North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-06-10

invaded on the North, add military posts
are established within our boundafies.--
What course do we pursue ~ sveh %
emergency. Do we take active measures
10 reIel the invssion, and 10 demoIIsh Inc
posts Of the ~nrmyl BY no means. We
salute him with honeyrd words, and en-.
dearing epithets, calmly fold our arms IND
talk OF compromise. Why do we this oil
comproni,ss in The one case, and not 10 The
other /,
Truly, because there 10 danger OF war
with q foreign power, our old antagonist
Greet Britain. In order, then, 10 sustain
onr character and honhr, IL becomes impof-
,ant that We compromise on principle, ana
we must acknowledge that principle W nc
fear
Let Us make no such humilisting COM
promise. What is justly ours let Us ex.
act of Great Britain as sternly as we would
Of the Seminoles. Claiming nothing but
what clearly belongs to " OF right, let US
defend thai with fortune and with life. II
the British Queen should drop courtesy
10 Brother Jonathan and very politely ask
OF him ss iovor that little corner oil land,
il mighi then become aquesiion 10 be de-
cided by the Saws Of etiquette instead oil
the lava oil nations but as she has waived
this mode of procedure, and made a de-
mand upon him with pistol and poignard,
| think, Notwithstanding bis well Known
galIsn.ry, he will convince her that in
matters ofstate, a son of The Pilgrims is
not to be Volunteered over by "women
folks"
VIII Congress adjourn without max
ing provisions for our defence! tn peace
prepare Tor war, is q good rule OF conduct,
but one too little followed by our Govern
ment. We hear daily Of preparations
along the frontier made by the British au-
thoriiies. Is our frontier sufficiently for
tilted: The British army in Canada is
twenty thousand s,rong-a body OF dis
cinlined troops ready to be led 10 action.--
Where have we force able to cope with
this! Nowhere: and experience has
proved to vs. the folly Of depending solely
upon the Militia. In speaking OF the
French and Indian border war OF Virginia,
the learned author of the Life Of Wash
ington very Justly remarks that at adds
one to the many proofs which have been
afforded Of the miseries TO be expected by
those who defer preparing the means Of de-
fence until the moment when they ought
to be used, and then rely almost entirely
On q force neither ADEQUATE to the danger
nor of equal continuance" ls there moi
janger OF our adding smother 10 the proofs
ready recorded by historyl Why are
Efficient measures taken TO prepare for an
active and energetic defence!--or il neces-
sary, for an offensive war! For if we
have a war with England now, her pow
er must be swept from the Continent
our safety for the future will depend upon
/. We ate answered that there 10 no en-
smy TO oppose. No snemyf when his
cannon are already planted within our bor-
iers, ready TO send forth their iron argu-
nents upon moments warning? No en-
,niy! And are we then, to wait patiently
or the enemy till he ptesents hmslf at our |
,ery door and asks adnhittance with fixed
,ayoneti No! let us meet him upon the
fontier; and when we do meet him
'Lsadsn rain and iron hail,
Let his wecom be.'
Let us meet him with his own arguments,
rect fort for fort, and battery for breath,
hat we may be prepared TO speak in Ian
.uage which, when uttered, is big with
meaning, and carries ihdI upon its pranch
8 more powerful to convince than empty
Wind. When we are thus prepared for
,at,le, we shall also be fully prepafed tor
,ego,iation then shall we be ready TO de-
nand right and to redress wrong. Rus.