The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-04-25

this city by yesterdays mail is the most important
that we have received from that quarter IN a long
time. 1t appears that the committee OF conference
eppointedby each House of Congress, have succeed
ed In rsconciling the differences that existed be-
tween the Senate and the House OF Representa-
tlves, on the Oregon question, and in proposing
set OF resolutions, which have passed the House OF
Representatives by vote Of l42 TO 46, and passed
the Senate by vote Of AZ to TO- These resolutions
like those passed by the Senate short time since,
leave discretionary with the President TO give the
notice TO Great Britain of the intention OF the
Amencan Government to dissolve the joint occu-
pancy; and also contain an expression Of opinion
that the Oregon question can be settled amlcably
between the two Governments.
The passage of these resolutions is an important
step towards the settlement OF this question. 1t
takes it out OF the hands OF Congress ard of the
people, and places il at in the guardianship Of
the President and of the treaty making power. The
next question what course will the President take
Will he be willing compromise the 10th paral-
lei, will he persist in maintaining the American
claim TO the whole Of the territory!
These questions suggest few considerations, be-
fore we can arrive at probable answer. The Ore
gon question was taken up by the politicians pre-
vious TO the last presidential election and made
OF the test questions which that election should
turn. The convention that nominated Mr.. Polk
passed resolution declaring the American claim to
the whole of that territory to be beyond question.
Mr.. Polk, the nominee of that convention,
was elected, and in his inaugural message
reiterated the same thing Notwithstanding the
stand thus taken, Mr. Polk, in the progress of the
negotiations with tae British minister, offered to
compromise with him on the 49th parallel, but that
was declined by the latter. Mr. Polk then receded
back 10 lie position he assumed in his inaugural
message, Withdrew the offer which he had made,
an rom that time until the present has rejected all
oycrlres ~ arbitration, and insisted, apparently,
M IL the right Of the United States to the
wi tory. This inconsistency on the part of
the gave dissatisfaction TO the ultra por-
ton Of III y The shutting and undecided con-
duct which thus characterized Mr.. Polk in his at
tempts to compromise-the inconsistency between
his professions in the inaugural message and his
acts, in offering to compromise on the 40 degree af
ter his election, will tend TO perpex him very much
in his future negotiations on the subject. II he
should propose a compromise on the 49th parallel,
it will be an acknowledgment of inconsistency, Tor
he has repeated and again. that he consider
ed our claim to the whole clear and UNREASONABLE.
than the whole, he will acknowledge likewise his
owu Inconsistency, for he proposed on former oc-
cas.on 10 compromise on the 49th.
II this dilemma there is but one course for Mr..
Poik 10 pursue, and the one which he will probably
take that is regard the passage of the resolutions
as revelation of the will OF the Senate and House
on the subject, and renew negotiations on his offer
Of 40, that ne made last year. IT, however, the Pre-
,taIc a 81. olc~ -,
fused, or il no compromise can be effected between
the two government on this question, such result
may be fairly attributed to the influence Of the
press, in both England and the United States; we
mean that portion which has endeavored, for sell
fish purposes, to create a war party in both coun-
tries The press generally is pacific In Its tone in
both countries except at the seats of government
The London PRESS which is under the influence OF
the Hudson Bay Company, has been the most vio-
lent in denouncing the claims OF the Americans to
the Oregon territory, and in lnstgating the govern
ment to take hostile measures TO vindlcate the Bril-
tish claims, while, on the other hand, the English
press, the provincial press-all of which we are in
the habit Of reading-is decidedly pacific in its tone,
and spurns the idea that two such great nations
England and the United States-nations that are
bound only by the ties of consanguinity, but by
the strongest OF all earthly ties, that OF senterest
should madly rush into bloody, suicidal war, for
strip of territory comparatively worthless to either.
The same remarks apply to the press in America.
We have the organ at Washington, which is under
the influence of the administration, pursuing the
same policy as the London press, and in the same
way endeavoring to create war party here; while
the rest of the press all over the length and breadth
of the land with few insignificant exceptions,
is decidedly pacific, and like the provincial press OF
England is in favor Of peace, and rdicules the idea
of war.
The fact is, that the London press is not the re-
preventative of public opinion in England, but the
mere echo Of clique of individuals. who'put the
worst aspect on matters, and endeavor to create a
war party from selfinterested motives. Neither is
the government organ OF Washington, and its coad
utors in exciting hostile feelings between the two
countries, the representative OF public opinion in
this country. The press generally, and the Senate
Of the United States, are its representatives, ano
both are for compromise and the maintenance o.
peace.
The state of hostile feeling existing between the
two countries Is attributable to the war parties il
EACH and the press that represents them Were il
not that the unfrendly tone OF these papers has been
so violent, and its appeals to the feelings and preu
dices of the public urgent, the Oregon question
would have been settled long since. But, are moi
the governments OF the two countries to blame for
permitting their organs to indulge in expressing
their acrmony and hostility as they have done
and for merely selfish purposes to create state Of
feeling that endangers the peace of the worldl The
question is, ought those interested parties and papers
be permitted to endanger the peace happily existing
between the two countries, when the people of each
are in favor of maintaining the presen, condition OF
things at all events, let come what will Of the Ore
gou territory. That question is not regarded as
worthy OF consideration, when the great question
Of peace and war hangs on it. This, we are sure
ls the feeling Of the publicthe Of the peopl,
In both England and America. Tolhe two govern
rncnta WIN cnn nniffed the ON The one al On