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OREGON CORRESPONDENCE.
abstract of documents accompanying pre
sident’s MESSAGE.
Correspondence with the Slate Department.
(B.)
Department of State, i
Washington, 20th September, 1844. J
The undersigned American plenipotentiary,
has read with attention the counter-statement
of the British plenipotentiary, but without weak
ening his confidence in the validity of the title
of the United States to the territory, asset forth
in his statement, (marked A.) As therein set
forth, it rests, in the first place, on priority of
discovery, sustained by theirown proper claims,
and those derived from Spain through the trea
ty of Florida,
The undersigned does not understand the
counter statement as denying that the Spanish
navigators were the first to discover and ex
plore the entire coasts of the Oregon Territory ;
nor that Heceta was the first who discovered
the mouth of the Columbia river; northat Cap
tain Gray was the first to pass its bar, enter its
mouth, and sail up its stream ; nor that these,
if jointly held by the United States, would give
them the priority of discovery which they claim.
On the contrary, it would seem that the coun
ter-statement, from the ground it takes, admits
such would be the case on that supposition ; tor
it assumes that Spain, by the Nootka Sound
convention in 1790, divested herself of all claims
to the territory, founded on the prior discovery
and explorations of her navigators; and that
she could consequently transfer none to the
United States by the treaty of Florida. Hav
ing put aside the claims ol Spain by this as
sumption, the counter-statement next attempts
to oppose the claims of the United States by
those founded on the voyages ofCaplains Cook
and Meares, and to supersede the discovery of
Captain Gray on the ground that Vancouver
sailed farther up ihe Columbia river than he
did, although he effected it by the aid of his dis
coveries and charts.
It will not be expected of the undersigned
that he should seriously undertake to repel what
he is constrained to regard as a mere assump
tion, unsustained by any reason. It is sufficient,
on his part, to say that, in his opinion, there is
nothing in the Nootka Sound convention, or in
the transactions which led toil, or in the cir
cumstances attending it, to warrant the assump
tion. The convention relates wholly to other
subjects, and contains not a word in reference
to the claims ol Spain. It is on this 3SfHmoti'to
the well-founded American claims to priority
of discovery. Without it, there would not he
a plausible objection left to them.
The two next claims on which the United
States rest their title to the territory, as set
forth in statement A, are founded on their own
proper right; and cannot possibly be affected by
the assumed claims of Great Biitain, derived
from the Nootka convention.
The first of these is priority ol discovery and
exploration of the head-waters and upper por
tions of the Columbia river, by Lewis and
Clarke; by which the great stream was first
brought to the knowledge of the world, with the
exception cl a small portion near the ocean, in
cluding its mouth. This the counter-statement
admits; but attempts to set oft against it the
prior discovery of Mackenzie of the head waters
of Frazier’s river—quite an inferior stream,
which drains the northern portion of the territo
ry. It is clear, that, whatever right Great Brit
ain may derive from his discovery, it can in
no degree affect the right of the United States to
the region drained by ihe Columbia, which
may be emphatically called the river of the ter
ritory.
The next of these, founded on their own pro
per right,, is priority of settlement. It is not de
nied by the counter-statement, that we formed
the first settlement in the portion ol the territory
drained by the Columbia river; nor does it de
ny that Astoria, the most considerable of them,
was restored, under the third article of the trea
ty ol Ghent, by agents on the part ol Great
Britain duly authorized to make the restoration
loan agent on the pan of ihe United States du
ly authorized to receive it. Nor does it deny
that, in virtue thereof, they have the right to be
reinstated, and considered the party in posses,
smn while treating of the title, as was admitted
by Lord C»sllereagh in the negotiation of 1818-
nor that the convention of 1818, signed a few
days «fter the restoration, and that of 1827
which is still in force, have preserved and per
petuated until now all the rights they possessed I
to the territory at the time, including that of be- !
mg reinstated and considered the party in pos- I
session •bile the question ol title is depending,
as is uow the case. It is true, it attempts to
weaken the effect of these implied admissions
in the firat place, by designating positive treaty
stipulations as “an understanding between the
two governments;” but a change ot phraseolo
gy" cannot transform treaty obligations into a 1
mera understanding; and, in the next place i
by stating that we have not, since the restora- I
lion of Astoria, actually occupied it; but that!
cannot possibly affect our light to be reinstated
and to be considered in possession, secured to I
us by the treaty of Ghent, implied in the act of
restoration, and since preserved by positive
tieaty stipulations. Norcau the remarks of the
counter-statement in reference to Lord Castle
reagh s admission weaken our right of posses
sion, secured by the treaty, and its formal and
unconditional restoration by duly authorized
agents it is on ihese, and not on the denial ol
the authent.c.ty of Lord Castlereagh’s despatch
that the United Stales rest their right ol posses
sion, whatever verbal communication the Bril
ish minister may have made at the time to our
Secretary of State; and it is on ihese that they
must safely rest, setting aside altogether ihe
admission of Lord Casllereagh.
