Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-04-16
LATE FROM ENGLAND.


The New York Courier of Thursday morning
contains bone very interesting extracts from En-
glish papers to the 9th March, brought by the
packe, ship Northumberland. We subjoin them.
The Courier says
The comments Of the press upon American at
fairs are less peaceful than usual, and their gene
raj tone, a. will be seen from the extracts we give
below, indicates great hrnuess on the part Of
England in adhering to Columbia river as her
boundary on the south.
The London Chronicle hss two or three editori-
81 articles on the Oregon Question, and the fela-
lions of England and this country. On the 9Th it
noticed the passage of the resolution Of notice in
yhe House Of Representatives and commences its
comments upon the fact by saying that il the no.
lice be adopted by the Senate "here is but faint
prospect of an amicable settlement Of the Oregon
question:" 1t alludes to the assertion that the
passage Of this resolution is necessary as a pre-
liminary to negotiation, and adds:-
"Why it should be so we are at loss to un-
derstand. The Americans, indeed, say that if
they give notice, and thus compel us to negotiate
''under the pressure of fearful alternative, they
must succeed. With them the notice is another
step in the negotiation. 1t is, as it were, declar-
ing their Misunderstanding on the screw to
force from US concessions. This is the obvious,
the avowed purpose with which they propose to
terminate the convention of 1927.
Ii does not alter the case that they resolve that
is not ''intended TO interfere with the right and
discretion Of the proper authorities of the two con-
tracing parties to renew or pursue negotiations
for an amicabie settlement of the controversy re-
speeding the Oregon territory" Even to their
ohon fho 10 ousAo nftx
friendly act, that the House of Representatives
felt bound TO qualify it by this assurance that it
does not imply as much hostility as it expresses.
Let us suppose the notice given, and the joint
occupation to cease in l847, ls there a public
man, on either side of the Atlantic, who believes
that it will be possible TO preserve peace, while
the rights of the two nations are left underlined in
country occupied by the subjects of bothl 1t
is wilfnl blindness TO shut our eyes to danger
that is certain to come upon us, if the joint occu-
patton is suffered 10 terminate before our conflict
Ing claims are adjusted"
1t proceeds at some length to show that the
reason of the exaggerated demands made by the
United States is, that they suppose England
will make any sacrifice for the sake of peace.
This 10 said TO be an error, and the Chronicle as.
serts that England never will agree to any line of
boundary north of the Columbia.
The correspondence in which arbitration w as
declined by our Government, reached England
by way of Havre, on the 5th of March, 1t is
published at length in the London papers. The
Chronicle says that the refusal to arbitrate is
"comple,e and decisive" and after quoting the
remarks OF Buchanan, makes the following COM
ments, which we copy in full, as being able and
important:
''lf words have any meaning, this is the Ian
guage OF party who is either prepared to draw
the sword, or is trying by bold and braggart airs
to terribly quiet opponent. In either case our
course IS clear. We cannot and will not yield
one jot. If America ,ciH have war, nothing can
prevent her. We do not invite it. We do not
desire It. We deprecate it as both calamity
and disgrace to civilization. We readily adopt
every honorable means to avoid it. In the face
OF the whole world we prove our anxiety for
peace by proferng mode of settlement univer-
sally allowed TO be equitable, and which at the
same time demonstrates our disposition to trust
entirely to the justice OF our claim. What can
we do more2 Nothing unless we adopt the no
ton OF few aL..able enthusiasts, who would
meet every aggression by conceding what is de-
manded to save boodshed, and whose shallow
theories, if they could be tried would give to the
most brutal and unprincipled men the upper hand
IN nations, and to the most brutal and unprinci-
Piled nation, the dominion of the earth. The re-
tusal OF arbitration, we repeat proposed in a
manner so conciliatory, throws upon those who
have taken the step the deepest responsibility
dt indicates a spirit which, if it anmates the A.
merlcan people as well as their Government, is
wholly inconsistent with the maintenance OF
peace.
This refusal, however, is solely the act of the
Executive Government. 1t is not sanctioned by
the Legislature. But, in the meantime, the mea-
sure for terminating the joint occupancy of the
disputed territory has passed the House of Repre-.
sentatives, and is under discussion in the Senate.
what II that measure, as seems but too probable
shall be, or has been, by this time, adopted by
the Senates In what pacific mode shall we meet
these JOINT demonstrations of hostility from the
Legislative and Executive power of the United
States We are gTavely told, indeed, that the
notice to put an end to the existing convention is
NOT 70 be taken as an uniriendy act, nay, that il
as raher desirable than otherwise, and will great
lyPromo!e pacific solution of the dispute. We
are told this by the American representatives who
have doubtless, reason for the anxiety with
winch they reiterate the statement that it is only
1or the sake OF peace that they would drive us in
TO corner. 1t surprises us somewhat more tc
near the very same doctrine propounded in Eng
land but neither is this phenomenon inexplica
Die lfii were worth while to look into its causes
Thai tie adoption Of the motion no,U pending 1,
Congress, for pulling an end to the convention auiI
not tend to a peaceful settlement, but the contrary
must, as toe think, be clear TO any unbiased ma,
of common sense. For how is any peaceful set
flement to take place. Only by arbitration o.
negotiation, But the twelve months notice will
not facilitate arbitration. Arbitration offered by
us upon the fairest possible terms has just beer
rejected. We cannot court another supercilious
refusal by repeating the Offer Nor can tn,
american cabinet now stultify itself by propos
ing what it has so recently set aside. If not ar
'oitratIon, then by negotiation and how is nego
tiation 10 be helped by the noiicel 1t may be
'qutckened, we are told; but ,ohot party is tn,