The Arkansas banner., 1845-05-21

 ) her goods at low ad valorem duty, coult
 have had no difficulty in inundaling the whole
 southern and western frontier of the Unitet Z States, including California, Mexico, and the Z borders of the Pacific, with her manufactures
 to the injury of our revenue and the destruc-
 ton ot our national industry. The moment her designs were apparent, propositions were made to annex Texas, which were accepted, and treaty formed. England saw at once that she was checkmated, and that we were careful of our interests; but at the very mo-
 ment when she was about surrendering her experiment, MT. Webster's letter against an- neXatlon appeared, followed by Mr. Claws,
 then by MT. Van Buren's and Gov Wroht's.
 and finally by secret circular from reputed c friends Of Van Buren, together with a vio- lent opposition to that measure by the late
 antl-war party.
 The British ministry finding themselves sustained by several leaders and men of both
 parties Tn this country, renewed their opposi-
 ton to the measure with redoubled energy,
 and have induced Mexico-who is without
 claim or right, or even equity, in the ques- tlon-to suspend amicabe relations with this
 country, while their gold and interest are
 used In l exas to prevent the consent of the
 people This is the present position of af-
 tarS, brought about by a portion of our own
 people, who have, by their opposition to an-
 nexation, placed us where probably they
 most desired, under the control of the gov ernments of Europe, ol plunged us into a
 war to sustain our independence. We have
 no apprehension of difficulties with England
 Ill relation to Oregon. Our exclusive rights to Inc whole ol Oregon are defined by trea-
 lies between two or more of the great pow
 CTS oi the earih-Russia, the United States,
 France, Spain, and England-and by actual
 possession prior to that convention with Eng
 land which gave her people the right to trade
 in the territory. Our rights are plain and
 undoubted. But negotiations will amcably
 settle that question-there are no difficulties
 between this country and England to settle
 we have no difficulties with Europe, unless
 Europe shall declare that the United States
 shall come under European control. Our
 business now is with Mexico. The people
 of the United States have declared in favor
 ol annexation, the measure has been adop- ted by Congress, and if Texas consents we
 are bound to carry out that measure at all
 hazards; and if Mexico sees fit to declare
 war against us, we must defend ourselves in
 a cause which we know 10 be both righteous
 and Just, 10 the best of our abilities If we
 yield, we become colony of Europe, and
 we must be governed altogether by the di-
 rectlon of thescrowned heads War is al-
 ways to be avoided when It can be done with
 honor. We shall suffer greatly, but those of tb,N bay 1,
 ted foreign interference, are likely to be the
 greatest sufferers. We have confidence in : the firmness of the atministraton--c -conli-
 dence that the people are with them-conf-
 denee ln the issue Let preparations be made
 forthwith to place the country in state of
 defence, and let the government be sustained by those who have been, and are now, friends 10 annexation and to the independence, se- curlty, and good faith of the country in ev- cry exigency.
 The intelligent editor of the Courier des Etats Unis, of New ork city, thus gives his 3 views on the Oregon question-
 2 "As we have already remarked, the warlke : language of Sir Robert Peel is but small oratorlcal salyo given to British seIf-lovc r which, finding itself snubbed in Texas. Ina. made up for 1t by menace in Oregon. Btu eveu admitting that the words of the British , minister should be taken literaly-that hi. , threats are sincere-do they involve any dan. ger, especially any immediate danger of war By no means. The conflicting and rrecon.
 cllable claims of thetwo governments in regard
 to Oregon, far from provoking war on tha ], ground, will only serve 10 keep the two na.
 tons aloofi from each other, in an attitude more or less menaclng. England's course is very simple. In the first place, she understands too well, that sooner or later she must oui Oregon, not to be satisfied with the staiu quo which, under the name of oint occupation gIyes her an almost exclusive sovereignty, and = an almost absolute commercial monopoly. Ii ] is not she who asks for a division of this apple of discord, and she will only accept one with good grace, provided she gets large r share. As for the United States, it is to them : that belongs the initiative of war, as to then has belonged that of negotiation Already It IS true, at the last session, Congress mani tested i,s impatlence al the slowness of thes negotiations, and was very near passing a ay : by which the United States adjudged to them selves the whole of that portion of the terri s tory of Oregon to which Great Britain lay n her claim. But this bill, afier having under - gone transformations which made it very pa - cfic, received the go-by in the Senate ant l. this parliamentary demonstration produced nc e other result than to waken England up. Anc :, now that she has placed herself on the delen . sive, now that she has declared that if ar y attempt should be made to seize Oregon from e her by force, she would defend it, will Ame. l rican legislators, ought they, 10 constitute s themselves the arbiiers ofaqucstion 10 which :, if Sir Robert Peel has spoken the truth, they h cannot give any other solution than tIiat o : war? Such course would be, in our opin y ion. gross error. Oregon is no doubt - valuable enough prey, to merit, if necessary | the expense and the honor of a war; but it. d immediate acquisition is of too litde impor. '- tance to the United States, to be worth tht y sacrifice of their presentactual property. The 2 prey, moreover, cannot escape them. It lies n on the oute traced out by Providence for thu ,. progressive movement of the American Union e Sooner or later, 1t will be within the reacl e of that federal hydra whose heads are dail, n multiplying. Congress will, therefore, ac k wisely in leaving diplomacy to amuse itsel 1t with vain efforts to divide this indvsible ter