The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-08-21


may chance to claim dominion over him.
Yet Notwithstanding the evidence of the fac,
before us, we have in our midst those who re-
posing heath the shadow of the tree of Liberty.
planted by the patriotism aud philanthropy of our
ancestors, digged ahont and nurtured on many
hard fought field, while It's roots drank in rivers
oi their blood, we say there are those who enjoy
ing the sweets civil and religious liberty, cry
like mad men, down with the Military! Force
OF arms is but british resort, wholly unnccessa-
ry and unbecoming a moral, religions, and civil
LIKED community. Is it then true that man is the
only animal throughout the whole scale of sensi-
tive creation that is not to employ means for his
own defence and preservation? Or has man. of
late. been so instantly so tremendously metamor-
phosed that we have now nothing to fear from
commissions within. or invasion from without a.
Or, are we in case of invasion to oppose reasoning
to arrest the progress of the despotic conqueror?
O! blindness o. natualion To an Alexander
or Buonaparte. what is reasons voice but puff
of empty air? No. nought can check the course
of such conqueror, arouse his conscience,
and render him alive 10 the dictates of Justice
and humanity, hut the weight of leaden hail. and
the point of brs,ling steel. And how soon these
may be put in reqnistion who shall be able TO
predict? Still the cloud of war hangs heavily
and porten,ously over us. The clangor Of armor
and the neighng of the war horse, as he rushes
10 battle may soon be heard. How soon our soil
may be polluted by the footsteps Of mercenary
foe, we know not but this we do know-the
only hope for averting the storm is a constant
state of preparation for resistance TO, and the
punishment of aggression2 1t is this alone can
insure respect for our character and RIGHTS abroad
and peace and prosperity at home Then let
him, and him alone, who, devoid of the spirit of
re, would basely cling TO life, and cringinr bow
to earth, suffering himself to be trodden underoo
by the first vile intruder that might choose 10
throw himself athwarl his path rather than
bravely and gorOuSly hazard all for his country
and himself Let such an one in the cowardce
and treachery OF his heart, cry Justify against the
Military, against military men, and military in
struction. But should feel in honor and in
duty bound, and by the names of our departed
ancestors we should swear, that should our coun
try be so unfortunate as TO need our services. we
will be ready, cheerfully to march TO the tented
field, and there in voice of thunder, teach the
enemies of human right, that Columbia s sons are
never to be enslaved.
LETTERS OF MARQUEE AND REPRlSAI,
We heard it stated on Saturday last, saws the
Philadelphia Ledger, by an intelligent officer of
the United States Government, that Mr.. Polk
was determined, in case of war with Mexico, to
make terrible example of any foreigners not be-
longing to Mexico, or parties to the war, who NAV
attempt aggressons upon American commerce I'M
der color of letters of marque from the Mexican
Government. He will give orders to the Naval
commanders to treat all such Adventures as pi-
rates, as in reality they will be- 1t will be EASY
to distinguish them by language, and few exam
pies it is thought will be sufficient to put stop to
their cowardly, dishonest and murderous opera
tons. The Mexcans have but very limited
marine, and have scarcely energy or enterprise
sufficient to put ten privateers afloat; hut war
will afford preteXt to adventures of other ma
tions to commence system of robbery under let
tiers of marque. and the best means we can adopt
10 defend ourselves against them, will be TO Dur
sue the course which it is said the President has
already marked out, and punish them as pirates
NATIVISM