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■arrapfevr tr never to bare been seuou*ly
*l European “*ffon.
They bed been maintained by Spam ’"
lit most vigffsm jealwwy, wet since Uw d
overy of the Ame lean continent, sod “ aa
ken ncenteered in by all European powers
They had been admit t *** by Russia; and
-Ibai, too under a sovereign peculiar y tena
- -a . rvf pmnlie.
mbat, too tinder a sovereign peculiar y n
imMof tbe territorial rights of her empire,
who, when complain** bad been made to the
of Roeaia against Russian subjects tor
toufeting and Spanish territory on tbe north
west eoaat of America, did not hesitate to ae
•ve the K<ag of Spain that she wae extreme
j. tarr m that the repeated order* issued to
■revest tbe subjects ot Russia hrom violating
tbe amplest degree, tbe territory belong
ing to another power, should have been diso-
this alleged riofalioft of the
‘territory consist 1 Assuredly in some at
tempted acta of discovery, exploration, or eet-
thrmenf. , , .
At that time, Russia stood iu precisely the
•ante position with reference to the exec
ute r>gbts of Spausas life and
any seta m contravention those
whetherem*oatiiqr<h>to Rtfsstaor Low the
UrrtedJMCTfs, wotrM be judged
by one and the aarru role.
. Moor, tfis-v ran hbe pretended that acts
which hr the case o’ Russia, were considered
as criminal violation of the Spanish lerrit uy,
•heold, in the case of citizens of the United
-States, be appealed to as constituting a valid
title te the territory affected by them ; and
yet from tnis inconsistency the American
plenipotentiary ‘annot escape, if he persist
ae considering the American title to have been
perfected by discovery, exploration, and set
tlement, when as yet Spain had made no
transfer of her rights, ts, to use his own words
M tbat title is older than the Florida tresty,
-and exists independently of ile provisions.”
According to tbe doctrine of exclusive do
minion, the exploration of Lewis and Clarke,
*nd the establishment founded at the mouth
•f the Columbia, must be condemned as en
croscbmentson tt.e territorial rights of Spain.
r*w£rdin£ to the opposite principle by
which discovery, exploration; and settle
ment are considered as giving a valid claim
to territory, those very acts arc referred to,
in the course of the same paper as con
stituting a complete title iu favor of tbe U.
tit a tee.
Besides, how shall we reconcile this high
estimation of the territorial rights of Spain,
considered independently of the N. Sound
convention, with the course observed by the
United States in their diplomatic Transac
tions with Great Britain, previously to the
conclusion of tbe Florida treaty? The
claim advanced for the restitution of Fort
George, under the first article of the treaty
f Ghent; the arrangement concluded for the
joint occupation ot the Oregon territory by
Great Britain and the United States; and a
bove all, the proposal actually made on the
part of tbe United States for a portion of the
Oregon territory; alt which transactions
took place in the year IRIB, when, as yet,
Spain had made no transfer or cession of
her rights-—appear to be as little reconcilia-
Trie with any regard for those rights while
still rested in Spain, as the claim founded
on discovery, exploration, and settlement,
accomplished previously to} the transfer of
those rights of the United States.
Supposing tbe arrangement proposed in
the year 1818, or any other arrangement for
the partition of the Oregon territory to have
been concluded in these days, between G.
Britain and tnis country, what would, in
that ease, have become ot the- exclusive
rights of Spain?
There woulo have been no refuge for the
United Stales but in appeal to tbe principles
of the Nooika convention.
Te deny, then, the validity of the Nootka
convention, is to proclaim, the illegality of
any title founded on discovery, exploration
or settlement, previous to the conclusion of
of the Florida treaty.
To append to the Florida treaty as con
veying to the U. States any exclusive rights,
ia to attach a character of encroachment &
of violation to the rights of Spam to every act
to which the United States appealed in rhe
negotiation of ISIB, as giving them a claim
to territory on the northwest coast.
These conclusions appear to the under
aigned to be irtesislible.
The United States can found no claim on
discovery, exploration and settlement, effect
ed previously to the Florida treaty, without
admitting tbe principles of the Nootka con
vention, and the consequent validity of the
paraliet claims of Great Britain founded on
Jibe acts; nor can they appeal to any exclu
sive right as acquired by the Florida treaty,
without upsetting all claims adduced in
their own proper right, by reason ol discove
ry, exploration and settlement.
The undersigned trusts that he has now
ehobrn that the convention of 1790, (the
Nootka Sound convention,) has continued in
full and complete force up to tbe present
inornrni—
By reason, in the first place, of the com
mercial character of some of its provisions,
M such expressly renewed by the conven
(ton of August, ISI4, between G. Britain Sc
Spain.
By reason, in the next place, of the ac
quiescence of Spain in various transactions
to which it is not to be suppoaed, that
power would have assented, had she not felt
bound by the provisions of the convention in
question.
Aud, thirdly, by reason of repeated acts
of the government of the United Stales,
previous to the conclusion of the Florida
-treaty, manifesting adherence to the princi
ple* ot the Nootka convention or at least
dissent from the exclusive protections ot
Spain.
Having thus replied and he hopes satis
factorily to the observations of the Ameri
can plenipotentiary with respect to the effect
of the Nootka Sound convention and the
Florida treaty, as bearing upon the subject
of tbe present discussion, the undersigned
must endeavor to show that ‘ even if the
Nootka Sound convention had never existed,
tbe position of Great Britain in regard to
her claim, whether to the whole or to any
particular portion of the Oregon territojy, is
•t least as good as that of the U. States.
This branch of the subject must be con
sidered first, with reference to principle—to
the right of either party, Great Britain or
the United States, to explore or make set
tlements iu the Oregon territory without
Tiolation of the rights of Spain; and next,:
supposing the first to be decided affirmative- J
|y, wuth reference to the relative value and;
importance of the acts ot discovery, explor-!
ntion and settlements effected by each.
