The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-01

we venture TO say other statesman 10 be found II
tbe United States who would have acted such part.
Mr. Buchanan had pursued this course, he would hav,
richly deserved impeachment. But he to difieren
conclusion.
On the nth September, 1915 by direction of the Pres
dent Mr. Black our consul at Mexico was instructed
10 make the overture treat with that government wa.
kindly accepted the 18th October aud would certainly
have proved successful but one of those frequent
ohions in Mexico which subverted the government OF
General Herrera and established over that unfortunate
rembic the dominion of Paroles, military usurper
The keen sagacily of MIR. Calhoun, suppose, would
have foreseen this future revolution but to ordinary
mortas this gift Of dvinaon is unfortunately denied
But he would have waited until the Oregon question
should be settled that very question the settlement Of
which he had done more than any living to delay
As senator, it was his policy OF 'masterly inactivity
ro to settle by negotiation at ALL but to keep it an
amen question until our emigants should have taken
possession OF the territory and appropriated it to them
selves This his very simple recipe for avoiding all
danger of war with Great Britain by perpeuatng the al
ready imminent risk of armed collision between American
citizens and British subjects, in country claimed by both
governments Such was his theory in the Senate AS
Secretary Of State, his diplomacy we observed before
had put the question TO sleep before he left the depart
ment From friendly forbearance towards Mr. Calhoun,
we have never commented upon the blunders committed
BY him IN this negotiation He has, however, now thrown
down the gauntlet and must take il up however re-
luctantly We will now merely refer to few facts
but may hereafter discuss the general subject more in de-
tail
At the very commencement of MIR. Cahoun's negotia-
tons with Mr. Pakenham the Oregon question, he in
effect abandoned claim to all the territory north of 40
degrees In the first protocol, signed by the penipoten-
aries on the 23d August 1884, he made the false step of
entering into agreement 'to treat of the respective
claims Of the two countries to the Oregon territory ,r
the to establish permanent boundary between the
two countries westward of the Rocky mountains to the
Pacific ocean," thereby expressly admitting that Great
Britain was entitled to territory south of 81 degrees 40
minutes and extending to the Pacific.
In the last protocol between the parties dated Septem.
Der a. 1914, this admission on the part of Mr. Calhoun
clear and explicit (This and all the other protocols
will be found IN the documents accompanying the Pres
dents of December O. 1885, pages 49, 49, 1859
He signed this protocol without inserting any objection to
the declaration of Mr. Pakenham contained in it. .that
he did not feel authorized to enter into discussion re-
spectng the territory north of the 10th parallel Of a
de which understood by the British government to
form the basis Of negotiation the side of the United
Saes the line of the Columbia formed that on the side
Of Great Britain
Nay more Mr.. Pakenham, in this very protocol, re-
ieng to his former offer OF the Port Discovery territory
north OF the Columbia and the free ports south of 40 de-
grees, protested against that offer being ever taken in
any way to prejudice the claims of Great Britain" and
this pregnant protest stands there recorded without
word OF objection from the American plenpotentiary
This protocol the last act of Mr. Calhoun in ref
erence to the Oregon question, Except his refusal to ar
bitrae t) whilst he remained in the State Department
1t sumbered his hands from the 22d September 1884,
until he ceased to be Secretary of State in March, 1915
By this protocol, Mr. Pakenham had obtained all the
'antage ground he could wish for his government The
ass of negotiation, whenever this should be renewed
henceforth TO be the 49h parallel of latitude on the
ide Of the United States, cas- the line of the Columbia
ormed that on the side OF Great Britain"
Had this basis not been changed by Mr. Calhoun's
uccessor the consequence must eventually have bcen
artion of the intermediate territory between the 10th
aralle and the Columbia river. In this manner, Great
britain would most probably have secured for herself
he Strait OF Fuca the waters of Pugets Sound and all
sharborswhich among the finest of the world--be-
all these lie but little south of the parallel of de-
ees. This from the beginning the design of that
wise and energetic government well of the IIud-
on Bay Company; and the unfortunate admissions OF
Mr. Calhoun, in this PROTOCOL had they not been prompt
disavowed by his successor would have gone far to
accomplish the object
1t was under these dscouraging auspices that
he negotiation fell into the hands OF Mr. Bu-
rhanan and yet, according to Mr. Cahoun's present
revelations Of what tour true policy demanded when
the way to negotiation with the Mexican government
was opened to government, he would not, to
'void an impending war, have moved step until the
oregon question should first be settled.
After the present administration by vigorous effort
lad exrcaed themselves from the difficulties in which
Mr. Calhoun had involved the Oregon question, and the
resident, convinced that there no way to effect its
dustnent, except by giving the notice, and thus alb
osatng the treaty of joint occupancy, what then the
curse of Mr.. Calhoun 1t is well known that he came
D the Senate entirely welded to "maserly inactivi-
y" and utterly opposed to this notcetha his whole
weight cast into the scale against it, and that some of
is particular friends in the House of Representatives
ned with the ultra wings in voting against the meas
re in the conciiatory form which it had assumed
q that body
Is there human being who now believes that if the
residents recommendation of the notice had been de-
,ated, the Oregon question would have been settled
he British government could have desired nothing
etter than the continuance of the treaty of Joint occupa