From the (HondwJoh WawW) Friend of May 1, 184G. Overlsmel Mall!! jjy t, arrival of tho U. H. schooner Shark, lit. Corn. Howi'moii, wo Iiuvo received our re gular files of N. Y. papers (Mercury and Ex prcss) ut to Feb. 5; and have also been fa. v own with tlm perusal of a N. 0. paper as late oh February 21. Wc liavo uIho ncen u " Iip" cut from a Washington paper which brings news "22 days" later from England, or down to thn last of 'January. (rTho intelligence from tbat country is of tlm very highest importance, and henco wo refer our readers to the ubstruct of MiikHhIi news found below. From them and letters wliieb bav been kindly Ntibmittcd to our eriiHal wo glean the following : Tub (Jkeuo.n Question. The relations be tween the United Slates and Great Britain, in regard to tlm ( )regon territory, have rather mi ominous aspect, though we cannot think a uur will grow out oftho present difficulties. In onlor that our readers may know how the com stood ut the lust advices, we give the follow, ing synopsis: Hy a convention between the two countries on the 20th of October, 1816, it uus agreed that what is now culled the Ore. gon territory, with its Imrlxtrx, bays, .Ve., should In free uinl open for the term of ten ycurs, to the vessels, citizens and subjects of the two nations. In August, 1627, uuother negotiation on the matter was ...i minuted by the renewal of the 3d article of the former' eonvention, and providing for the iiidefmite eMeiiHiou of ull its provisions, with the agree, uient that either party might terminate it at any time it should in thought advisable, by I giving one year's notice after the 20th of Of n.l.er, 182S. . I Attempts ut two or three different times. Ime been made by nivmliers of congress, to' pass a bill directing the president of tin- U. I States to give this notice, but they have lccri unsuccessful. In the former negotiations In?, twecn the two countries proposition), have; U'en made by each party, as lollovvs : (Srcut Itritum offi'rpd the 1. Suites to run u line ' along the 40th pa ml lei of latitude to the north 1 asternmost branch of the Columbia river, and thence down that river to the heu, giving t ( Srcut lintaiii ull the country north, and ' to the I'nited States ull the country south of! that line, except a Miiall detached territory, extending on the Pacific und Straits of Fuca, (mm Biillmch h harbor to I loud cuiiul, w Inch also wus to be given to the I'. State,. The I'. S. 011 the other hand, offered to divide the land bv a line drawn along the parallel of 40 degrees from the Rocky uinuntaius to the sea, giving Great Britain the free navigation of tlieColumbiu river. Neither proposition be ing acceded to, mutters remained in statu ipio until November, 1812, when the British government notified the American govern ment of its wish to enter into negotiations .cerning the Ixmndary. Nothing, howev .r, was done of importance until the 23d of August, 1H 14, when the negotiations com menced between Messrs. Culhoun ami Pukcn hum, as plenipotentiaries at Washington. In addition to the former offers of Great Britain, Mr. I'akcnham offered to make free any port or ports which the United States might dc tire, either on the main land or Vancouver's Island. This was declined by Mr. Calhoun. Mr. I'ukcnhum wished then to know what arrangement Mr Calhoun was prepared to proKsc. Mr. C. in reply claimed the whole territory drained by the Columbia river and its branches. Thus the negotiation rested un til Januury, 1845, when Mr. Pakcnham pro posed to settle tho question by arbitration, which was declined by Mr. Calhoun. In July, 1815, tho negotiation was again resumed by Mr. Buchanan, who offered to Mr. P. tho line formerly ofTcred, viz: along the 40th degrco of latitude from tho Rocky mountains to tho Pacific, making frco to Groat Britain any port or ports on Vancouver's Isl and, south of that lotitudo. Mr. P. in reply rejects this offer, and trusts Mr. B. will bo pre pared to oirer some further proposal, " more consistent with fairness and equity, and with the reasonable expectations of tho British government," dec. Mr. B. complains that his proposition ha been rejocted without even a reference to his own government," and with draws tho proposal. In Docember, Mr. P. again proposes to leave tho whole matter to arbitration, which is again declined by Mr. B., and thus the matter rested at our last dates, bo far as the negotiations are concerned. On the 0th of February last, resolvee were passed tho house of representatives directing SWSSIRBqSRRSRaSRRRSaRMMRMSJiSRMSBM Oregon Spectator. Vol. I. " WWwwd the Hlar of Empire take iU way." Ortfon City, (Oregon Ter.) July 4, 1I4C. No. 12. tho president to cause notico to be given to tho government of Great Britain, that the con vention shall Ins annulled in one year after giving said notice, but this notice not to in terfere with tho right and discretion of tho proper authorities to renew or pursue nego tiations for an amicable settlement of the con troversy. These resolves were passed by a vote of 109 yeas, to 54 nays. It is very doubtful, however, whether these resolves pass the senate, as Mr. Calhoun and many of tho southern senators are opposed to them. Out of 50 senators, only 22 are presumed to be in favor of pussing the resolves. The pre sident litis informed the senate that the at tempt to renew the negotiations had