As relates theu to the q isstiou of priori,
pie, the undersigned thinks lie can furnish ;
no better vgumeot ttian that contained in j
the following words, wbichlie bns already j
quoted Iron. the statement cf the American
plenipotentiary: i
‘* Tfc title of the United State* to the valley o’
tht ColunKa i> ol<if ibu lie Fiorida *rea*y of
iTiumnr, 1819. under which ‘he UniMxt States ac
au the rights of Spain to the Northwest coavi
•f America, ana exists independently of it* provi
sions.” And again : ‘‘the title of the United Stare*
to the entire region drained by tha Columbia river
and he branches was perfect and complete before
the troatiet f joiat occupancy of October, 1818, aitd
* August, 1827.”
The ttila thus referred to, must be that
Meting on discovery, exploration, and set
tlaraent.
If tbia title then, is good, or rather was
good, as against the exclusive pretensions of
Spain, previous to the conclusion of tbe
Florida treaty, so most the claims of Great
Ilrtuio, resting oa the Mine grounds, he
food she.
Thus, then, it seems manifest that, with
er without the aid of the Nooifca Sound
convention, the chime of Great Britain rest
iug on dfecevery, exploration *®*2®ent,
s re-in point of principle, equally valid wuh
chose of the Untied Statue.
Let oe see new bow the comparison wilt
stand when tried by the relative vahte, im
portance* an* Wl ****fjZ2?*’ K
Rejecting previous discoveries north of the
43d parallel of latitude ae not sufficiently
authenticated, it wHlbaaeenotr
Great Britan, that lBlB, Capt. Cook dis
covered Cape Flattery. the southern en
trance of the atraitt of Fuca, Cook must al
so be considered the discoverer of Nooika
Sound, in eonseqnense of the want of au
thenticity w tbe alleged previous discovery
of thattxirtby Pnrea. ■ . .. . .
In 1777, Cspt Berkly, a British subject, in
a vessel under Austrian colors, discovered
the straits es Fata*
In tbe same year, Capt- Bun**” . .
ship‘‘Princes RoyaV* . *“* in , l “ e
i end traded ‘ ‘* i fp ed l t he * tra ‘ tg ’
I I** Me ares, a British subject, formed
jtoe esUblisbete&t at Nootka, which gave
l r 'ac to the memorable dscussiow with the
Spanish government; ending in the recog
nition, by that power, efthe right of Great
Britain to form settlements hi the unoccu
pied pans ot tbe northwest portion of the
American continent, and in an engagement
on tbe pan of Spain, to reinstate blears iu
the possession from which he had been eject,
ed by the Spanish euimaander*.
In 1792, Vancouver, who had been sent
from England to witness the fulfilment
of the above mentioned engagement, aud to
effect s survey of tbe northwest coast, de
parting fi o-n Nootka Sound, entered the
straits of Fuct, and after an acorate survey
of tbe coast and inlets on both sides, dis
covered a passage nothwards into the Paci
-6c by which he returned to Nootka—having
thus circumnavigated tbe island whieh now
hears bis name. And here, we have as far
as relates .to Vancouver’’* island, as com
plete a case of discovery, exploration and
settlement, as can wdll be presented, giving
to Great Biitsin; in any arrangement that
may be made w ith regard to the territory in
dispute, the strongest possible claim to the
exclusive possession of that island.
While Vancouver was prosecuting dis
covery and exploration by sea, Sir Alexan
der Mackenzie, a partner in the Northwest
Company, crossed the Rocky Mountains,
discovered the head waters of tbe river since
called Frazier's river, and following for some
timothe course of thatriyer, effected a pas
sage to the sea—bring the first civilized
man who traversed the continent from sea
to sea in those latitudes. On the return of
Mackenzie to Canada, the Northwest Com
pany established trading posts in tbe coun
try to the westward of tbe Rocky Moun
tains.
In 1806 and 1811, respectively the same
company established posts on the Tacout
che, Tease, ard the Columbia.
In the year 1811, Thompson the astrono
mer of the Northwest Company, discovered
the northern head waters of the Colombia,
and following its course till joined by the
rivers previously discovered by Lewis and
Clarke he continued his journey to the Pa
cific.
Fiom that time nntii the year 1818, when
the arrangement for the joint occupancy of
the territory was concluded, the Northwest
Company continued to extend tbeir operations
throughout the Oregon territory, and to “oc
cupy,” it may be said, as far as occupation
can be effected in regions so inaccessible and
destitute of resources.
While this was passing, the following
events occurred which constitute tho Ameri
can claim in their own proper right.
In 1792, Gray entered the mouth of the
Columbia river.
in ltos, Lewis and Clarke effected a pas
sage across the Rocky mountains, and dis
covering a branch of the Columbia river, fol
lowed it until they reached tbe ocean.
In 1811, the trading post or settlement of
Astoria was established at tbe mouth of the
Columbia, on the northern side of that river.
This post or settlement passed during the
past war into British hands by lb* voluntary
act of the persona in charge of it,—a fact
most clearly established. It was restored to
the United States in 1818, with certain well
authenticated reservations ; but it was actu
ally occupied by American citizens, having
from the moment of tbe original transfer or
sale, continued to be occupied by British
subjects.
These are the acts of discovery explora
tion and settlement, referred to by tbe United
Statos as giving them claim to the valtey of
the Columbia, in their own proper right.
The British government are disposed to
view them in the most liberal sense, and to
give to them the utmost value to which they
can in fairness be entitled ; hut there are
circumstances attending each and all of them
wh'chmusf, in the opinion of any impartial
investigator of the subject, take from them a
great deal of the effect which the American
negotiators assign to them as giving to this
country a claim to the entire region drained
by the Columbia and its branches.