The next claims on which our title to the ter
ritory rest, are ihose derived from Spain by ihe
treaty ceding Louisiana to the United States,
including those she derived from Great Britian
by the treaty of 1763. It established the Missis
sippi as “the irrevocable boundary between ihe
territories of France and Great Britain; and
thereby the latter surrendered to France all her
elaimson this continent west of that river, in
cluding, ol course, all within the chartered lim
its ol her then colonies, which extended to the Pa
cific Ocean. On these, united with those of
France as the possessor of Louisiana, we rest
our claim of continuity, a-s extending to that
ocean, without an opposing claim, except that
of Spain, which we have since acquired, and
consequently removed, by the treaty of Florida,
The existence of these claims the counter
statement denies on the authority of Mr. Jeffer
son ; but, as it appears to the undersigned, with
out adequate reasons. He does not understand
Mr. Jefferson as denying that the United States
acquiredany claim to the Oregon territory by
the acquisition ot Louisiana, either in his let-
ter of 1803, referred to by the counter-statement,
J and from which it gives an extract, or in the
document of 1807, to which it also refers. It is
manifest, from the extract itself, that the object
of Mr. Jefferson was not to stale the extent of the
11 claims acquired with Louisiana, but simply to
n state how tar its unquestioned boundaries ex
tended; and these he limits westwardly by the
s Rocky mountains. It is, in like manner, mani
rr fest from the document, as cited by the counter
statement, that his object was not to deny that
t . our claims extended to the territory, but simply to
>■ express hisopinion of the impolicy, in the then
ll state of our relations with Spain, of bringing
them forward. This, so far from denying that
r. we had claims, admits them by the clearest im
plication. If, induced, in either case, his opin
f- ion had been equivocally expressed, the prompt
measures adopted by him to explore the terri
e tory, after the treaty was negotiated, but before
n it was ratified, clearly show that it was his
“ opinion not only that we had acquired claims to
it. but highly imporiantelairns, which deserved
prompt attention.
In addition to this denial of our claims to the
r \ territoiy on the authority of Mr. Jefferson, which
C- the evidence relied on does not seem to sustain,
the counter statement intimates an objection to
■ continuity as the foundation of a right, on the
ground that it may more properly be considered
(to use its own words) as demonstrating the great
er degree of the interest which the United States
possessed by reason of contiguity in acquiring
territory in a westward direction. Contiguity
may, indeed, be regarded as one of the elements
constituting the right of continuity—which is
more comprehensive—and is necessarily associated
with the right of occupancy, as has been shown
in statement A. It also shows that Ihe laws which
1 usage has established in the application of the
right to this continent, give to the European set
’ tlements on its eastern coasts an indefinite exten
' sion westward. It is now too late for Great Bri
-1 tain to deny a right on which she has acted so
( long, and by which she has profited so much ;or to
1 regard it as a mere facility, not affecting in any
, way the question of right. On what other right
■ has she extended her claims westwardly to the
Pacific ocean from her settlements around Hud
; son’s Bay ? or axpelled France from tha east side
i of the Mississippi, in the war which terminated in
1763 ?
As to the assumption of the counter statement,
[ that Louisiana, while in the pessess on ol Spam,
became subject Nootka Sound convention,
' —which, it ‘is alleged, abrogated all the claims of
' Spain to the Territory, including those acquired
with Louisiana —it will be time enough to con.
sider it, after it shall be attempted to be shown
that such, in reality, was the effect. In the mean
time, the United States must continue to believe
that they acquired from France, by the tieaty of
Louisiana, important and substantial claims to the
territo y.
The undersigned cannot assent to the conclusion
to which, on a review of the whole ground, the
counter-statement arrives, that the present state of
the question is, that Great Bi itain possesses, and
exercises, in common with the United States, a
right of joint occupancy in the Oregon territory,
of which she can be divested only by an equita
ble partition of the whole between the two powers.
He claims, and he thinks he has shown, a clear
• title on the part of the United States to the whole
legion drained by the Columbia, with the right of
being reinstated, and considered the party in pos
session, while treating of the title —in which
character he must insist on their being considered,
in conformity with positive tieaty stipulations.—
He cannot, therefore, consent that they shall be
regarded, during the negotiation, merely as occu
pants in common with Great Britain. Nor can he,
while thus regarding their rights, present a counter
proposal, based on the supposition of a joint occu
pancy merely, until the question of title to the
territory is fully discussed. It is, in his opinion,
only after such a discussion, which shall fully pre
sent the titles of the parties respectively to the
territory, that their claims to it can be fairly and
satisfactorily-VTstiy" e:ri
titled to; and arc unwilling to take less. With
their present opinion of the title, the British pleni
potentiary must see that the proposal which he
made at the second conference, and which he more
fully sets forth in his counter-statement, falls far
short of what they believe themselves justly en
titled to.
In reply to the request of the British plenipo
tentiary, that the undersigned should define ihe
naturq|jrnd extent of the claims which the United
Statesffiave to the other portions of the territory,
and to which allusion is made in the concluding
part of Statement A, he has the honor to inform
him, in general terms, that they are derived from
Spain by the Florida tieaty, and are founded on
the discoveries and explorations of her navigators ;
and which they must regard as giving them a
right to thf. extent to which they ran be estab
lished, unless a better can be oppo ed.
