The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-03-13
o32. 1 5..9 s@.o RAyENNA THURSDAY, MARCH 49, 1856

1
reference to an arbitration, but had not belle
we'd that what he had said on these occasions
amounted to such an offer as could be recog
nized by our government as foundation fol
specific action on so grave matter. add
ed that did not doubt you were of the same
opinion, as had never received line from
you on the subject He observed that, be.
fore holding these conversations with me
he had consulted the Cabinet and spoke theil
sentiments as well as his own. remark,
ed that this fact had now, for the frst time
been communicated to me. Ifhe had informed
me Of it at the time, it would have given
his conversation a more serious character
and caused it to make deeper impression
on my mind. He said he had thought that
as matter Of course, would consider whai
he had said to me had been said after the
consultation with the Cabinet.
In reply observed that / had thought
when one nation desired to propose to an
other the submission OF an international dis
pute in arbitration, this would be done by
writing, and in due form. Such had been
their own course when they proposed to ar
britratc the Oregon question. Besides
the President might, if he thought proper,
consult the Senate on the question; and
what would be thought by that body if such
proposition were presented to them in
the loose form Of various conversations be.
tween him and myself, which after all, l
might, through mistake or nadvertance, not
have reported correctly! He said that what
he had done he considered the preliminary
step, and if our government had indicated
any satisfaction with it, they would have
been prepared to proceed further; but from
what had said to him, he did not think they
had received much encouragement.
told him that, whenever / had spoken
to him upon the subject, had always been
careful to assure him that l was expressing
my own individual sentiments, without any
instructions or information from my gov
ernment and that these remained uuchang-
ed. also observed that his last letter to
me, finally denying our construction of the
treaty, and forming an issue between . the
two governments, might appropriately have
contained a proposition for arbitration, and
in this manner the questions might have
been brought in regular order before our
government. He then, for the first time, in
formed me that he had addressed despatch
to Mr.. Crampton on the subject. with in
structions to read it to you. e.,-. .
5 He then sent for it, and read it to me-
believe it is dated in November, but copy
being doubtless nyour possession, it will
speak foritselI. And he informed me that
all you had said about it to Mr.. Crampton
was, that the matter was in Mr., Buchanan's
hands. He proceeded to express decided
opinion in favor of arbitration, and said that
when two friendly governments disagreed
upon the construction of u treaty, the natur-
al anu appropriate CDNFSe was W TeIcT LnesC
questions to q third friendly power. He had
ever firmly believed their construction of the |
treaty to be correct. He then requested |
me to communicate to their proposals for an
arbitration, and how anxious they were that
the question might be settled in this man
ner. t .r.g.sl .la..-s.rs.
told him that should carefully comply |
with his request, but repeated that my own
ndyidual opinions remained unchaEged,-
considered The language of the treaty too
lear for serious doubt, and such | believed
vas the opinion of public men of all parties
n the United States. This has been evin-
ed by the recent debate in the Senate on
he Presidents message. Besides, the diff
ulty of selecting suitable sovereign as an
rbitrator seemed insurmountable. But, {
aid this was question for my government,
nd not for myself .'..
Yours, respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
MR.. CHAMPION TO MR.. MARCY.