Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-01
The Notice Approved.

right of Joint occupation Cor non.occupaton, as
the case may be,) Of the Oregon territory, shall
terminate at the expiration of twelve months from
the date OF the notice.
The simple fact Of giving the notice, contem.
plated and provided for by the treaty ITSELF is of
course no cause of war; nor has it ever been so
contended, that remember, by any one who
has discussed the subject in out of Congress.
The expediency of resorting TO this measure, we
know, has been questioned and denied mainly
because, il it should be given in discourteous
and hostile spirit, there was certainly at
time too much to fear, and in regard to
which we not entirely free from appre-
hension, it might close the door to friendly nego-
tiation, and consequently result in war at the
piraton Of the twelve months, if not sooner. Es-
pecally, was it apprehended. would this be the
case. il, as clearly recommended in the Pre-
sident's Message, measures should be adopted by
Congress, simultaneously with the adoption of the
notice. for the purpose of taking actual possession,
at that time, of the disputed territory, and expel.
ling from it the British occupants now holding it,
and exercising over ii, as they have long done, all
the rights Of sovereignty.
But the language OF the notice being unobjec-
tionable, and unaccompanied as it has been by
any measure calculated to wound the pride or to
affect the rights (real imaginary of Great
Britain these grounds Of objection of course cease
TO apply, and the notice itself may be regarded
if not a measure of peace necessarily, certainly
furnishing no just preteIt for war.
The result of the controversy depends ma
terially, we doubt not, upon the manner which
the President shall exercise the "discT elton" with
which, as well because il is legitimately Exec
utve function, as because of his peculiar relations
10 this question, he has been properly clothed.
We hope for his own sake well for that of
the country, that neither the 'prlde of conssten-
cy," by which even strong minds are often unduly
influenced, nor the dread of denunciation from the
ultra portion of his own party, which has so much
terror for aspiring politicians, will induce him, in
communicating the resolution Of Congress to the
British Ministry, to accompany it by an inadmiss-
bic ultmaiuu, or, if he shall make no new propo-
kition himself to present it in such manner to
prevent the submission, in reply, of terms of CON-
promise by that Government. Entertaining
less exalted opinion both Of MIR. Folks expansive
ness of mind and of his frmness, than some of
his friends appear to do-regsrdng him rather as
q partizan than a acknowledging him to
be influenced less by his obligations to his coun.
try and less by considerations Of what its vital in
terests demand OF him, than by his allegiance to
party, and by his estimate OF the effect which
particular course of policy may exert upon its
forlunes-we have not been without strong ap-
prehensions that he may so far depart from the
spirit of the resolution adopted by Congress, as
Ia neutralize the pacific temper of its joint
luton, and thereby TO counteract the obvious de-
sign Of that body in giving to il the Storm" which
it finally assumed. These apprehensions have
not been diminished by the fact, that in that form
tie resolution drew to its support every Wing in
both branches OF Congress, and every member Of
tie Administration party exposed to the extreme
position originally assumed by Mr.. Polk, and yea
lousy maintained by those supposed to be in his
confdence,-a circumstance in itself well calcu-
lated 10 influence the action Of a mere partizan.
And certainly we not authorized to draw
very favorable augury from the recent declara.
ton Of the Official Journal, If that paper reflects
the feelings, and foreshadows the purposes Of the
President to the effect that, while il rejoces that
Congress has authorized the notice to be given,
it strongly disapproves OF the form which that
notice finally assumed.
Nevertheless, we have no desire nor intention
to PREJUDICE the Executive, nor unnecessarily to
excite in the public mind fears Of an inauspicious
conclusion to this controversy. IT. indeed, the
Washington Correspondent OF the New York
Courier be correctly informed, Mr.. Polk will adopt
course calculated to promote IFS pacific adjust.
ment notwithstanding the contrary inference is
we think, egitimateIy deducible from the Ian.
guage Of the Washington Union, and from the
Presidents own uniform language and conduct
heretofore. The coresposdent Of the Courier
thus shadows forth the probable views and purpo.
seS Of the Cabinet:
beevs that the President still willing to adjust the
matter fairy aud upon the basis heretofore offered OF the
opinion y the msJority Of HE Cabinet the only op
posing member being Mr.. Buchanan but he from his %.
suon. very serious obstacle the way Of the pci6o IN
teuuons u the government His opposition, however
rests upon uteuor OBJECTS the first and immediate
which - the vacant seat the bench Of the Supreme
Court Of the United stlte and the and more remote
~ at Of the succession 20 the Presidency BY sdherng "a
his oPp0son may compel the n, SIDE M 10 crafty m,
frat sud reasonable Of hts WISHES IN winch n b,
thud be sucoesfu, the question NJ the ssion would
10 merged. II is veil undcfttOod hath War candida,
Tor the Pres ioucy candidate Of the 81 ~ men Il
Gen. Cas-. lie Commences with small force, u tue
Do, they pledged auauc5 IN the caus, and unless
question De- selsd before tho Of l54o, will
tote iOdofn hOpe tnst will make espitnlstiOn.
NV opinion therefore thut Buchanan will or' o
make terms with the'Prcsidont by which his nomination
O. The vacant uigesh will be secured add his aid
she ion Of the p,c6c intentions Of Congress
tat b. hs ubbJrA OppUs 0n he will compel the Pfesden
20 eve hR the seat he 90 much eoves. have doob
the President anxuuy desires sdus the Oregon cues
non inc bass borc'oofs of red. aud knsw that II
this he j. sustained. with the exception Of Mr. Bdeuosn
By ne unites senmsns e bs Csbineti and DO not be
lese that be viii SITTER that gentleman 70 def At his oNi
o'nTicons oi duty, well The expressed will Of the %
uos.r
IN regard to the mode Of giving the notice, an
other correspondent Of the same paper writes a
follows;
"1hs "notcs" will be n Mr. MeLane By the s,e-
inc L. pf0r 10 be presented the Earl Of ABE
deem, bebs Of ihs government The respect due 10
fore ~ p3wcf nnd the importance Of the occasion in N
II the demonstration. requires the observance Of th
fofm which % be vim reason and propr
siy. have u from the rcisble authority hist it wi