In the first place, as relates to the discov
ery of Gray, it must be remarked that be was
a private pavigalor, sailing principally for the
purposes of trade, which fact establishes a
wide difference, in a natioual point of view,
between the discoveries accomplished by
him aud those effected by Cook and Van
couver, who sailed in ships of the royal navy
of Great Britain, and who were sent to the
northwest coast for tire purpose of exploration
and discovery.
In the next place, it is a. circumstance not
to be lost sight of, that it was not for several
years followed up by any which conld give
it value in a national point of view ; it was
not in truth made known to tbe world either
by the discoverer himself or by hia govern
ment So recently as the year 1820 the
American plenipotentiaries in London re
marked with great correctness, in one of
their reports that “respecting tbe mouth of
the Columbia river, we knew nothing of
Gray’s discoveries-but through British ac
counts.”
In the next place, the connection of Gray’s
discovery with that of Lewis and Clarke is
interrupted by the intervening exploration of
L'eutenant Broughton, of lire British survey*
ing ship ‘•Chatham.”
With respect to the expedition of Lewis
and Clarke, it must, on a close examination
ot the route pursued by them, be confessed
that, neither on their unwarthjourney to the
Pacific, nor on their homeward journey to the
United States, did they touch upon the head
waters of the principal branch of the Colum
bia river, which lies far to the north of the
parts of the country traversed and explored
by them.
Thompson, of the British Northwest Com*
natty, was the first civilized person who navi
gated the northern in realiti the main branch
of the Columbia, or traversed any part of
country drained by it.
It was by a tributary of the Columbia that
Lewis and Clarke made their way to the
main stream of that river, which they reach
ed at a point distant, it is behoved, not more
than two hundred miles from the point to
which the river had already been explored
Broughton.
These facts, the undersigned conceives,
will be found sufficient to reduce the value
of Le wis and Clarke’s exploration on the
Columbia to limits which would by no means
justify a claim to the whole valley drained by
that river and its branches.
As to settlement, the qualified nature of
iha rights devolved to the United States by
virtue of the restitution of Fort Astoria, has
already been pointed out. It will thus be
seen, tbe undersigned confidently believes,
that on the grounds of discovery, exploration
and settlement, Great Britain has nothing to
fear from a comparison of her cla ' m * lot [if (
Oregon territory, taken a a whole, wit
those of tbe United States. a . , ■
That reduced to Ae valley framed by the
Colombia, the facta on which the Jutted
States rest their case are far from bei. g j' .
Woul*jus*My a claim to tbe whole valley of]
lh That,Ts^ a c!ally d as relates to Vancouver’s
island, taken by itself the preferable claim of
Great Britain, in every point of new, seems
to have been clearly demonstrated.
After this exposition of life views cuter*,
tained by the British government
the relative value ami ~-*ung
British and fiance of the
plenipoten**”’ .u claims, the American
.Lib*” ...,y will not be surprised to hear j
. .ae tnidersigned does not feel at liberty
to accept tire proposal offered by the Ameri
can plenipotentiary for the settlement of the
question.
This proposal, in fact, offers less than that
tendered bv the American plenipotentiaries
tn the negotiation of 1526, and declined by
the British government.
On that occasion it was proposed that the
navigation of the Columbia should be made
free to both parties.
Os this nothing is said to tlie proposal to
which the undersigned has now tho honor to
reply; while with respect to the proposed
freedom of the ports ot Vancouver’s Island
| south of latitude 49 degrees, the facts which
have been appealed to in tins paper, as giv
ing to Great Britain the strongest elaim to
the possession of the whole island, would
seem to deprive such a proposal of any value.
The undersigned, therefore, trusts that
the American plenipotentiary will be prepar
ed to offer some further proposal lor the set
tlement of the Oregon question more con
sistent with fairness and equity, and with fire
reasonable expectations of the British gov
ernment, as defined in the statement (marked
D) which the undersigned had the nonor to
present to the American plenipotentiary in
the early part of the present negotiation.
The undersigned, British plenipotentiary,
has the honor to renew to the honorable
Jamesßucbanan, Secretary of .State & plen
ipotentiary of the U. States, the assurance
ol his high consideration.
r: pakeniiam.
Hon. James Buchanan, &c.
Foreign News.
From the Baltimore Sun, January 26.
IMPORTANT FROM EUROPE.
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMSHIP HIBERNIA.
Twenty three days Later.
The steamer was detailed Dy a series of
unfavorable weather, having arrived at Bos
ton on Friday morning, after a passage of 18
days. She brings advices trom London to
the evening of the 3d instant, Liverpool to
the -Ith, Dublin 3J, Havre and Paris 2J.
The amount of the information is that
Lord John Russell sought to form a minis
try of Whig members opposed to tbe Corn
laws, but in looking about he found himself
wholly unable to find support, and was
compelled to request the Queen of Eng
land to resloie the direction of tbe Govern
ment to the hands of Sir Robert Peel, This
was done at once, and Sir Robert Peel as
sumes the Premiership with many of his old
col leagues.
The change in the affairs may be regarded
as favorable to the cause of peace, inasmuch
as every rndn of Lord John Russel’s min
istry, supposed tube hostile to his couniry,
has retired. The news is, therefore, deci
dedly pacific, and the character of the com
mercial news shows it to be so.
The President’s Message has been re
ceived, but its effect was only to stiffen the
cotton market, and renew the general feeling
that peace may be maintained. The tone
of the London Times, in commenting upon
it, is entirely free from bitterness, and there
is an evident inclination towards the better
and peaceful side of the question.
