Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-03-07

try. Now what is the position of Mr. CLAY
and "his special friends" in relation to the
Oregon question. They are where all wise
and prudent men ought to be, willing to
settle the dispute about the territory, be-
tween England and our government, by an
amicable negotiation, but determined not to
compromit or surrender any right that be-
longs to us. SIR EDWARD PAckESH.n, the
newly appointed Minister of the British
crown, it is understood, has instructions to
enter into negotiations with onr Secretary
OF State, with view to the settlement of
this very matter. Is il then, either wise or
| expedient, to refuse the friendly advances Of
that government, and adopt course Of con-
duct, which would inevitably result in a
war, long md Irotractcd in it's duration
and doubtful in its end We should think
not. No. the policy os this country is
peace, whenever peace can be maintained
without the sacrifice of honor, and the sur
render ofright. We put no faith in this con-
tinual cry for war, by the party which the
Gazette supports. We have become accus-
toned to tit is now an old story "lull
of sound and fury, meaning nothing" In
| GEN. JACKSON time, as President in 1884,
war with France was the popular theme
with them. The President recommended
| rcprisals on the French commerce, and a
war was near being begun between the
two countries. And how was it prevented
Why, HENRY CLAY brought forward his
celebrated French Report" on the 9th Of
Jan. 1885. which in connection with a cor
responding resolution of the Senate restored
good feeling, and effected the payment Of
| the first instalment of the indemnity, due
US under the treaty of 1891 Thus was
our honor maintained and our rights Sc
cured, by wise and peaceable legislation,
aided if we mistake not, by the Intervention
| OF England. In Mr. VAN BuREN's time, we
| were threatened war with England, on
the North Eastern Boundary question. His
administration served out its fretfu exist
enca without accomplishing any thing, and
it was left to the superior wisdom and sa
gacity OF other men, TO quiet the whole p
dispute by negotiation. But who is the
| better man to settle this question. il it
| should become part OF the duties OF sue
ceedng Administration, HENRY CLAY, or
MARTIN VAN buren, HENRY Clay the able
advocate of MADISON and the War, or MAR
TIN VAN buren,, the friend and supporter of
| De WITT CLINTON, the peace candidate for
President, in opposition to the war candi
te,--JAMEs MADISON. Henry Clay, the
successful negotiator at Client, the man who
refused to sign the Treaty II Peace, unless
Great Britain conceded to this country the
exclusive navigation of the Mississippi River,
or Martin Van Buren,, the Secretary OF
State, who instructed our minister at the
Court Of st. James, to urge party consider
atoms in his intercourse with the British
Ministry? Henry Clay the fra. undaunt ed
patriot, the high.minded and farseeing
statesman. or Martin Van Buren,. the shift
ing and unsteady politician, the political
intriguer and party manager? We believe,
indeed we are certain, the people will an
answer in NovemOer,- CLAY.
AS to the Bankrupt Law and Mr. Clay's
support Of it, the Gazette and its friends the
loco focos may make the most of it. He
advocated its passase and opposed its repeal,
because in his opinion it was coniormable
to the Constitution, and urgently demanded
by the necessities Of the country. And sure
ly the locofocos should be the last to abuse
him for this, for the docket of our court
| shows that they, were foremost in wiping
out their debts by the sponging process. We
have no wish to censure them, but we must
be permitted to say that a man who will a.
vail himself of IAN INFAMOUS LAW" has lit
tie discretion, and less regard for public O.
pinion. He is in as unenviable a position
as the debtor who pleads infancy, or the
Statute of Limitations, to avoid Just debt
On this account we think the Gazette is
very unfortunate in its alluson to the
sponging process of the Bankrupt Law
We are sure some Ct its best friends, who
were compelled to take the benefit of it,
will bear it in no thankful remembrance
But is Mr. Van Buren, less guilty than Mr.
Clay ! We think net. He voted for the
Bankrupt bill Of 1927, and that bill was
framed exclusively FOR Bankers and Ira
ders. In other words, he was willing that
the spectators and slavers, the merchants
and money lenders, should il they thought
proper defraud the public, whilst the poor
but honest and unfortunate farmer or me-
chanic, who was involved in debt would be
kept at the mercy of some grasping Shylock
of creditor. That was the effect Of his
system, and the extent of his pure democra-
cy. Bankers and traders were with him,
under the Constitution, entitl ed to more
privileges than any other class OF society
See vote, Vol. 3 Reg. Debates $50. And
on the question Of extending the nvolunta-
ry principle to "CoRroRArroSs and BANKS"
he not only voted in the negative but spoke
against the amendment of MIR Branch Of