J. C. CALHOUN.
The Right Hon. K, Pakenham, &c.
Mr. Pakenham to Mr. Calhoun,
Washington, January 15, 1845.
Sir: I did not fail to communicate to her Ma
jesty’s government all that had passed between us
with reference to the question of the Oregon boun
dary, up to the end of last September, as detailed
in the written statements interchanged by us, and
in the protocols of our conferences.
Those papers remain under the consideration of
her Majesty’s government ; and I have reason to
believe that, at no distant period, I shall be put in
possession of the views of her Majesty’s govern
ment on the several points which became most
prominent in the course of the discussion.
But, considering, on tne one hand, the impa
tience which is manifested in the United States
for a settlement of this question, and on the other,
the length of time which would probably be still
required to effect a satisfactory adjustment of it
between the two governments, it has occurred to
h< r Majesty’s government that under such cir
cumstances, no more fair or honorable mode of
settling the question could be adopted than that of
arbitration.
This proposition I am accordingly authorized to
! offer for the considciation of the'government of
i the Lnited States ; and, under the supposition that
it may be found acceptable, further tosuggesl that
the consent of both parties to such a course of
proceeding being recorded by an interchange of
notes, the choice of an arbiter, and the mode in
which their respective cases shall be laid before
him, may hereafter he made the subject of a more
formal agieement between the two governments.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration,
1 sir, your obedient servant,
R. PAKENHAM.
| lion, John C. Calhoun.
Mr. Calhoun lo Mr. Pakenham.
Department of State,
Washington, Jan. 21, 1845.
Sir: 1 have laid bcfcrc the President your
communication of the 15th instant, offering, on
the part of her Majesty’s government, to submit
the settlement of the question between the two
countries in refcicnce to the Oregon territory to
arbitration.
The President instructs me to inform you, that,
while he unites with her Majesty’s government
in the desire to sec the question settled as early
as may he practicable, he cannot accede to Iho
offer.
Having all other reasons for declining it, it is
sufficient lo state, that he still continues to en
tertain the hope that the question may be settled
by the negotiation now pending between the two
countries ; and that he is of the opinion that it
would he (inadvisable to entertain a proposal to
resort to any other iru dc so long as there is hope ol
arriving at a satisfactory settlement by negotia
tion ; and especially to'one which might rather re
tard than expedite its final adjustment.
I avail myself of this occasion lo renew to you
the assurance ot my distinguished consideration
rn ... J-C. CALHOUN.
I o Right Hon. R. Pakenham, &c.
Another Steamboat Sunk— We learn from
the officers ol the steamboat Andrew Jackson
that the Neptune, on her way from this city to
St. Louis, struck a snag at Plum Point on the
12th inst. and immediately sunk in 6 feet water,
ihe cargo was saved, although in a damaged
stale; it is thought that the boat can be raised,
—-V. O. Picayune , \ ( Mh ins/.
Magnetic Telegraph. —The slock of the
New-York, New-Haven and Boston Line has
all been taken up, and operations are to be com
menced at once.
si Chronicle ani) Sentinel.
tj AUGUSTA. G a
J I THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 25, 1845.
2 To afford those in our employ an oppor
' ] tunily to participate in the festivities of the sea
t ■ son, no paper will be issued from our office
> until Monday next.
i
f The Orphan’s Fair.
1 We lake great pleasure in calling the atten
_ | tion of our citizens to the card of “The Ladies
t | of the Catholic Church,” announcing a Fair
- | for the benefit of the Orphans under the charge
"| of the Pastor of that Church in this city. It is
j j a fit opportunity for a demonstration of that
1 I warm hearted, liberal charity, which has ever
j distinguished our community, and we feel an
t, abiding confidence that they will, on this occa
, sion, cause the hearts of the Orphans to over
-0 flow with gratitude.
J -
A Fire occurred in Macon on Saturday last
s which destroyed property to the value 0f3*2,000
? —of which SI,OOO was insured.
s The Weather.—On Saturday last, the
thermometers in Athens stood at 10 degrees
1 above zero, and on Sunday at 4 degrees above
* zero, which is lower than it has been before lor
s _ the last ten years.
Railroad Dividend. —The Directors of the
0 Boston and Worcester Railroad have declared
3 a dividend ot 4 per cent, for the last six months,
t to be paid on the first day of January.
8
There was a loan made in the street at Boston
5 on Monday, on good six months paper, to the
1 amount of SIOO,OOO at 54 per cent. This does
, not indicate any great scarcity. The banks
» however ask 6 per cent.
-
j Sugar.—The St. Francisville Chronicle of the
13th insl. stales that the late freezing weather
> has destroyed the entire crop of cane remaining
, in the field in that region. The cold was suc
r ceeded by a warm spell, and immediate fomen
: tation of the juice of the cane was the conse
, quence. The loss is estimated to be about one
t third of the entire crop. On most of the neigh-
I" boring plantations the cold weather has had the
i same effect. We learn, however, that on several
j of the lower plantations, the cane shows no
effects of the frost. From all accounts the crop
must fall short—how much we cannot say.
f Things In Milleclgeville.
