Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-24


may think proper, with the sole exception of the
spots actually occupied by the British company
What is then the object in view, in giving the
notice at this time This has been declared with
out reserve by the President SAT the end of the
i years notice, should Congress think it proper to
make provision for giving that notice, we shall
have reached period when the national rights in
| Oregon must either be abandoned or firmly main
tanned. That they cannot be abandoned without
sacrifice of both national honor and interests is
too clear TO admit of doubt" And ii must be re-
collected that this candid ayowal has been accom-
panied by the declaration that our title to the whole
Oregon territory had been asserted and, as was
believed, maintained by irrefragable facts and
| guments."t Nothing can be more plain and ex-
plict. The exclusive right OF the United States to
absolute sovereignty over the whole territory must
be asserted and maintained
1t may not be necessary for that purpose to drive
away the British fur company, nor to prevent the
migration into Oregon of British emigrants coming
from the British dominions. The company may
| if deemed expedent be permitted to trade here
tofore with the Indians British emigrants may be
treated in the same manner as the other sixty or
eighty thousand who already arrive yearly in the
United States. They may at their option be natu-
rallied, or remain on the footing foreigners
in other parts Of the Union. In this case they will
enjoy no political rights they will not be permitted
to own American vessels and to sail under the
American flag the permission to own real property
seems, SO long as Oregon remains territory, to
depend on the will of Congress, Thus far collision
may be avoided,
But no foreign jurisdiction can be permitted from
the moment when the sovereignty of the United
States the whole territory shall be asserted and
maintained. To this, all those who reside in the
territory must submit. After having taken the de-
csve step of giving the notice, the United States can
not as the President Justly states, abandon the right
of sovereignty without sacrifice of national honor.
had been expressly agreed by the convention
that nothing contained in it should affect the claims
ofeither party to the territory. The al-important
question OF sovereignty remained therefore in abey-
ance Negotiations for division Of the territory
have failed the question Of sovereignty remains
undecided, it was prior to the convention. If the
United States exercise the reserved right to put an
end TO the convention, and if, from the time when it
shall have expired, they peremptorly assume the
right of sovereignty over the whole, it cannot be
doubted that Great Britain will at once resist She
will adhere to the principle she had asserted prior
to the Nootka convention, and mas ever since main
tained that actual occupancy can alone give right
to the country. She will tpernit the jurisdiction
of the United States to be extended over her sub
ects: she will oppose the removal arrest or exer-
else Of any other legal process, against her justices
indirectly act under her authority, against any of
her subjects; and she will continue to exercise her
jurisdiction over all Of them throughout the whole
territory. Whatever either Power asserts must be
maintained: military occupation and war must ne
cessarily ensue. 4sa4s eslst
A portion of the people, both in the West and
elsewhere, see clearly that such must be the con-
sequence of giving the notice. Such men openly
avow their opinions, prefer war to longer contin
uaton of the present state of things, ready to
meet all the dangers and calamtes Of the impend-
ing conflict, and 10 adopt at once all the measures
which may ensure success. With them, the dis
cusson brings at the question to its true issue:
Is war necessary for the object they have in view
Or may it not be attained by peaceable means 1t
is question of war or peace, and it is fairly laid
before the nation.
But many respectable men appear to entertain
hopes that peace may still be preserved after the
United States shall have assumed, or attempted to
assume, exclusive sovereignty. The reverse ap-
pears to me so clear SO obvious so inevitable that
really cannot understand on what grounds these
hopes are founded.
Is it thought that the President will not after the
assent of Congress has been obtained land whether
Immediately or at the end of this session, is quite
immateria,) give the notice which he has asked
Congress to authorize Or is it supposed that a
change in the form which, in order to avoid respon-
sibility, would give him discretionary power could
lead to diferen: result, be any thing else but
transfer by Congress to the Executive Of the power
TO declare war? 3 FL III as 800.
Can it be presumed that when, after the expira-
ton of the term of notice, the convention shall have
been abrogated, the President will not assert and
maintain the sovereignty claimed by the United
Statesi have not the honor of personal ac-
quaintance with him; | respect in him the First
Magistrate of the Nation and he is universally
Of irreproachable character, sincere
and patriotic. Every citizen has right to differ
with him in opinion one has that of supposing
that he says one thing and means another. feel
an intimate conviction of his entire sincerity.
Is it possible that any one, who, does not labor
under singular illusion, believe that England
will yield to threats and defiance that which she has
refused to concede to our arguments Reverse the
case: Suppose for moment that Great Britain was
the aggressor, and had given the notice declaring,
at the same time that at the expiration of the year,
she would assume exclusive sovereignty over the |
whole country, and oppose the exercise of any
by the United States: Is there any |
American, even amongst those who set the least
value the Oregon territory, and are mostsncerey
DESTROYS of preserving peace, who would not at
once declare that SUCH pretension on the part of
Great Britain outrageous and must be resisted 7
II is not certainly the interest of Great Britain to
wage war against the United States, and il may be
fairly presumed that the British Government has no