The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-02-05
THE BRITISH PROPOSITION.

The N. Y. Courier and Enquirer, al
ter careful collation. of all its advices by
5 The Hibernia, concludes that the leading
article in the London Times of the 81
inst on the subject of Oregon had an Of
fetal origin, and that it shadows forth q
, proposition of compromise which has
come OUT to Mr. Packenham in the Hiber-
MIA to be formally submitted to our Cow
eminent. The material portion Of that ar
licle is as follows Bee.
IAN equal line of partition would be a
continuation from the Rocky Mountain,
not of that line which has already been
fixed on as the commencement Of the
boundary, but of line one degree 10 the
South Of it, drawn 10 the Southern Cape
on the outlet of Juan de Fuca Straits
This would, as nearly as it is possible, be
the divisional line Of the disputed district,
and would give US a greater extent OF
coas! land to the North than we care TO
claim. But the 49h parallel Of North
latitude having already been fixed on by
the Convention OF London as the com.
mencement of The boundary, such diviss
ion is of course out Of the question. We
only notice it to show that our starting
point is not one of perfect equality. AS
the matter aready stands, previous Con
venton has ratified certain principle
OF concession.
ave have not claimed all that the cir
cumslances of the case and The ambiguity OF
right would have justified US in claiming.
And, Knowing this, we feel that we are
bound by our own counlrymen resident in
those districts TO protest against any wan>
ton or careless compromise of their inter-
ests. We are not soicilous 10 push
our right 10 its extreme point. We, there
FORE will not claim for them, nor for ours
selves, that capacous district between the
Southeast bank of the Columbia and the
Rocky Mountains. We concede this
we concede it because we prefer settle.
ment 10 litigation, compromise TO a
| contest, peace to war. We concede ma
ked right for the retention of and undeni-
able good. But we cannot acquiesce in
the surrender of positive and long enjoyed
benefits. We think, then, that every pur.
pose both of honor and interest would be
answered, if the British Minister, on
whom. now devolves the duty Of making
fresh proposals TO the Government
Of the United States, were 10 renew
on his part the offer made TO England
by Mr. GaIIatin in the Presidency
and under the direction of Mr. Adams
Tba, proposal was 10 take the 49th degree
oil North latitude as far as the sea, as the
boundary line, reserving to Great Britain
Vancouver's Island, the harbor Of ST. Juan
de Fuca, and the free navigation Of the
Columbia. This would be concession
as far as superficial area of the ground is
concerned. 1t would leave the United
States masters of the greater part Of Ore
gon. But it would secure the principal
advantages ofthe country, the free nav-
CATION Of the Columbia, 10 The servants Of
the Hudson's Bay Company, as well as
harbofage. anchorage and settlements for
English vessels trading with China and
our possession in Australia and New Zea-
land. II would concede all that the most
successful war could acquire-a sovereign
but barren dominion; it would secure all
that commercial blessings Of an honorable
compromise and rational peace. 1t
would not deprive the nalive Americans OF
any equitable advantage, but would retain
for EugIishmen that privilege 10 which
they are justly euti,Ied-lhc privilege OF
sharing in the traffic between North
America and the English settlements in
the Pacific. No impartial man can ex-
pecl that an English Minister would ever
consent to transfer to the United States the
monopoly of the carrying trade between
Hudson's Bay and English colonies in
that sea.
ave hope that no rules Of diplomatic
etiquette will prevent our representative al
Washington from making some propose
of this kind. We hope also that no false
pride, or more ignoble sentiment will pre-
clude the Ministry Of Washington from
accepting it. And if they do reject it as
coming from US, we do not see how, after
such rejection, they can refuse TO submit
The question of miles still left 10 the arbi-
tration of some neutral Power. To re-
iect an Offer conceived in the spirit of
peace aud moderation, and at the same !
time to demur 10 the suggestion OF ref
erence. would be 10 deserve, not less lbDn
10 provoke the inputation Of the mos, rep,
rehensIbIe obSllnacy or the most insoleni