1 Correspondence of the Chronicle, Sentinel,
Milledgevillr, Dec. 22, 1845.
J The Senate took the appropriation bill out
of committee of the whole this morning, and
. went through with it. Some SIO,OOO, composed
■ of various items, have been added to it. Istated
some days ago that a move would be made to
- strike out of the bill one of the Governor’s Se
' cretaries. Owing to the magnanimity of seve
• ral DemnriP*-- 1 ’’
■ to indulge ’he personal spleen and petty malice
of others, no such move was made. Such was
> the intention, ho« ever, of those alluded to; but
3 after counting noses and ascertaining that their
[ tally was too short, they abandoned their chival
rous design.
■ I The important business of the session is over,
\ j and henceforth all will be hurry and disorder
, I until the great measure of deliverance —ad-
’ | journment—-is consummated. A heavy day’s
i ; work has been done in both Houses. I shall at
-1 j tempt only to notice those bills comparatively
’ j most important.
-I In the House, Mr. Shockley’s bill to abolish
capital punishment, was rejected by a large ma
jority, although a great number declare them
selves in favor of the measure. I believe I’ll
rhyme together a song on the g alloys tree, after
. this sort. If you like the specimen I’ll take the
3 subject into further consideration.
- O woodman that tree spare,
J All branchless the’ it be —
j It bears a fruit so rare—
“ O woodman spare that tree.’’
f O woodman that tree spare—
, Tho’ strange its fruit may be.
The Law will hang it there—
Then woodman spare that tree !
The Athens Manufacturing Company’s bill,
j passed with the limited restriction.
The following Senate bills were then acted
on. To extend the charier of the Bank of Au
l gusta—passed. To authorise the arrest of per
| son on debts before due, in certain cases—
passed. To punish persons betting money or
oilier thing of value on any game at cards, by
fine of S2O to $lO0 —passed. The bill author
i ising voters to vote for Senator at any precinct
within the Senatorial district in which they re
side, was rejected mainly on the ground of its
' nnconslitutionalily. 1 think the Constitutional
question was not raised in the Senate.
Tire bill to incorporate the Ladies’ benevolent
Society of Columbus, and all other persons of j
the female sex—notwithstanding Mr. Shockley’s 1
suggestion of obnoxious comprehensiveness—
passed.
The Senate returned the lax bill to the I louse
with the following amendments: in lieu of one j
quarter ot one per cent tax on Bank agencies !
from other States, eight cents on every SIOO of
capita). The House refused to concur in this ■
amendment. To tax individuals acting as
agents lor Banks from other States eight cents j
on all exchange, &c., bought anil sold. The |
House struck out eight cents and inserted one I
quarter of one percent. Jacks were taxed the
price of a season—the commissions or per cent
on Tax Digests were reduced, and concurred in
by the House.
The Senate received an Executive commu
nication accompanied wiihjthe extensive corres
pondence on Military claims. The communi
cation being read, Mr. Stcll moved to refer the
subject to the Committee on Finance. Mr.
Miller insisted that it sfioulu be referred to a
Committee of three, and Mr. Slell selected as
Chairman. The President appointed Messrs.
Stell, Miller and T. F. Anderson.
At night both Houses met, were mostly en
gaged in reading bills, and adjourned about ‘J
o’clock.
The only incident of interest occurred in the
House on the Resolution relating to a lull
length portrait of Gen. Jackson. Mr. Harris
contended that there was no appropriate place to
receive such a likeness in the Representative
Chamber—that it would cost $(100, and that the
state of the 'Treasury, the discrepancy between
the tax and appropriation bills, &c., did not air
thotise the expenditure. Mr. Gaulding offered
an amendment including W. H. Crawford and
W. H. Harrison. Mr. Jackson moved to strike
out Harrison. Mr. Strong advocated the mo
tion. Mr. Gaulding defended his amendment,
and strenuously insisted that Gen. Harrison was
fit company for any trio in the world—that good
ncss and true greatness were inseparable. Mr.
Jackson moved the previous question, which
cut off both Crawlord and Harrison. His ob
ject was to present the alternative to the Whigs
of voting directly on the original resolution, and
take the political consequences of voting against
it. But I suspect that a refusal to allow Craw
ford and Harrison to keep company with Jack
son—which was the effect, and probably the ob
ject ot his motion—would be as productive of
capital as the refusal to vote lor the resolution.
Be that as it may, the motion to adjourn (which
is always in order, and has precedence over all
others) was made and the yeas and nays called —
yeas 44, nays 40.
I will add that Mr. Harris’ remarks in refer
ence to the proposed painting or paintings are
true, the only suitable niches being filled by por
traits of Franklin and Lafayette. A.
