The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-25
ron rnr MAplsoNlAN.

I ron rnr MADisoNiAN.
The London Tunes charges the Presidents
Message with exhibiting, on the Oregon aud
| Texas questions, an encroachng spirit; tenn
per inconsisten, with an elevated morality. II
10 assert the nights Of his country. IN moderate
and dignlfed manner be the display OF such
temper, and The exhibition OF such morality,
the President is gully of the charge. Those
who are themselves under The influence OF a
drawcsnsu temper, and an ambitious spirit OF
encroachmenl, are very apt, in any contests or
disputes about properly, TO indulge freely such
charges against others What right has Great
Britain to erect posts on the Oregon Territory
that we have not 2 Has she not fortified place
at the mouth of the Columbia, one of the most
important positions on that Territory, while we
have none Have we not also the right to ex-
tend our military posts on our own undisputed
territory on this side of Oregon, without asking
leave of Great Britain. or giving her The slight
est ground for censure ?
But the President I" hints his wishes for the
annexation Of Texas, and beslows hard words
on Mexico
Admi, il has Great Britain limited her wish
es for The annexation OF Hong Kong and the
vast territory she has acquired in India, or has
she taken possession with open force, without
deignng to consult the United States or any
other Power, on the subect2 Does she regard
US as her cabinet counsellors On the annexation
Of territory to her dominions2 Did the war on
the weak Government of China, because the
Chinese, in enforcing their restrictive opium
policy had destroyed immense quantities OF that
perncious drug, illegally imported and
punished certain British subjects for infrac-
ton of her saluary laws on that product. and
the enforcement of vast tribute in money,
and disadvantageous terms Of commercial in
tercourse with Great Britain-did these things
indicate an elevated or "a very low standard Of
moral feeling"
But has our President initiated all this +? No.
To threat without parallel except among the
haughtlest Governments Of the earth, he re-
the case most ably and judiciousy, announces
his country's rights, and repels, not with hard
epiihets, but with decision and sound rea
sons, the belligerenl menace of Mexico.
II he had wished 10 proceed to blows with
Mexico, he would have answered her in her
own drawcansir style. But from the modera-
lion Of his tone, although coupled with frmness,
il is evident he would urge no such extremlies,
but under provocations imperatively demading
them. s
The "sharp criticisms" therefore, of the
Times and other British journals on these sub
jects, are bunted by the force of truth
II, can, however, create no wonder that Of
fence should be taken at the Presidents position
in relation 10 the Oregon and Texas questions,
when we recollect that certain men of the
English aristocracy wish Great Britain to adopt
the conduct aud language to which Virgil in
the height of Roman domination, advised
tina. ambitious people
Tu regos impsyio popuios
Romano, memento,
(ila tib erunt evites) pacisque imponere morem,
Parcere subjects, ct debelare superbos.
But that day is past when any one nation can
act on this principle with success; no second
Rome returns; no modern nation is, or ever will
be, alone virtual governor Of The earth The
spirit Of modern civilization and Christian
moderation has TOO deep root to permit any one
nation to assume this bearing in word or deed.
Recognising whatever is good in the conduct or
policy of Greal Britain, we yet have our own
rights 10 maintain, and our own interests TO Sc |
cure; and not even the magniloquent denuncia-
ton of the London Times, and half dozen
other journals, will overawe nineteen millions
of people, any more than the ndecorous and un-
just trades Of its predecessors in the same vo-
cation, af'righted nine millions.
NINDIcAroR.