The cause of the frustration of the Whigs
—the failure of Lord John Russell to form a
Cabinet, and the reinstatement of Sir Ro
bert Peel—is attributed to Lord Grey’s le
fusal to take a seat in the new Cabinet of
Lord John Russell, in case Lord Palmerston
held Hie Secretaryship of the Foreign Office.
Consols fell when Peel resigned, but after
his reinstatemant rose 3 per cent higher than
before.
. The President’s Message is considered
Pacific, says the European Times.
’ The Peel Ministry has been re-instated
ten day at tbe latest dates, and eaclt suc
ceeding day shotvod improved symptoms in
the produce, share, money and. other mar
kets.
Tito Cambria made her passage out in 11
davs.
Parliament was to meet on the 28th Jan.
The state oflreland is still unsettled, nud
O’Connell has declared himself to be a firm
supporter of the Corn Law League.
The Freuch Chambers have been re-open
ed by Louis Phillippe in person. The re
ception of the Message in France was some
what of a character with what it met in
England—very little sensation. The Jour
nal des Debats, hits it hard however, and
especially in that part of it, which cotvains
the allusion to Frarce.
Within the last four months the price
of corn at Constantinople has risen 100 per
cent.
The inhabitants of the kingdom of Poland
and the Baltic provinces are experiencing
great distress from the scarcity of provisions.
The clergy have taken advantage of the mis
ery to obtain converts to the Greek church,
by oflering money to the peasantry. The
Emperor has humanely granted two roubles
per month to each of his subjects.
Ojibbeway Indians made their first ap
pearance in Brussels the other night at a
aplendid soiree, given by Mr. Cletnson, the
Atnertcan charge des affaires.
The Cologne Gazette, of the 19th, con
firms a report that the reigning Duchess of
Gotha is enciente. In the event of there be
ing no direct heir, the duchy will become
the property of Prince Albert.
British War Ships. —The Btitish Admir
alty’s movements m steam frigate building,
is now in full activity. During the last
week two steamers have been launched,
each having engines ol five hundred horse
power, and several more are preparing sot
immediate equipment, for sea.
The Duke and Sir Robert Peel . —lt is no
secret thaithediscussions between the Duke
and the Premier have been so frequent and
violent, as often to place the Sovereign in a
very disagreeable position, and make her,
regret the more tranquil days of the Whig
Cabinet. During the mauy councils that
have been held within the last month, the
Duke’s violence has been great, and his
voice so loud, that the attendants in the
outer rooms have caught the sound, and
have learned secrets not intended for their
bearing.
The Oregon Question —The committee
oft he London Peace Society have memor
ralized Sir K. Peel in favor of settlmg this
question by peaceful rather than by other
means, whatever provocation the British
government may receive to adopt a warlike
tone and policy. They earnest ly deprecate
war between the two nations, and urge the
propriety of settling tbe dispute by arbitra
tion.
BE-INSTATEMENT OF THE PEEL MINISTRY.
The Whigs have utterly failed to form a
Cabinet, and Sir Robert Peel and his co!.
leagues, with two exceptions, are re-icslated.
Tbe whigs, in their failure to carry on the
government, received very little sympathy
from the British public, while the return oi
the Peel administration has been the cause
of an immediate reaction in all branches of
business. The money* iftarket at once be
came easier, stocks npsr and a general
feeling of ctm&lence was given by all classes*
The Whig Cabinet was in all respects the
old Melbourne Ministry over again, and its
successful re-orgemzation .was only pre
i vented by the obstinacy of Lord Grey, who
(refused to join U. Lord Palmerston was
made Secretary of Foreign Ass uiis.
njer tod Smith temarks:— t* 4 j.
‘•That tire Wow was
quarter from ‘ _ Jlo oked for in the
deniable** - _ a ,t proceeded, seems un
out that a cause, in itself apparent-
j eo trifling, should have broken up a Cabi
net, and produced results so momentous,
shows clearly enough that the embryo minis
ters bad not their heart in the work. 1 hey
must have deeply felt the responsibility, the
perilousnese. nay the utter hopelessness of the
task, when the opinion of a single member
was sufficient to snuff the experiment out of
existence. Lord Johu Russell was held to
be a bold man when he accepted office in
tbe face of a hostile majority in boty houses
of Pailiaroent ; but, having consented to do
so, so inglorious a termination savors of the
weak and ridiculous. * * * *
Earl Grey might have acted with more
candor in the expression of bis feelings.
Lord Palmeriston T s exclusion from the
Foreign office by a government of which
Lord John Russell was the head, could not
have been calculated on ; it would have
involved a censure on the noble Lord’s poli
cy while he field the office, and would have
been regatded as a public condemnation of
one of the ablest statesmen that the Whigs
have in their ranks. Nevertheless, consid
ering that Lord Palmerston, before be held
office, did embroil himself, ami was nearly
embroiling his countiy with France—con
sidering, too, that his resumption of power,
at the present moment, would, in the nature
of things, have rendered the settlement of
our difficulties with the United States more
perplexed and uncertain—we may. under
all the circumstances, rejoice that we have
been spared the infliction.
When Lord John Russell threw np his
card, there was no alternative but to send
for Peel, and the most, extraordinary move
intiiisdrama of Cabinet making is, that he
fell as little apparent hesitation in resuming
his old office, as he evinced promptness in
throwing it up. His tesumpiion of power
immediately made itself felt, in every branch
of trade. Confidence, whieh had been
shattered by the railway panic, became
paralyzed when it was known that Peel
was out ; the markets fell, the funds sunk,
business was suspended, aud a gloom, a
mist, hungover the commercial aud trading
world. The evife are fast subsiding with
the causes which called them into existenc.