Melancholy Shipwreck. —The barque
Zamora, Capt. Farnham, of Boston, went ashore
on the evening of the 15th instant, between
Elisha’s Point and Warren’s Cove, near Ply
mouth, Ma c s., and at the last accounts her bot
tom was out and the cargo drilling on shore. —
Four men, Mr. Hallet, the chief mate, and three
colored seamen, were drowned in an attempt to
reach the shore. The captain and seven men
were taken off in safety. The Zamora was
owned by Wm. A. Rea, Esq., and was insured
for SIB,OOO, equally divided between three offi
ces in Boston. There were also 83000 insured
in that city on the freight money. The cargo
consisted ot 200 bales cotton, 100 do. hemp, 71
do. feathers, GO bbls. beans, IGBO do. flour, 2500
sacks corn, 40 casks 3 bales old iron—nearly all
of which is believed to be insured in Boston.
From the Cor. of the Baltimore American.
T WENT Y-NINTH CONG RESS.
Washington, Dec. 19.
The Senate was not in session to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Campbell of N. Y. gave notice that he
would at an early day, introduce a Bill for the
establishment ol a warehousing system.
Also, a Bill regulating tlie compensation,
duties, &c, ol the Consuls of the United States.
A Resolution was introduced by J. R. Inger
soil, asking the Committee on the Judiciary to
inquire into the expediency ol reporting as to
the propriety of transferring the duties of the
Judges of the Supreme Court to the Judges of
the District Couit, and that the Judges ol the
Supreme Court hold two terms each year at the
seat ot Government.
Also a resolution of inqniiy to change Vir
ginia land warrants into Government scrip.
Also, a Bill to repeal the act ot the 29th Con
gress requiring that members of Congress shall
be chosen by districts.
info the expediency of arming and equipping
one Company ol the State Militia in each Stale,
and taking them into the service ol the United
States when their services are necessary.
And an inquiry that the Committee on Pen
sions be instructed to inquire into the expe
diency ot amending the Pension Act of 1832, so
that all who served in the Revolutionary war
shall hereafter be entitled to the benefits of the
Pension Act.
A Resolution was also introduced asking the
President ol the United Stajesto report as to the
seizure of an American vessel by a British go
vernment vessel on the Coast of Africa and near
Liberia. Objected to and laid over.
A Bill to reduce and graduate the price ol
Public Lands was read twice aF.d referred to the
Committee on Public Lands. Also to establish
a protective Pre-emption System was reported.
Smithsonian Institution. —Mr. Owen ol la.
introduced a Bill lor the establishment ot the
Smithsonian Institution. Referred to a Select
Committee ol seven members,
Oregon 'Territory. —Mr, Douglass of 111. from
the Committee on Territories, reported a Bill
for the protection of Ameiican citizens in Ore
gon. Referred to the Committee ol the Whole,
and made the special order of the day for the
second Tuesday in January, and everv day
thereafter until disposed of.
N. E. Boundary. —Mr. Hamlin ol Me. offered
a Resolution calling upon ihe President ol the
United States for information in relation to the
navigation of the river St. Johns and the Wash
ington treaty. Also lor copies ol all corres
pondence upon the subject during the two years
past.
The Oregon. —Several Resolutions ol inquiry
upon the subject of the North Western territory,
(similar to those offered in the Senate) were
submitted, all looking to the establishment of
civil and military power West of the Rockv
Mountains.
Mr. Winthrop of iMass. offered a series of
Resolutions, declaring that there is no occasion
to suspend the n-gotiations between the United
Slates and Great Britain in reference to the dis
puted territory,—that it would be a disgrace to
both nations io submit such a question to be de
■ cided by arms, and that nothing has occurred
by which such a question may not be referred
to arbitration, —that arbitration does not mces
| sarily involve the necessity ot a reference to
j clowned heads, but that all Ihe world is open
j from which to make a choice ot Commission
ers, who may wisely decide as to ihe powers of
| both Governments.
j Mi. Winthrop’s resolutions excited some
interest in the House, but as there was danger
I ot their being laid upon the lable, he gave no
i lice of his intention to debate them, which ear
i ried them over to a future day.
Mr. Douglass of 111. fallowed with two Reso
! Unions, declaring first, that “our title to the
whole of Oregon south ol 54 u 40 sec. was clear
| and unquestionable.” Secondly, “That being
| a title, it was not a proper subject ot arbitra-
I lion.”
Mr. Douglass gave notice that he should de
bate the Resolutions be had offered, when the
gentleman from Massachusetts called up those
which he had submitted. A Resolution was
also submitted in reference to the employment
ol Ihe Home Squadron in the Pacific.
Sub-Treasury Bill. —Mr. Dromgoole, from
the Committee of Ways and Means reported a
bill for Ihe better protection and collection ol the
Public money, which was read twice and re
ferred (o Ihe Committee of the Whole.
Other Resolutions were offered, perhaps a
hundred in all. Among them were those look
ing to some connection of the waters of the
United States with those flowing through the
Oregon Territory.
