Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1846-02-12

the failure Of oil their rhr,s To effect friend
ly settlement Of the conflicting claims by d.
rect NEGOTIATION between the two govern.
nenis.
They ere still persuaded that great sdvan-
,aces would have resulted 10 both parties
for such n mode Of settlement. had u been
practicable, but there ore difficulties now
N tho way in that course Of proceeding
which il might be tedious To remove, while
the Importance Of on early settlement seems
| 10 become at each moment more urgent.
Under these circumstances, no. AlsjestyS
Government think that resort to aTb'sra-
lion IL the most prudent, and, perhaps, 'hs
only feasible step which could be taken, and
the best calculated to allay the existing
effervescence Unpopular feeling, which might
otherwise greatly enbarrass tho efforts o'
both governments to preserve q fr'eno'y W.
derstanding bctweeA the two countries. -,
The government Of the United States VIII
see in the proposal which the undersigned
is thus instructed 10 make, proof OF the con-
fidence Of the British government IN the Jua'
,ice of their own claim. They will also see
in il proof Of the readiness Of the Britsh
government nj TO incur the risk ot great sac.
niice for the preservation OF peace apa OF
their friendly relations with the United Stags.
| Il is made IN u spirit Of moderation aud iait-
ness Of which tho world will Judge.
The British government confidently nope
thot the government Of the United States
will not reject a proposal made win sue"
friendly intention, and for a purpose so hoy
Inefe Is nothing ~ It, they are convinced
not perfectly compatible with the striclcsS
regard for the honor and Just interest Of both
parties, particularly when II is considered of
" hat small value 10 either is the portion OF
the territory which in reality forms the sub
| ject of controversy, compared with tho im.
poriance Of preserving state OF peace and
rood will between Two such nations.
The undersigned takes advantage of this
opportunity 10 renew 10 the Hon. james
Buchanan the assurance Of his high consider
alton. K.PAkENHAM. IL.
The Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN, &c. &c. q.
Mr.. Buchanan, to Mr.. Pakcnh0m.
DEpARTMENT OF STATS.
Washington, January 3, 1916.
The undersigned, Secretary OF State OF The
Uuitcd States, has The honor To acknowledge
the receipt Uf the note OF Mr.. Pukcnham, her
Britannia Malestys envoy extraordinary ana
minister plenipoten,iary, dated the 2<'h VII.
by which, under instructions from his gov
ornmcDt, he proposes 10 The government oi
The United States the 'cXpedlcncy oil reier-
ing The whole question Of an equitable d.
vision Of tina, (,he Orcgon) territory 10 tho
arbitration of some friendly sovereign or
state
The undersigned has submitted this noto
to the President, who, after having bestowed
upon it that respectful consideration SO emi-
ncntly due 10 any proposition emanat'ng
from the British government, hns instructed
him to give to il the following answer.
The British Government, do not propose To
re ior to arbitration the question OF the t''ie
to .he Oregon territory, claimed by the Two
powers, respectively. II isa proposition 10
refer 10 n iriencly sovereign or state merely
the partition or equitable DIVISION vi that
territory between the parties. II ass0nlcs
the fact that The title OF Great Britain toa
portion OF the territory is valid, and thus
takes for granted the very question III dispute.
Under this proposition, the very terms VI
the submission would contain MI express
acknowledgement of the righ. Of Great Brit
ain to portion Of the territory, and wou'u
necessarily preclude the United STATES from
claiming the whole before the arbitrator.
This, too. in the !act Of the nuto at tho
undersigned to Mr., Pukcnham OF the auth OF
August last, by which the PrcsIdcn, had as
II
the United Sia,es TO the whole territory
Even ifthcre was no other conclusive reasons
for declining tho pioposliion, this alone
would be der,ed sufficient by the President.
|. The President heartily cvncurs with the
British government IN their regret that all
attempts to settle The Oregon question by
neg go,iniion have hitherto iu,led. lie can-
not how ever, concur with that government IN
the opinion that n resort 10 the arbitration,
and especially on The terms proposed, would
be followed by happier consequences. On
the contrary, he believes that any aitcmpt
to refer this question to third power, would
only involve i, in new difficulties.
In declining this proposition, the Prcsi-
dent refers Ia tho sentiment expressed ~ tho
note Of the undersigned Of the 30th of Au-
gust last, to which alluslOn has already been
made, that he 'Cherlshes The hope that
tins long pending controversy mny yet DO
\ finally adjusted in such manner as not 10
disturb the peace, or interrupt the harmony
now So happily subsisting between the two
nations.'
The undersigned avails himself Of this oc-
ca sion 10 renew to Mr.. Pakcnham assurances
of his dis,lngG lshed consideration.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Right lion. RICHARD PAKENHAM, &C., &c.
Mr.. Pakenham 10 Mr.. buchanan.
WAsuINGroN, Jan. 10Th, 1e46.
| With on anxious desire to contribute by
every means in bis power TO n satisfactory
conclusion Of the question pending between
the two governments respecting Oregon, The
undersigned, her Brl'annic Majesiy's envoy
extraordinary and minister plcn'potcnti
has reflected on the contents Of the Doic ad
dressed To hun on the Sd instant, by tho Sec
reiory of State OF the United States, in an
swer to tha, which the undersigned had the
tionor to address 10 him on the 9Th Of last
month.
| The note of the undersigned proposed to
the government, Of tho Un,tod States, that
the whole question OF an equitable partition
Of the Oregon territory should DC referred to
the arbitration Of some friendly sovereign or
state.
In his answer, the Secretary Of State ~.
formed the undersigned that his proposition
could not be accepted. rha, It did not pro-
pose To refer 10 arbitration the question of
the title to the Oregon territory claimed by
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