Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-05-23
ner,rpy oraN OLD FRIEND.

letters of our European Correspondent,
whom We have not heard for many months. nc
is now in the midst OF scenes deeply interesting
to the peace ofthe whole world, and weshalI mere
after look 10 his philosophic pen, to expose lne
hidden motives of foreign diplomallsls 10 'hei'
conduct towards the United States.
While We cannot go with him 10 MS SUMMARY
measures, and while We are III favor Oh coh'ihueu
negotiation, We thoroughly agree with HIM IN Inc
opinion, tina, this country should 'presenl an uh-
divided front. and bear a steady hand" Prudence
and frmness should both mark our councils-anu
We should, By no means, resort 10 war; un'ess INC
continued clustering OF Great Britain, winch
Agricula, with much justice, considers 10 oe io'
effect" should force that unpleasant alternative
upon us. But the whole letter is lull OF interest,"
and We hand il over 10 our readers, 10 make their
own comments
FOREIGN CoRREsPoNDENCE-lNo KILL
"OUR OWN COUNTRY"-"ARNl, BRO
THEIRS, ARM"
To The Editors ofMe Enquirer:
FASKFoRT-oN-T MAINE,
April 80, 1919
whenever have touched upon the subject, either
directly or incidentally, have expressed my belief
lha, under no conceivable circumstances would
Great Britain wage war with The United States
That opinion remains unchanged, nolwilhsland-
ing the belgerent demonstration III Parliament
ON The evening OF the 4h insl.
Mr. Polk. in his Inaugural Address, betore he
WIS President OF the United States, remarked
"Our title 10 The country Of the Oregon is 'cicar
and uuguesiionaJ'e "-9uoting the lalIer words as
used, if remember right, by John Quincy Adj
ans, in his clay on Macduf" speech in The
House, short time previous. This sentence is
regarded of sufficient importance in England to
demand special legislative action-and the steam
er is detained beyond her regular day OF sailing,
expressly Tor the purpose OF carrying out the en-
phatic declaration of the Government" which
was received NTH unanimous satisfaction in The
House OF Lords as we'll as Commons, ''hat Great
Britain has rights in Oregon, and is prepared TO
maintain them"
The glove has thus been thrown down, and The
most intense solici,ude prevails on the continent, 10
see whether our government will take il up-or
whether il will continue the negotiations common
ced with MIR. Pakenham-or begin them anew
upon the question. As relates TO The h0n0r OF our
country, no alternative is left u.s. The period OF
diploma,izing has gone BY. Indeed, we have
lrHed with our national character, in having
postponed The occupation of Oregon so long, Tor
every person who has investigated the matter, is
decidedly OF opinion, that our title TO The whole
country is clear and unqueslionabe." We
should waste no more words "Our voice should
be in our swords T"
For the sake of peaee-and for the sake oil
PEACE alone-we have delayed from time 10 time
the extension OF our laws over the country be-
yond The Rocky Mountains. The claim OF G:
Britain never has been and never can be, feel
very certain recognized as Just 10 any portion
OF il between the 42d and 5ith degrees. II we
had even been disposed TO yield what was clear
~ our own, we cannot now do SO, without dero-
eating from our fame throughout the civilized
world. | wholly mistake my countrymen II there
is mol universal Indignation among them, regard
less of party al the threats conveyed in the Bri-
fish despatch Of the 5lh April. They will show
England that they can be as united, as il they
were but one man. on great and important ques-
TONS The greedy Lion reckoned beyond his
host, when he imagines he will find them dis
loval and disaffected To the conStitutc authori-
ties
While am confident, Great Britain will "show
The white feather" Notwithstanding her vaunted
power and greatness, il is The duty OF The United
States 10 prepare for the worst. If she should at
as becomes lreencn- as becomes Washingtons
sons. The God OF battles will stand by us as
he did during the revoluion for We have just
cause. We are actualed by no sehshness in Sc
curing Oregon we want il only as means of
inpaIting liberty and happiness 10 The human ia
miiy-of extending our political and religious in
si,ulions 10 the verge OF the Western horizon
If these are Of that worth al which ! estimate
them, they are destined, like the light OF Heaven,
10 cover the whole universe in coming time
How proud feel of such country, (and who
would not fight for il1) when | see The oppressed
OF Europe casting their eyes towards il as their
last hope; when see the industrious husband
man econumizing in every imaginable way, in
order TO realize sufficient means 10 procure
home there Tor his wife and children! All what
blessings will not Oregon bestow, under our libe-
raj system Of government, on thousands OF honest
German peasants who carry with them The most
valuable of all Ieasure-an ability and DISPOSE
lion 10 deyelope. The latent resources OF 'he earth
The impression is very general, that il hostili-
ties commence between England and The United
States. all Europe will ultimately be involved in
war. France, il is thought, would not consen, To
see our ports blockaded, Ga measure which would
assurediy he attemped,) in the stale OF her COM
merce with us. She consumes as much OF our
cotton alone, as we exported 10 Great Britain IN
1925; and she would endeavor 10 extend The con-
sumption OF it, and thereby bnild up rival inte-
rest in manufactures 10 that OF England. Ger
many, Russia, Spain, Austria, Holland, Belgium,
Sweden, Denmark, each have large commercial
intercourse with IA, and would not permit il 10 be
suspended By The Interference oil any power. IN
der no state Of the case, could Great Britain come
out of a war lriumphanlly but on The contrary,
she would lose Canada, and possibly her other
North American colonies, and forfeit her high
nostion for strength in The worlds estimaion.-
A. much as despise her avarice and insincerity,
i, will be no pleasing spectacle 10 me- 10 behold
the train Of evils which will ensue 10 her from
an attack upon The United States, and she cannot,
without great want Of foresight, seriously medi-
tate step so utterly suicidal.
II there is any thing calculated 10 morlify ge-
nune American abroad, il is the marvellous ig-
norance OF persons hailing from his country, re-
laliye to its true moral and physical condition.
Most of those | meet with have been absences
from home for many years, and probably never
will relurn-makng their citizenship mere con-
venience. They have imbbed, generally, British
notions, and do Us more injury than The subjects
of Kings, who have been taught from infancy to
de,est our character. There are others, foreign
ers hy birth and education, who have gone 10 the
United States, made large fortunes, been natu-
rallied, and return 10 Europe to pass The remain
der of Their lives Some OF them, particularly,
in Germany, have sought and obtained Consul
ships under our Government, withon! perhaps I'M
Outstanding our laws, or ever having read the
Constitution. They desire Office for the conse-
ouence which l. bestows without receiving any
fees, or performing any duties One Of these con-
templibie fellows vennred 10 remark 10 me,
day or two snc. as though the thought was father
10 The wish: "Well, John Bull is going TO give us
ID Of a licking" Another one, who had been
in a very important consulate and who had been
forty years iran the U. States, said TO me: Il
used 10 pride myself upon my country; but it has
become 50 justly disrepulable, that am ashamed
TO hail from i, any longer" would sooner part
with my right arm than extend il TO .. such cTea-
lures in spirit OF brolhefly regard 1t is impera-
live upon Congress 10 enact law, when it con-
venes 10 compel absenees who have been ont of
The country longer than FIVE years, TO return i'm.
mediaely, on pain Of orieiling their citizenship;
Silly, babbing maspies, should not be permitted