Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/48

 LESTER BURRELL SHIPPER

40

settling this question if we can; but we fear embarrassments and difficulties, not, perhaps, so much from the object itself, as from the purposes of men, and of parties connected with it. Mr. Calhoun distinguished himself for his support of the late

You know his position before the country in regard Mr. Benton as to the approaching election of President. leader of the Van Buren party, or at least the more violent part of it, is disposed to make war upon everything which Mr. Calhoun supports and seems much inclined at present to get up an anti-English feeling. "You know what is said about the cession of California to the United States; from you we learn that England would favor such a transaction, if it might be the means of settling the Oregon question. It has occurred to me to consider whether it might not be possible to make a tripartite treaty.



...

arrangement." This arrangement, which Webster said was only a thought and not yet shaped into opinion, included these factors: Cession of Upper California by Mexico to the United

1.

States.

Payment by the United

2.

of

Of

3.

States to

Mexico

for the cession

millions of dollars. millions to be paid to United this sum,

States citizens having claims against Mexico. 4. The residue to be paid to British subjects having Mexican bonds or other claims against Mexico. 5. The line between the United States and England in Oregon to run "pretty much as I mentioned to you," (i. e., approximately the line suggested to Simpson.) "The truth is if we negotiate for Oregon alone, I hardly know what instructions to give you; because we cannot tell what sort of a treaty two-thirds of the Senate would agree to."

Webster

said that he

had mentioned the matter to Almonte

but the latter had no instructions on which to base a discus-

The

sion.

and

President favored a special mission to England,

there should be a strong probability that Oregon and California could be taken up together Webster thought he would be nominated and probably would not decline as it was, if



was impossible to make any progress in Washington "Fox and this Department do not make much progress." Webster's

it