Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-08-27
Prom the Albany Evening Journal.
HOW THE BRITISH GOT FRAZER'S

i RIVER.
Mr.. Buchanan, then Secretary Of State un-
der Polk. conducted the negotiations on the
subject. and was the most strenuous asserter
of our rights to the whole of Oregon. lie
was readiest to maintain them at all hazards,
and was the last and the most unwilling to
rccede from them.-AHas.
Although the Frazer's River Territory was
surrendered to Great Britain by a Democratic
President with the consent of Democratic
Congress, the Atlas endeavors to make it APP
pear that the opposition" agd not the De-
mocracy' are responsible for the loss of that
Collaborating region to the Union. A retro
spect at the history Of events in 1886 will
settle the question of responsibility.
1 The Administration in ls45 expressed
determination to maintain our claims to the
whole of Oregon, up to "a deg, 40. min, and
I if necessary, resort to arms The Union.
then as now the official paper at Washing
ton spoke thus belligeren,ly on October 9th,
1916:
When that word goes forth from the con-
stituted authorities of the nation, "our right
to Oregon is clear and unquestonablo, who
doubts that it will go the whole length and
breadth Of the land, and that it will be haled
as it goes by the Democratic party with one
unanimous AMEN And what, then; We
answer-this, then-the Democracy of this
country will stand to the word. Ir WILL non
FLrNcH."
This warike language, the Union enforced
by quoting with approval, the sentiment
NO compromise but at the cannon mouth.
When Congress met similar Aourishcs were
made by the Democrats in both Houses 1890
Atchison proposed to organize the Oregon
Militia Cass offered resolutions to put the
Army and Navy on a War footing Hanne-
gan introduced others. asserting our claim TO
all Oregon. and declaring the surrender of
any portion of it would be- ian abandon I
ment Of the honor, character. and best inter
ests OF the American people" Allen pro-
posed to give notice to terminate the joint
occupancy. Dix and Dickinson pledged the
Democracy of this State to support the claim
of 81 deg. 10 m.
I But here matters took an unexpected turn.
John Quincy Adams, Messrs. Joshua h.
Giddings, Darrgah, Baker, Hillard, and 9TH
er prominent Wings, and Preston King and
other Free Soil Democrats-instead of hold
ing back aud opposing, as the Administration
confidently expected they would-bid them
" 30 ahead - They had the sagacity to per-
ceive that the administration was merely
playing game to get the glory of claiming
! Oregon, and to throw the responsibility of
of giving it up. upon its opponents. Nor did
they see in the contemplated preservation of
so much Free Territory any damage likely to
come to the Union. SO the Wings voted for
General Cass's resolutions. Mr.. Adams,
whose name was first called on the vote to
claim the whole of Oregon, Jan. ID, 1885,
produced "a marked sensation in the House by
! responding AYE. lie declared he hoped the
notice would be given and followed by real
occupation ofhe wioie Tcrito,yl He wanted
no more negotiation. lie could negotiate at
, ter taking possession.
, If war should follow (Which he had no
fears Of Mr.. Adams said the result would
be that the whole Of the British possessions
, North of us would be added MS free States to
q the Union.
! Ii turned out as might have been expected.
, The South had been timorous from the first.
Southern Congress men exhibited none Of
, the 6raggaloca spirit toward England that
, they had towards Mexico. Nor were their
z apprehensions at all allayed by the attitude
r of Messrs. Adams and Giddings. They fore
D saw an unpleasant dilemma before them, in
| case OF a war with Great Britain for Oregon.
If we beat Great Britain there would be an
f immense gain Of Northern Free Soil Terrific
p ry. If Great Britain beat us, there would
2 be an end put to Slavery. Moved by these
| conditions, the lIotspurs of Virginia and
, Carolina became mild as lambs and peace
4 Bile as doves They implored calmness.-
e They were for peace, for compromise, for
f negotiation. They did not want the notice
given They did not want war; they did
not want Oregon; they did not want Frazer's
a River. Mr.. Rhett of South Carolina depre-
Gated any action which would leopard the
National peace and which " bore the sem
e blance of war of conquest" Mr. Calhoun
$ was brought from his retirement back to the
Senate to propose that we should give up all
Il north of 40 deg and introduced resolutions
d to that effect
d When did r Democratic President and
= Democratic Congress ever refuse to truckle to
+ Southern dictation; Our government incon-
tnently backed down, The Democratic par
: ty instantly changed front. We neither
. claimed to ffty-four-iorty" nor did we
e fight" The compromise which was to be
n made only lat the lannon's mouth" was in
| gloriously conceded without firing a gun
e Intelligence presently arrived from England
$ showing that while the thunder was still
IS reverberating in the Senate Chamber, Mr.
> Buchanan, then our Secretary of State, had
Sc been silly and secretly negotiating an arrange
y ment with Mr.. Pakenham, by which we con-
e coded to Great Britain, Frazers River, Van
Ie couyer's Island, and every inch of American
10 soil north Of 40 degrees
g, That was the way the British came by Fra
1fl GERS River, and that was the share " our re-
1t spected President had in it"
New YoRK, Aug. l9,--The sum of 500. 900
+ Of the bills on the Hatter's Rank of Rethal