failed. Mexico. The affairs between tho U. S. and Mexico stfll remained unsettled. The Mexican government had refused to receive Mr. Slidell oh minister plenipotentiary from tiie U. States, and he had left the city of Mex ico. It is ulso stated that Matamoras and Taiiipico are blockaded. Tho American troops in Texas had been ordered to take up the line of march f;r the Rio Grande or Bra vo. The Mexican troops had retired from Mazatlan into the interior; all vessels in the liar!or had been sent off a day or two before the Shurk left. Tho Mexican government had ordered the governors of the states to furnish the necessary quota of men to fill up the armv of invasion to the war-complement of 00,000 men. Tho internal affairs cf Mcx ico arc by no means quiet. Opposition in Mine of the states is still made to tho usurpa tion of general l'arcdcs. United States. The now tariff prepared by the secretary of the treasury, proposes ad valorem duties us follows : Iron and manufactures of iron, 30 per cent.; coal.HO; manufacturcsof wool,25; unmanu factured wool, 20 ; manufactures of cotton, hemp and flax, 20 ; wines, 30 ; spirits, 75 ; sugar and molasses, 30; manufacturesof silk, 30 ; do. of worsted, 25 ; cofTee, tea and salt, FHKC. The U. S. frigate Congress, was spoken the 8th Dec. Tut. 2 degs. 25 north, long. 20 (legs. 52 west ; 3B days out and expected to be in Rio in 15 days. She had not arrived at Valparaiso on tho 27th February, as we learn bv a whale, ship at Lahaina.j The ship " Brooklyn" left New York for the Ore gon on the 4th of February, with 175 emi grants, principally farmers and mechanics, from New England. Two other vessels were expected to leave Boston and Salem in March. The ex portf from the U. S. tho past year, amounted to nearly one hundred and fifteen millions of Hollars. Imports one hundred and .seventeen millions. Dr. White left Washington for the Oregon on tho 8th of February. Ho was to bo es corted with all despatch by U. S. dragoons, through thu Indian territory. The line of tho magnetic telegraph between New York and Boston was to Iks completed in February last. It is to be extended to tho vatley of the Mississippi. The Girard College near Philadelphia is finished. Parliament was prorogued to tho 22d of January, on which day it mot. Tho Queen's speech, as well as the tono of tho press, with regard to tho U. S., was of tho most pacific character. Expressions of regret were made on all hands, that the difficulties between that country and the United States about Oregon, are yet unsettled. Sir Robert Peel in a four hour's speech, introduced his plan for the fiscal regenera tion of the country. It was simple and com prehensive. He announced the reduction of duty on a number of articles which press up on the commercial and agricultural interests, and impressed upon the manufacturers the necessity of preparing for the advent of free trade. Sir Robert Peel In his speech spoke highly of tho report of the American secretary of the treasury. Said report, at the request of JLiOrd Monteagle, was ordered to oe reprinted and placed on the table of both houses of parliament, an honor which was probably never awarded to a similar document before. Tho timber duties ar to undergo a revis ion. Tho duty on foreign free labor sugar is to Ijo reduced 3s. 6d. per cwt. The corn laws he proposes to abolish totally and un conditionally, on the 1st of February, 1849, and In the meantime, a modified sliding scale is to be substituted for the one at present in existence. The law of settlement is to bo al tered and the high way rates are to be re modelled. The alteration of duties propo sed on American produce are as follows: Ba con, beef, (fresh and salted,) pork, hay, hides and mcat,r'. Tallow candles, 6s. per cwt.; cheese, 5s. per cwt.; hams, 7s. per cwt.; tal low, Is. per cwt. ; buckwheat, Indian corn and rice, 1b. per quarter, instead of the for mer heavy duties. Yankee clocks are to be admitted at 10 per cent., instead of 50 per cent, ad valorem. France. The French Chambers were opened by the King on the 30th of Decern her, by a speech from the Throne, which was very pacific and friendly to England. Mr. Guizot had noticed the remarks of Mr. Polk's message relative to war and Texas, express ing his surprise at the language used, and stating that he considered it his duty to claim in reply for France, an entire independence of action. 1 persecutions of their nftirhbors in Illinois. " ------ -. -gj ... .-.-.-., gives tho following, account or the place of their nrooosed residence : " Nootka or Vancouver Island, on the north west coast of North Atrrica, wo have it from good authority, is to be the final destination and home of thu Mormon people. This island is about three hundred miles long, and from seventy-ftve to one hundred in width. It is separated from the main land by a long, nar row strait, and lies between the 47th and 48th and Glst'or 52d degrees of north lati tude, extending along the coast in a north west direction. The boundary line between the American and British possessions will probably pass across the island. The Eng lish, we iKjJieve, havo one or two trading posts on the island, but for tho most part it is in habited by Indians, of not a warlike disposi tion. It is a long journey, but can be ac complished. If the Mormons do emigrate to that distant land, they will be out of the reach of