Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-02


be willing 10 make compromise on The basis Of
The 49lh parallel.
1hc Correspondent Of The New YORK Com.
mercial Advertiser thinks there is prospect that
The British Government will renew The neeoiia-
lion on The same basis; and adds, that Mr. Web
sler's information is thai The British Government
Will accept The offer Of compromise made By
Mr.. Polk Mr.. Bates, The American Banker in
London, having expressed that opinion.
we are not prepared 10 give an opinion upon
thc correctness of these statements We take il
Tor granted, however, that the United States can
poi N honor 10 herself open the negotiation II
II IS TO take place, it must come from Great Br-
tain. The President has gone as far in Offering
The ioriy-ninh degree as the honor and interests
OF the country will allow; and we cannot believe
that any proposition from Great Britain, asking
further concessions, will I've for one moment listen
ed to- This ought 10 be, and we hope is the feel
ing Of every American.
We did moi yesterday receive The Washington
papers, containing in full tie interesting debate
between Messrs. Calhoun and flanagan, on the
subject Of Oregon. We cannot, therefore, form
any opinion as 10 the merits Of their respective
views. Our Correspondents letter, and the e1-
tracts from the Baltimore papers, will give some
/ insight into this important discussion, which
Mr.. Archer hailed as bearing ldngs Of peace 10
The country.
The N. 0. Commercial Bulletin Ga Wing pa
/ Ill
concede TO Great Blitan in The late negotiation,
the free navigation Of the Columbia river. Il
would have been one continued source oftrouble,
attended BY Inconvenience, risk ard constant col
lision. Al Client, The British negolialor demand
ed the risht 10 navigate the Mississippi, but our
commissioners promptly and Indignantly reject
cd The demand anxious as we were then for
peace, and pressed down in every way by the
| heavy hand Of war. Under circumstances al
that time calling NEST imperiously for a peaceful
settlement our commissioners were sustained BY
the people. They were not denounced for being
political spectators and selfish intrisuers-as
our negolialors OF the present day are stigma
tized By some few Of the Wing presses, Tor doing
the very same thing.
The British do not allow rs the free navigation
ot the ST. Lawrence, though we possess one bank
OF that river Tor considerable distance. And,
with what face can they as, ct Us such priv
cgcs Oh the Columbia, or any other river Which
flows through our territory?
The objections 10 yielding the Columbia river
as boundary, are OF paramount importance II
emplies into the ocean iautude 4G-thus taking
three degrees OF our territory beyond what any
Administration has t,cen willing 10 concede Of sea
coast. Before The river reaches the ocean, il makes
"a long delour TO the South, coming down within
so or 100 ruies Of our present Southern boundary
with Mexico. in latitude A., and then runs North,
and, as previously stated, debuuches in latitude
&c. To give This river as boundary would AZ
lually leave Us with a strip Of land only 50 or
100 miles wide By which We could reach the Pa
ciic."
The Bulletin, in the following sensible and pa
lriotic remarks, fully sus'ainS he Administration
in It's wise, prudent ami firm course A tribute
from ouch source rnrc han on;balanccs ali
the violent assaults OF all the huck>icrins Wing
politicians in The nation:
'Somc seem disposed 10 cenSnre The Admin.
| islraliun for Withdrawing the offer they had Eiadr
| Int We do not sec how they could have acted
! ctherwisc. The oIltr was made in The way ol
compromise and concession, and was perempto-
rily rejected Why should We suffer thai Offer Ia
felaain alter il was refused Why allow lhe
adverse party The advantage Of having ii in their
refusal 10 accept it at their leisure, or when lime
and change Of circumstances might enable us
10 obtain better lerms} The withdrawal Of the
offer does not prevent us lIom acceding 10 il, il
zee think proper, al future day, should The Bit
ii>h Government show willingness express 4
desire 10 agree 10 il. But that is no rcas,.n why
! ne should cuninuc bound By the Offer and the
taposilc party he free We acknowledge our
readiness 10 accept the boundary ot 10 degrees,
Tor lie sake nl terminating the present unplea-
SAINT POSITION oil the question; and 10 attain thai
end, lelMquish a po lion Of what every admins
tralon la, lel! 10 he our clear title. Thi. rciu-
sed, we are, VI course, thrown back on our orr
original claim. / recisely as an individual 10
avoid litigation and ill-bood, may SOMETIMES
offer 10 cOnpionise what he believes 10 lie
his right; bnt, II coinPeedlo 60 10 law, he con-
tends, of course, for hr whole demand. In This
position, we believe The administration will re-
ceive the almost or quiie unanimous support OF
The nation"