The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-08

anu suHcr IL 10 bhnu as TIE oasis OF luIhcF
negotiation; and, IL this could not be done, TO OBJ
tain some assurance in advance as TO the manner
IN which a new proposition from the British gov
eminent would be received. He did not accom-
pish either object. In these conversations, gave
him distinctly to understand that the President
could not consent TO recall what had been already
done, TO modify, in any degree, the withdrawal
Of our offer. At the same time observed, in an
swer 10 question propounded by him, that If the
British government should think proper 10 make
any new proposition 10 the government Of the Uni-
ted States for the settlement of the Oregon question,
il would be respectfully considered by the Presi-
dent, without, however, feeling himself committed
in any degree by the offer which had been ALREADY
made and rejected, and afterwards Withdrawn.
Mr.. Pakenham urged that he had not rejected our
proposition, but had merely refused to accept it,
and endeayored by argument TO impress upon my
mind the distincIion---not very obyions-between
the refusal To accept proposition and IFS rejection.
To this replied by referring him to the Subsequent
part Of his note, in which he expressed hs trust that
q" would be prepared to offer some further proposal
for the settlement OF the Oregon question more con-
slstent with fairness and equity, and with the rea
sonable expectation OF the British government"
This language, ! observed, necessarily implied not
only an emphatic rejection Of our Offer but con-
demnaton of its character. t..l
In consequence OF my communications with Mr..
Pakenham, the President, after holding two cabinet
councils the present state Of the Oregon negotia
lOn, mas determined mat VIII not renew MS
former Offer nor submit any other proposition; and Il
must remain for the British government TO decide
what other or further steps II any, they msy think
proper TO take in the negotiation. You Will not be
surprised at the result you are well aware that
nothing but Difference for the repeated action Of his
predecessors, and for the principle Of compromise
on which the negotiation had been commenced, as
well sincere desire to cultivate the most friendly
relations between the two countries, could have in
duced him so far TO depart from his well known
opinions as to have directed the proposition to be
made which has been rejected and Withdrawn.
Mr.. Pakenhams note Of the Goth ofJuly, rejecting
our proposition, became, Immediately after It's re-
eeipt the subject ofgave delberatio0 by the Presl-
dent. Upon full consideration Of the whole ques-
ton, and after waiting a month for further develop
ments, he arrived at the conclusion that It was
duty which he owed his country to withdraw the
proposition which he had submitted. This was
accordingly done by my note TO Mr.. Pakenham OF
the Both OF August last. The President thus took
his ground, from which he will not depart IL the
British government have any new proposition to
submit, it must proceed from them voluntarily, and
without any previous invitation or assurance on our
part and then such proposition will be respectfully
considered by the government Of the United
States.
This is the posture which the negotiation now
stands; and, unless in the meantime It should be
changed by some action on the part of the British
government, the President intends to lay the whole
JAMES BUCHANAN.
LOUIS McLASE, esq, &c, &C., DC.
Mr.. .MeLans 10 Mr.. Buchanan.
GExtractsl
mo. 24l LONDON, December l, 1S45.
Although it is well understood here that, in the
present posture of the Oregon question, my connex-
ion with it must be in great degree informal, the
Il ~ IL of
conversation. t.7,.. ......
At his request | have recently had an interview
with him, when he put In my hand, to read, two
dispatches from Mr.. Pakenham; one in expana-
ton of his rejection, without reference to his govern
ment, of the Presidents propositions the other
tanning a statement of his subsequent attempts to
induce you to allow The Presidents proposition to
stand the basis of further negotiation, or to have
some assurance of the answer which u new propo.
si,ion from the British government would receive
In his first letter, Mr. Pakenham, among other
things, thought his treatment of the President 8
proposition iustihabe the ground of his nstruc-
tons, which, in his opinion, forbade the expectation
that such proposition could, under any clrcum-
stances, receive the appreciation of his government
He also
expressed
his belief that reference of the proposition to his
government, merely, he supposed, to be re ected,
would not have avoided the embarrassment in which
the subject has been by that step involved.
In answer to these views | had only to point out
the clear insuffciency of Mr.. Pakenham's explann-
tons; and to defend and justify the withdrawal Of
the Presidents proposition upon the obvious grounds
on which, in your communications, you had placed
ii; to point out with entire expllcness the attitude
the President had determined to maintain, and the
course it was his intention to pursue, in conformity
with the statement in your despatch No. 10, dated
the 5th November last.
The principal object of Lord Aberdeen in seek
ing the interview appeared to me to be, to point out
the embarrassment in which he thought the Presi-
dents withdrawal of his proposition had placed this
government II was quite evident, indeed he ex-
pressy said, that he not prepared to accept the
Presidents proposition but desired only to make it
the basis of further negotiation and modified propo-
sitions from his government, which he would have
done, notwithstanding the rejection of it by Mr.
| Pakenham lift had not been withdrawn by the di-
rection of the President. He complained of the
withdrawal of the proposition as unusual, if not un.
| precedened in diplomacy, and seemed to consider il
impossible in the present posture of the affair to sub
nit any proposition for partition OF the territory
in dispute, unless he could have some assurance o.
the treatment which any proposition he might sub
nit for that purpose would receive.
Under these circumstances, he could only regard
| the negotiation as having been terminated by thu
President; and the door to further attempts at com
promise being thus closed this government had
no alternative, in its desire to preserve the peaceful
relations of the two countries lother than to propose
arbitration and abide the consequences. Indeed un
derstood him to say, very distinctly, that this course
Il would be pursued. 1t may be considered certain
therefore, that if he have not been already, Mr.
Pakenham will, by the present steamer, be instruct
ed to propose arbitraton; and that, according t
the answer that proposition may receive, the ut.
mate course upon the part of this government vii
be defined.
| think it not improbable that, il the offer be de
olined upon the ground upon which il is understood
it was refused by Mr.. Calhoun, to wit: that NOR
satisfactory adjustment might be obtained through
the medium of negotiation, this government would
then submit new proposition, and so resume thu
negotiation; but that, if it be refused such term
as to warrant them in assuming that our govcrnmen
has determined to insist upon the extreme claim
and to decline both negotiation and arbtratlon thl
government will treat the offer to arbitrate as its u
, timatum, and abide the result OF course, thes
opinions are founded upon the observations OF tn
Earl of Aberdeen, in the conversation to which
have already alluded
Although am quite sure that the Earl of Aber
deem has no idea at present Of accepting tho con