harm from white men, and may enjoy their peculiar notions in quiet, until the devil breeds his own discords and confusions among them. Wc understand from the same authority that companies are rapidly organizing at Nauvoo, for an early start in tho spring. The church authorities and leading men will go out in a very large company, and without doubt the remainder will follow. C3The frigate Congress, commodore Du pont, bearing the broad pennant of commo dore Stockton, sailed from Norfolk Nov. 4. Officers and Passengers. Commodore, R. F. Stockton. Commander, Samuel F. Du pont. Lieutenants, John W. Livingston, Jas. F. Sohenck, Theodore P. Green, A. F. V. Gray, Richard L. Tilghman, E. G. Parrot. Fleet Surgeon, Charles Eversfield. Purser, William Speiden. Chaplain, Walter Colton. Matter, Van Rensalaer Morgan. Commo dore1 1 Secretary, J. Parker Norris. Comma, dore's Clerk, Gonstantine Sargent. 1st Lieut. Marine, J . Zoi tin . Passed Midshipmen, Ed ward F. Bcilo, Meting Master,) John Guest, Wm. H. Thompson, James M. Duncan, M. K. Warrington, Charles H. Baldwin, Mau rice Simons. Midshipmen, Samuel B. Elliot, Theodora Lee, Archibald H. Warring, Ben jamin F. Wells, Josiah S. Byers, William Mitchell. Gunner, Charles Cobb. Carpen. ter, John Southwick; Sailmaker, John Peed. Passengers to the Sandwich Islands, Anthony Ten Eyck, diplomatic agent, lady and chil dren, Miss Johnson, and J. Turrill, consul, ludy and family. Her principal cruising ground is supposed to be tho Oregon coast. The Polynesian of April 26, copies from the Journal of Commerce, the following as an extract of a letter, dated Havana, Jan. 13, 1846. Lieut. Peel, son of Sir Robert Peel, arri ved here in tho last steamer from Vera Cruz, and went to Europe as bearer of despatches from the Admiral of the Englishsquadron at the Sandwich Islands. Sinco his passage a rumor is circulated that the wholo English force in the Pacific is making sail for the Columbia river, with or dors to anchor there. TEXAS. On tho 12th January, President Jones is. sued his Proclamation, announcing the re ceipt of official intelligence of the passage by the congress, and approved by the President of the United States, of the Joint Resolution for the admission of Texas into the Union ; and directing the members of the legislature elect to assemble in regular biennial session at Austin, on Monday, the 16th of February next, and nraceed tooraanize a State Govern ment. Polynesian. ) TIM Ms)i The Quinoy Waif, after statin definite!! that it is understood that the Mormons will re tire to Nootka Sound, from the disgraceful J Too True. A dark featuro in the present age, said the late Dr. Channing, " is the spirit of collision, contention and discord, which breaks forth in religion, politics, in private affairs a result a necessary issue of the self ishness which prompts the endless activity of life. The migh y forces which are at this moment acting in society aro not and cannot bo in harmony, for they cannot be governed by love. Thoy jar they are discordant. Life has now little music ,in it. It is not only on the field of battle that men fight. They fight on the exchange. Business is war, is conflict of skill, management, too often fraud. Christians forsaking their one Lord, gather under the various standards to gain a victory for their sects. Politics is war, breaking the wholo people into fierce and unscrupulous parties, which forget their country in conflict for office and power. The age needs nothing more' than peace makers; men of serene, com manding virtue, to preach in life and word tho gospel of human brotherhood, to allay the fires of jealousy and hate. Select Scrap sua fllsutis . He knows nothing of man, who expects to convince a determined party-man. The wrath that on conviction subsides in to mildness, is the wrath of agenerons mind. He submit to be seen through a' micros cope, who suffers himself to be caught In a fit of passion. ""f Wc should not say we know' another en tirely till we have divided an inheritance with him. With three sorts of men, enter into no se rious friendship the ungrateful man ; tho multiloquous man; the coward : the first can not prize thy favors; the second cannot keep thy counsel; the third daro not vindicate thy honor. For men in business, Credit should be spar ingly givon, and integrity be the basis of it. Guarantees should only be taken in wri ting, and a consideration always expressed therein. Tho honor of an honest man, as far as dol lars and cents goes, dies when he dies there fore, honorable conditions in writing. Lying won't stand, while truth is truth. Rascals may flourish, but honest men will out-sleep them. Wealth is desirable, if honestly acquired, and is blest with contentment. Prudence in promises is a fair guarantee in tho redemption of them. A genuine scoundrel is a man who, by his sanctity, has obtained credit; and, through religious professions, keeps back property from his legitimate creditors. A burglar is a gentleman, compared with a smootli-fuced merchant-robber, v Credit or confidence given'to men of doubt ful integrity, is an injustice done to, all who hold on to their honesty. Liberality should never be extended to the jsajrgaraiy ana deceptive. '. Risk anything before you risk your repu tation. ' Truth is a restorative it saves the oorv science, and keeps up a glow of happiaese under all the workings of life.