Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-03-04
Mr.. buchanan to Mr.. Packeaham.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

States, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
the note of Mr.. Packenham, her Britanic Maiestv,s
envoy extraordinary and minister penipotentarv,
ted on the 10th ultimo, by which he again PROMISES
reference of the Oregon question to arbitration.
Under his proposition the powers of the arbitrator
would not as in his last, be limited in terms to the
division of the territory between the parties, but
would extend to the question of their conflicting IL
ties. There is, however, condition annexed to this
offer which exposes it to the objection in point
OF fact, If not in form which was prominently pre-
scented in the answer of the undersigned to Mr. Pack
enham's last proposal. The condition is shat if
neither party should be found in the opinion of the
arbitrator, to possess complete title TO the whole
territory, there should, in that case De assigned to
each, that portion of territory which would in the
opinion of the arbitratng power, be called for by
just appreciation of the respective claims of each.'-
the of the UnitedStates should consent
to an arbitration upon such condition, this might,
and probably would be construed into an intimaton,
if not direct invitations to the arbitrator, to divide
the territory between the parties. Were 1t possible
for the President. under any circumstances, to con-
sent to refer the subject to arbitration the title and
the title alone, detached from every other consdera
ton, is the only question which could be submitted.
If not confined TO single point, so strong is the nat
ural disposition of arbrators please both parties
that in almost every instance, whether Of national
individual controversies, they make compromising
award. We have memorable example of this in
our last arbitration with Great Britain. Notwth-
standing that the arbitrator under the terms of the
submission, clearly and explicitly confined to the
decision of which was the line of highlands described
in the treaty ofpeace of 1885, yet,nstead of pursuing
any range of highlands whatever, he advised that
the line should along the bed of river and ac-
tually divided the territory in dispute between the
parties by the middle of the deepest channel of the
st. Johns
The undersigned might content himself, in answer
to the present proposition with reference to the OBJ
servations, contained in his last note to Mr.. Paken
ham, of the Sd ultmo.' In that it plainly intima-
ted not only that there areother conclusive
for declining the proposition independently of the
one which had been prominently stated, but it was
expressly asserted the beefo the President that
any attempt to refer this question to third power
would only involve it in difficulties" apart from
the intrinsic difficulty of selecting suitable arbitra-
tor we'll as other considerations that might be abb
duced, is conclusive on the mind of the President
gainst reference of this question to arbtration in
any form which can be devised, no matter what may
be the character ofthe arbtrator-whehers sovereign
citizen, subject. This is that he does not
believe the territorial rights of this nation to be
proper subject for arbitration. 1t may be true that
under peculiar circumstances, if the interest at stake
were compatively small, and if both parties stood
upon an equal footing, there might be inslpera-
BILE objection to such course. But what is the ex
tent af territory in dispute the present occasion
1t embraces nearly thirteen degrees of latitude along
the northwest coast Of the Pacific stretches east
ward to the summit of the Rocky mountains
Within It's limits several powerful and prosperous
States Of the Union may be embraced. 1t lies con-
tguous, this continent, to the acknowledged ter
rtory of the United States; and is destined, at no
distant day, to be pcoped by citizens. This ter
ritory presents the avenue through which the
merce of our western States can be proably conduc
ted with Asia and the western coasts of this continent
and its ports the only harbors belonging to the Uni
ted States to which numerous whalers and 9TH
er vessels in that region resort. And yet vast
as are its dimensonslt contains not single safe and
comnodious harbor from its southern extremity until
we approach the 49th parallel of latitude.
1t is far from the intention of the undersigned again
to open the discussion of the conflicting claims of the
two powers to the Oregon territory 1t is sufficient
for him to state the continued conviction of the Pres
ident that the United States hold the best title in ex
istence to the whole of this territory. Under this
convictions he cannot consent to leopard for his coun
try all the great interests involved, and by any pos
sibity, however remote to deprive the republic of
all the good harbors the coast by referring the
question to arbitration.
Neither is the territory in dispute Of equal;
y equal, value to the two powers. Whilst it is in
valuable to the United States it is of comparatively
small Importance to Great Britain, To her, Oregon
would be but distant colonial possession of doubt
full value, and which, from the natural progress of
human events, she would not probably long enough
enjoy derive from it essential benefits; whilst to
essential PORTION of the reputl c. The gain to Gil
Britain she would never sensiby fee whilst the loss
to the United States would be irreparable
The undersigned is perfectly aware that such con-
can have no bearing upon the question of
the ttleof either party. They presented solely
for the purpose of explaining the views of the Presi
dent in his refusal to adopt any measure which should
withdraw title from the control of the government
and people of the United States and place it within
the discretion of any arbitrator matter how INTEL
hgent and respectable.
The President cordially concurs with the govern.
ment of Great Britain in desiring that the present con-