Also, to the two per cent lurid belonging to
the new Stales, and withheld from the non-pay- i
ing Slates indebted to the General Government i
under an act of the last Congress. I
Also proposing 10,000 extra Reports of the <
Commissioner of the Land Office —extra copies i
of Freemoirt’s Report of two expeditions to the i
Rocky Mountains—proposing a Canal around |
ihe Falls ofSl. Marie—a tonnage duty on Canal I
boats, <kc. t
All these were Resolutions of inquiry, and all I
were referred to Committees as unobjectionable 5
or laid upon the lable.
Between two and three P. M. an adjourn- c
ment was moved and carried. Ayes 68. Noes t
66, The adjournment was to Monday next.
LATEST FROM ENGLAND, j
Arrival ° f THF
STEAMSHIP ACADIA.
From the N. Y. Courier cj- j Enquirer.
Fifteen Days Later Fr.ira England.
The Acadia British steam-packet arrived at |
Boston atone o’clock on Friday mommy, from
Liverpool, whence she sailed on the 4th inst. j
By this arrival we receive our London tiles to j
the 3 I December, and Liverpool papers to the j
dav of the steamer’s departure.
The commercial and genera! intelligence is j
interesting, and in some respects important— ,
though the political news is not o! any startling i
or decisive character.
The cotton market is in a very depressed |
state and a decline had taken place, and prices i
had nearly reached the lowest figure at which
it had ever been quoted. The information from
the United Stales of a lull crop and of a supply
equal to that of last vear, was in some measure !
counteracted by the belligerent state of public j
feeling in this country and the apprehension of j
war, so that some activity prevailed in the mar
ket among purchasers on speculation, but pri
ces declined notwithstanding.
There does not appear to be any material
change in the grain and provision market, since
the last advices from Europe, though it will be
seen by some of the accounts that the potato lot
is not quite so serious as it has been represented.
There is some improvement in the money
market.
Trade in Manchester and the manufacturing
towns was depressed and inactive
The Railway panic had not subsided.
The disaffection in the ponlificial Stales would
seem to be on the increase.
Incendiary tires had occurred in the counties
of Cambridge and Suffolk.
The news carried out by the Caledonia,
which arrived at Liverpool on the Ist ins!., had
somewhat cooled the war panic, which pre
viously had been rather rife. We must now
wait for the effect of the President’s Message
upon the people of Great Britain, and be pre
pared, westippose, for a renewal of the excite
ment, and for any-amount of British thunder.—
Great energy is still exhibited in the warlike
preparations at the dock yards, in the survey ing
of the coasts tor fortifications, and in strengthen
ing the steam navy.
The most serious apprehensions were felt,
not only in Ireland, but in England, of the con
sequences of the failure of the crops, and famine
in its worst forms seemed to be looked upon in
some quarters as almost inevitable. All par
ties in Ireland, Repeaters and Orangemen, Ro
man Catholics and Protestants were making
common cause in preparing for the common
calamity lhat appeared to be awaiting the coun
try.
The Irish papers, are as usual, tally occupied
in recording crimes of all descriptions, embra
cing many of the worst character.
From Wihucr if* Smith's Times of Dec, A.
The news from the western shores o! the
Atlantic recently, has xciled more than ordi
nary' interest. The “Great Western,” on her
last trip, brought home a document which cre
ated nearly as much amazement as if a shell
had been unexpectedly thrown, with hostile in
tent, into a friendly'citadel. The number of the
Washington Union which claimed the whole of
Oregon fori he United Stales, and repudiated
all negociation on the subject, was scanned
mtn ictnuius was presumed to speak
the sentiments of President Polk, and to fore
. shadow the tone of lhe lorlhcoming Message,
The effect was such as we have described it,
Wat and all its odious horrors stared everyone
in the face. There appeared to he no escape
from it--no loop-hole left by which an honora
ble exil could be made. Men move in masses
—think and sympathise in herds-—and
“thoughts that breathe and worse that burn,”
issuing siraikaneously from a thousand lips,
shows how readily, under provocation, reason
is subservient to passion. The poet has finely
pourirayed it:
“Honor! thou blood-stained god.
At whose red altar sit war and homicide,
Oh 1 to what madness will insult drive thy votaries!”
Writiqng under the influence of this excited
teeling, the Caledonia arrived on Friday, with
the intelligence a week in advance of the Great
Western, and the nature of her despatches had
an emmolient effect on the national pulse,
which now beats again with comparative cool
ness. ft was then found that the atlicle in the
official paper was not understood by those on
the spot to have an official character—that Mr.
Polk had not yet thrown away the scabbard—
that the Whigs, with their lltiee P’s—“peace,
prosperity, and progression”—were inimical to
war, and that Mr. Webster, at Boston, had
made a speech of a pacific and elevated charac
ter, in which an appeal to physical force on the
Oregon question was denounced as folly anil
madness.
We stated, and the repetition at
the present time is almost superfluous, that as
regards England, people here care little in what
way the Oregon dispute may be patched up;
the value of the territory is hardly rated beyond
a pin’s-fee, and right glad would the thinking,
intelligent portion of the country be. il the 4!Hh
parallel of latitude would hit the views and
tastes of the American government and people.
