Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-01-08

enable expectations of the British Government"
NhereupOn Mr.. Polk and Mr.. Buchanan, make
What may be called "fare up and withdraw
he proposition already submitted, and substitu-
ed in its stead, claim to the whole territory Of
Oregon, American, Spanish and Briish--up to
he Russian Possessions, which are at about the
18th degree 40 minutes of North latitude.
Now, am neither disposed, nor prepared if l
were disposed, to decide upon the relative claims
of these two parties, resting on discovery, ex-
poration and settlement: it seems to me, TO be a
subject involved in much difficulty and confusion.
But this, am prepared to say, that Of all the
questions to which have ever turned my atten-
lion, as creating conflicting interests and rights,
between two nations, this is the one most peculi-
arly fit and appropriate to DO submitted to arbi-l
traiion, If the parties cannot themselves agree;
and that Great Britain has by her offer to arbi-
irate, done all that it became her 10 do, and all
that could be expected, in order to bring about a
peaceable and honorable adjustment Of the diff
Guilty and il war should be the consequence, the
responsibility will rest solely and exclusively ou
the head of Mr.. Polk. and those Of our public
men, to whom the subject is now turned over,
who may sustain him in his idle and arrogant
claim.
The question more briefly stated, is simply
this: Great Britain says to the U. S., "from 1890
have held the Oregon territory in join, occupant
cy with Spain and the U. s., with my right to
make settlements on any portion of the unoccu-
pied territory, recognised by Spain as far back
as 1870, then the only claimant.
Whether under the Spanish authority, or by
discovery, exploration and settlement, my claim
is at least equal to yours you are impatient to
divide, and am not disposed to quarrel with you
about Tiny object is 10 cultivate friendly rela-
tions with you.
l will propose TO divide by such a line; no,
says Mr.. Polk, can't agree to that. Then says
Treat Britain, do you make me proposition
Mr.. Polk says, will divide by such line Great
Britain says no, / can't agree to that-but as
there seems to be wide difference between us,
and am not disposed to take more than l can
show title to, and am unwilling to interrupt the
harmony of the two nations, I will agree to sub
init the whole matter to the arbitration of some
third party, to be mutually agreed on between
US. No; says Mr.. Polk, wont do that either.
Then what will you do ? make me some other
proposition more equitable than The first. Why,
says Polk now, will withdraw my first PROPOSE
ton and claim the whole entire territory of Ore
gon, even that which it has been admitted by
this government 10 belong to Great Britain, ever
since the treaty OF Joint occupancy in 1918; for if
Great Britain had no just claim title to any
part, II is impossible TO conceive that the terms Of
joint occupancy would ever have been agreed up.
on--or that Mr.. Polk would himself have offered
any part to Great Britain in the course OF this ne
goiation.*
Disguise it as you may by fourishes of the
pen, "'o this complexion Thrust come at last"
Now venture to make the unqualified asser-
ZION, that there is not intelligent, honest dis
interested, patriotic man in this whole country
who, upon full understanding of this much vex-
ed, but greatly misunderstood question, who
would, under existing circumstances, be disposed
TO pronounce our title 'clear and unquestionabe,
and to favor the desperadoes, the political Jug
glers, the ambitious aspirants, and the greedy
ofhce-holders, in their clamors for .he ,ohoLe of
IL
we can never accomplish by war, and what is not
worth quarrel even if we could, but which if
the matter had been let alone, would have natu-
rally fallen into our possession by the settlement
OF the country by our own citiZens-for, to use
the language of Lord Castlereagh-we were ac-
curing possession of the country. while our s'peo-
pie were asleep, and knew nothing about it.''
II the President is sustained in these novel and
lofty pretensioEs, how is war to be averted
Does any body expect Great Britain to surrender
the whole of Oregon to us, without a blow, when
she has uniformly rejected all propositions that
have been submitted by US to give her less than
half? No sane man does, l am sure1 There is
but one ,Oay by which war can be avoided-and
that IS, that Congress shall repudiate Mr.. Polk
and his musical instrument, the organ, in their
ridiculous newborn doctrines Of s'ihe whole of
Oregon or none." Will they do it? l fear not.
think not. Party bondage will prove too strong,
and tho welfare OF the country and the honor of
power. 1t is rumored, know, that instructions
to Mr.. McLane were despatched by the steamer,
preceding the delivery of his message 10 Con-
gress, authorizing him to compromise the matter;
and that therefore, it is, he expresses the hope
that the difficulty may yet be amicably adjusted.
tie can have no such hope, unless he has sent
such instructions, and if he has, he has disonored
himself and ms government, by playing the bull
dog on this side of The water, and the spaniel on
the other: for what might be the position of the
country in such an event!
MIR. Polk says TO Congress, we are entitled 10
the whole of Oregon, and we must give the years
notice required by the treaty of 1873 and at the
expiration OF that time will take possession of
il, and we cannot surrender it or any part, with
out dishonor and disgrace. Congress sustains
him III his views-glves the notice and prepares
TO take possession of the territory-ihen comes
the information, that Mr.. McLane, by instruc-
tons from MIR. Polk, has compromised the mat
ter by surrendering one-half.-We should sub
Ject ourselves to the contempt and rdcule of the
woodland therefore l believe no such instruc-
tons can have been given, and of course l must
conclude that acar as inevitable; this is the first
fruit of the triumph of destructive ocofocoism
over conservative whiggery, and all brought a.
bout by two men. One President for four
years, and the other public printer, holding the
Two most lucrative Offices in the government, who
may have vainly conceived that the MAN WHO
GETS US INTO WAR MUST BE THE MAN TO CAR
RY US THROUGH THE WAR, and thus receive a
continuance of The honors and emoluments of Of
fee in their own hands. | believe hopei.for
perpetuation Of pover to lie at the bottom of the
whole proceeding.
But are we, the people, prepared to sacrifice
our dearest interests, TO encounter the expense of
to subject TO butchery the lives Of thou
sands, and tens of thousands, to rend The hearts
Of wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters, by
sending their husbands, sons, brothers, and faith
ers to the slaughterhouse OF destruction; 10 dis
h:,r.I 1.cLL h.