Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-27
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.

Correspondence Of The Richmond Enquirer.
WAsHlsoroH CRY, March %, 1916.
The effect of the late foreign news upon Con-
sress is mol as yet sufficiently developed TO allow
me to inform your readers how ii has been re-
ceved by the political public oil Washington. In
the meanwhile speculalions as 10 the state OF The
notice question in the Senate particularly, areihe
subec, OF almost all the conversations OF The day:
and as some Of them are not without interest,"
will make them the subject-malter oft letter
A letter written in Jocose vein, in the New
York Herald, headed scientific classification Of
the Senate according TO Button" exhibits signs
Of what a good number here conceive TO be the
real condition OF parties in that body on The Ore
eon question, though know II embraces mistakes
as 10 the individual position assigned TO many oil
the Senators. Few count that treaty would be
ratified on the basis OF the 49th degree OF North
Latitude, which, by-lhe-bye, should mol yield 10
Great Britain the navigation OF the straits OF
Fuca Indeed il is generally believed that not
more than twelve Senators al most coui be found
10 vote against ii. Many members OF that body
who would sustain il, doubtless believe with The
Executive that the title OF the United States 10
the whole of Oregon up TO tiiyiour forty, is clear
and unreasonable. In TRUTH public opinion
here seems 10 be quietly settling down on the
principle that the Spanish title conveyed 10 US b.
the Florida treaty is ndspulable and that The
rights of England, as acknowledged under The
Nootka Sound Convention and under the con-
ventons with US OF 1918 and 1927, confer
no tile upon her, but on the contrary, on
~ tenancy at will, with liberty 10 trade,
&C., with the Indians; and that SO far as re-
spects her assumed right under The Nootka Con-
yen,ion, ii was abrogated BY the subsequent ces-
sion 10 as, and as a consequence that The cny
privilege Great Britain can now claim is under |
our conventions with her which do not recognize
her right OF sovereignty over any part of Oregon
and the stpuaions in which conventions by us
in favor OF Great Britain were given er srata
merely. With The notice ending those slipua-
lions, cease all The professions OF England TO
any part fthe country. In addition 10 the Span
sh title, we have those OF prior discovery, ex-
pluralon and settlement, which, as to all below
the 49th parallel, cannot be contested; and as 10
all above IT, is superior 10 that OF Great Britain,
except in regard 10 settlements about FraZer's |
river, and ours is equal 10 Great Britain claim |
on that ground alone. Those settlements OF G. |
Britain, too, were made under the conventions
above referred 10, and are subject and subordinate
TO them. Ye as The country above is not valuable |
and as that below is enough for US, in The spirit
of amity and peace, we may concede to Great
Britain ez graiia, mark y all above that line and
especially it, in return she Yields US equivalents |
which are in her power. Those who indulge in |
apprehensions oil war, saylhat, by another course,
il may be avoided is well known thar he sub
jecl OF a commercial treaty between Great Bri-
lain aud The United States has been contemplated
10 times past. AS it respects the two countries,
great commercial advantages might be given 10 I
Great Britain, al the same Time corresponding |
beneficial results might be attained for the |
agricultural interests Of The United States
though on the other hand, 10 the Federal Govern
ment, as Government, the results might not be
so beneficial in the receipt OF revenue, and IN
slight degree in their effects on one or Two Anne
rican industrial interests OF minor importance.
Mr.. Webster and Lord Ashburon, il is believed,
had some diplomatic intercourse on The subject.
Probably Mr.. Webster may be called on in the
Senate 10 state what ii was. Rumour, and il is
said on the authority OF distinguished gentleman,
formerly in Congress, from Northern State, de-
claTes such be the fact though no record of is
10 be found in The Stale Department. 1t is said
that Lord Ashburton was willing 10 relinquish
all OF Oregon up 10 iity-lour forty, for Treaty si
pulations Of liberal character securing benef-
cial results TO Great Britain in her commerce with
us; and which she would also meet with cores
ponding stpulalions, to encourage trade in our
agricultural staples with her, Some think this
could vet be DONE though am inclined 10 think
OUT OF her treaties with other powers, which such
Treaty. with us might interfere with. Public
opinion, more especially within the last few days,
is last being arrayed in favor OF the views Of The
Administration. AT one time, OF late, | enter
aimed The impression that TIE House resolutions
would be defeated, for The efforts OF the Wings,
opposed 10 them, TO conure up imaginary diff
culIies appeared likely 10 be successful. Nj
Colqu;ul's amendment, then WILL in all probability,
be defeated, Tor quite number OF Wings will be
found 10 vote against them; and the only question
then being between the naked notice and the
measure, as sent up b. the House, the latter
will be preferred By the portion OF the De
mocracy, who are supposed TO agree with
Mr.. Calhoun. Indeed, ! should mol be
aslonished il that gentleman and his friends
were 10 vote for the naked notice rather than Sc
paraie from the main body Of the Democracy IN
Congress- The ultra filly-iour forty Senators
canno, avoid voting for the House resolutions
without placing themselves also in The attitude OF
hostility 10 their brother Democrats; Tor many
conceive that vote against them would De equiv
alent TO declaration OF want OF confidence IN The
President on The part OF the Senate, 10 which
treaty he nigh, form would have 10 be submitted
AS no Democratic Senator is willing 10 place
himself in such a position, augur, therefore,
tba, the House resolutions will pass by The united
Democratic vote, with, perhaps, three e1cep-
lions, al most, and joined 10 them will be Mr..
John NJ. Clayton, and some seven or eight
Wings. One oflhe Florida Senators, MIR. West
colt, having, in The debate on the bill for the in
crease Of the navy, taken ground against all the
Oregon measures until the Atlantic and Guk
coast shall be fortified, presume will vote not
only against MIR. Colquilt's amendment, but
against The notice in any shape until his sine qua
non be complied with. If il be a correct coDjec-
ture that Britain will not yield 10 forty nine any
sooner than 10 fiily-our forty, as | understand
Gen. Cas- 10 assume, The wisdom OF The admins
lration in persisling and insisting on the whole,
after our unsuccessful efforts 10 compromise,
will no longer be questioned; for, if We go 10
war abou, Oregon, no one can doubt thai
the country will demand that the contest be
far the irhoie. There is some talk Of an effort 10
Law the subject on the table until midsummer,
| and that il in The mean time no efforts are adopt
ed by England 10 adjust the controversy AMIGA
| bly, then 10 take il up again and adopt even more
| strenuous and cogenl measures than have hereto
fore been proposed. should moi be surprised II
This course was adopted Messrs. Cass, Web
.;er, Allen, Benton, and others, have yet 10 spea
| on the question, so there IS NO telling when the
debate willerminaie. Two things have impress
ed themselves on nv mind, in relation 10 the bonn-
dary line, as worthy Of serious consideration, il
Oregon is eventually TO be divided BY compromise.
A r,rer is The mcst unnatural boundary between
States that can be adopted. All The country for
some fifty or sixty miles adjacent to river, on
both sides OF it, j, generally tributary 10 il It's
trade concentrates on The river. By making The
river the boundary, the subjects and citizens Of
the two States are continually brough, together,
and collisions are more apl TO take place. Dil-
ierent laws and regulations OF trade exist on the
diEsren, aides otshs stream, and causes confusion