Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/319



The contributions of Mr. Shippee on "The Federal Relations of Oregon, V." in the June Quarterly, reminded the writer of a rather interesting letter written during the Congressional debate, from Richard Pakenham, British Ambassador, to the Earl of Aberdeen, the original of which was found in the London Public Record Office. The letter is given below:

Richard Pakenham to the Earl of Aberdeen

"Washington, March 29, 1846.

"My Lord,

[Formalities, and general reference to the debates in Congress, on the Oregon question.]

"But a fact which I must not omit to point out to Your Lordship's notice, is, that it seems to have become a received opinion among even the most moderate members of the Senate, that the claims of the United States extend fully to the parallel of 49, which they consider ought to be insisted on as the basis of any arrangement.

"So certain is this, that the advocates of a peaceful settlement of the question are now universally designated as 49 men, in contradistinction to those who go for the whole of Oregon even at the risk of war, and are called 54.40 men. "In the course of this debate, a good deal of interest was excited by the speech of Mr. Haywood of North Carolina, (Intelligencers of 23rd and 24th March)** who from the intimacy which has long subsisted between him and Mr. Polk was supposed to speak, in a certain degree, the President's opinions.

"Mr. Haywood's language was entirely in favor of compromise upon the basis of 49, and he gave it to be understood