Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-02-19

Ia IraAI<lt li<1Ms ~
10 the Hon. J. B5caANAN, &c.
Mr.. Eachaxaato Mr.. Packenhana.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, 18th Feb. '46.
The undersigned, Secretary of State
Of the United States, has the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of the note Of
Mr.. Pakenham, her Britannia Majesty's
envoy extraordinary ard minister rlen-
ipnieniiary, dated ON the 9th ult., by
which he again proposes reference Of
the Oregon question to arbitraticn.-
Under his PRESENT proposition, DE pow
ers of the arbitrator would not, "a In
his last, be limited in terms 10 tive di-
vision of the territory between the par
ties, but would extend 10 the question
of their conflicting, titles. There is,
however, condition annexed to this
offer which exposes it to the same OBJ
jec'ion, in point OF fact, if not in form,
which was prominently presented in
the answer Of the Undersigned to Mr..
Pskenham's last proposal. The con-
sition is, '''hat ifneiher party ] should
be found, in the opinion of tie abitra-
tor, TO possess a complete title to the
whole territory, there should, in that
case, be assigned to each that port ON
ofterritory which would, in the opinion
of the arbitrating power, be called for
By just appreciation of,he respective
claims of each" 1.-THE government OF
tie United States should consent to an
arbitrationupon such condition, this
might, and probably would, be con-
s!ued into an intimation, if not d.
rect invitation, to the arbitra or to di-
vide the territory between the two par
ties. Were it possible for the Presi-
dent, under any>circumstances, to con-
sent TO refer the subject to arbitration,
the title, and the title alone, detached
from every other consideration, is the
only question which could BE- submitted.
If no, confined to single point, so
strong is the natural disposition of ar
bitrators to please both parties, that in
almost every instance, whether of na-
tional or individual controversies, they
make compromising award. We
have memorable example of this in
our last arbitration with Great Britain.
Notwithstanding that the arbitrator, I'M
der the terms of the submission, was
clearly and explicitly confined to the
decision of which was the line of high
lands described in the treaty of peace
of 1883, yet, instead Of pursuing any
range Of highlands whatever, he advi-
sed that The line should run along the
bed of a river, and actually divided the
territory in dispute between the parties
by ssthe middle of the deepest channel
of the St. Johns"
The undersigned might content him.
self, in answer to the present PROPOSE
ton, with reference to the observa-
tions contained in his last note to Mr..
Pakenham of the Sd ult. In that, it
was plainly in,imated not only that there
are ssother conclusive reasons for deoli-
ming tie propositions" independently
OF the one which had been prominently
stated, but it was expressly asserted,
as the belief Of the President, "that any
attempt to refer this question TO third
power would only involve it in new
difficulties
The undersigned will, however, pro-
coed to state single reason which, a.
part from the intrinsic difficulty Of Sc
Ieciing a suitable arbitrator, as well as
other considerations that might be adj
duced, is conclusive on the mind of
the President against a reference Of
this question 10 arbitration in any form.
which can be deyisedy no matter what
may be the character of the Arbitrator
wheil er sovereign, citizen, or subject.
The reason is, that be does not believe
The territorial rights of this nation to be
proper subject for arbitration. 1t
may be true, that, under peculiar cir
cumstaaces, if The interests at stake
were comparatively small, and if both
parties stood upon an equal footing,
there nigh, be no msuperable objec-
lion to such a course But what is the
extent at the territory in dispute on the
present occasion, 1t embraces nearly
thir' cen degrees of latitude along the
northwest coast of the Pacific, and
stretches eastward to tbe summit of the
Rocky Mountains. Within lis limits
several powerful and prosperous States
Of the Union may be embraced. It
lies contiguous on this continent. to Tie