The Arkansas banner., 1845-05-14
uvuAT or TIE W6R3"

"NHAT OF THE WAR;
 Our exchange papers are teeniDg with speenla- lions upon the chances of our becoming involved in war with several foreign nations, all at once. Some seem to think the probabilities ef War very strong aIerico IS to fight us for Texas! Braaa is to cha3-
 se us because we refuse quietly to allow her to carry on the slave trade under our flag! And England IS to exterminate for daring to asssert our right to Oreeon!! oFaree, Comedy, and Tragedy! aSanst one poor parson. Fearful odds!' But shall we have war, with all or either, of these nations? Ii we had given them any, even plausible cause of quarrel 1t might then, be becoming and proper to enter into formal justification of the course our Government has pursued in her foreign relatons-and slew, as
 we trust ever 10 be able to do, that high sense oi
 honor, and due regard to the rights of others, have
 served her as motives, and guides in all her inter- course But, as in the case of Mexico, we have, Tn accordance with one of our clearest Constitutional provisions, admitted, a member of our Cohiede- racy, State, recognized and treated as sovereign and independent by the world; as in the case ot Brazil merely executed our laws against the crune of piracy on the high seas tho righteous policy of which has never before been questioned; and, as in
 
 occupy our own Territory; and as each and all of these acts carry with ihcla in characters so plain that fhese who run may read, the evidence oftheir
 legitimacy and propriety; we perceive no further necessity to explain or justify tic course of our gov
 ernment; leaving what she has done to Vndicate itself and trusting 10 our arms to oyndicae ourrights and o honor, should the vanity cupidity of ether
 nations prompt them 10 assal ms. But shall we have var From the foregoing considerations and others we might mention-such, for instance, as the inva- rable defeat of the strongest, well the weakest with whom we have heretofore struggled, we do not believe we shall have war, with any other nation Nations have impulses of passion as well as indi- yiduals we arc aware, but they rarely, as indyid- uals, go To war from the impulse of passion. Cui 5ono7 is question likely to be asked of themselves before the blow be struck. And this question, being interpreted, means--who is to be beneGted-What good is to come ofie grave question for most of the nations of the earth, in their present condition especially before makngwar upon the United States Whathas Mexico to gain by war with us' During period of nine years, she has been unable to make even successful predatory incdfsion upon Texas! In how much does the annexation of Texas to the United States increase the chances of Mexico To re- capture what in her ridiculous vanity, she calls her 'rcvolted pTovince'a Just through revolutonher- sef she yet trembles and tottcrs upon the unsettled and unsubstantal basis of her new government Without strength or resources at home, how can she make them manifest abroad? The very idea is, in itself, ridiculous And we are honestly, of opin- ion that there is not a sane man in Mexico who would not ridcule the proposition of war with our country. If, however, in defiance of all reasonable calculation such an issue should be made, there is no romance in Inc prediction that within SIX months from the commencement of hostilides, our ''Stars and Stripes" would float in triumph over "the Halls of the Montezumas.'
 Brasil, benightea as she may be, is yet wise enough to shria, from the task ofaiding and abettng pracy upon the high seos."
 And England grasping and avaricious, may goad her old Lion to growl; but his very vals yet from the beak and talons of our then, anfedsed Eagle-too sore, indeed, to essay another encounter now that ago has but added length and strength and keenness to those death dealing weapons. The eyre of our Eagle is already built upon the Rocky Monn- tains-hs eye already the quiet shores of the Pacific; and his bold wing is already poised to bear onward his sacred trust of our American Flag England may complain, and protest. What of that' We but pursue rigat When Englandstikes- ay! uhea she strikes! There are some who say We are not prepared to strike back. So it was said we were not prepared to strike in the Revoution-so it was said we not preparedto strike in the last war But did We mol strike-and ssstriSe home2'- The American is ever prepared to defend his coun- try and to maintain her rights aud honor. He is prepared in his hean. And no people ever yet failed for want of other preparation when theirhears were We are no advocates for war-we depre cate it as we love coahty and desire to see her prosperous and happy. But we are for maintaining our rights at all hasards and if war should come, then, as our people have done, aleretime, doubt not they will do again:-Dcftat the enemy, lay stH broader and deeper the solid foundations o our pop,- lar form of gorerameat, and erect upon them, still higher and more glorious, the imperskable moaumens of olW national prosperity and Honor.