Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-01-29


long known. II need not augment the terrors of the
European alamis and II certainly will not change the
resolves or add TO the preparations OF the British Cab
met. II is already resolved and prepared
Me- Polk after adveting to the recent negotiations
and attempts at compromise before he came into Office,
informs of what he has done towards the conclusion
OF this unfortunate dispute. In reading his simple
Tative, it becomes necessary To remember that an
American exists in sphere Of his own and hard
IL be Judged by European ideas of moderation, decen.
cy, and honor. The President lakes great credit to
himself for having made an offer which he acknowl-
edges to be less than what the British Government has
repeatedly decliued:-
"ln consideration too, that under the conventions
ol 1918 and 1884, the citizens and subjects of the
Powers held joint occupancy of the country, | was
induced TO make another effort to settle this long pend
ing controversy in the spirit of moderation which had
given birth TO the renewed discussion. proposition
was accordingly made, which was rejected by the
British Plenipoteniiary, who, without submitting any
other proposition, suffered the negotiation his part
10 drop, expressing his trust that the United States
would offer what he it to call some further pro-
posa for the settlement Of the Oregon question more
consistent with fairness and equity, and with the
enable expectations Of the British Government The
proposition thus offered and rejected repeated the offer
Of the parallel of 40 degrees Of north latitude, which
had been made by two preceding administrations, but
without proposing TO surrender TO Great Britain, as
they had done, the free navigation of the Columbia
river. The right of any foreign Power 10 the free
navigation OF any of our rivers through the heart OF
our country, was one which was unwilling to con-
cede."
IN making this proposal, already twice refused, the
President thinks il necessary apologize to his demo-
cratic supporters. He pleads with all the humiliation
OF bound by ptoscrpiive compliances that he had
been obliged to proceed on the basis Of compromise,
and asks the public condOnance, for that under this
bondage he had offered, what il known by repeat
ed trials, would not be accepted. To make amends
for this self-imposed ndigny he declares that the
day Of compromise is overt
Had this been a new question, coming under dis.
eusson, for the first time this proposition would not
have been made The extraordinary and wholly in
admissible demands of the British Government, and
the election Of the proposition made in Difference
alone TO what had been done by my predecessors and
the implied obligation which their acts seemed 10 i'm
pose afford satisfactory evidence that no compromise
which the United States ought 10 accept, be eec
ted. With This conviction the proposition OF comprO-
mise which had been made and rejected was, by ms
direction, subsequently, Withdrawn, and our title TO
the Whole Oregon territory asserted, and is believ-
ed, maintained by irrefiagabe facts and argumenls-
Tn. civilized world will in these proceedings a
spirit Of liberal concession the part Of the United
States; and this Government will be relieved from all
responsibility which may follow the failure to settle
the controversy"
GAN attempts at compromise having failed" Mr.
Polk recommends that notice should be given TO termi-
nate the joint occupation of the country; that the laws
and institutions Of the Union should be extended the
American settler in Oregon; and that military posts
should be established for their protection All iomida
bic enough, could we believe it possible that any civil
lied nation would really plunge into fatal and suic
tion and the still more imaginary claim to which NJ
Polk also reers-the anteceden right of the Union tc
all the unsettled and undecided territory the North
American continent. The declaration is too premature
however, to be really alarming. IL proposes TO bring
things 10 an immediate ssue and that immediate issue
must be one OF negotiation not arms. slower course
might have been more insdious and more certain. Nj
Cahoun's policy OF giving no notice, but pushing The
undoubed right of joint occupancy TO the utmost, could
hardly fail in the course Of ten years. result in rep
ettion OF the game of Texas, or rather of the ogna
Declaration Of Independence. Oregon, should the
American population ever attain substantial prepon
derance, would not long remain British Colony bu
occupancy, though irresistible power, is not right
and depends on numbers not arms.
The terms of the Message imply, them the aerna
tive OF war, or conclusive negotiation. War is toe
monsrous TO be thought Of for moment, except aile
every effort at compromise has been exhausted. Brit
ain and America must be too sensible of their mutua
benefits mutual dependence and mutual respect, to per
the substantial blessings they enjoy, and da
y multiplying in the relations Of peace, for the bloody
and precarious gores of war. II is all but impOssbf
that two great and kindred nations, after healing 90
wide a breach, and helping another to great
common prosperity, should become mutual and unnatu
raj destroyers for mere point OF HONOR for remote
wilderness, separated from both by journey of many
months, by stormy seas, and almost impossible rocks
and deserts Unless Mr. Polk is merely trihng with
words and secretly scofing at the universal sentiments
Of humanity he is himself incapable Of so great out
rage and injury the country of his ancestors, h
land of his birth, and the whole race OF man. VIVA
means he by saying that he has adopted the maxim
"o ask nothing that is not right and submit to nothing
that is wrongi" and his further boast that il is hi
anxous desire to preserve peace with all nations ?
That the Union should be anxious heal this sore,
should think il unmanly and impolitic 10 bequeath
quarrel 10 posterty, is natural enough. That the!
should think to strengthen their claim with strong Ian
guage, is alsn in conformity with many examples Blu
If the decision is to be speedy, it only be by nego
tiaon, either by reference, or by recurrence tn
method which, in the Of the disputed boundary oil
our Canadian frontier, proved entirely successful.
From the Morning Herald Dec, 80.
After much consideration, have resolved 20 spar
to our readers and ourselves the long and dreary
pondence upon the Oregon question, published in III,
American papers to the extent not Of columns only, bu
OF whOle pages. Mr. Polk has made excuse at tn
same time that he made his own. He refuses arbi
traton, because he knows that substantial Justice mus
condemn his gToundless and most impudent claim HI
rejects the authority of the recognized law of nations
because he feels that, according TO that law lie has
the shadow of What use or recreation, then
to wade through the wilderness OF pettioggng plead
ngs by who rejects justice and law together, plead
ings upon which the whole civilized world has areadl
pronounced its Judgment