The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-26
THE UNION
FOREIGN.
THE OREGON QUESTION IN ENGLAND
AFTER THE MESSAGE.

From ths Times, which may now DC looked upon
ss the organ and representative Of the now ministry
Ear more than il was before the recent resignation,
NC make the following extracts, under dates Of the
u and ID Of January. The complete and sudden
change In the tone of that powerful Journal since tho
message 10 England is most striking. We all know
how violent and beliserent its language ras. Here
is what ii though, At TO say on the Oregon eontro-
Versy al the last dates:
Prom the Times Of January I'd.
We think il must be tolersbly clear to the general
,ly Of unprejudiced minds, that, grounds Of pos
awe right the American republic cannot claim the
Oregon territory and we think il 10 equally clear
thai the matter cannot DC determined al all OF
grounds Of abstract night 10 this respect the Uni
I'D States are nearly IN the same predieament as
aud unlimited claim TO the whole northwest coast
Of America. In the belief or assumed belief, of a
Just title 10 this vast empire, she sezed the ships
the eaIgoes, and the persons Of British sailors and
destroyed the huta and factories Of British settlers
But it was afterwards implied by the concessions,
as i, had been before admitted in the words, Of the
Spanish court that its rights TO that coast and those
ports were "stiH not guide esTtaiii.n What, then,
did England propose, under the counsels Of Mr..
PitI Aad what did Spain assent to- under ne adj
mlnistruiion OF Count Florida Blanca The one
every who loves peace and justice must approve
now, they were approved then by the friends
Of peace and equity--condiuons of Joint occupancy
extending over the whole Of the northwest of North
America hitherto claimed by Spain. England did
not take advantage of her own strong feet, Of the
weakness Of Spain, and the inability of the court OF
Versailles to fulfil the pledge contained in the fami-
" compact-al circumstances highly favorable 10
an aggressive policy and bold minister. No, she
seeuesced IN participation Of trading and settling
privileges with q country whom she might have re-
duced to u more ignoble captuation. And this
precedent ct policy at once humane spirited, and
fust is Try one which ought to be followed as nearly
~ the circumstances of the case allow on this new
crisis. The joint occupation of the Oregon by Brit
lsh and American settlers Is no longer Judged expe-
dent. Partition is recommended and desired. On
what principles ought that partition to be made.
Evidently on those of equal benefit and advantage
In our view Of the question, the Americans, having
no exclusive right of sovereignty, cannot treat our
f.low-sublects as mere tenants at-will, nor drive
them to whatever corner OF The Oregon they choose
at the same time claiming for themselves great cred
II for forbeatance. They have both an equal right
to tho disputed terrtory--o right arising from oc-
cupstion nearly identical in time and similar in pur-
pose. ind if agreier share land 10 be accordedfo
ikea 10 rae ofhsr, thus airayd be made MOI as
recognition Of right but Of those considers alton, ,rAicA
ths proximity, numbers, and the past iabors of the
.awerean settlers introduce Necessary element, in the
adjustaem Of TIE dispue-corsideraiion phich in all
spch important matters, Is impossible 10 merge in the
tsehxieaiiies Of tao or the minutie Of title. .
But If the award Of territorial district may be
modified by these considerations, care must be ia
ken that no such modification be carried 70 the eN-
tent of positive deprivation; and that though the
British settlers may lose in the superficial measure
ment Of their area, yet that they shall not lose any
OF those collateral advantages which nre absolutely
Indispensable for ths prosecution of their trade
such as the great water privilege Of tho Columbia
he har nj IN hats
can this partition be made as these ad
untages, and at the same time 90 give to the
Ter claimants not only all tho, they May demand the
right Of their POSSESSION, 6a all to uhfch heir numbers
and proximity enftie tsenf An equal line of parti-
ton would be a continuation from the Rocky noun
tsns, not of that line which has already been fixed
on a. the commencement Of the boundary, but of a
hne one degree to the south Of it, drawn to the
~cutkern oafe on the outlet of Juan de Fuca' Is
! straits. Tbs would, as nearly as it is posi-
bic, be aie divisional line Of. the disputed dis
,nct, rnd would give greater extent of coast
laDs to the north than we care to claim. But the
t5th parallel Of north latitude having already been
liked Oh by the convention Of London as the COM
mencement Of the boundary, ntch a division is Of
oouT" out ofthe question. We only notice il to show
that our starting point is not one Of perfect equality.
As the matter already stands, previous convention
has ratified certain principle Of concession. We
have not claimed all that the circumstances of the
case and the ambiguity Of right would have justified
us in Charming. And, knowing this we feel that We
are bound by our duty to our own counryn1en resi-
dent in those districts protest against any wanton
OF careless compromise of their interests. We are
not solsctous to push right its extreme point
We, therefore, will not claim for the nor for our
selves that capncous district between the southeast
bank OF the Columbia and the Rocky mountains.
We concede this--wo conccde il because we prefer
settlement to litigatlon compromises 10 con-
test, peace to war. We corccdc q naked right for
the retention Of an 0wdchfabte good But we ean,t,.
aoquesoe in the surrender positive And .ong enjoy.
cd benefits. We think, sken, that every purpose
both Of honor and interest would be answered, II The
British minister ,cho no,c deroipes the duty Of ma
sing fresh proposals to the government Of the United
Staes, we're to renew on his part the offer made to
England by Mr.. Gallatin in the presidency and
under the direction Of Mr. Adams That proposal
"as 10 take tile 49h degree Of north latitude "a, fir ne
yea as he boundary tns, reserrng 10 Grsat Britain
/ Paneouper's island, the harbor or st. Iuan de F.ea
and the free navigation or me Columbia. This
would be concession MS far as superficial area OF
ground is concerned II would leave the United
states masters Of the greater part Of the Oregon,
But It would secure the principal advantage Of the
Countrywide free navigation OF the Columbia--to
The servants Of the Hudson Bay Company, as well
as horborage, anchorage, and settlements for Eng.
lish vessels trading with China and our possessions
. in Australia and New Zealand II would roncede
all that the most successful war could acquirc--a
sovereign bu, barren dominion; but Il would secure
| y" We commerciai oieSslngs OF an honorabe CONF
promise and rational peace. II would not deprive
the native Americans Of any equitable advantage,
but i would retain for Englishmen that privilege to
which they are Justly entitled-Athe privilege Of
hs'tns IN the traffic between North America and
The English settlements In the Pacific. No impair
ual man can expect that nm English minister would
ever consent 10 transfer 10 the United States the
monopoly Of the carrying trade between Hudson's bay
and English colonies in that sea. t
We hope that no rules Of diplomatic efqutue ,ciil
ptrtm representative at Washington from making
iona proposal Of his Kind, We hope, also, that no
sl'e prlde, or more gnoble sentiment, will preclude
me ministry Of Washington from accepting IT, And
they do reject il as coming from u.s. we do not see
how, aner such rejection, they can refuse TO sub
NIT the question Of miles s,ili left in dispute to the
erbration Of some neutral power To reject an Of
Ter conceived in the spirit OF peace and moderation,
and at the same time demur to the suggestion Of
Inference, would be TO deserve, not less than to
provoke, the imputaton Of the most reprehensble
oosunacy or the most insoient injustice.
But we cannot bring ourselves to believe that the
caonet Of Washington will puriue line Of policy
20 Inconsistent with its pacific professions 20 fnju-
Iious 10 the honor Of ita We will not