The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-13


been difheult for him who refuses such an Offer to
make the world believe that he was really the party
wronged. Men count Offer 10 submit 10 arpitra-
ton proof of honest Intentions and refusal 10
arbiuate as priua taeis evidence of a bad cause.
We trust there is ground for the assurance OF
pace, but We confess do not think Il 10 likely 10
come from any diplomatic skill and generosity
which has hitherto been exhibited In the Oregon
negotiation"
We regret to see the New York Journal guilty, IN
several passages Of this quotation, Of tho grossest
illiberality towards tho administration II knows
that instead of proposing nothing" our Secretary
proposed TO divide the country by the 49h parallel
Of lstitudei and that Mr.. Psksnhsm rejected 1t at
once, without consulting his ministry al home
II knows that, when we withdrew this rejected Of
fer In August last, Mr. Buchanan expressed the
strongest hope, in the most courteous and friendly
terms, Of seeing tho differences between the tvs
countries amicably adjusted The same sentiment
is frankly and sincerely expressed IN his last letter,
Of the ith instant. Let the Now York Journal
deal 10 ida insnusdon and iberal suspicion. Let
il carp as much as IL pleases about the repeated
professions OF our government" for peace, and the
very slender faith" which 10 reposed in them. Let
il first assume that there Is u "wsr moyemenV at
Washington and sserbe IL to presidential aspirants
Does IL suppose that any one could DO found 80
ersdulous as to believe that Mr.. Polk 10 not tho
friend Of peacel-of an honorable peaeel What pos
sibIe interest can he have in plunging his country
into war; Wast glory can he expect TO derive from
it, that Is inferior TO the CORY Of reforming the gov
ernmen and administering its functions IN period
Of peaee' The supposition Of the existence OF
war-spri, IN the land, and Of the Presidents desire
TO foment it, and to involve his country, Is 10 rdicu-
ous, that il is idle to treat il seriously. Any man
who can believe such a chimeS, shows so entire
want Of discretion that scarcely any opinion which
he can express would appear entitled to any sort OF
confidence. Just ridiculous Is the absard ny.
polhesis of the "New York Courier and Enquirer,
that 'the sad and serious trouble we fear 49, that
neither Mr. Polk nor his secretary desire the settle
ment of the Oregon controversy. They want to
keep it party hobby, and even at the hazard OF
the peace Of the country, aid TO the actual and
great Injury, even now to its prosperity they wish
to hang up for use the next presidential cleo
ton"
Surely no man Of common sense can expect Sc
rous to be given to extravagant and ride-
ulous an assumption.
The National Intelligencer next brings forward
the extravagant assertion Of its New York CORES
pendent, who goes off in this ludierous style:
al speak with the utmost confidence in what AZ
ser and assert boldly, that nine tenths RI the COM
munity that can read and write condemn the course
pursued by Mr. Polk through his Secretary OF State,
IN his correspondence on the subject OF arbitration.
have not met locofoco who did not admit that the
British had placed us az much in the wrong they
had at one time placed themselves. Indeed, l re-
peat what | said yesterday: no man, OF any party,
has defended the policy or ProPriety OF Mr.. Folks
conduct, in my hearing.
"Mr. Buchanan will not acquire reputation by this
last correspondence He may consider himself
lucky if he does not suffer shy t. His last letter is
pronounced here to be unworthy Of him, and I'M
In truth, IL is in bad iaste and has
placed him in an awkward position before the coun-
try and the world"
Mr.. Buchanan will scarcely look to that quarter
for an atom of the reputation which he is destined to
acquire. He owes nothing to this correspondent
for the reception Of his August letter. He could
scarcely expect any praise at his hands for the letter
of,he 4th February. Let the wing critics Of New
York condemn it to their hearts content. They
will not be able to depreciatc the merits Of letter.
which is here pronounced by as good judges as
can be drummed up in the Empire city, as worthy
of statesman--worthy of his own character-and
as written with the good taste Of an experienced d.
plomatist
These, however, may be matters Of opinion ;
but the point to which we now mean to conhne
ourselves is a question Of fact only. The Intelli-
gencer declares, upon its own hook, that public
opinion is Every nearly unanimous in its condemna-
- r IL. - Ia
the Journal Of Commerce, concurs in the sentiment,
and avows that it has met with but Zone excep-
ton" Its New York correspondent has ''not met
with (one) locofoco who does not admit that the
British had placed us in the wrong"-not one imam
of any party" who defends the policy of Mr.. Polk
The very extravaganza Of this denunciation is the
strongest argument against it; for who can be.
lieve IL
For our own part, we are free to say, that we
have not yet met with single democrat who does
not thoroughly approve the course Of the Secretary
upon this occasion. Here is one democrats ex.
perience, then, against this extravaganza Of one
wing But if the statement Of the National Intel
ligencer, and its two squires, the journal Of Com
merce" and its New York correspondent, be at all
correct, how comes it about that the letters from
New York addressed to this city should speak diff
fsrsnt anguagei Or how comes 1t to pass that the
National IntelIigencer has noticed but three papers
which approve the course of the administration in
rejecting arbitration, when every democratic press
in New York that we have noticed joins in approval
ofthe act. We make few extracts this evening
and have no doubt that we shall have other dem.
ocratic papers enough to confront and confUte the
bold assertion ofthe National Intelligencer:
From the New York Morning News.
"In the published correspondence between the
governments, there is nothing that need excite
alarm. Mr.. Pakenham reiterates the proposition TO
arbirate; meanuhiie nothing be inad,nssibe
and Mr. Pakenham himself admits the difficulty
when he proposes to leave the matter TO indvidu.
ais There is class of politicians, called agrarians
in this country, who set up claim to portion Of
all the land; their claim is good is England s
to Oregon. Yet we believe the large landholders
would object to leaving their right of property to
mixed commission Notwithstanding that tho claim.
ants might be glad Of even that chance to get pos
scssion Of the property Of others"
"