Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-08-10
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
The Oregon Treaty..

The President communicated . su6sd copy Of the Orc
gon Treaty 10 Congress last Thursday. lie recommends.
IN the bef Message accompanying it, that measures be
Immediately taken for the establishment Of government in
that territory and that liberal donations land be made
emiRrsnu.
brief bat interesting debate occurred upon the subject
In both Houses in which The long peniup wrath OF the
Hfyfour Fortes bsEed out They, least, do
wiling accord Mr.. Polk the credit claimed for him by
the Enquirer OF having honors BY" well peacefully
settled the long pending controversy. Mr. Csss heretofore
recognized the leader OF the oss upon this SUBJECT
/. true. silent; but Messrs. flanagan and Allen in
the Senate and Mess- Douglas aud Sawyer the other
House, unhesitatngy denounced the treaty, having n
cted only large sacrifice, bat deep humiliation upon
the large We confident however, that "the
nation" differs very widely from these self constituted in
tsrpreers OF its feeling. The sacrifice they speak ofw
be seriously felt and doubt whether, III may
persOniy "the nstOn, there is the least ,nge Of
icsuon upon It's cheek. We have preferred peace
long and bloody for region OF country bleak, sterile
and remote the possession OF which could neither have
augmented resources increased our power. We
have renquished best doubtful title tsrrtOTy it,
self worthless, except for the purposes for which British
Company Of unpPo has long almos; exclusively used it,
and which daily becoming less desirable refer
that pursuit. by the rapid dminuion OF the animals
the Of which have constituted the attraction for its
demi-savsge occupants.
EK-Presiden Adams who, it will be remembered uni
ted the with the Ffy.four Fores in asserting
the validity Of the claim of the u States he whole Of
Oregon-though believe he involved himself in
the ridiculous dilemma of going for "he whole, none"
also participated in the debate, reerang his Ole opn
IONS and expressing his regret that the making power
had consented the surrender of large portion Of
territory Great Britain. He must have been prepared
for it, however; seeing that whom the Executive
apparently nheIibe in its avowed purpose make treaty
which did recognize claim every inch Of the terri
tory which he had asserted "a clear and
right" the venerable gentleman from Massachusetts pre-
deted that Mr.. Polk would CRACK OUT" from the high
ground he had assumed prediction which literally
pass. We do 10 be understood. however,
condemning the President for abandoning the position
sumed in his Inaugural and vehementy maintained by
Mr. Buchanan in his correspondence with the British Min
lister We think the contrary, that he acted wisely in
doing under the cire and rejoice that he
discreet and prudent enough, instead Of rejecting
he desired do the proposition Of compromise which
from the British Government, to submit it the Senate
with pledge OF his willingness acouiesce in the dec
sion Of that body To-besure is something unusual for
President thus dvest himself Of a constitutional re-
sponsibi, for the purpose Of aordng him Of
escape from position hastily and unwiscy assumed-al-
though, aware, he finds in past history few
instances Of Executive Difference the Senate which
may tortured into PreceJents. But disposed
10 complain Of the irregularity OF proceeding to
result OF which has been suspicious the beat interests
of the country, by "hOnorably and peacefully" terminating
prOracted, irritating and dangerous controversy The
Senate entitled to the credit-or II Messrs. flanagan,
Allen and their associates prefer the phrase the "huma
ton"-of this act; and it unjust alike that body and
the President ascrbe the latter any portion OF the
honor OF the disgrace that may attach 10 it.
In the of the discussion, the wide difference Of
opinion existing between the British and American COM
in The 81.
clause Of he treaty relative the navigation Of the Co
lumbis incidentally adveried to-and would seem
that as much doubt of its ue intent and meaning
IN OF Congress. Mr. Hannegan for example, deesr.
ed Is the London Times has DONE that the treaty ceded
The HudsOn's Bay Company psrp.tuy navigation Of
the columbia,-while Mr.. Robert Dale Owen admitting
that che not lawyer and therefore nigh, not per.
haps be competent to Judge Of the legal construction Of
The treaty." expressed the decided opinion that ths nav-
CATION eeded only for time Il Is apparent there.
FORE that while the treaty settles dispae It dsposles
The Tor another which may hereafter prove to be
difficult Of adjustment that which been 50 happily
for both parties just terminated. 1t viii depend entirely
upon the palEe Of the right granted IN such ambiguous
language and which only be fully tested when
Territory shall be somewhat denEsy populated whether G..
brsn viii deem Necessary insist upon the be
nj Interpretation Of that clause Of the treaty or whether
our own government will deem it important nsis upon
Us more restricted meaning Many year therefore, may
elsPse before the controversy upon this poin contrc-
Yersy shall indeed srse- assume say practical
importance; and ire feel inclination certainly anci-
pate IT. We would merely suggest, however, that may
not be unwse to remove all doubt by explanatory
article. which may have the effect Of preventing