The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-10
From the Psnnsy lsanian.
TIE OREGON NEGOTIATION.
Siais Of ne question from 1873 10 ls4l-.idminsira
lions Of Monroe, Adams yaeksou and Van Barsa-

" ~
Pennsylyanan, OF all the instructions and despatch
es from the Secretary OF State TO our minister, Mr
McLane, relating 20 the Oregon question. Ihs
whole correspondence between the Secretary ane
MIR. Pakenhani, has long since been published e
the world. The excitement upon this question has
now, in a great degree, passed away and the pc
Rod has arrived when, comparatively speaking, the
conduct Of the present administration be review.
cd without passion and without prejudice. We
propose 10 undertake this review in few brief art
cles; and we ask readers TO preserve them unit
the series shall be complete.
We venture 10 state in advance, that this exami-
nation will convince every candid mind that the
course OF the administration has been clear, plain
and direct throaghouii that this course led to the
settlement OF the question on the terms OF the exist
ing treaty; and that IL would most probably have
secured Tor Us far better terms, had Congress
promptly adopted the recommendations Of the Pres
ident, aud rcfrained from inePosng In the negota-
ton.
In order that our readers may thoroughly under
stand the subject is necessary 10 present TO their
view the almost hopeless condition OF the Degotia-
ton when the administration came into power. In
this article, however, shall conhne ourselves 10 a
bsisf rsUisp Of the history of The negoiiaiOn from Us
eonmsHeeasni to The period Of Gen Harisors inasg1-
ration. ..
The NEGOTIATION commenced In lSl8-Mr. Gala.
Tin and Mr. Rush being the American plenipoten-
tisries. In obedience 10 instructions from Mr.. Ad
ans, then Secretary Of State under Mr.. MOnroe's
administration they offered TO divide the territory
in dispute Of the Rocky mountains by the i9lh
parallel of latitude aud to surrender 10 Great Britain
the free navigation Of the Columbia river. In what
manner this offer received by the British plen-
poienlisriesi (Messrs Robinson and Goulburn.)
They did not make any formal proposition for
boundary, but intimated that the river itself the
mos, convenient that could be adopted, and thai they
could not agree 10 any thai did not give them the har-
Dor al The mouth Of the rtper, IA Uih The Uni
fsIN f.I.s nffIh ia fanI all he nfnn
that The United States should surrender 10 Great
Brain the whole territory north Of the 40ih parallel
Of latitude W hilsl Great Britain should make asmiar
surrender ofthe territory south OF the 45th parallel
90 tho UHled Slates leaving tho country between
the Ash and 49th parallels, which embraces the
mouth and nearly the whole course of the Column
bia, open for future negotiation between the parties.
In the time, this portion OF the territory was
10 be free and open TO the subjects and citizens OF
the two states respectively, for the purpose OF trade
and commerce" This proposition was instantly
and properly rejected by the American plenlpotsn-
tiaryi and uius the negotiation ended
From thisit appears that the British government
had from The beginning, determined that the Co
lumbia river should be the boundary between the
two COUNTRIES la this determination they persisted,
as will De in the sequel, with unwayering firm
ness and characteristic arrogance, until hey) were
forced from their purpose by the bold and patriot
nc stand taken by the present admin strat,on. b. I
The second negotiation upon this subject, IN 1924,
was conducted by Mr.. Rush with distinguished
prudence and abity-Mr. Monroe being stlll Pres
ideDI, aad Mr. Adams Secretary of Stale. In the
interval between this and the previous negotiation,
the United States had acquired the Spanish title on
der the Florida treaty Of 1915 ana Mr.. Monfoe
had made his celebrated declaration to the world thai
the American continent should no longer be subject
20 European colonization. Notwithstanding these
two events, Mr. Rush, under his Instructions, again
offered divide the territory by the 49th parallel of
latitude. Again this offer rejected on the part
of the British government by its plenipote ntiares
Messrs. Husksson and Stanford Canning. These
gentlemen then proposed the Columbia river the
permanent boundary between the two countries
''the navigation Of the whole channel beng pcrpetu
ally free to the subjects and citizens Of both par
ties," protesting that this proposal was made in
spirit OF CO npromise; that, in submitting IT, they
considered Great Bfitain as departing largely from
the full extent Of her right; and that, il accepted by
the United States, it would impose upon her the ne.
cessty Of breaking up four or FIVE settlements form
ed by her subjects" They expressed, in emphatic
terms, the steadfast determination of the British
government q adhere TO this proposal. To use the
language Of Mr. Rush, 'they more than once de-
clared, at the closing hour Of the negotiation, that
the boundary marked out in their own written pro-
posal was one from which the government of the
United States must not expect Great Britain to de-
part" '..a t.
And yet, departing for the FIRST time in her histo-
ry, from her solemn and reiterated declarations she
fertile lands, with ports and harbors equal To any
in the world, between the Columbia and the 49th
parallel Of latitude la territory sufficient to form
two powerful States of this Union. ..a
The second negotiation on the Oregon question
having thus ended without any result, except re-
affirmance of the British determination 10 have the
Columbia for the boundary, third attempt 10 set
tie the question was made in 1896 and lS27-Mr
Adams then being President, Mr.. Clay Secretary of
State, and Mr. Gallatin the Plenipotentary. Thisne
collation., though conducted with great ability,
proved equally unsuccessful with the two former.
Mr.. Gailatn, under his Instructions, made, for the
third time, the offer to divide the territory between
the two countries by the 49th parallel Of latitude
and TO surrender to Great Britain the perpetual free
of the Columbia river. This offer was
third time rejected by Great Britain in terms still
more peremptory than on former occasions. The
British pleniPotentiaries, Messrs. Huskisson and
Addington, again proposed to make the Columbia
river the boundary; and, in addition, to grant to the
United States Port Discovery, on the southern coas,
OF De Fuca's inlet, together witha small detached
territory surrounding 1t. This proposition was re-
jected by Mr.. Galatn; whereupon the British
plenlpotentares protested against this offer of Port
Discovery, and the adjacent territory, "being
ever taken IN any way to prejudice the claims OF
Great Britain included in her proposal Of 1924 and
declared that the offer now made was considered,
by the British government, not called tor by any
just comparison Of the grounds Of those claims and
of the counter claim of the United States; but rather
as sacrifice Dhich the British government had consent
ed 10 make, nth pieu 10 oboiate all epiis Of future d
ference in respect 10 The territory ,oest Of he Rocky
mountains" a,FsgI -
On ths unfortunate basis for the United States,
the question rested during the twelve years of the
adminisuation Of General Jackson and Mr.. Van
Barren. During this period the British government,
through the Hudson Bay Company, were actively
extending their settlements, and establishing their
military posts over the whole territory forth of the
Columbia, whilst not-s single American settler had
ever established himself to the north OF that river.
Indeed, the administration of General jackson
seems 70 have been entirely satisfied to suffer this
state OF things TO remain, appears from the in
strucnons Of Mr. Livingston to Mr.. Van Buren,, Of
the LIST of August 1881, referred in Mr.. Buchan-
ans note to Mr. McLane, of the 18th of July,
1645. These Instructions" as Mr.. Buchanan
there observes, "evdendy looked to settlement Of
the rights Of the respective parties by negotiation,
and not to an absolute exclusion of Great Britain
from the whole territory" This neglect Of the Ore
gon question by the man of the patriotic heart and
iron wi--ihe man above all others best calculated
to settle ican be attributed only 10 the vast u,es