The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-06
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 1886.

WARRINGTON, FEB. a. lS4o.
The Oregon question Is still wrapt up in much
mystery, and its real condition as respects the
movements Of the British and American negotla-
tors In regard to it, Is even still more obscure.
The rumors in circulation here for the last three
four days, that negotiations had been resumed,
which have found, upon inquiry at reliable
source, and which / communicated to you in my
last had no other foundation than the circumstances
given by you month ago, and which were then
received from very high authority.
The question then presents itself to the inquis-
tive mind such matters, what is the true and de-
termined position Of the President upon 1T Is he
prepared, in the face of his inaugural address and
his last annual message, to razee the rights OF this
country to the whole OF Oregon, down to 40 de-
grees OF north latitude or is he, upon the other
hand, determined upon holding on to the whole Of
it These are important lnterrogatories.
Again, suppose the British government should
invest its Minister here with power to accept the 40h
parallel proposed by this government, before the
suspension OF negotiations IN August last, would 1t
feel bound IN honor to agree to such settlement,
two distinct propositions bearing upon this great
question, which may arise In the progress OF the
to its termination, and which involve, in them
selves, the alternative either OF peace or war with
Great Britain. believe the President and the Sc
cretary of State are tor the whole, or none OF Ore
gon, and that offer coming from the British gov
eminent short of that line, will meet their approba-
ton. How far Mr.. Polk may change his position,
by calling around HIM Cabinet that would agree to
the settlement at the 18th parallel, is quite another
question, and one for serious reflection. Such can
be known, perhaps, only to himself. 1t Is, there
fore, evident to my mind, that treaty having for
its basis the 49th parallel can be agreed to by the
parties to the ISSUE unless the President change his
present constitutional advisers. Things will and
place, or until both houses of Congress either pass
or reject the bill before them, for giving Eng
land the notice.
Mr.. Calhoun's views are not SO very wide Of the
mark as many were apprehensive Of from his first
movements upon il this session. understand he
is willing that we should fix our boundary line at
49 degrees, pass all laws necessary for the protec
ton OF our citizens within those limits, and leave
the subject then open to future negotiation between
both governments, as to the disputed territory lying
between the Columbia river and that parallel How
tar this temporslng policy may be productive OF
peace prolonged litigation, will leave it to those
better versed in the nricacles of the subject than
what am /; but this do know--such proposition
would not meet the opinion OF either Western or
Northern States. II we are to fix boundary AZ all ST
must be done instanter, and sustained both by the
moral, and if necessary, physical power OF the
whole country, whether il be the whole of Oregon
that portion OF it lying south OF the 10th parallel
stices left in either, through which John Bull could
poke his nose, that his body may follow afterwards
We must bar him out Of every portion Of II, and tor
ever.
ScudlOI f1dyWOOu, Vi INOItu OdIOHud, Will poUd-
bly, take charge Of the Navy Department when q
change in the cabinet occurs which may be In three
or four weeks from now, perhaps sooner. Mr.
will then be sent as Minister to Prussia.
Governor Marcy lie ell the time in hot water. Poor
fellow, he had better take the mission to Russia,
where understand he is DESTROYS of going. His
patronage in the War Department is narrowed
down even to the power of appointing few extra
clerks, and even here he has been occasionally
shorn Of his honors by over generous democratic
Senators. One, tor instance, palmed upon him the
other day, the editor Of paper in Arkansas, q!
true blue democrat; when 10! il was discovered
few days afterwards, that the person appointed was
regular member OF the WING party. Ii not the
Governor to be pitied, while laboring under such
untoward circumstances? He ought to take my adj
vice and 60 to Russia. -
Your paper appears to trouble the leading politi-
clans OF this place greatly. They can't imagine
how you get at all the facts published in it, columns.
Our highly respected whig friend from Virginia,
Senator Archer, in conversation with our other
equally respected friend, Senator Mangum, said,
speaking Of my account OF the dinner few days
ago, "Mangum, how the devil does Bennett hnd
out those matters T. The other replied, "Pm Id
if know but it appears that he does, and thai,
too, as soon as they occur" If Mr.. Archer had
asked me, might have reminded him that the
science OF cairvoyance was practiccd to some e.
tent by your correspondents. ARIEL.