The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-03

refused from grounds Of personal and party dignity
but the concentration Of public attention to the point
gives the American mob direct and potential voice
In the affair. On the Maine, the frontier disputed
was not very plain or easy to be traced by vulgar
and distant eyes, But the Columbia river is an OBJ
Ject so large, and so evident and so recognizable
upon the rudest map, to the most unlettered COM
prehension, that even the humblest member of the
| wide Republic has decided and clear feeling on
the subject. II is certainly most unfair and igno-
mlnious mode OF reasoning and resolving interna-
tona questions, to say that England is country
whose public take very little interest in foreign ques
tons, and OF which, consequently, the Government
can make any sacrifice for the sake of peace whilst
| the public OF France and that of America are so
keenly alive to questions Of national territory and
honor, that their statesmen cannot succeed in making
even a compromise. Our quietly taking up such
position, and admitting the validity Of such argu-
ments, would be nothing less than an encourage
ment to other countries to ask and take everything
| from US, short of what was vital or momentous.
From these reasons, having made stand on the
bound to support its declarations not only by the mo-
tive Of the importance Of the territory the river in
dispute, but the still stronger ground Of support
ing the national character and rights. Unfortunate
~ the past weaknesses and concessions of the Tory
Government render this more imperative: Had Sir
Robert Peel followed successful and dignied line of
foreign policy hitherto he might, without degrade
ton or Inconvenience, have now contemplated
concessions, he is now driven like coward into
a corner, without alternative abject submis
sion or a stand-up fight The fairest. the only set
tement OF the Oregon, would De division Of the
territory in dispute, and the Columbia river is the
line of that fair division. The sole advantage
which the Americans would gain by fixing the
frontier the 49th degree would be to deprive of
| the military and commercial advantages Of that
The river IS, therefore, the great point in dispute
and for all the purposes Of peace and trade the pos
session of one bank suffces. To claim both betrays
belllgerent motives being the very last motives to
which we should give way. Neither can it be said
| that England has beligerent views, because, in
seeking to preserve half of the Columbia, she has
ports further north, where she may exclusively es-
tablish fleets and arsenals This is conradicted by
our very fair offer to the Americans of portion Of
territory side of the straits of Fuca. There
is another mode of settling the dispute, which seems
to be favoured by uncomfortable body in Ameri-
ca; and this is, declaring the Oregon an indepen-
DEM territory, and guaranteeing its independence
But the writers who alude to this do not well define
20 shey mean that the 9 whole territory from the
dependent State, and that England shall be excluded
from any communication with the Pacific and Ca
NADIA As to the Americans, however apparently
affected by the same exclusion, they would soon d.
rect their efforts to California and North Mexico,
and this would act fresh incentive for them so
to do. Such an abnegatlon would be unfair to the
British interests men, and capital already establish
ed in the region. And after all, what independent
state, unsupported from Europe, could hope to pre-
serve that independence agansta country whchis so
interruptions in annexation, and which employs the
arguments which it does on the Oregon question.
For the arguments of the entire press at present
simply these: England has good right as we
have to the Columbia, but people have set their
hearts upon it, and England must give way.
/ In the meantime the position into which the po-
hey and the expressions of the new President have
flung the country, Is of most unpleasant incer-
| tude and expense. England has resolved To go to
war rather than accept the Presidents view Of inter-
national rights. Mexico declares the same. The
latter suspends diplomatic, and probably CONNER
| :al relations 1t is impossible for President Polk
to face such prospects without naval and military
preparations entaillng considerable expence.
Opinions OF the Irish Press
from Dublin Frecman's Journal, May III
The English and Anglo-Irsh journals are fehci-
ating their readers upon the pacific character Of the
intelligence received by the Caledonia. We have
elsewhere made large extracts from the American
ournas and the tone Of the articles they contain in
our opinion, show that those fluctuations are prea-
ture. There is not one line of swagger or bragga-
doca in these extracts; but there is not single
phrase which can bear the Interpretation of hesia-
ion much less OF shrinking 1t is evident from them
that in America they have counted the cost Of war.
They estimate their own resources justly, but they
10 not overrate them. They say that England can
bring against America greater naval and military ar
naments than America can muster. They admit
that Enc land may burn their seaboard towns, and i'm
nensely damage and destroy the property of Ameri-
can citizens But they ask, if England wars with
America, where shall she get cotton for her mills and
factories Will she condemn them to idleness, her
factory population to starvation, and her manufactu-
rers to bankruptcy and the Gazette! England may
war with America, but how shall she protect her
merchant ships from American privateers, which
in such conuncture, would swarm in every sea -
These are the advantages on which, in case Of war
with England, the United States relies, and they
strong, powerful, and peculiar. Again, England
power is scattered-her territory must be every
where defended, for it is everywhere vulnerable.
American terriory is .concentrated-and American
citizens are preparedto defend it to the death This
is an element which, in case of hostilities between
l fha fxvo ho N
mate. The result of such war would, if unsuc-
cessful, leave England crippled power, shorne Of
her colonies, conquests, and commerce. 1t would
seriously, fearfuy affect the progressive prosperity
Of the States, but her power as nation it could
not permanently retard. Natures God, more pow
erful than empires, has rendered that impossible.
His seal is on that land, and she must be great.
But apart from these difficulties, which England
should in case of war encounter, America does not
pass by the consideration of the 'stwo nations-she
rch and the poor" which, born on the same soil,
regard each other with disrust which the first war
shout would turn, perhaps, to active hostility The
first gun fired against America might raise the people
against the ollgarchy In England. Throughout
Europe it would cause war Of democracy against
aristocracy which, in the words OF the Washington
Globe, might add whole nations to Repubicansm
in single day." While America reckons such
chances in her favor-while such elements, even on
Engand's own territory war for for the States, she
could not dread the day of battle, and she does not
1t may well alright, not only England, but many
other European nations. Hence the language in
which the American journals indulge. The Globe,
from which we have already quoted-the acknow-
lodged organ of the President and his Cabinet cha
racferises the recent declarations in parliament
specting Oregon as ga ludcrous display" "for the
day. it adds, " has gone by when menace of war
on the part of England would sway negotiation
nal, not acknowledging the responsibility OF the
mouthpiece Of the Cabinet declares that no Arne-
rican Government will give up Texas, and none
dare giUe up the claim to erery foot OF Oregon" The
| me- al ua nj there ~ e.
raction--no backing out-no recession from the po-
sition, bold, independent, and resoute, assumed by
the President" The tone Of the American govern
me mt, il adds is one OF defiance, and the people
unite in the same policy" The Herald, from which
we quote, admits that there "is large portion Of
the commercial interest-the banking interest, and
the stock-jobbing interest opposed to anything like
war with England" but their opposition would be