Mobile register and journal. [volume] (Mobile, Ala.) 1841-1849, 1845-05-03


Of the question, with an uncompromising zeal beyond
any thing we have yet on this side of the Al |
ianic. The London Times Is but a tlife more
British in its admiration Of British craftsmanship,
and decidedly less anii-American IN its denuncia-
lions of the position Of The American Executive.
We are told that "speeches in Parliament are
dignihed and statesman like-thus pre-
sentlog striking contrast the biaggart style |
Of Mr. Polk" and that "whatever may be the |
termination of this affair." the existence of the pres
ent difficulty is attributable to the impudencs, igno'
JAMES X. PoLKv'
These are very strong terms for an American press
To ewpl1y against an American President, for his
course In national controversy with loreIgH peO-
pie. Domestic controversies often separate us
into parties, bitterly assaliug each other, aud
times nerciessly arragning in power, but there
few among US, we hope, whose first impulses do
lead them nstincvely to support Americans,
and especially the representatives Of our country
when haushtilY arraigned by other governments.
When we are compelled by regard for truth
that must not be compromised 10 do violence to these
natural affections and admit that our country is in
the wrong, that public agents have justly
posed themselves the rebuke of our opponents. ii
must he on Testimony vigorously sifted and admitted
with humiu and regret, rather than with the glee
of a part, triumph over political adversary.
Ii gives pleasure 10 end that the Advertiser,
reversing this rule of patriotic preference, takes the
side Of the British their attacks upon the Presi
dent and To do 90 is compelled to sanction the most
gross miss ateInents of what Mr.. POLK did say, and
implicitly to the whole Of the British side Of
the controversy Party violence, even in the worst
federal opposition TO the last war, rarely il ever,
went beyond this demonstration. Let us look al the
facts. What is il in Mr.. Folks inaugural which
raised The ire of the British Ministry? What are the
words which the Advertiser defines. as "mpudence,
ignorance, asinine stupidity. or something worse7'
In what way, TO qioe the Advertiser again, has Mr.
POLK "aspped out Of his may to make thrust al Eng
land, and an dong so made statement uhch cannot
be sustained By The faets?" We answer these ques-
ton by quoting the whole of the passage in the In
ausural which refers 10 the occupation of Oregon;
''Nor will it become in IA less degree my duty 10
" asse and maintain, by all constitutional means,
' the right OF The United States that portion of
" territory which lies beyond the Rocky mountains.
" Our title 10 the country of the Oregon is 'cear
" preparing TO perfect that title, by occupying it
" with their wives and children. But eighty years
" ago, our population confined on the west by
" the ridge OF the Alleganes. Within that period
It within the lifetime, might say, Of OF my
" heaFers-our people, increasing to many millions,
" have filled the eastern valley of the NJ ss ssppi;
" ANONYMOUSLY ascending the Missouri TO its head
"springs; and are already engaged in establishing
" the blessings OF seligoyerninent in valleys, OF
90 which the rivers flow 10 the Pacific. The world
helulds uRdceul his nl Ihe indu nT
/" our emgrants. To us belongs the duty Of protect
ing them, adequately, wherever they may he upon
| g. our soil. The jurisdiction of our laws, and the
benefits OF our republican institutions, should he
extended over them IN the distant regi0 which
" they have selected for their homes. The increas-
ing facilities OF intercourse will easily bring the
States, OF which the formation in that part of our
territory cannot be long delayed within the sphere
I" OF our tederatiye Union. In the meantime, every
obligation imposed by treaty or conventional stpu-
lations, should be sacrediy respected"
We desire every word in this extract to be care
fully read, as ii was evidently prepared with great
caution, and then we Challenged specification Of The
proofs OF the Advertisers charge that the President
"stepped out of his way" made ga thrust AT Eng
| iand' at all asserted any "fact" which is even
doubted by Americans! Is our title TO Oregon''clea
and unqueIsonablel" Does the Advertiser deny il?
viii he openly say that title is not good to a
"portion" Of territory beyond the Rocky mountains?
Are not emis rants IN thousands peopling the valley
| "wh their wives and chldren?'' Is il not a duty
to protect them, adequately, "wherever they may be
| upon our soil?'' Should laws be extended over
them, in any region however ''distant' u which we
| have ttle1 What Then is the position herein taken
which the Advertiser Tells "cannot be sustained
by facs?" Have title, or having title, are
we not bound 10 exercise jurisdiction and extend
protection TO our own emigrans, established our
soil? Let the Advertiser speak out plainly
What has the President said in this passnge, which
is chargeable with being unirue and wan,only said
for the purpose of insulting Great Britain?
But thePresdent is charged with being 'braggart,'
and empo, ing "bIustering" language, which de-
serves to be branded before the country "disgrace
lu" "imprudenee, ignorance, asnine STUPIDITY, or
something ,oorse." The Inaugural may here answer
for itself. There is quoted above What the Presi-
dent says is that title is ''clear and unquestiona-
6le, that 1t will be his duty 'to assert and maintain,
By all constitutional means, and that all the steps
leading 10 it, 'ererv obligation imposed BY treaty or
conventional stipulation, should be Sacrediy respected"
And This finn, guarded language, without syllable
Of menace, single fpilhe, adjective to
quahf, the simplest meaning of the few unadorned
words. in winch right and duty stated, is the
basis OF the overflow of indecent abuse which we find
IN the Advertiser accompanied by Qualification Of
the superior dignity, courtesy and craftsmanship of
Lord Aberdeen and Sir Robert Peel! 1t WAS inn
possible 10 have used fewer unpretenng
words, to express quiet determination, than these
which our contemporary holds up, to deaounce, in Or
der thereby TO exal, most undeservedly. superor-
" i"r the British fsaronet and Earl, over an
American PRESIDENT, whose ca line il is to be de- |
| moCrat.
q" Is Impossible 10 resist the impression that our
''"tSS views of ,helmugural, its weakness,
blusier and folly, we're derived from the British
speeches, which are the subjects of his adnr,,ion
With the inaugural before hun for month. h.. e,;lsd
TO discover these traits until thew war. ,,o;.,.1
by the foreign adversaries Of 'cear AMI unoues
',onable" American tight. In his haste n c,,,,,.
their lead and assail the Executive of his own ,o,
try, he has allowed himself carelessness of asso.
tion and nfaInma tory violence of partizan den,
citation, which we feel sure will be little approved by
the mass even Of his own party friends. Rude, IN
measured, interruptions abuse Of Mr.. POLK for such
passage as that quoted, quietly but firmly ex-
pressed, and fully in accordance with the clear
convictions OF nine ten,hs "A, ieast of the american
peop'e WIN do him much less harm than those whose
political blindness permits them to use il for party
! weapon.