The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-23
From the n. Y. Evening Post.
OREGON-THE NOTICE.

We entirely approve OF he vote by which the
Senate have postponed the consideration Of the
Oregon bill ill the 10Th Of February, bu, In other
respects, confess The aspect Of affairs seems TO US
unsatisfactory. d.
The CHG members Of the ssnate have, as it is
generally understood, come to the conclusion to
oppose the notice bill; if this be 80, and if there is
any considerable detection from the administration
ranks, that measure must be defeated result, we
are clearly OF opinion, Of very Ill omen TO the main
tenance OF peace.
The wing party seem most unaccountably 10 have
worked themselves into the belief that the notice bill
is a war measure, and they oppose II such. IL
seems to bs however, clearly the only course likely
to preserve peace The negotiation Ia broken of;
we have made offer which the nation is satisfied
is the best we ought TO make; no thinks that we
ought TO settle the Oregon question by any line south
of the fouy.nihth degree, OF without an equitable
division Of the ports the Pacific. This offer has
been refused with little courtesy, To say the best OF
il, and the administration now call on the national
legislature To do WHAT to declare war: not at all
simply to terminate the joint occupation treaty-in
other words 10 give notice that the matter must in
some way or other be settedI
The joint occupation was very Ineligible so long
as both parties were willing 70 postpohs tht adjust
ment Of the question. But it becomes absurd The
moment both nations are convinced that the matter
must be closed; and believe no supposes that
the Oregon question can, with any safety, be left
open any longer. To lesye it thus would lead to
Inevitable collision, in addition 10 The nfnite evils
resulting from proongaton OF doubt and uncer-
tanty. The Oregon question, therefore, must be
settled. This Is our postulase-oYt axiom.
How then is II to be settled! Negotiation is for
the present closed. Nobody supposes that the gov
eminent can, nobody suggests that it should, make
new offer. To repeat the former would be absurd:
| to make less favorable prpposition would by the
| whole country be secuted. We have itothinE there
fore, to do but to remain absolutely passive, or to
give the notice. But the day of "msstery inactivi-
ty" is passed. 1t was very good policy once; but
inactivity Of speech well of action and after
declaring our right to the whole Of Oregon and our
absolute determination not to take less than the en-
tire territory south Of the 49th the line Of passive
conduct has been completely and fotevet eBandot,-
ed We must act, and act at Office, with hrmness and
prudence
As we have said, we think there is no pressing
haste about the Oregon bill; the 10th of February
is better than the SDh of january, and any tim.
would do before the ehd Of the session; but if, by
union Of the wing portion Of the Senate with few
Of the administration members, the measure should
be defeated, and Congress rise without doing any
thing, It seems TO us that the peace of the country
would be inevitably placed in Jeopardy.
1t viii then stand thus: we make great declara-
tons of our rights, but take steps to enforce
| them. We leave question of the most irritating
nature entirely open, and take no measure that
lead to an adjustment; and finally the government,
with a clear nominal majority in both houses, is
| beaten on its own vital measure A more absolute
| proclamation Of national incapacity could not be
| made, and that Great Britain will take advantage of
that incapscity il requires no prophet to foresee.
| We have yet TO find the first instance where she
has spared an imbecile or epless power If the
government cannot carry through this question Of
notice, il cannot command the national force; and
there is not single fibre Of it's administration that
would not feel the paralysis of the shock. And the
worst of il is, that If this il postponed,
| it ia indefinitely postponed There is no reason to
expect any change in the state Of parties in the Sen
ate likely to lead to different result.
We arc well satisfied that this Oregon matter can
not be safely carried through except by admins
traon sustained by prudent but decisive support in
each House. No nation deal with England, il
it paters, or trifes, or hesitates.
1t is no such course that in our Judgment, will Sc
cure peace. 1t was no such course that secured
from war with France in 1885, Great Britain can
not but see that we are entitled to ports on the Pa
cifc. She cannot but see that the 49th parallel
leaves her liberal share of the territory. She will
see all this plain enough, If our government can
command support at home and respect abroad. But
she will neither nor hear, if she finds that the
administration cannot rally its friends in such
an emergency as this.
dcspse in our souls the braggart clustering which,
day after day, the House Of Representatives re-
echoes we abhor the insane policy of a Giddngs.
But, in our Judgment a firm policy is the only way
to prevent war.
The result will prove who is right. In that re-
suit lie the lives, the fortunes, the happiness of mil
lions, and we can only express the devout hope that
in these high debates neither local interests per-
sonal jealousy may be allowed to turn the scale.
Let all give the administration candid construction,
liberal support, and God save the republic --.Nsp
York Evening Post.