Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-28
THE OREGON TREATY.

From the present tranquil state of our relations
with England we look back to the agitating and
anxious period of the Oregon controversy with
feelings akin to those which the mariner must ex-
perience when he has weathered the breakers
which threatened shipwreck, and has got safely
into port. If we, who were only passengers in the
tempest-tossed barque, rejoice in the peril escaped,
how much more have they cause to exut whose
skill and courage not only saved themselves, but
rescued the lives and fortunes of those commit
ted TO their watchful care. So must the wise and
patriotic men now feel who, in the Senate of the
United States, threw themselves into the breach,
(many of them in disregard of party and personal
ties and, by opposing reckless policy, saved the
country from war dire and disastrous, which eur
claim as questionable as it was worthless. Emf
nent among these honored patriots was the dis
tinguished Senator of Massachusetts named below,
who, having by his wisdom in the Cabinet but
recently before reconciled and forever settled one
long standing, intricate, and critical controversy with
kindred people, now on different theatre directed
his influential efforts to the adjustment of another,
and, it is hoped, the last difficulty which can arise
with the same country.
These brief remarks seem to us appropriate as
an introduction to the suboined article, which we
find in respectable New York journal, copied
from English paper, and which discoses the par
ticular fundamentally of Mr.. WEBSTER in bringing
about the overture and pacifcation which SO hap
PLY followed:
The OREGoy TERRITeRY-In renly to n onestion mt TO
him in reference to the present establishments of this
country, and the proprety of applying the principle of ab
traon in the settlement of disputes arising among nations
Mr. McGegor of the candidates for the representation
of Glasgow, took occasion to the following very i'm
Poran and remarkable anecdoe in connexon with
cent but happily terminated difference with the United
States the Oregon question When Ambassador at
Washington (the Hon. Mr. Pakenham) refused to negotiate
the 49h parallel of north latitude the basis of treaty,
and when by that REFUSAL the danger Of rupture between
Great Britain and America became really imminent, Mr..
Daniel Webster, formerly Secretary of State the American
Government wrote letter to Mr. McGregor, in which he
strongly deprecated Mr.. Pakenhams conduct, which, if per-
sisted in and adopted at home, would certainty embrol
the two countries and suggested equitable compromise
taking the 10th parallel the basis of ustmcn
Mr.. McGregor, agreeing entirely with Mr. Webster in the
propney of mutual giving and taking avoid RUPTURE
and the especially the whole territory dispute
not worth 100000 to either Power while the preparations
alone for would cost great deal before the par
ties could into actual conflict communicated the
tents of Mr. Websers letter Lord John RUSSELL who
the time living the neighborhood of Edinburgh and in
reply received letter from Lord John in which he stated his
entire accordance with the proposal recommended by Mr.
Webster and approved of by Mr. McGego and requested
the latter, he Lord John) position do it
himself, to intimate his opinion to Lord Aberdeen. Mr..
McGrego through Lord Canning, Under Secretary for the
Foreign Department did so, and the result that the first
packet that left England carried America the proposal
in accordance with the communication already referred
which the treaty of Oregon happily concluded.