No. 45.
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 [Page 53] the other side; hut, 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:Lord Aberdeen and Parliament are aware of the interpretation given & to the treaty by the U. S. Senate.[51]
In conformity with what I had the honor to state in my dispatch 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 dispatch, 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 this country who more cordially participates in the feeling of satisfaction which it is fitted to produce than Mr. McLane.Lord Aberdeen’s regard for Mr. McLane.