Upwards ol ten days have elapsed since
it became known that Peel was again Pre
mier, and every day has improved symp
toms in the produce, share, and other mar
kets. This change appears the more extra
ordinary* from the fact that his future policy
is as much a matter of speculation as the
new comet—even more undefined, unde
veloped. Nobody knows what Peel will
do, but every one has confidence in Peel—
a singular proof of the hold which one pow
erful mind has over the sympathies and the
prospects of millions of people. The Lon
don Examiner wittily observes, in reference
to the prevailing feeling. ‘‘The beauty of
the present juncture is, that nobody knows
what Sir Robert Peei is going to do, and
yet every body is satisfied that lie is the
man to do nobody knows what .”
Tho existing state of uocer ainty must
be submitted to until the 2*2d inst., when the
National Councils will become a beor-gar.
den of toru-law politic*.
The British Ministry —The following is
an official list of the re administration ;
First Lord of the Treasury, Sir Robert
Peel.
Secretary of the Horne Department, Sir
J. R. G. Graham.
Lord Chancellor, Lord Lyndhurst.
Lord President of the Council, Duke oi
Bucefemrh.
Commander in Chief, Duke of Welling
ton.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Earl of
Aberdeen.
Lord Privy Seal, Eatl of Haddington.
President of the Board of Control, Earl
of Ripon.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Right Hon
H. Goulbnrn.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,
Lord G. Somerset.
Commissioner of Land Revenues, Eail
of Lincoln.
Secretary at War,Right Hon. S. Herbert.
The following are the new members of
the Cabinet.
President of the Board of Trade, Earl
Dalhousie.
First Lord of the Admirality, Earl of
Ellenborough.
Postmaster General, Earl of St. Ger
mains,
Secretary for the Colonies, Hon. W.
Gladstone.
Germany —A treaty between the United
States and Bavaria, abolishing the “depar
ture duty” or impost paid by each pet&on,
for themselves and the.r property, for the
privilege to emigrate to the United States,
has lately been ratified.
It is staled in the mercantile circles of
Vienna, that there is not much chance of the
treaty of commerce between the Zoliverein
and the United States being concluded.
MEXICO, GREAT ERITAIN & THE U. S.
Tbe New York Herald t in a long article on
the position of Mexico in regard to Great
Britain and the United States, introduces the
following interesting letter from a correspon
dent of the London Timer.
Mexico, Sept. 29.
“In the opinion of many, the existence as a nation,
of Mexico, is hastening to its termination, and as far
as 1 can see, no great man appears who is equal to
the regeneration of the republic. The government
is powerless, even iu the capital; the departments
barely hoid on the central State ; there is no popula
tion to till the finest soil in tbe world; and riches,
above and below ground, iemain unexplored for want
of intelligence and hands to work them. If England
will not interfere, the doom of Mexico is l eealed, and
in the course of a few years it must be incorporated in
the United States. The government and people of
the United States entertain no doubt on this subject.
They say that they do not interfere in the affairs of
Europe, and that they are determined no European
po’vtr shall interfere with them in affairs of the new
world. By aggression, annexation or conquest, they
are resolved on enticing all Mexico, down to the
■lsthmus, within the Union; and come what may, that
end must sooner or later be accomplished. lam ful
ly aware ofjtho danger to which the monetary circu
lation of Europe will be exposed, when the river
districts of Mexico are under the control of the Amer
ican Congress, and of the imprudence of our permit
ing a naval power, like that of the United Slates, to!
become the richest nation in the world ; but I cannot
help admitting, at the same lime, that if Great Britain
will not interfere the general good of huir auity must
be advanetd by the annexation of this country to the j
American Union. Tbe tide of emigration will in.
stead of” £-wing directly take the current of
the United States, and even millions of English,
Scotch, and Irish emigrants can pass through the
American ports to fix as settlers in this land of milk
and honey. T-he wretched Indian race must give i
way before the influx of a white population, and my-'’
riatls of acres, now unfilled, wj,l teem with wealth
and abundance. The climate is magnificent, except
on the coast, and in particular districts fever does not’
appear. Every European production can be raised, j
and I may say there is room for all the emigration ‘
that can bejpoured.in a quarter of a century, from the
British Isles. The next good to the Bii<i3h occupa
tion of Mexico, is its incor|>oration with tbe occupa
lion of Mexico, is its incorportion*wH.h the U. States.
We shall find, when it takes place, immediate em
ployment for our poor, a consumption of British man
ufactures spread over this great continent, the dis
pensation of the English language and English feel
ings over an almost boundless territory. We must
in short, make up our minds to this resrlt, and happy
will i* be for iha common interests of humanity—un
less Great Britain should take the matter directly in
to her own hands, alarmed at the growing power of
tha United States, and their dominion aver the min
ing districts from which our monetary circulation is
furnished—when it is accomplished. ”
Frorf the Washington Uni*r
WHIQ REPENTANCE T'’
. The old maxim lb*’
show truly which’ “’he straw may
in,” is apt to *• way the wind is setting
America** ‘ present purpose. 44 The
iisbe- . Review— a whig Journal” pub
a monthly at New York, speaks as
much in the name of the whig party as such
a journal can speak—as mteh as the .De
mocratic 11 eview has evefr spoken lor toe
democracy—as much as Blackwood speaks
for the lories. It was gotten up as a party
organ, anti, as wa ate informed, on the Con
sultation of party leaders. We do it no
more than justice when we say T that as sach
an organ, it has hitherto been conducted |
with very respectable ability, and with all
due unserupulousness.
