THE OREGON TERRITORY.

HL Deb 29 June 1846 vol 87 cc1037-9

LORD BROUGHAM

Seeing my noble Friend the Secretary for the Foreign Department in his place, I beg to put a question to him as to certain reports which have been put into circulation. I allude to reports of a most consolatory, and, I may add, most gratifying nature, which appear in the public prints of America and of this country, and which lead me to hope and trust, even in these times of false news, that the troublesome and in every respect disagreeable matter between us and the United States as to the Oregon territory and the boundary of that territory has been brought to an amicable conclusion, and to one which is honourable for both parties.

The EARL of ABERDEEN

My Lords, I have been occasionally questioned by noble Lords on the other side of the House, and especially by a noble Friend, a noble Earl whom I do not now see in his place (the Earl of Clarendon), as to the progress of our negotiations with the United States. These inquiries, I always felt, were directed to me in the most friendly and conciliatory manner. So far from feeling any embarrassment or impe- diment from them in the way of the negotiations, I have always felt that my noble Friend was desirous to assist in promoting an adjustment. Perhaps, on this occasion, I might have ventured, without the pressure of any direct interpellation, to enter into a few details as to that gratifying result, the substance of which only is as yet known. When I had last occasion to reply to my noble Friend, the state of the negotiations was this—the President had sent his Message to the Senate with a direct refusal of our repeated proposals to submit the whole question to arbitration. That being the case, my Lords, I felt that nothing could be done at that moment till the Senate and House of Representatives should have taken some steps in consequence of that Message. I waited, therefore, the result of that communication so made by the President. When I saw that the Senate and the House of Representatives had adopted Resolutions of such a conciliatory and friendly description, I did not delay for a moment, putting aside all ideas of diplomatic etiquette, which might have led me to expect that some steps would be taken on the other side; but, without waiting a moment, I prepared the draught of a convention, which was sent by the packet of the 18th of May to Mr. Pakenham, to be proposed for the acceptance of the United States Government. I have brought with me a letter from Mr. Pakenham, which I received this morning, and from which I shall read an extract. The letter is dated the 13th of June; and Mr. Pakenham says— In conformity with what I had the honour to state in my despatch No. 68, of the 7th instant, the President sent a Message on Wednesday last to the Senate, submitting for the opinion of that body the draught of a convention for the settlement of the Oregon question, which I was instructed by your Lordship's despatch No. 19, of the 18th of May, to propose for the acceptance of the United States' Government. After a few hours' deliberation on each of the three days, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the Senate, by a majority of thirty-eight votes to twelve, adopted yesterday evening a Resolution advising the President to accept the terms proposed by Her Majesty's Government. The President did not hesitate to act on this advice; and Mr. Buchanan accordingly sent for me this morning, and informed me that the conditions offered by Her Majesty's Government were accepted by the Government of the United States, without the addition or alteration of a single word. Gratifying as this intelligence is, I feel it is but an act of duty and justice, as well as a pleasure, that I should bear the tribute of my testimony to the most friendly and conciliatory course which has been adopted by the United States Minister in this country. That gentleman I have long known, and long had reason to esteem in official intercourse fifteen or sixteen years ago; and I am perfectly certain, that, by every means in his power, he has contributed to this result. I am well assured that there is no person in this House, or in the country, who more cordially participates in the feeling of satisfaction which it is fitted to produce than Mr. M'Lane.