The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-04
Our relations with England---The effect
OF the refusal to Arbitrate.

From the London Chronicle, March,
Fresh news from America has modified the opln
ions which must have been formed on our last com.
munications. These suggested the probability of
peaceful termination TO the Oregon question, and
hibited reaction from the violence which had accom-
panied the first ventilation Of the subject. They
spoke also Of proposals which had at least the APP
pearance Of equity and moderation; that although
there was nothing in their details which Great Brl-
tain could admit the basis of compromise, there
was something in the improved tone, both of the
statesmen and the journalists of America, which
induced US to hope that her extravagant claims
m ght be abandoned for either arbitration equi-
table partition Of the disputed territory Our hopes
upon these points were naturally encouraged by tn
probable effects Of the late free-trade measures
These will undoubtedly. when known, do g,or
work in the way of pacI6cation
Important intelligence from New York, cont ,n.
ing an outline of the official correspondence between
Messrs Pakenham on the part Of Great Britain
| and Buchanan and McLane on that OF the United
States, has presented the subject in new light
England in the eyes of Mr.. Buchanan, presents y
military aspect, 30 much So that America is justified
| IN inquring into its real character. Hereupon in
structions are given to Mr. McLane, who puts tn,
question frankly to Lord Aberdeen. His lordshp
answers frankly, THAT the military preparations
of England while they do not look directly to pro-
| babIe rupture with the United States upon the Ore
gon question, regarded as being useful in the
event of such contingency" &c. In the mean
Tune on the other side Of the water, MIR Pakenham
,roposes that the respective shares Of the two
lions in the Oregon territory be determined by refer
snce to sovereign or state agreed upon by both
parties His proposal however, re ected, and tina
IN language which the New York Courier and En-
| auirer Justly stigmatzes as offensive. Mr.. BIZ
| chanan writes--"The President declines the Of
| fer of arbitration. Mr. Pakenham had assumed
that the title of England was valid at least por
ton Of the disputed territory whereas the President
had assumed the title Of the United States, to be
| clear and unquestionable to the whole Of Oregon
This was sufficient to decline the overture"
In a second letter, Mr.. Pakenham proposes "to
submit the title itself to arbitration, and if friendly
| sovereign or State is OBJ ectonabe to the United
| States then to mixed commission of eminent ju
rsts civilians, &c. If the title Of neither party shall
prove clear and satisfactory, then the arbitration may
divide the territory"
| To this, Mr. Buchanan answers, that he has no
faith in arbitration. His answer is dated February
the 4h On the 7th, the correspondence was laid
before Congress. This, with the comments Of the
press up the 9Th gives the present data for the
formation Of opinion as to the upshot.
Nevertheless, one or two particular passages IN
| in the correspondence well worth special
notice, that defer the consideration OF its more
| general bearings for another occasion.
| In his note from London Mr. McLane says that
| he is "no prepared to state how far tie United
States have right to demand disclaimer
from England in making preparations for the de-
fence Of the country" We agree with him. From
| any power whatever such demand would come
with bad grace; and it is particularly illtimed from
| America. Laying aside the bearing Of tibet repub.
| lic-with its armies the Texan frontier, and a
feet off Vera Cruz towards Mexico, and making no
| account Of the unnumbered attempts that 1t has
made to overawe that State during time Of peace
| and whilst amcabe negotiations were being carried
on we come to the recommendations Of the Presi.
dents message, the reports Of the secretaries Of
War and the Navy, the resolutions Of Congress-
and the demonstrations Of Col. kearney upon the
Oregon frontier, and in the neighborhood of the
Southern Pass. Upon none Of these did the exc
cutve Of England offer single word Of remon-
STRANGE, whilst on the clustering declarations OF
General Cass, and the other militant statesmen OF
the same stamp, even our press has been silent
For our own parts, our hearty approval OF these
preparations are only qualified by the statement OF
l Lord Aberdeen, that they are overrated. " we
wish for peace, we must not only be prepared for
war; but have the extent of our preparations under
stood.
In the second place, Mr.. Buchanan cites, as a
reason for hs distrust in arbitration, the northeast
ern boundary question The instance II false one
The decision Of the king Of Holland was rejected on
the score Of its not being the decision Of an arbitra
tor Il was not what the parties asked for. II was
an indirect answer in the place OF categorical one
II was third proposition, instead OF decision be
tween two; and an award wherein neither litlgan'
IVA, bound to acuuiesoe. Nevertheless, the OBJ
lection against il was made by the Americans them.
selves and il was their minister at the Hague who
drawing the distinction between arbitration and me-
dia,ion, and alleging that the king had, instead oi
deciding between two boundary lines, suggested
j differing from either protested against the decision
Such is the so-called parallel case Of the Maine
J boundary. Surely the example which it affords
even when taken alone, OF the confusion that Mr..
Buchanan is afraid Of is a sufficient warrant against
it's recurrence. But, besides this, Mr.. Buchanan
himself in his previous letter, has insisted upon the
distinction There may be reasons against srbtra'
ton, but the precedent Of the Maine boundary u
certainly not one Of them.
No facts can speak more strongly, both to the m
tegry and the peaceful disposition OF a country
than The renewed offers on the part OF England "a
submit either the whole question OF the nte to AZ
arbitration or that OF her share in portion OF me
. diator Upon this Mr. Pskenham properly insists
" and upon this, every person ofcommon sense mus
insist also. The time and ability 10 FORM nr''