The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-04-22
From the London Times, March 4th.
THE OREGON QUESTION.

lIltIit cii ti1C OItSOll SueStlOfl llttle
now remains to be said or done by the
British Government The strongest de-
sire has been repeatedly expressed on
our side to terminate this controversy.
Our case has been stated with such
moderation, and the claims confined to
such narrow limits, that nothing but en-
treme presumption, or rather species Of
hostile infatuation on the part of the
American Democrats, could lead them
to suppose we should make any farther
abatement Of our rights. We are in
actual possession of rather more of Ore
gon territory than we have ever claimed
as our own, because as long as the joint
occupation lasts the concurrent rights
of both parties extend over the whole
country. We have at our disposal am
pie means of defending our rights. We
had never, at any period i'll the history
of our country, less reason to recoil from
Il war, or fear the result of such con-
test with any power, but more especially
with the United States, Yet we, on
our side, have strenuously and sincerely
labored to effect compromise. We
have not alluded to the superiority of
our maritime strength; from a mis-
placed respect for the American Govern
ment, no use has been made of those
blunt arguments to which alone they
now appear to be accessible; until at
length we learn with more contempt
than surprise; that Mr.. Polk and his ad.
visers arc embarking in course which
can only lead, il they are allowed to per-
severe in it, to aggressive hostilities.
In our zeal for the maintenance of
peace, and or Difference for nation
with which we have so much in COM
mo V:o have gone so far as to admit
that .;,3lf ciulm to the Oregon territory
is cquai 20 our own, and to argue
that partition is the faircst solution of
the difficulty. The Americans, how
ever, are not to be satisfied until thew
convert this concession of a part into
surrender Of the whole Their claim is,
to say the most of it, not better than our
own; since they themselves do not dare
to submit TO the arbitration Of third
party, knowing that the public opinion
of the world has already pronounced
agains: i. Yet from the most imper-
feet and conlrovertablc claim they seek
to extract twice as much as we contend
for-nay, they raise their own preten-
sions to absolute and total soveignty,
while they annihilate the rights we
have practically enjoyed for more than
half a century. Thus, in fact, the ques-
ton in dispute has never been brought
to true issue.
The two quantities have not been re-
duccd to common denomination they
differ in their very nature and whilst
our position not only admits of compro-
mise, but suggests and requires it, theirs
is utterly at variance with the first prin-
pies OF such an arrangement. Mr..
Buchanan's last note says too much un-
less indeed it says Inadvertently what is
the truth; for the arguments by which
he endeavors to show that the United
States cannot submit their claim to arbi-
tration, are equally cogent to prove that
their claim will not admit even of nego-
ton. MIR. Buchanan appears to forget
that the United States huve negotiated :
that he himself by the last proposal, for
tAS iouitl vi llltu time COnCeQeQ that
point; that the House of Representa-
tlves, by their second resolution, have
In fact sanctioned the principle of nego-
tiation, which is, in other words, the
principle of mutual concession.
When the American Secretary says
he cannot do what the manifest interest
and dignity of the two countriesgAauire,
he must either mean that the Govern.
ment to which he belongs aoiN not do it;
or that that Government is acting under
the compulsion of the party, excited to
madness on this question, which carried
Mr.. Polk's election. The practical
question for us is to ascertain the inten-
tons of the American government. If
MIR. Polk and his advisers are sincerely
pacific, they cannot but succeed: there
is no obstacle, no impediment, no diff
Guilty In the way, except those which
they have themselves created. To bring
about war with us under such clrcum-