"My opinions and my action on the Oregon question were fully made known to Congress in my annual message of the 2d of December last; and the opinions therein expressed remain unchanged. "Should the Senate, by the Constitutional majority required for the ratification of treaties, advise the acceptance of this proposition, or advise it with such modifications as they may, upon full deliberation, deem proper, I shall conform my action to their advice. Should the Senate, however, decline by such Constitutional majority to give such advice, or to express an opinion on the subject, I shall consider it my duty to reject the offer. "I also communicate herewith an extract from a dispatch of the Secretary of State to the Minister of the United States at London, under the date of the 28th of April last, directing him, in accordance with the joint resolution of Congress 'concerning the Oregon territory,' to deliver the notice to the British Government for the abrogation of the convention of the 6th of August, 1827; and also a copy of the notice transmitted to him for that purpose, together with extracts from a dispatch of that minister to the Secretary of State, bearing date on the 18th day of May last." This plan was successful. The Senate was, by a considerable majority, favorable to the terms proposed by England. And by a resolution, carried by a vote of 38 to 12, the President was advised to accept the proposal of England. On the 16th of June, 1846, the President announced the result of the treaty to the Senate, which was ratified by that body two days afterwards by a vote of 41 to 14. The following is the treaty finally settling this old, troublesome, and evil question: "OREGON TREATY. "Convention between the United States of America and Her Majesty, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, concluded at Washington, the 15th of June, 1846. "The United States of America and Her Majesty, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, deeming it to be desirable for the future welfare of both Governments, that the state of doubt and uncertainty which has hitherto prevailed respecting the sovereignty and government of the territory on the northwest coast of America, lying westward of the Rocky or Stony Mountains, should be finally terminated by an amicable compromise of the rights mutually asserted by the two parties over the said territory, have respectively named plenipotentiaries to treat and agree concerning the terms of such settlement; that is to say, The President of the United States of America has, on his part, furnished with full powers James Buchanan, Secretary of State of the United States, and Her Majesty, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, has, on her part, appointed the right honorable Richard Pakenham, a member of Her Majesty's most honorable Privy Council, and Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles: "ART. I. From the point on the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude where the boundary laid down in existing treaties and conventions between the United States and Great Britain terminates, the line of boundary between the territories of the United States and those of Her Britannic Majesty shall be continued westward along the said forty-ninth parallel of north latitude to the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island, and thence southerly through the middle of the said channel and of Fuca's Straits to the Pacific Ocean. Provided, however, that the navigation of the whole of the said channel and straits, south of the forth-ninth parallel of north latitude, remain free and open to both parties. "ART. II. From the point at which the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude shall be found to intersect the great northern branch of the Columbia River, the navigation of the said branch shall be free and open to the Hudson's Bay Company and to all British subjects trading with the same, to the point where the said branch meets the main stream of the Columbia, and thence down the said main stream to the ocean, with free access into and through the said river or rivers; it being understood that all the usual portages along the line thus described shall in like manner be free and open. In navigating the said river or rivers, British subjects, with their goods and produce, shall be treated on the same footing as citizens of the United States; it being, however, always understood that nothing in this article shall be construed as preventing, or intending to prevent, the Government of the United States from making any regulations respecting the navigation of the said river or rivers not inconsistent with the present treaty. "ART. III. In the future appropriation of the territory south of the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, as provided in the first article of this treaty, the possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and of all British subjects who may be already in the occupation of land or other property, lawfully acquired within the said territory, shall be respected. "ART. IV. The farms, lands, and other property of every description, belonging to the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, on the north side of the Columbia River, shall be confirmed to the said company. In case, however, the situation of those farms and lands should be considered by the United States to be of public and political importance, and the United States Government should signify a desire to obtain possession of the whole or any part thereof, the property so required shall be transferred to the said Government at a proper valuation, to be agreed upon between the parties. "ART. V. The present treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice of the Senate thereof, and by Her Britannic Majesty, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at London at the expiration of six months from the date hereof, or sooner if possible. "In witness whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms. "Done at Washington the fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-six. "JAMES BUCHANAN. "RICHARD PAKENHAM." [L. S.] The part the President took in this Oregon muss, from the time he accepted the nomination in 1844 until its settlement in 1846, proved to be very unsatisfactory to many of his party friends, and their influence was lost throughout his Administration. Lucian B. Chase, of Tennessee, who wrote a good history of President Polk's record in the White House, plainly states that this was his first fatal error. CHAPTER XI. GENERAL TAYLOR MARCHES TO THE RIO GRANDEBEGINNING OF THE WAR WITH MEXICO-THE THE PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL MESSAGE. HE great work now before the Administration was the prosecution of the war with Mexico. General Taylor had first been ordered by Secretary Marcy to be ready at a moment's notice to move for the defense of Texas, and then the greater part of the naval force was rendezvoused in the Gulf of Mexico, and the army finally landed, re-enforced, and equipped at Corpus Christi, the United States and Mexico both claiming all of Texas to the Rio Grande. The efforts of the Administration to open amicable relations with Mexico with a view to adjusting boundaries and difficulties were not likely to be successful. On the 20th of December, only fourteen days after Mr. Slidell arrived at the City of Mexico for this purpose, he was formally apprised that that government could not receive a "minister" from the United States. Of this state of affairs Mr. Slidell immediately notified his Government, and, on the 13th of January, 1846, only the day after his dispatch reached Washington, an order was issued from the War Department to General Taylor directing him to move to the Rio Grande. In August of the |