The annoyance, the irritation arises out of
what is conceived to be Hie “bullying spirit”
with which the United States’ claim is atl vanceti,
which naturally wounds our national pride, and
creates a frame of mind little calculated to pro
duce amity or end in forbearance. The refusal
of the President to refer the dispute to arbitra
tion, looks like a “foregone conclusion,” and
is pointed to as a proof that the worst mav still
be apprehended from obstinate councils.
It has transpired during the last day or two,
that Mr. Polk has repeated to the English Cabi
net the offer which they have rejected two or
ihree limes during the last quarter of a century,
to divide the territory by the 40th parallel of '
north latitude, and that they still adhere to ma
king the Columbia the boundary, each nation (
being Iree of its waters li is our curse to have |
a monopoly of some kind or other always to
tight lor or to defend—some “ vested interest” ’
about which the people, in the aggregate know i *
anti care as much as a cow does for astronomy. 1
The nation, if noses had been counted, would i !
have accepted this offer by an overwhelming j
majority, but then the interests of (fie people,
and the interests ol a powerful incorporated 1
company diverge, am! Hie government, like a :
harsh step-mother, pets the favorite anil plunders ‘ 1
the family.
ft is painful to speak of warlike preparations
in Ihe same breaih that ws refer to a misunder
standing with a friendly country, as il savors 1
somewhat of the Milesian mode of setilin <r a *
controversy with uplifted shillelah. But Hie ' a
(uss and pother—the activity and incessant f
energy which prevail in the English dock yards,
the surveying of the coast anti steam navy, all I
indicates a “ black cloud” somewhere; it may ;
be in the west or in ihe south, but the “ powers I S
Jhal be” seem to be firmly impressed with a be- 1 "
lief that events are transparent enough to make 11
Hus activity and outlay necessary. Captain v
Austin visited Liverpool last week, by orders 11
of Hie Admiralty, to guage the capacitv.ol the °
first class stearaars as regaids the carrying of 3
heavy metal. Ihe British anti North Ameri- , r<
can, the West Indian, and other vessels have *
undergone similar inspections. Cuimulo “Com
mg events cast their shadows before,” and our
pi.iyei is, that all this horrible making ready
tor the wotst may prove superfluous, and that I
jhe • events” whatever they are, in which they tli
have their origin, may “Come like shadows lv
so depart. ’
The railway panic has not subsided. On the ei
cont; ar? it is in full force. Investments of that it
Tlir , QX?p re s r ‘ ,S,ra,e "‘ l ! ,ecollapseconlinue9 - in
ihe Gazette aas recently published notices 3(
from several hundreds of the new lines whiTh
propose u. apply to Parliament
•suing session for their acls. The period t, ,
giving notices expired on Sunday last ihe en
of November, and to afford time lor the
sit of the necessary documents, specificaiiins
and compliances with the standing orders offfi.
House of Commons, the Board of Trade
mained open all day Sunday, and only closed'
at midnight. More than 700 of the new nm
jects have deposited their plans; but lh
number have tailed, nevertheless i n n . ,
literally with the standing orders, in whirS'e
they cannot go before Parliamentnexi a
The object, i„ „.any induces, SSt
throw dust into the eyes of the proprietor! i
professing to have made an effort to
with Hie legislative
keeping the “word of promise to the ear bui
breaking it to the hopes” of their proprietors
1 he swindle, in such cases, is clever but alas'
Urn transparent. The feeling of despondency
which prevails ,n the principal stock markets
ot England relative to iron roads, exists in the
1 arts and other Continental markets with hard
ly less force, i’he brokers have suffered se
verely during Hie late gambling mania and
scores of mem are being “ used up” in ail di
rections. Even in France some of these per
sonages are flying to England, in order to «et
out of the way.
The threatened famine continues to occupy
meti s minds, i’he subject is constantly kept
before the public hv the discussions in the
press, by public meetings in various parts ot
the country, by Hie oratory of the league lead
ers, and by the indecision of the cabinet. No
thing during the last fortnight, has altered Hie
previous aspect of affairs as respects the extent
of the deficiency. The potato disease conthi
ues to progress in some quarters, and to be ar
rested in others. The accounts from Ireland
vary, but the most favorable regard a fourth of
the people’s food as being destroyed. In Eng
land, the disease also progresses', in the sotuh
and west more especially.
In the belief that somethin" will yet be done
by ministers, the food markets are in a state of
transition. What the “ something” may be is
a mystery, and the uncertainty which han<»s
over the fun re, affords abundant scope for spe
culation, not unmixed with angry recrimina
tion. Every one seems to think that in a mere
party point of view, looking at the present con
dition and prospects of the country in no higher
light, Sir Robert Peel has not made the most of
his position. Rumors are siill abundant that
he has been overruled in his desire to mitigate
the severity of the evil by throwing rpen'’the
ports, and the more disinterested of his support
ers are even now urging upon him the admis
sion ol maize, duty free, as an article of food.
