The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-30

ton, by the two houses Of Congress. In support
OF this accommodation. he himself sent US, unaak-
ed, the commencement Of the session the cores
pondence up to that time. Now, If that was neces-
sary, the rest is necessary II We entitled TO
part we are entitled TO the whole. amy opinion, the
mistake was in calling on Congress 10 authorize no.
tice 10 England of the diseontinuance Of what has
been called the joint occupation until negotiation
had been exhausted. Negotiation should have been
tried first, and when that had failed, and finally
failed, then, and not I'LL then should Congress have
been called upon. | now 60 on the ground, OF
course, that the notice for disseminating the joint
cupancy Is properly TO be given by authority OF
Congress; point which do not now discuss. II
is said, indeed, that notice is TO be used wea-
pom, or an instrument, in negotiation hardly un-
derstand this II is metaphor Of not very obvious
application. weapon seems to imply, not a facil-
ity, or mere aid, but the means either of defence
against attack, or Of making an attack. IL sounds
not altogether friendly and pacific. doubt exceed.
ingly whether, under present circumstances notice
would hasten negotiation; and yet such those
circumstances that there may be as much inconve-
nlence in standing still in going forward The
truth is, that great embarrassment arises from the
extreme pretensons and opinions put forward by
The President IN his inaugural address a year ago,
and in his message last December But for these notice
would have been harmless, and perhaps would have
been authorized by both houses without much or
position and received by England without dissalisfae-
with the Presidents repeated declarations that he
held title to the whole oflhe territory to be "eear
and unquestonsble," alarmed the country. And
well il might. And ifnotiee were required, in order
TO enable the President to push these extreme
claims 10 any and every result then notice ought 10
De refused by Congress-, unless Congress is ready
to support these pretensons at oil hazards. Here
hes the difficulty Congress is not prepared, and
the country is not prepared, as | believe, TO make
the Presidents opinion of clear and unquestion.
able right to the whole territory all ulIimatum.
1.-The Wants notice for such purpose he certainly
must see that It becomes a grave question whether
Congress will grant il, IL was great very great
mistake, to accompany the recommendation Of no
tee with positive assertion of our right TO the
whole territory. Did the President mean to adhe to
that, even TO the extremity Of wan ESQ, he should
have known that after what has happened Ia years
past, the country was not likely sustain him. Did
he mean TO say this, and afterwards recede from III
If so, why say 1t at alb Surely the President could
not be guilty Of playing 80 small Il part, to en-
deayor To show himself to possess spiit, and
boldness, and fearlessness Of England more than
his predecessors, or his copnrymen, and yet do all
all this in the confident hope that no serious
collision would arse between the two coun-
tries. 50 lew an ambition, such palrry motives,
ought not to be imputed When the President de.
clared that, in his judgment, our title to the whole
Of Oregon was 'clear and inquest nable," did he
mean to express official, or mere personal opn.
OH! III the u certainty ndu no place IN al
official communication. Ii the former-if he in
teoded a solemn Official opinion, upon which he was
resolved to act officially, then it is very grave
question how far he Is justified without new lights
or any change Of circumstances, to place the claims
OF this country, IN this respect other grounds thar
hose which they had stood on under his predeces
sors, and with the concurrence Of all branches o
the government for so many years; for it is not Il
be doubted that the United States government has
admitted, through long series years, that Eng land
has rights in the northwestern parts of this continent
which are entitled to be respected. Mr. President
one who has observed attentively what has trans.
pred here and in England within the last three
months, must, think, perceive that public opinion
IN both countries, Is coming to a conclusion that
this controversy ought to be settled; and is not very
diverse in the one country and the other as TO the
general basis OF such settlement That basis
is the offer made by the United States to
England in 1896 There is no room "a
doubt, | think, that this country is ready
to stand by that offer, substantially and in eli.
feet Such is my opinion at least and circumstances
certainly indicate that Great Britain would not in
all probability would not, regard such proposition
as unfit to be considered. said, some weeks ago
that did not intend to discuss titles at length and
certainly not TO adducc arguments against our own
claim. But 1t appears to me that there is concur
renee Of arguments, considerations in favor of re-
garding the 49th parallel as the Just line of demarca.
ton, which both countries might well respect. Il
has, for many years, been the extent Of our claim.
We have claimed up to 400, and nothing beyond H.
We have offered to yield everything north OF it. II
is the boundary between the two countries on this
side OF the Rocky mountains, and has been since
the purchase Of Louisiana from France. | do not
think it important either to prove or disprove the
fact that commissioners under the treaty Of Utrecht
established the 49h parallel as the boundary between
the English and the French possessions in Amer
ica Ancient maps and descriptions so represent il
some saying that this line Of boundary to run Sin.
definitely west" others saying, in terms, that il ex
tends "to the northwestern ocean" But what is
more important, we have considered this boundary
as established by the treaty of utrecht at least or,
this side Of the Rocky mountains, 1t was on the
strength Of this that we drove, back the Bri-
tish pretensions, after we had obtained LoAis-
lana, north, from the hcad-waters of the Misss-
sippi to this parallel of 400 This is ndubi-
table. We have acted, therefore, and induced
others to act on the idea that this boundary
was actually established. II NOW so stands in the
treaty between the United States and England If,
the general notion Of contiguiy or continuity this
line be continued "indefnteiy west, or is allowed
to run to the "northwesern ocean" then it leaves
on our side the valley Of the Columbia, to which, in
myjudgment, our title is maintainabe on the ground
Of Gray's discovery. The government Of the Uni
ted States has offered any line south of forty
nine, with the navigation Of the Columbia and il
never will 1t behooves all concerned 10 regard this
as settled point. As to the navigation Of the Co.
umoia, permanently or for term of years, that is
all matter for just, reasonable, and friendly nego-
tation. But the 49th parallel must be regarded az
the general line of boundary and not to be departed
from for any line further south As to all straits
and sounds, and islands, in the neighboring sea- ali
these arefar subjects for treaty stipulation. IF the
general basis be agreed to- all the rest, it may be
presumed, may be accomplished by the exercise Of
spirit of fairness and amity. And now, Mr.. Pres
ident, If this be so, why should this settlement be
longer delayed Why should either government,
hold back longer from doing that which both, |
think, can see must be done, il they would avoid a
rupture' Every hours delay is injurious to the
interests Of both countries. 1t aeitates both, dis
turhs their business, interrupts their inter.
course, and may, in time, seriously affect their
friendly and respectful feeling towards each other
Having said this, Mr.. President, my purpose is full
filed. 1t would be needless, even If it were proper
TO say more. consider the general sentiment OF
both countries as almost entirely concentrated on
this line as the general basis of line Of demarca.
ton. As yet nothing has happened to touch the
point Of honor Of either government Why, then
should not the propitous moment be sezedp Ii is
not humilIation-it is not condescension even---in