Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-11-29
THE VOICE OF THE WEST.
FROM THE CINCINNATI (oHIo) GAZETTE, NOVEMBER IA.
THE OREGON DISPUTE.

THE OREGON DISPUTE
There is no little anxiety among commercial and
political circles in consequence of the turn given of
late to the Oregon question.
Rejecting men of all parties must have observed
that the Executive of the nation and his official or
gans have taken ground on this subject which wan
tonly threatens the peace of the world. Theirs is
a acar policy. They will not declare war nay
more, il may be that they feel assured there will be
no war; but they or, rather, their avowed organ
are doing what they can and all they can 10 pul
Great Britain in position in which war must be
the inevitable consequence of their action
If there be any thing in political action condemn
able, il is conduct like this. Ours is peace DO
Icy; we have and have no other, If we look to
our present or permanent prosperity every en-
ergy we possess, every art, every industrial re-
source, will thrive most and best when we are upon
friendly terms with the whole world. The very
agitation Of these terms in hostile spirit is evil,
and evil only. 1t brings blight upon our national
prosperty mars our industrial action as fatally as
war itself; saggers, if it does not PROSTATE, our
great commercial interests. Now, the men who for
political ends--the party that for party success
would adopt and pursue this course-are as reck-
less of human good madmen on the highway.
Is the great peace interest of the nation so con
temptble that it may be played with in a spirit of
gambling demagogism! Are the blood and trea-
sure OF our people so utterly valueess that they
may be counted football for heardess and ambi-
tous aspirants to sport with? 1t is time that all
such wickedness should be put down, and the rulers
Of the people taught that they may not thus tamper
with sacred rights and important interess--solemn
duties and settled principles--in so light or mad
temper.
But if war be the object of the Administration
and its friends, then is their conduct still more re-
prehensible. Where the necessity of war between
the United States and Great Britain! Whence the
demand in honor, in interest," for brutal display
of bloody ingenuity between the two greatest ma
tons of the earth! What is at stake which justi-
fes, on the part of either, an appeal to arms
Every sentiment and every interest of the age-its
whole Spirits opposed to war. Shall the people
of the Union, then, because their President, in an
evil hour, and when advised by ill-disposed or un-
wise councillors, asserted that our claim to the
whole Of Oregon was " clear and indsputable," say
!" let there be war rather than that the President
shall back out?" Shall the Government of Great
Britain, because its Prime Minister, in answer to
this unfortunate and unnecessary declaration in the
ina ugura of Mr. Polk, declared that England would
not yield an inch of her rights, stand up for war
Yet herein lies, in our opinion, the whole difficulty.
1t were folly in the Observation-Disclosures of the
blacklist dye-in either party, under these circum-
Stances to plunge their nations in war; and wanton-
y waste rivers of human blood for any such trivial
cause, when, amid continued peace, human adj
in both would gladden. the heart of man
and strengthen the hope of the world. What are
.uers if they may bring about such results What
ire Governments if, in the face of man or of hsa-
ven, they may substitute spirit of brutality for
peace bloodshed for fraternal feeling ferocty for
honest and manly strife in the arts of peace, be-
tween Christian and civilized people? They are
literally tamperers with the highest human good
spectators in mans truest happiness and progress
tyrants at heart and in mould and only wanting the
opportunity to glut their vengeance against whom
soever might oppose their within, or lust or ambi-
but marplots and curses. Let us not
in our early youth, for party, for any end, min
ster or support this spirit or rulers of this stamp
If we do what will be our condition in our days of
Does any one say "there is no evidence of the
existence of this war policy at Washington, of
disposition the part of the Administration to play
his part!" Look at their acts-read their Jour-
las. We HAVE TWO CLAIMS TO OREGON" says |
he Ohio Statesman, ,chich ,ciH ouerrMe all
'fhers The first as, WE WANT IL; the second,
WE WILL HAVE IT." Did the robber ever setup
! different plea! Was ever pirate without this ar
yument! Make this motive for action-set this
down as a justifiable plea-in individuals or ma
lions, and the sacredness of home-Gods affairs
our wives and our daughters, our property, would
be profaned and plundered Can il be that any
man is so besotted by party to utter, or any par
ty so brutalized by excess to defend, sentiment
like ths-a sentiment which would send Christian
ty into the grave and revolt the untamed savages OF
the forests of Oregon!
THE GREAT FALLS OF THE POTOMAC.