Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-02-08
THE NINTH WEEK OF THE SESSION.

VI
The SENATE, during the past week, has been
chiefly occupied with the bill for the reduction and
regulation Of hostages the discussion Of the details
of which has not yet been brought to close, butt
cannot last much longer, for other subjects which
will require the whole time Of that body viii soon
demand its attention. NY
Among these subjects is the joint resolution which
passed the House of Representatives some days ago
for the annexation Of Texas to the United States.
That resolution was referred on Monday last to the
Committee on Foreign Relations, viii of course be
now soon reported upon, and would indeed proba-
bly, have been earlier reported upon bnt Tor the duty
which the committee must have been impressed
with of giving deliberate consideration 70 Propo-
ston of SO much consequence coming from the
other body. tas,. s.,.6 .S Ia
The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, having spent
nearly three weeks in legislating for territory
wholly beyond its jurisdiction, occupied the last
week mainly in the debate upon bill to establish
Territorial Government in the Territory Of
OREGON, of which we are joint occupants with
another Power, whose consent to this disposition OF
the territory it has not been thought necessary to
ask though we presume that no bill will pass the
House Of Representatives, and we trust certainly
not the Senate, without at least such show of re-
gard to our treaty with the other joint occupant as
to provide for giving the required years notice OF
the proposed cessation of joint occupation. Even
with this qualification the passage of the act not being
required by any pressing necessity that we know of
either in reference to public interests to the nte
rests of settlers from the United States, during the
actual tendency of negotiation concerning the adj
justment Of the fundamental question of title, APP
pears to us to be wholly inexpedent and unadvisabe
The purposes of the pending bill have, however
attracted less of our attention than the tone of the
debate upon it, during which there has been fur
Their development of that unbounded lust for terri
tory and that passion for extending the dominion OF
this Government, not only without regard to conse-
quences, but as though counting them, which we
have had occasion to remark upon as having charac-
terized the debate upon the Annexation" question
In that debate, it was the hostility Of Mexico that
was deiied; in the debate upon Oregon it is that OF
Great Britain We do not know that the gentlemen
who have thus taken occasion to show their con-
tempt for the consequences of war with either OF
these Powers entirely serious in their declarations
most earnestly we hope that they may notbe: but we
confess that we who have stood at the helm Of this
paper thirty years ago) through war Of compara-
lively short duration with one of these Powers
have no desire to witness renewal of such scenes
as no man can recall without thrill of joy that
country and institutions came safely out Of them.
We cannot bear to hear so painful an alternative as
war spoken Of with levity or Indifference; know
ing, as we do, what scourge and calamity 1t
would be to the nation, and not more to others
than to those who without experience, and there
fore without Judgment in the matter, seem TO make
SO light of it. ..a .,5
seHe tests at who never felt wound
What most of all surprised us was the discovery
that there are persons, even in Congress, who cher
. ish rancorous feeling towards Great Britain, on
o,ounds Of earlier date than the honorable war Of
1912 and the not less honorable peace between the
two nations which followed that war. One or two
members honestly and openly avowed this bitter
eamity and il is possible that other gentlemen OF
the same party may entertain the same sentiments.
We sincerely trust however, that these declarations
are TO be regarded only expressions Of individual
sentiment; that this enmity is not very widely diff
fused and, above ALL let hope that is not to
become party principle, and thus to control the
destinies Of the Republic.
Wo to the nation that allows itself to cherish
rancors which honorable war cannot glut, nor
peace, however fair extinguish! As little as a
man can nation safely give the reins to settled
animosities the man who does it will speedily
forfeit his happiness, if not his good name and
even his personal security; and the nation that
cherishes such passions will become their victim in
its own affairs-will be made the dupe Of madly-
ambitious men, who, to secure dangerous power
to themselves, will play on this popular infrmity
and urge on the country to quarrels disastrous with
ont, and finally fatal to its own freedom within.
There exists--perhaps has ever existed--no ma
ton whose interests were or are SO much those of
peace as ours. Framed as our Government is, to
the restraint Of all the public powers, TO the denial
Of all those energies which, in order TO make it for
midable abroad, must have made It dangerous at
home, our whole organization as society is emf
nenty defensive only.
Indeed, as liberty must ever be system OF pre-
caution against rulers--and as, the other hand,
military spirit is one which strengthens them, by
submitting to obedience, SO that there may be that
public force which results from the unity OF all ac-
ton and effort under single will-so despotism
is far filter for offensive war, for conquest, than
free State. Nay, whatever Government engages in
frequent and successful contests Of aggression must
presently become despotism for, while war lasts,
almost unlimited powers must be exercised, and
treatment wars habtate people to submission by