New-York daily tribune., 1846-01-27
The British Proposition.

The Courier d Enquirer, eItef d Caie!u e0
ton of all it's edvices by the Hibernla concinoes
that the leading article in the London Times oil 'ne
Sd inst, on the subject OF Oregon had an oihciai o'
;r and that If shadows forth proposition OF COM
s-o,,;.a ,,,b;cb has come out to Mr. Pakenham in
the Hibernia to be formally submitted TO our Govern
nent The material portion OF that article Is as fol
lows
"An equal line of partition would be contlnua-
tion from the Rocky Mountains, not OF that line
which has already been fixed on as the commence
men, OF the boundary. but Of a line one degree 10
the South of it. drawn to the Southern Cape on the
outlet of Juan de Fuca Straits This would. as
nearly it is possible be the divisional line of the
disputed district and would give US q greater eX-
tent of coast land to the North than we care 10 claim
But the seth parallel OF North latitude hsTihs a.!
ready been fixed on by the Convention OF LONDON
az the commencement OF the boundary, sucn divis-
inn ia of course out of the question. We only notice
il 10 show that our starting point is not one OF perfect
equality. AS the matter already stands, previous
Convention has ratified certain principle OF con-
cession.
we have not claimed all that the circumstances
of the case and the ambiguity OF right would have
;ns,ifed us in claiming. And, knowing this, we
}eel that we are bound by our duty to our
own countrymen resident in those districts 10
protest against any wanton or careless compromise
Of their interests. We not solicitous TO push
will not claim for them, nor for ourselves, that
capacious district between the Southeast bank
of the Columbia and the Rocky Mountains
We concede this-we concede il because we
prefer settlement to litigation, compromise
10 contest peace TO war. we conceoe ma
ked right for the retention OF an undeniaoe good'
But cannot acquiesce in the surrender OF positive
and ong.enioyed benefits. We think then thdt
ererv purpose both Of honor and interest 'roufd be
onsuered If the British Minister on Thona, nor
deuolres the duty OF making fresh proposals 10 tAe
Government of the United States, WERE TO RENE"
on HIS PART THE OFFER MADE TO ENGLAND BY
Mr.. GALLAT1S IN THE PRESIDENCY AND UNDER
THE DIRECTION OF Mr.. ADAMS. That proposal was
TO take The 1911 degree of North latitude as Tar as
The sea as the boundary line, reSerr'nS 10 Great
Britain Vancourers Island, the horoor az ~.
.Juon de Fwca, and the free Hdragdtion o' We
Columbia. This would be concession as far
as superficial area of the ground is concerned
II would leave the United States masters OF
the greater part Of Oregon. But II would Sc
cure the principal advantages Of the country,
the free navigation of the Columbia, 10 the ser
wants of the Hudson's Bay Company, as well as
harboraee anchorage and settlements for English
vessels trading with China and our possessions In
Australia and New. Zealand. IL ~ould concede ali
that The most successful acar could acquired sor.
ereign but barren dominion; Il 'c0ufd secure GH
the Commercial blessings Of an honorable compTo-
mise and a rational peace. 1t would not deprive
but would retain for Engshmen that prrilege TO
which they are justly enttledthe privilege Of sha'-
ing in the traffic between North America and the
English settlements in the Pacific. No impartial
man can expect that an English Minister would ever
consent to transfer the United States the monopo
ly of the carrying trade between Hudson g Bay and
English colonies in that
q We hope that nc rules Of diplomatic etiquette
sciN precent our representative at Washington
from making some proposal Of this kind. We hope
also that false pride, or more gnoble ss1tament
piA preclude the Ministry Of Washington from
accepting ii And if they do reject it as coming
from us, we do not see how, after such rejection.
they can refuse TO submit the question of miles stH
left in the arbitration Of some neutral Power.-
To reject an offer conceived in the spirit OF peace
and moderation, and at the same time 10 demur to
the suggestion OF reference. would be 10 deserve,
not less than to provoke the imputation of the most
reprehensible obstinacy or the most nsoent inJus-
tice.''