Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/49

 FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON

41

apparent willingness to negotiate any line for Oregon which would receive the approval of the Senate testifies to his poor opinion of the value of that country, a fact which he mentioned to Everett.

While the British government was

inclined

to

to

listen

Everett's presentation of Webster's project an insuperable difficulty presented itself; Mexico had no intention of even dis-

Consequently the spring wore on and the negotiation lagged. Unofficially Everett was informed in March that soon he might expect a formal notification that the President had requested the British government cussing a cession of California.

resume negotiations at Washington both for the boundary and for a new commercial convention. 14 But August came and the instructions had not been received, so Fox was di-

to

rected to proceed with the subject

ment so

desired. 15

if the Washington governUpshur, who had replaced Webster, took

who told the Secretary to direct Everett to take up the matter in London. The instructions allowed the minister to offer 49 as the boundary with the

the hint to the President

added privilege of allowing the nationals of both countries to navigate the Columbia on equal terms, but "beyond that the President (was) not prepared to go." 16 The delay had been too great, so when Everett informed

Aberdeen that he had powers to negotiate he was told that such an arrangement would have been welcomed earlier, but it was then too late since Fox had been recalled and Richard Pakenham sent in his place with special instructions on the Oregon issue. Among other reasons for the change it was felt that the Oregon negotiation would benefit by being placed in new hands although the course had not been adopted until all hope that Everett mipiit receive instructions to proceed had been abandoned. 17 Everett still thought that he might

accomplish something before the _______

new

minister

left

England. '

I

>l

r-

]

]

14 Webster to Everett, 20 Mar., Private Correspondence of Webster, II, 171. 15 Everett to Upshur, 17 Aug., No. West Bound. Arb., 28; Aberdeen told Everett that he regretted having to transfer the question to^ Washington for he had hoped that Everett might bring it to a successful issue in London. 1 6 Upshur to Everett, 9 Oct., No. West Bound Arb., 28. 17 Blair to Van Buren, see note 14 above.