Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-24
THE OREGON QUESTIONING. I.
New York, JANUARY Z, 1916.

| had been pioneer in collecting facts and stat
ing the case. The only materials within my reach
consisted of the accounts Of voyages previously
published, (ncluding that Of Maurelle, in Barring
toms Miscellanies,) of the varied and important in
formation derived from Humboldt's New Spain,
and of the voyage Of the Sutil and Mexicano, the
introduction to which contains brief official ac-
count Of the Spanish discoveries. The statement
of the case was the best was able to make with
the materials on hand, and may be found defective
in many respects. Since that time manuscript
Journals Of several of the voyages have been OBJ
tanned at Madrid. New facts have thus been add
ed others have been better analysed, and some
errors rectifed. Arguments which had been only
indicated have been enforced, and new views have
been suggested. The subject, indeed, seems to be
exhausted; and it would be difficult to add any
thing to the able correspondence between the two
Governments which has been lately published.
Ministers charged with diplomatic discussions are
not, however, in those official papers intended for
publication, to be considered as philosophers calmly
investigating the questions, with other object but
to elicit truth They are always, to certain ex-
tent, advocates, who use their best endeavors to
urge and even strain the that may be alleged
in favor of the claims set up by their Governments;
and in the manner to repel, if not to deny, all
that may be adduced by the other party Such
official papers in fact appeals to public opinion,
and generally published when there remains no
hope to conclude for the present an amicable ar
rangement.
But though acting in that respect as advocates,
diplomasts essentially ministers peace, whose
constant and primary duty is mutually to devise
conciliatory means for the adjustment Of conflicting
for the continuance of friendly rela-
TONS for preventing war, for the restoration Of
peace. II has unfortunately happened that on this
occasion both Governments have assumed such alb
soute and exclusive grounds to have greatly in
creased at least for the present. the obstacles to
amicable arrangement.
1t is morally impossible for the bulk of the peo-
pie of any country thoroughly to investigate sub
ect so complex that Of the respective claims to
the Oregon territory; and for obvious reasons, it
is much less understood by the great mass of the
population in England than IN the United States.
Every where, when the question is between the
country and foreign nation, the people at large,
mpelled by natural and patriotic feelings, will rally
around their Government For the consequences
that may ensue, those who entrusted with the
direction of the foreign relations alone response
BILE. Whatever may be the cause, to whomsoeyer
the result may be ascrbed, appears from the gen.
era style of the periodical press, that with few
ceptions the people, both in Great Britain and in
the United States, are imbued with the belief that
the contested territory belongs exclusively to them
selves, and that any concession which might be
made would be boon to the other party. Such
opinions, if sustained by either Government and ac-
componied by corresponding measures, must neces-
sarily lead to immediate collisions, and probably to
war. Yet, war so caamitous in itself, fatal to
the general interests of both countries almost uni
versally deprecated without distinction of parties,
by all the rational men who are not carried away
by the warmth of their feelings.
Il In the present state Of excitement, an immediate
amicable arrangement is almost hopeless time is
necessary before the two Governments can be in
duced to recede from their extreme pretensions.
In the while, nothing, it seems to me- should
for the present be done, which might increase the
excitement, aggravate the difficulties, or the
only remaining barrier against immediate collision.
The United States claim right of sovereignty
over the whole territory. The pretensions of the
British Government so far as they have been here
tofore exhibited, though not extending to claim Of
absolute sovereignty over the whole, yet such as
cannot be admitted by the United States, and if
persisted in, must lead to similar result.
If the claim Of Great Britain be properly ana
lyzed, it will be found that although she has Incl
denally discussed other questions, she in fact dis
regards every other claim but that Of actual occu-
pancy, and that she regards such the establish
ment of trading factories by her subjects. She
accordingly claims participation in the nav-
CATION Of the river Columbia, and would make
that river the boundary between the two Powers
This utter disregard Of the rights of discovery,
particularly of that of the mouth sources and course
Of river, of the principle Of coniguity, and of
every other consideration whatever, cannot be adj
mitted by the United States. The offersof de-
tached defenceless territory with single port, and
the reciprocal offers of what called free ports
cannot be viewed but as derisory. An amicable
arrangement by way Of compromise cannot be eff
fected without due regard to the claims advanced
by both parties and to the expedency of the dvid-
ing lne.*
An equitable division must have reference not
only to the extent Of territory, but also to the other
peculiar advantages attached to each portion re-
spectively.
From and including Fuca Straits, the country ex-
tending northwardly abounds with convenient sea-
ports From the AID degree Of latitude to those
Straits there is but one port Of any importance, the
mouth Of the river Columbia and this is Of diff
cult and dangerous access, and cannot admit ships
of war of large size. II is important only as
port of exports. As one of common resort for sup
plies, or asylum, in case Of need, for the number
less American vessels engaged in the fisheries or
commerce Of the Pacific, it would be almost USE
less, even If in the exclusive possession of the Uni
ted States II must also be observed that the navi-
gable channel Of the river, from its mouth to Pu-
gets island, is. according to Vancouver, close along
the northern shore. Great Britain proposes that
the river should be the boundary and that the UNI
ted States should be content with the possession OF
the port IT offered in common with herself Il is
really unnecessary to dwell on the consequences OF
such an arrangement. tbs sufficient to say that,in