Washington City, 4th June, 1846.
My Dear Wife, .
. . The prospect of winning much glory in the battle field is growing extremely
unpromising. The news from Mexico indicates that the war there is fast drawing
to a close, and it is now anticipated with much certainty that in a very short
time our peaceful relations will be restored with that ill fated people. With
England too the bow of peace spans our horizon. The last accounts from Great
Britain have quieted all fears of a rupture with her about Oregon. So much so
that in both countries the opinion is generally indulged and freely expressed
that the Oregon dispute may be considered as approaching its final and peaceful
adjustment. It is reported here that Mr. Pakenham has received instructions
from his government to offer a settlement on the basis of 49° and the [mutual?]
free navigation of the Columbia river. If this be true, we shall soon see a
treaty to that effect made and ratified by the Senate, much to the
disappointment of us 54.40 men, though in the end we shall be
benefited by the result so far as popularity and public confidence is concerned
. . .
SOURCE: Ulrich Bonnell Phillips, Editor, The Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911, Volume 2: The
Correspondence of Robert Toombs, Alexander H. Stephens, and Howell Cobb, p.
79-80
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