That perplexity and disunion prevail in the mi
nisterial councils is evidenced by the frequency
of their meetings.
T wo or three cabinet meetings have been held
during the past fortnight, the last of which took
place on Tuesday. Parliament has been pro
rogued, pro forma, until the middle of December,
and an impression prevails that it will meet lit
tle, if any, before its customary time. Alarmed
by appearances, a requisition has been signedby
many of the leading bankers and capitalists in
Ihe city of London, urging upon the Lord Mayor
the necessity of calling, without delay, a public
meeting; but the civic monarch hesitates. Mat
ters may be said at the present moment to be in
statu quo, but the popular anxiety as regards the
apprehended scarcity is now participated in by
the great traders and capitalists—men, too, who
are above being influenced in a matter so vitally
important, Ly i-ile fears, still less by party or
personal predilections. Trade is already stag
gering under the blow which Ihe impending
it„ d, c /car of
it—has produced. In the manufacturing dis
tricts, there has been a sad falling off'in the de
mand for goods, and the gloomy prospect which
the approaching winter presents, is shared by
persons whose interests and temperament would
induce them to h ok at matters in the most fa
vorable point of view.
The Paris Press indulges in copious specu
lations on the Oregon question, and the remarks
of some of the Journals are curious enough,—
Most of them express the opinion that the
Americans have much the best claim to the
territory, though one ol them thinks the British
will fight hard Frits claim—in which case the
battle “will be between one Englishman and an
Englishman and a half.” Another paper says
neither England or the United States has so
much right to Oregon asthe French, inasmuch
as the latter first discovered the country!
Great apprehensions were felt in some pro
vinces ol France of a scarcity of food, in conse
quence of which and lor the purpose of allay
ing the alarm, the Minister of Commerce had
addressed a circular in the Prefecte ot Depart
ments, stating that the last harvest indeed was
not so abundant as the harvest of 1813 and 1844,
but that it was more abundant than in IS3D, and
that it was sufficient for the country; 26 depart
ments having produced more corn, Sec. than
they need,2B having produced enough, and 33
being deficient.
Algiers appears to he increasing in ineiea/i
--tile importance. In 1831 the navigation be
tween it and France was 244 vessels of 18.9,h
tons; in 1841 1572 vessels, and U. 0,413 tons- e
far greater portion being I* *’ ’
value of the commerce was 20 000,000 francs
in 1843 it was 87,000,000, of which 53 millions
were with the mother country, and in IM4 n
■was 70.000,000
The French Chambers was convoked m ro>-
al ordinance for Hie27lh'ot December, and some
arave questions were likely to be discussed-
Algiers, Morocco, the Railroads Tahiti, M ft
was looked upon as doubtful whether the Min
isters would or would not be able to weather the
session; though it was rather believed hej
would if no unfoieseen difficulty should ans
Lord John Russell on the Repeal of Inc
La us —A very remarkable letter from Lord
John Russ HI to the electors of London appeal«
in the Morning Chronicle of fhrUifhu.f.
lordship applies himself to two que* u> •-*
the disease in the potatoe ctvp>, '' “ L ’ u |'
seriously affects parts of Englam atu ■ ' ‘
and is committing featful ravages m Ireland,
and next the defects in the piesent n j
With reference to Ihe corn law he s
conic's that on the general subje< t 11
have i. he course ot twenty years unde r.
great alteration. I used to be ol °l I,nil . ‘ )( -
corn was an exception to the , exper j.
political economy; but observant l>s!ain
ence have convinced me that went 2 | ooe | <
from all interference with the m
Neil her a govet nment nor a e ?' sla '"Si el
regulate ihe corn market with i » am , j iur .
(ccts which the entire freedom o -<
chase are sure of themselves to P“ hliil ;
* * * i q system
Let us, then unite to pul an end •
which has been proved to he the ~ a , no ng
merce, the source of filler uvj>n
classes, the cause ol penury, ’ ToV ernment
and crime among the people. ” lo o j ve up
appear to be w ailing for by peti
thc present corn law. Lit 1 n ‘* a ffbrd them
Hon, bv address by remonstra ,-, rv propose
the excuse they seek. I.el the m.n.tl JPC
such a revision of the taxes as 1 ]o int and
mav render the public burthen ™ oie J roV j sio ns
more equal ; let them add anv J 1 * ,Clearance
which caution and even stuff un restrictions
may suggest; but let ihe removal p o0( j
cm Hie admission «( ihe main al . lll , ‘ neo ple be
and clothing used by the mass ol J- at ]n .
required, in plain terms, as useful to a , ( | ie
crests, and indispensable to the p ro r'
latii-n ”
ISMatoCro,.!..
The Dublin correspondent ot m ieW 0 f
[Jerald, gives a much more *®^ aD repaW dfor
he Irish potato crop, than " e ' te rs, aIU *
iy the gl./o.ny accounts in
vesubjoin a portion of hi „ f . c omp an -' r
■xtrac.s from the Irish papers J 1 a » cheer
t, in relation to this matter. <" ,v . NoV .
n» and important, ihe let
10th, and says—* g