The January number of this publication
is before us, and contains two well-written
articles, which we Irave read with nosuiali
astonishment. We have heard of the ever*
changing chameleon, (“though that is fa- j
ble” We have watched the varying and
evanescent hues of shot silk. But no such
humble comparisons can give any idea of
the all mutableness (we must compose a
new name for what is to us, in its perfection,
quite anew tHing)-“the all-mutableness,
we say of tire whig party, if its current be
really’ shifting tound in the direction these
articles would indicate. We knew the whig
party was at a push—for it snowed signs of
trying nativeism. We knew it was the
“party Os expedients.” But the bravery—
the desperate valor of this last does, we
confess, astonish us. even in the whigs.
*. The most resolute and determined resisTance
to all European interference in
these American continents; and the imm^.
DtATB ACQUISITION OF CALIFORNIA BY^UR,
Government !! !” are now the “ burden
relrain” of t ie music of this WHIG orga%
To show that we make no mistake
statement, we will cite a passage npvio’
from the article on California. Af*MMay :
ing that Mexico bears us no good
that the Mexican government assumed its
conciliatory altitude to get itself out of dif
ficulty, and tiie danger of war with us, the
reviewer writes and quotes as follows :
“Os such a straggle, the result has been refientecP”
IV predicted in Europe. Tne French Journal des
Debats has declared that ‘the
would be a ■ towards
ihe world by the Uni ed Slates, and a
lots ly the Mexicans, atihis moment, would lead the
icay to this subjection.’ The London Tunes ren.aiks,
that ‘Mexico nas h.id the sagacity lo perceive that a
declaration of war would enable the IJni'ed States
to seize upon and re am the Mexican territory. ’ ”
Speaking then, of the negotiation now al
leged io be in progress between G. Britain
ant! Mexico, he proceeds :
“Should it prove successful, cur government, we
fear, will lindjreason to regret its forbearance in not hav
ing’ regarded the declarations and acts of Mexi?:o,
consequent upon the annexation of Texas, as in i .-ct
declarations war against a portion of the American
Union, mid thus forcing her to a speedy and final ad
justment of all points of disagreement.”
This comes after a high wrought descrip
tion of the valoe of California to us and
of the ‘ good to humanity” which would
result from its acquisition. Taken altogeth
er, it looks very like the doctrine of “ pea
ceably if we can, forcibly if we must, but
soon anyhow”—a doctrine which, if the
whigs want, they ate welcome to.
As we read on page after page, and saw
both of the positions cited above, as to coloni
zation and California, set forth roundly,
without stint, or scruple, or shrinking—urg
ed as altogether just, and wise, and neces.su
ty, and then declaimed upon at great length
as manifestly inevitable—\ve could hardly
realize the identity ul the whig volume in
our hand, it seemed as if our respected
friend of the Democratic Review had first
wrought himself up to a “fine phrenzy”ol
poetic exaltation—which it is in hint to do
when he pleases—anil then palmed himself
off upon us under false colors and an alias ;
w hich it is not in him to do upon any occa
sion.
But alas f for (he original sin—the old
Adam of parties as of tnen 1 While dash-
I ing on full gallop on the w hig writer’s Pe
gasus for California, we Came to Texas !
The delusion was over in a trice. On the
instant—the- whig—the whig with all his
marks on him, inveterate, inconsistent, vin
dictive, remembering nothing convenient to
be forgotten, sticking at nothing to reach a
party end, trampling all moderation under
iiis feet to get at a party triumph, planting
himself with deliberate and stubborn intre
pidity for party defence exactly between
the goring horns of a dilemma—rhe man
of desperate shifts—in one word, the whig
with all his marks upon him , stood revealed
before us in a moment.
So ! To keep otl Europe at all hazards,
and logo now for California—his is the last,
the very last whig trump just turned up !
To “enlarge the area of freedom” is now
the whig cry. The thunder is all stolen.
All of it that has any force iD it is democra
tic thunder. Let the whigs look well how
they manage this their new plaything. In
their hands it is dangetou9. Let them re
member how it fared with poor Mercury’s
fingers when he tried to steal Jove’s potent
belts ! Or rather, (since Mercury was of kin
to the gods, and the whig party has nothing
so good in it,) let them bear in mind the
fearful drubbing visited on that rash and
wicked king who, with tin-pans andclatter
ing skins tied to his chariot wheels, rattled
i away in full career to ape the thunder of the
spheres !
But to have done with jesting—though
the whole thing as a party indication now,
is laughable, even sustained as it is in the
ponderous columns of the Coutier and En
quirer. Is this new crotchet of the whigs
meant seriously ? Do they mean to ride
into power on a California anti-European
hobby-horse, rough-shod ? What will they
do with their stand upon Texas? Are they
really going to take back all they said on
that question, Del Norte boundary and all?
Can they possibly swallow down such glit
tering masses of weil-set declamation, —
studded with salient points? Will Mr.
Webster go with them, and the Faneuil
Hall Oregon speech still fresh on his lips ?
With him, at least, California, we suspect,
if not the anli.colonization doctrine, will be,
as he said of Oregon, “ manifestly—most
manifestly—matter ot adjustment and mu
tual concession.” The Texas question is,
as we have 6een, a grievous morsel for the
whig reviewer. He cannot abide if. It
“sticks” in “his throat” as “amen” “stuck
in the throat” of the doomed and desperate
Macbeth ; and tha, too, when be “had
most need of blessing !” The reviewer
will go for California as soon as the soonest;
but Mr. Polk’s going—as law, and humani
ty, and good faith bade him—-to the Del
Norte, is a plain abomination to the review
er, and he can’t stand it.
Wc had intended to quote from these arti
cles at some length, partly because they
! contain some striking views r. nd some new
facts, and some sound doctrine, but more
because, as an incipient manifestation and
j move of the whig party, they aie specimens
! strange enough, and significant enough, to
deserve a place iu the “euriosilies of poli
tics’ 1 of some future d’lsraeli. If we have
space hereafter, we may make some further
quotations, and point out in them what we
think i folly, and what we feel to be truth.
