Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-07-01
From the Boston Atlas, June Is. ]

WAR.-In The Atlas oflhe 10th was commu
nicalion, occasioned BY some remarks IN et'
Ter from England, TO The eff CT that war with The
United States would be popular with The British
nation. "as n war against the slave power OF The
world" The writer OF that article, after speak
ING of the probabilities OF war, on account OF oti
posilion,ain reference to Texas, Oregon and Ca.
iifornia, one or all" makes some very appropri-
ale remarks concerning the evils OF war, and the
influence which should be excited 10 avert IL; ou
he closes with proposition TO Inc people o.
Massachusetts, that should Ind no favor VIII
them, or any other Americans
The probable cause Of war with England j
Oreson-neiher Texas nor California. AND
can any one Tell us what The question OF our right
or The right OF Great Britain, TO Oregon, has L
do with slavery? IfsaveIy isbronsht into The
question about which we NAV possibly hight, by
The British, are Northern Americans, who are
opposed 10 slavery TO be counselled 10 stand bach
and not counienance such war, or moi defend
their country against foreign attack II Noiih
ern men aie - b. advised and they listen &c
such advice, any nation who desired TO humble
and ruin US, might seek cause for quarrel, and
then, covering that quarrel with the name OF
"a war against the slave power of the world,
turn The North against The South or, al least, pro.
duce an inaction and opposition 10 defence in
ruin Of all.
Such is not the course for Northern Americans
10 take. re we are TO have war, and our enc
mics falsely call war against slavery, Ft u.
stand bvour counirv-though we, too, are opposed
10 some Of her institutions. Ay, even ifthe wal
is 10 be on account of Texas, and we know we
are brought loit by the slave power OF The South
struggling 10 perpeluale ITSELF letus not turn onr
backs upon our country, comrit treason against
The Constitution, and suffer foreign Zoe, il he
chooses, 10 subjugale us, or dictate his own terms
ofpeace.
Other nations know not our State lines We are
TO them one PEOPLE, under one government; and
war against that government is meant 10 be,
and is, a war against the whole people. Any in
ternal dissensions would be used By an enemy. il
possible, for The ruin OF ALL and while we foolish.
liz though, we were Furnishing our brethren from
whom we differ, we should be running ourselves
also. The North has much more 10 lose by any
war than the South. By a disastrous war, the
North has infinitely more to lose. Shall We
then, take the greatest of two evils, because We
are opposed 10 some Of the institutions OF the
South, forgetting what we have in common?-
No: lei Us Tell Britain that il is moi Tor her, and
such as She 10 call a war with us war against
slavery, nor 10 endeavor, under the sarb OF phi
lanhropy, TO destroy rival. Let US show the
WpIlu q PedceIui uul uhiteu nom, anu ehhed'"I
within ourselves TO remove the curse Of slavery.
The duty is ours-toreisn power cannot effect it,
save by the ruin of every thing else.
II war could be averted by The course proposed
in the article referred TO, il might be good advice.
Circumstances unforeseen, and unknown 10 the
public, often determine the course of govern
ments Qhough am far from denying that our
present government has been, and may be, preci-
pilate and reckless) and pledge signed by a
portion Of the nation-and it certainly would be a
small por,on-that they will mol support their
country, cannot avert war. II would only serve
to increase the disasters, and 10 inhict punish
ment upon the whole people deserved only, OF
mostly, by those who thus prove recreanIs. Far
distant be the day Of war; Far distant We may
reasonably hope il is; but, if The misfortune does
come, let no anttsMrtrp-pcdec picdge" max.
traitors ofany citizens of Massachusetts,