The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-12


Columbia. Is it to be wondered at that, while such
Joint occupation" us this Dtinues, England does
not settle the question: What let US ask, could she
gain, in the present state Of things, by coming to
settlement Notice TO terminate this state Of things
must be given before settlement Of the question,
by negotiation, can be hoped for.
Still, it is said the notice is war measure-at
least measure looking directly to its result
Is this really so' Certainly, the notice itself is not
"easus bsii." Even the Times" fully admits
that. lis, then, at worst only preliminary pence
ful step. But does it go directly TO produce war;
BE 1t observed, after notice is given, still free
as ever to pursue any policy we may elect We
may negoiate--we may rely on the operation, in
our favor, of wise and mastery inactivity-we
may place part of the territory, all of it, under
Territorial government. Aher notice, we may be
no nearer war than we now.
But again: every year Of Joint occupation" as
it is termed, complexities the question between the
two nations, and makes il harder Of adj ustment.
The interest-the stake--of each nation ia the
territory becomes larger every year We send
more citizens into the Willamette valley, and Eng
land goes dotting the whole land with forts.
! England is sufficiently spacious in seeing to her
own interests, and energetic in carrying them out.
II she sees what is policy, will she not attempt
to counteract it by similar means Build more
forts-acquire more control over the Indians-send
more men there Is she not already doing IL Let
the borderers on both sides come to blows will not
the flames Of war involve both the countries
Every day may add to the fuel instead Of LESSEN
ing it, The ulcer may tester more and more,
Will this of procedure make it easier To SET
: tie the matter peacefully
Moreover, every day Of I" joint occupation" gives
new confidence to the claim Of England. Why, us
early 1924, only six years after the date of the
convention, England told us for The first time that
our claim to Oregon "interfered with the rights OF
Great Britain dsrirsd from USE occupancy, aud set
Element" The joint occupancy or common COM
mercal settlement Of the region, had not been
agreed to by six years before England pleaded
her fright arising under it," though of stipu-
ations is that it shall in no way affect the question
Of title. VIII its continuance, then, incline England
hereafter TO allow claim readily, while her
own interests in the region yearly augmenting
Will she give way to us more easily, or compromise
with us more reasonably, after she has been
planted on the soil ten twenty years longer,
and fixed herself in fry or a hundred strongholds
instead Of thirty No. Let be sure OF it, il
notice gipen will bring war-if England is re.
solved persist against TO that result, then much
more will that result follow when the notice shall be
giUsn hereafter Every year. as 1t passes must con-
firm England in her purpose OF holding the land,
which every year makes valuable TO her, and
to which her claim grows in her eyes more plausi-
L Il -
its age. IL we are to settle the question without
war or longer surrender than any American dreams
of, now is the time.
Again to those who urge that the "notice" will
bring war, reply, "is there no danger Of war in
Joint occupation 7" Is that anomalous and I'M
preccdented state Of things expected to con-
tinue much longer without breaking the peace
There is, we suppose, doubt that shall ex.
tend our laws to Oregon without delay. What have
we then there Two antagonistical populations
and jurisdictions, claiming to hold the soil in com.
mon, and these populations made up Of the hard
sincws and fiery spirits of adventurous frontier life
So situated and constituted if they keep the peace
when they draw each other in numbers ii
will be little short of miraculous. In such state oil
things the alarm of war in Oregon may startle us
at any moment, while seeking to settle the
question peaceably and without the "notice." Yet
between these two conditions must choose. The
alternative is 'notice," according TO the convention
or "jont occupation" as we have said, while the
country fills up on both sides. In this view, we
go for the notice. 1t gives a good hope Of peace.
In the continuance Of JOINT occupancy as the ques-
ton now stands there is such hope at all.
In view of these considerations, VIC hold that the
policy of the ''notce" recommended by the
President is the policy of peace-if peace can in
any way be maintained, without the abandonment
of rights too important and unqucstonabe to he in
any event abandoned. SO regarding the "noce, "
we trust that may receive the sanction Of Con-
gress as to clothe the administration in giving i,
with the whole moral power of the country. The
notice so given inasmuch as of itself commits us
to no precipitae measure of hostlity-inasmuch
as it terminates a state of common settlement
anomalous, unprecedented, and likely at any moment
to break out into in Oregon-inasmuch as it
urges a settlement before the British claim shall
grow yet rigid with age and before the British
stake in Oregon shall grow yet more important
than il now is-and nasmuch as it strengthens our
government to negotiate to honorable adjustment
under the pressure of an alternative which England
cannot but look upon as most stern and serious not
to say dreadfu-for these reasons, we say, we re.
gard the "notice" in the present state of the ques
ton as the only practicable peace measure-th.
sheet anchor Of the rightful and honorable peace
!. Of the land.
nE%One or two expressions in the article in Sat
urday's Union" on the "Anti-war outcry" have
been msinterpreted by some Of cur democratic
friends who opposed to giving the notice. Ger
tainly it was never intended consider the oppo.
nents Of the notice, such, as the opponents Of
the administration" The remarks which have been
the subject Of misconcepon in the minds of some Of
our friends, were intended to apply, and did apply
solely to the systematic opponents" Of the admin.
;,,ro,;on or in n; her words the whus-who have