Meantime, if the whigs really begin to see
the error of their ways in matters territorial,
Mexican and Texan, and mean to promise
the people that they will do better another
time—that is, in another canvass—let them
remember that repentance must come be
fore reformation ; tliat repentance, to be
effectual with them, must begin at the Del
Norte, and go all through Texas ; and that
after all this, such repentance, with them,
may still be both too violent* too tuclderiy and
too late ; too violent for safely—too sudden
for sincerity —too lute for success l
“the times,
COLUMfetfS, GA.
Wednesday, February 4,1846.
Gkorof. PkATT, IQ4, Nassau street, is our
Agent for obtaining advertisements and
subscribers for the Columbus Times, in the
eiries of Baltimore, Philadelphia; New-York,
and Boston, and is fully authorized to receive
payment, and receipt for if, Furallnewadver
tiseintnts and subscribers he may obtain
We invite attention to the advet
of New York Merchants, in anoth
er comm, setting foitli the advanyges to
South- West, in iradplg with
that m
EXEC™tE APPOINTMENT.
We the Wgl. R. B. Al
exander, has uirnmpsioned by the
Go\errior as Judge thMsupeiior Courts
of the tree the Hon-.
Jos. Sturgis, resigned Jk
i Jud£e with him to
the Bench a reputaimßlbr probity and learn
ing, which pioinisp a successful adminis
tration of justice mriog his offiotal tenure-.
MLABAMA. .
’ By a the State Legislate, the
city of Moagomery has been decicletMbon
’ ps the plants to which to remove the
The neWs was received in
with great demonstrations of
delignl. Guns were fired, speeches made
S liquors drank, and we gather from an
a of the Advertiser, that the whole town
ed in a glorious frolic on the occasion,
event was accomplish* and by one vote
| Strife t^ym’a 9 necessary. So Montgomfc
ry is made happy by ihe “skin of the teeth.”
We are right glad of it, and we heartily
congratulate our neighbors on the result.
THE CONCERT.
Although known by our friends here to be
a member of the “Musical Club,’, which
has volunteered its services in aid of Mr.
Bernreuter’s Concert to-night; and as an
officer in ihe “Guards,” taking a very live
ly interest in the success of Us band, we
hope we may venture to recommend this
Concert, its particular object and general
tendencies, as Worthy of the patronage of
the enlightened citizens of Columbus.
The Guards, the only military corps of
the city, have at and very heavy expense,
partly defrayed by the generotrS Contribu-*
tion of ci'izens, not members, purchased a
complete set of instruments for a full brass
band. They have been about eight months
in the hands of twelve young men, mem
bers of the Corps, who under the iusttuc
i lion of Mr. Bernreuter, have made remark
able progress. Their ardor is unabated and
their ptactisings and study are kept up as
vigorously now as when they took them up
As the band comptiiies an unusual amount
of musical talent (more than we have ever,
seen collected in any to vn of twice the size*
of Columbus) it is safe to predict that, if
they can retain their teacher they will soon
be one of the finest bands in the Southern
country. The object of their Concert to
night is to aid them arii the company in
their efforts to do this. Although we are
precluded from speaking of the petforifian
ces of the Amateo.r members of the Con
cert, we can say that the lovers of music
will be well repaid by those of Messrs.
Bernreuter and Reps ; both of them pos
seesing musical talents of a very high or
der. Those of our citizens who have not
heard the masters of modern times—the
Yieux Temps, t he De Beriots, the Oie Bulls
and W allaees of thte V ioliu, have never
heard the effecM; of a finer bow than is drawn
by Mr. Reps.
We are of t'be number of those who be
lieve that muiiic is a useful and moral as
well as a fine.art. But for the sometimes
j>ad charactet of its professors, it would
rank in this country as it does ir. Europe,
with painting and sculpture in the scale
of intellect ad and genius.
Music in our opinion is a moralizer and
ahumanizer, ami in this country, where pub
lic effort is so exclusively directed to the
utile, to the neglect of the dulce —where the
whole struggle of life is to improve the phys
ical condition of man, and so little care is
taken of his moral and intellectual refine
ment; we hold any institution to be useful,
which for a moment turns ihe thoughts of
the public mind in tbe direction of a higher
and purer atmosphere of intellectual enjoy *
ment. The musical taste of Columbus has
made rapid progress in a year or two. The
“Musical Club” began a year or two since
with two or three young men. It has swell
ed into a full orchestra, comprising every
instrument from the Double Bass to the
Picolo. In the music store cf Messrs. Bru-
no & Virgins, may be found the finest as
sortment of every description of instruments,
from a splendid Piano Forte of Chickering,
2nd Nunns & Clarkes best manufacture,
through all the intermediate grades of brass,
wind, and stringed instruments, down to a
Jewsharp, and a selection of music so ex
tensive that it is hardly possible to call for
a piece that Mr. Bruno cannot furnish. The
crowded houses that greeted the Bell-Ring
ers and Orpbeans, show, too, a musical
taste among our citizens.
We hope to see tire taste further cultivat
ed. We encourage and foster it, on princi
ple as well as from taste. It is a good
tiling for the young men, it refines their
tastes, ennobles their feelings and keeps
them out of many a mischievous prank,
where they have the solace of music to fly
to, fill their’ leisure hours. But the printer
says we in ust stop.
OREGON IN NEW YORK.
