Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-03-13

patton.
But your committee forhear TO press
these points further at present; and they
would not have said as much on such clear
questions Of international law, but that 10
this case the demand for Liberation has
been made by the accredited agent Of a
great Power, and under circumstances oil
peculiar aggravation and excitement.
We have other points OF difference with
Great Britain, which add interest to every
question that arises at present. Neither
our Northeastern nor Northwestern boun.
daries are yet settled with her, and the
subject is not entirely free from difficulty.
She has recently seized our vessels and
exercised a power inpolring the right Of
search, under the pretext OF suPpress'ng
the foreign slave trade which if Persever-
ed in, will sweep our commerce from the
coast Of Africa, and which is Incompatible
with our rights as maraitlne power.
She has recently, in her intercourse with
US, refused indemnity, and denied our
rights to property, on suhlect-malter
vital 10 near one half Of the States OF this
Coniederacy, and which, considering her
military position at Bermuda and her
growing power in the West lndles, is OF
the last Importance TO our national indie
pendencc.
Besides this, we are both permanently
destined to have, perhaps, the most extern
sive commerce Of modern nations. Our
flags float side by side, over every sea, and
bay, and inlet Of the known globe.
She moves steadily upon her objects
with ambition that knows no bounds; and
whenever she has conflict ofinlerest she
has rarely yielded 10 any power.
Al this moment she presents TO the civ
ilized world the spectacle Of the greatest
military and commercial power in comb.
nation ever known.
From her vast possessions 10 every
quarter Of the gIobe,and ner peculiar com.
mercial system, she has been made the
reservoir Of the wealth of nations.
Her internal resources, skill, labor, and
machinery, with her capital, are beyond
calculation. Her natural position being
about midway the coast Of Europe, gives
her great control over the outlets and cur
rents OF commerce.
Her military occupation at Gibralter,
Malta, the loan islands, and recently OF
st. jean d'Acre, gives her ascendency
on the Mediterranean and the Leyant
while St. Helena and the Cape Of Good
Hope give her possession over the currents
Of trade along those extensive coasts.
Then Bombay, Calcutta, and her immense
possessions in the East Indies, together
with her recent movements in the China
seas and islands, enable her 10 extend her
power over the vast regions that have
slumbered for ages 10 solitary and ener-
waited magnigfcence. She possesses Falk.
land but to control the commerce that
passes around Cape Horn, while Trinidad
gives her all she desires in the Caribbean
sea. Hdl1ar at one point and Bermuda |
at another, stand out in great force over
our own coast FROM one extremity to the |
other.
Her positions all over the world are,
at this moment, in a military point Of
view, equally to million of men under
arms. Her continual conflicts in the
mighty regions ofthe east only enable her
officers, to become skilful and to improve
in the art of war, while her great armies
and extensive fleets draw their support
from the immense countries seized and
occupied, In the present juncture oil
affairs, no statesman can overlook these |
thlngs' Steam power has recently brought
US 80 near together, that in the event OF
any future conflict, war nth it's effects,
will be prccipi.ated upon with much more
rapidity tn an formerly.
Avarice and ambition are the ruling |
passions Of modern times, and il is vain TO
shut our eyes to the state OF things I
around US. 1t remains 10 be seen what |
effect steam power is 10 have upon chang
ing and modifying the whole art Of defence
and war. II may be great engine for
again levelling mankind, and reducing
every thing to contest of mere physical
force In that event il might be difficult
to conjecture what system Of national de-
fence ,uiil stand the test Of time and expe-
rience.
We have deep steak, and fondly hope
the repose Of the world will not be dis
turbed. We have certainly not the least
desire for any rupture. Firmness and
will long preserve US from
such catastrophe. But while no temp
tation should ever prompt US to do justice