Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-05-14

60, OF IN some degree atoned Ior Nothing
else Of importance.
/ TuRTEr.-Letters from Constan,inonle ~
the 9th ult-. announce that the Abhazez an
independent tribe Of CiIcassia, had rejected the
offer Of Russia FOR peace, and joined the 81.
bawl
ENGLAND AND THE u. S.--THE oRrsox
QuEsrfoS.--The Times says, the accounts
! from the Z. States by the Hibernia, to the b.
ginning of April, have excited good deal Of
attention. The Message Of Mr. Polk 10 Con.
gress, is not considered warlike. Indeed
some Of the public writers profess 10 see tbe
best guaranty for the continuance Of peace. n
the expense to which the country viii be put
/ by aTming for conflict. Seventy millions Of
dollars bestowed upon putting the army and
navy on footing for commencing the ennF.
gency of the case, would induce every man
who contributed his quote TO that ASTONISHING
sum to inquire into its necessity.
| The following extracts from an article in
the London Times, of the 18th ult.. show
that that paper does not look upon the line az
! 40 deg even as certain line Of agreement,
and gives also the latest opinion which we find
on this question:
-s In the whole course Of these ne.
goiiatons, that which has changed most conn
pletely, is the claim set up by the Americans
| In 1918 and 1896, the territory in DISPUTE was
expressly asserted and clearly understood. IA
be comprised between the 42d and 4qih do.
grees Of latitude. As for the more northern
tract between 40 and "a 40, we are not aware
that the paramount claims of Britain 10 thst
part of il were then called in question The
proposals for partition ranged between the
mouth of the Columbia and the 49ih degree.
but not beyond and the American plenipolen.
tiaries unsuccessfully claimed the whole Of
that region, but no more. Since that time,
and in their more recent discussions, they have
raised their demands; they have laid claim to
the whole country and then, as il il Were the
iarthest limits oil condescension and concession,
they revert 10 their former offer, the same
which they before rejected
| They have raised a claim to the whole of
Oregon, not with any expectations OF acqui-
ring the entire province, but IN order TO recon
Gle us to terms we have before declared to be
/ inadmissibe. But the truth is, that the bare
49th parallel, is TO all intents and purposes, the
same thing that il was 70 years ago.
Weintimateda an opinion some time ago. that
the 10th parallel ought conveniently 10 serve
rs the basis of an arrangement; but il is clear
that such proposal must be accompanied
with more extensive conditions than those
heretofore annexed 10 il by the Americans
Ii must leave the whole of Van Couver's Is
land, the navigation and harbor of the Straits
of Fuca, the free use Of the Columbia and It's
northern branches down to the sea, and ann,
demnity or compensation TO the Hudson's Bay
Company for the posts they would be called
upon to surrender.
We do not pretend TO point out all the Sup
ulations which il would be the part Of pfu-
dent and just policy TO require as an equlva-
lent for q concession so much below our orgi-
nal claims, and, as we firmly believe, our just
rights. But the cession Of the vacant soil
might be polite and durable, provided the pr
vale rights already long acquired and enjoyed
by British subjects We're duly respected, and
they must, beyond all question, be protected
by the ultimat,m Of England
Between these two proposals lies the ques
ton of peace and war--nanowed as these con-
troversies always are TO small issue; but
nevertheless, broad enough to swallow up the
peace of the world The moderate members
of the Senate make the 49th parallel their
g fighting line" President Polk is evidently
more inclined to lean to the side of resistance
than of concession; and on our side we can
really discoverno motive of reason or argu-
meni TO Justify US in any farther departure from
the position assumed long ago by the British
Government, and confirmed by the emphatic
declaration of the Ministers of the Crown.
Correspondence on the subject, as printed
by order Of Parliament -
The Earl Of .9Jerdcen 10 Mr.. Palenham.
FoREIGN OFFICE, March 3, 1876,
Sir-I have much satisfaction in conveying
to you the entire approval by her Malesty's
government of the steps which, as reported in
your despatch of the 18th of January, yon
took, and Of the letter which you addressed to
the American Secretary of State, for the pur-
pose of ascer,aning clearly and authoritative.
" whether the United States government would
be disposed to admit the application of the
principle Of an arbitration in the Oregon ques-
tlon on any other terms than those which they
had already rejected.
In thus acting, you have, in the most JUDI
cious and satisfactory manner, anticipated the
instructions which ] was preparing to forward
you on this subject.
We have now nothing to do but await Mr.,
Bucbanan's reply to your appeal to HIM, al
though collect from your despatch that your
proposal shall certainly be refused. Should
tudt Ituill BONtNCi, bc VI oNNh lieN"'~
give any ground Of hope tina, the matter IN
dispute may be brought to an amicable issue
by means OF direct negotiation, shall gladly
avail myself of such an opening. II not II
will then be for her Majesty's government .
consider what measure it may be expedlenlp
adopt, in order 10 meet any emergency wnieA
may arise. am, sc.
(Signel) ABERDEEN
The Earl of aberdeen TO Mr.. Pakeahdm
FOREIGN OFFICE, March 3, 6 p. NJ, lo4e
Sir-Since my preceding despatch Of ms
davis date was written, ] have received your
despatch of the 9th of February, with lis ihcior
sure, by which you put me IN possession u
the final rejection by the United States govern
ment of our proposal OF reference OF tne vi
egon question TO arbitration.
There is, of course, no time before .he w
parture of the mail Of this evening ior the con.
SHERATON Of SO serious a question as uha
which is involved in the Presidents decision
as now announced am, &c.
(Signed) ABERpEEs'
The Oregon question continues to be nun
f,l source Of discussion with the British Jour
nals The speech of MIR. Webster, and he
nronriety of settling the dispute upon The %.
Il Of al. were much commented on. ins
london Times, by some called the organ !,
7 ord Aberdeen, though it is more propao@
the moufh-piece Of the Hudson's Bay oonpa
ny-is as bitter aseverin deridlngan opposms
the American title north OF the COLUMBIA ~.