Gen. Fullerton, a Whig member from
Livingston county, has introduced into the
New York Legislature, strong resolutions
in favor of the “ notice” and of the Ameri
can claim to Oregon. The two first reso
lutions are as follows :
“ Resolved, (if the Senate concur.) At the sense
of the Legislature of New York, that inasmuch as
England, after pressing our government to the con
sideration of tlie Oregon boundary question, has re
juried iiiit. fair, anil conciliatory term* ol **o foment,
wi'h'nrt offering any mode of compromise, it becomes
the duty of our government to take the elep contem
plated bv the c'onventfon 011827, when in the opinion
of cither government it nhouid brvW*m*d necessary
for the protection of its interests (Spit honor : There
fore 4
“ Resolved, (ts the Senate concur,) That our Sen
ators aS<i representatives in Congees* be requested to
vote f>r a resolution advising the President of the
U. States to give to her Btitabic Hajesty’s govern
ment, at as early a day as his in judgment, the
‘he interest, and the tjondr of the American pr pl'c
demand, the do'ice nquired by the convention of
1837, foi the tfern ihntinn of (he joint Occupancy ty
England and the United States oftke Oregon terrio
ryjv *
ll is intimated that ihe resolutions were
dictated by a Whig Caitcus, and the Albany
Journal (\V.)]“ hopes and believes that
they may pass the H'ouse unanimously.”
Thfc New York Tribune receives them fiefe
. vo'rably* dissehting however to the warlike
squint which they wear. The New York
CotMeF & Enquirer, objects to them, on the
truly “Coon” ground, that it is an Admin
istration ! affair, and (hat the “Whigs should
leave the matter entirely to the President
And the Democratic party, and not by adiis
ing therir, assume any of the responsibility
of the measure ! Such are reasons urged
upon Whig*, why they should not express
their opinions, of take any part in a contro
versy with Great Britain. And this comes
from a Journal that perhaps more than any
ether in the country, has been vocal with
indignant jeremiads against Democratic
Presidents* as Presidents of a party, and
not of the country.
Asa party man, we have not the slight
est objection to assume Oregon and the con
troversy with England as a parly measure.
We have no fear that it will hurt the De
mocratic party any more than Texas did :
but as an American citizen, we should be
mortified to see the advice of the Courier to
a great party in the country to refuse
to take sides with their country in an l&sUt
essentially Rational, followed. But there
is no danger that the Courier’s counsels will
prevail.
REJECTION OF MR. WOODWARjJ.
It seems tube pretty well understood, and
kuowhj so far as the mysteries of the secret
Executive sessions can be piefted, that the
ncmination of Mr. Woodward to the seat
on the Supreme Bbneh vacated by the death
of Judge Baldwin has been rejected. The
causes have not transpired. We presume
the reasons will be known in good time.
It is a question, which it is time to ask,
w-hy the proceedings of the American Sen.
ate in relation to matters so entirely domes
tic as Executive nominations, should be
conducted with closed doors ? In the discus
sion of matters of Foreign concernment}
there is a necessity for secrecy—not as re-
Americafi public, but as regards
powsrs, our relations with whom
debate. But the reason fails in rtiat
ters\\a purely domestic nature. And we
Can find f*o apology for the continuance of
these secret deliberations, in which discus*
Mons are veiled from the eyes of a public,
alone and directly interested in them. The
custom is useless, opposed to that spirit of
American Repahhcanism, which being
founded on a trust of the people and insti
tuted for their benefit, has nothing to con-
from their eyes. We hope lo see (lie
of the Senate thrown open and art
end put to these mysterious conclaves/
HIE FOREIGN NEWS.
The long looked for Steamer has at lengili
arrived and her accounts are of a highly
favorable character, both in regard to Na
tional the cerf'eral interests of
coinrtTerftft. iffifemia” bears to utJ
the glad tidings of and plenty.” We
make full extracunrom the4.vtces brought
by her. The reader will at once seize ihetf
prominent features.
They are in brief, more “bread and po
tatoes” than was expected; a slight ad
vance in cotton and a firm market, and this
In the expectation of peace and a supply
from the past years Clop of 2,400,000 bales,
(which we on this side know is above the
mark) an active business in the manufac
turing districts ; the abandonment by Lord
John Russell, of an attempt to form a Cabi
net ; tbe re installation of Sir Robert Peel<
as Premier, and bright prospects to tho
friends of free trade and a repeal of the
Corn Laws*
The President’s Message was received
with a remarkable quietness. Even the
<l London Times” omits to vapoi and blus
ter and vituperate, as is itsAfront when A
merica is the theme. the contrary, it
can see two such “ great
Nations” should g° on such an is
sue. We find no wittahe sentiment,
but we may be to hear
it uttered by paper of the world,
which out Hetnors its own conception of the
character of the “braggart Yankees.”
There will be many ways of accounting
for the pacific tone of the British press in
reference to the message. But the true
cause, we apprehend, will be found in the
sound principles of Free Trade enuncia
ted and illustrated in that document. That
is the olive branch of peace, tendered by
the genius of an enlightened commercial
liberality, to soothe the growing spirit of bel
ligerence between the two countiies. Ilow
happy and glorious will be its triumph, bow
aptly and fully illustrative of its principles
of peace and good will among all the Na
tions of the earth, as claimed by its friends,
should the two first commercial people of
the Globe, just ready to rush upon each oth
et in destructive, fury and desolating war
fare, be arrested by its benignant voice,
speaking at once in both countries, counsel
ling free trade, crying, down with restriction
and monopoly, and drawing into sympa
thetic unison the hearts of two people, Lately
boiling with the passions of .national pteju
dice and animosity. If a and lasting
peace should adjustment
of the Oregon more than
to all other causes, be ul-
taneou6 action of thereat and humanizing
principles of free trade in both countries.
And here, we cannot but reeur to the past r
and tlie dangers we see we have escaped.
Suppose that the Whigs were now blessed
with the Government of Mr. Clay, and the
message just received in England bad been
the harbinger to the British people of a
continuance of the American protective sys
tem, and of a policy hostile to British-indus-