The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-20


could possibly be made, might be tho concession
Tor an adequate equivalent, OF the small cap Of Van
couvers island south of this latitude, which would
be Of no importance TO the United States, whilst il
| rs OF considerable value 10 Great Britain.
| you will enforce our proposition upon the
| British ministry with all the enlightened ability Of
which you 80 emnently the master. Should i
be rejected the President will be relieved from the
! embarrassment Ia which he has been involved by
the acts, offers, and declarations Of his predeces-
sors. Afterwards, If the difficulty can only be re-
solved by the sword we may then appeal, with
confidence 10 the world for the equity and justice OF
our cause, and may anticipate ihe smiles Of Heaven
upon the right" .......
Whilst the President has been assailed in one
portion Of the Union, for having made this offer,
| doubts have been expressed in another quarter,
whether It was sincere. The whole tenor of Mr..
BuchaDan's letter to Mr.. McLane, must dissipate
| such doubts. Whilst the offer was made with re-
llctance, i was made in perfect good faith. No
stronger proof OF this could be desired than the in.
struetion 10 Mr.. McLdne, TO "enforce our PROPOSE
ton upon the British ministry, with all the enlight-
ened ability Of which he was so eminently the mas
ter"
On the 18th day ofJuly but thirteen days after the
receipt Of MIR. Buchanan's statement, Mr. Paken-
ham returned his answer TO the American proposi.
ton. Having contested Mr. Buchanan's argument
at length, he says "After this exposition of the
views entertained by the British government respect
ing the relative value and importance Of the British
and American claims, the American plenipotentiary
will not be surprised to hear that the undersigned
does not feel at liberty to accept the proposal offered
by the American plenipotentiary for the settlement
OF the question" He then, instead of submitting a
counter proposal, concludes his letter by expressing
the trust, "that the American penipotentiary will
be prepared to offer some further proposal for the
settlement of the Oregon question more consistent
ouh Jairntss and equity, and ,oh the reasonable srpee
faitons Of the British g0pernmsni"
The arrogance of this language could scarcely be
tolerated by the usages Of diplomacy among civil
iaed nations. We were told by the British minister
to try again; and the President at once determined
that he would never conform to this requisition
AMER waiting sufficient time to enable Mr.. Pa
kenham TO communicate with his government Mr.
Buchanan withdrew the American proposition. in
his celebrated letter Of the 30th of August, l845
hiler demonstrating the American title to the whole
OF oregon, and stating the reasons which had actu-
eted the President TO offer proposition so liberal TO
Great Britain, he concludes his letter. Ia copy of
which was Immediately transmitted 10 Mr.. Nc
Lane, as follows:
"And how has this proposition been received by
the British plenpotentiaryi II has been rejected
without even reference TO his own government
way, more; the British plenpotentiary, to use his
own language, trusts that the American plenipo-
tertiary will be prepared offer some further pro-
posal Tor the settlement Of the Oregon question
more consistent 10Th fairness and EQUITY, and ,oiih The
reasonable expectations o. the British government
Under such circumstances, the undersigned is
instructed by the President to say, that he owes it
TO his own country, and lust appreciation of her
uile TO the Oregon territory, TO withdraw the propo-
stion to the British government, which had been
made under his direction; and is hereby according
ly withdrawn.
In taking this necessary step, the President still
chershes the hope that this long pending controver
Sy may yet be finally adjusted in such a manner as
not To disturb the peace or interrupt the harmony
now so happily subsisting between the two ma
tons