective claims OF each.
The undersigned has suggested reference on
the above principle to some friendly sovereign or
state.
This the undersigned believes TO be the course
usually followed in such cases, " Il that which he's
already been resorted to by the two governments,
land more than once.) But there may be other
forms Of srbitrstien perhaps more agreeable 10 the
Government Of the United States.
There might be- for instance, mixed commission,
with an umpire appointed by common consent; or
there might be board, composed Of the most dis
tineushed civilians and ursts Of the time appoint
ed n such manner as should bring all pending