Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-24

self, also, other question, and that is IL the par
ties cannot agree, and if England offers arbitration
on fair and equal terms, by heads crowned or I'M
crowned, how the Government Of the United
States can stand up before the world and decline
such offer
JASUARY B.
We think il be toeraby clear the generality
preudced minds that grounds Of positive right the Ame
rcan Republic claim the Oregon territory and
think equally that the be determined
all grounds of abstract right In this respect the Uni
ted States nearly in the predcament Spain in
the year 1889 Spain asserted proud and unlimited claim
to the whole northwest Of America In the belief
assumed belief of just title this empire, she seized
the Ships the cargoes and the persons of British sailors,
and destroyed the huts and factories of British settlers The
Spanish Minister, Florida Blanca, supported the violence Of
Don Estevan in memorial which justified the pretensions
urged by the former in favor of his country district
tending far the ed parallel of north latitude But
when the matter sied that these gigantic
peensons rested avague expression in the eighth article of
the treaty of Utrecht that insignia of Spanish sovereign
y had been exclusively displayed Spanish settlements
clusvey founded that That there had been Span
sh settlers That Spanish vessels had been In the
habit of touching there also True, too that those
had in that and the preceding century been secured by
Spanish buccaneers But afterwards implied by the
cessons had been before admitted in the words OF the
Spanish Court that rights that coast and those ports
:" still not quite CERTAIN What, then, did England
propose under the counses OF Mr. Pitt and what did Spain
to- under the administration of Count Florida Blanca
The proposed and the other accepted conditions which
every man loves peace and justice must approve
they approved then by the friends of peace and equity
conditions joint occupancy, extending the whole Of the
northwest of North America hitherto claimed by Spain. Eng
land did take advantage of her strong fleet of the
weakness of Span and the inability the Court Of Yer
sales fulfil the pledge contained in the Family Compact
all circumstances highly favorable aggressive policy and
bold Minister. No; she acquesced in participation of
trading and settling privileges with country whom she might
have reduced gnobe capituaton And this prece-
dent of policy al humane, Spirited and just is the one
which ought be followed nearly the circumstances of
the allow, this crisis The joint occupation of
the Oregon by British and American settlers longer udg
ed expedient Partition is recommended and desired On
what principles ought that partition be made Evidently
those of equal benefit and advantage In view of the
question: the Americans, having exclusive right of
regnty, eow-subects will
drive them whatever the Oregon they choose,
the time claiming for themselves great credit for for
beaance They have both equal right the disputed ter
rito-a right arising from occupation nearly identical in
time and similar purpose And if greater share of land
is to be accorded than the other this award
tons which the proximity numbers, and the past abors Of
American settlers introduce necessary elements in the adj
jusment of the dspueconsderaon which, all such inn
portant matters impossible merge in the technicates
Of law or the minutia of title.
But if the award of district may be modified by
these considerations be taken that such odf
cation be carried the extent of positive deprivation and
that, though the British settlers may lose in the superficial
of their area yet that they shall not lose any
for the prosecution of their trade-such the great
privilege of the Columbia and the harbor mouth Now
in what way this partition be made these
advantages, and the time give the
ants not only all that they may demand the right Of their
possession, but all which their numbers proximity en-
title them An equal line of partition would be continue
ton from the Rocky Mountains of that line which has
already been fixed the of the boundary
but of line degree to the south Of drawn the south
cape the outlet of Juan de Fucas Straits This would,
nearly it is possible, be the divisional line of the dsput
ed district and would give greater Of land
to the north than claim. But the 4sh parallel of
north latitude having already been fixed by the convention
Of London the Of the boundary, such d
vision of of the question We only notice it to
show that starting point not OF perfect equality
As the matter already stands previous convention has ra
fed certain principle of concession We have claimed
all that the Of the and the ambiguity of
right would have justified claiming And knowing this,
feel that bound by duty counymen
resident in those districts protest against any
clreless compromise Of their interests.
We solcitous push right its point
We, therefore, will claim for Them for ourselves that
capacous district between the southeast bank Of the Columbia
and the Rocky Mountains We concede thswe concede IT
because prefer settlement TO litigation compromise
70 contest, peace We concede naked right for
the retention Of undeniabe good But cannot acqui
esce in the surrender of positive and longenoyed benefits
We think then, that ecy purpose both Of honor and
rest ,could Be ansaced, te British Minister tcho norc
derores the duty Of making fresh proposals TO the Goperr-
Dlet Of the United States 10 his part the Offer
made to England By Mr. GALLATIx, the Presidncy and
under the direction Of Mr. ADAMS That proposal was to
take the 49h degree Of north latitude the as the
boundary line, reserving Great Britain Vancouyers Island
the harbor Of st. Juan de Fuca and the free navigation the
Columbia This would be concession far as superficial
of ground concerned II would leave the United States
masters Of the greater part Of the Oregon But would Sc
the principal advantage Of the country, the free navga
ton of the Columbia the servants of the Hudson Bay
Company well harboage anchorage and settlements
for English vessels trading with China and possessions in
Australia and New Zealand 1t would concede all that the
most successful war could acquirea sovereign but barren
dominion but would secure all the commercial blessings of
an honorable compromise and rational peace Il would not
he -anf~