Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-11-10
THEUNlTEDSrATES ANDENGLAND.

~ HNtNN
The following from Wilmer * Smiths Euro
pcai Times of the 18th October:
The dock yards and naval arscnals Of Eng
land exhibit extraordinary activity a, the pres
ent moment. In many OF the outports steam
irigates oi the largest class have been ordered
by the government, To be ready by a fixed p
rod, according To the contracts. and the build
es have been bouul down IN heavy penalties
to have them, like the old Commodore in the
song, lit Tor sra" at the required time. The
contractors have recently been informed b,
The Admiralty that the penalties will be rig-
IDLY enforced IN the event of failure as 10 the
time. In addition, surveys are being made
ut the coast and oil the outports. and prepara-
tions are also being made for %rlacing the
whole ina position OF the greatest strength
and imprcguability. But tie natural inuui-
ny Is, whence this worlikc aciiviiy} What is
the occasion that demands in We are at
peace with the world; our shiys ride quietly
M every sea; the foreign relations of the coun-
Try wear "A pacific appearance. With all
the great powers of Europe we are apparent
Y on the most friendly tcrms-not II ripple
dIstuIb s TIE almne of the ocean wave.
What. then, can he in the wind which in
dlcates this strange and unnatural persistence
of the storm With the exception of the
misunderstanding in the Rio dc Ia Plata. To
which France, equally with ourselves, is a par
~, there Is nothing p0lpable to vulgar ken
III thts Salvanlc movement n the arSsndls and
ON the seaboard. Those who profess To- see
farther into a milestone han their neighbours,
point to the Far West"-to Oregon. for a
solution OF the mystery. President Polk. say
they, is determined To have the disputed ter
ritory irrespective OF the consequences. The
spirit oil has inaugural address, the same au-
l%horlties aid, ~aCtu0tes the President and his
democratic Congress. The comparative weak
ness of the Wings in the House, as we'll as i'm
the Senate, and the strong feelings which in
1uence a large portion OF the citizens of the
Uni,edStates on this question, are adduced
as potent reasons for the arming, and the prep
a%ratlons Tor onslaught, of which the dock
yards OF Britain al The present moment give
indubitable proof. The preparations to Which
we allude are unquestionably matters Of fact:
whether the inference dcd"ccd thcrclrom be-
correct, is another question. But the quid-
nuncS, who are never at q loss for reasons ON
which To build a speculation, however alb
surd, instance the fact oil Mr.. Everett having
declined an invitation TO a public demonstra-
ton in Boston, on his return home, because
he could not speak except ot vague g%cner0li-
ties, without violating official confidence, as
II proof that the relations or tue two countries.
Arising out OF the Oregon. are critical. and
''N' ~ W. nv h0A dlAi4 lu NN-N u1.
We mention these circumstances. beCaus,
they float on the surface OF political aud con
rcrsatlonar. gossip, without at all endorsing
them with our own identity or approval.-
Our own opinion l., that q fight about the
Oregon territory would be one If the most
reckless and insane exhibitions that the civil
ned world ever witnessed: and vet the fact
staTes every one in the face, that the Govern
ments OF both countries are committed To
i. Inns Itng- "a -- T.
the other. Both Governments are i'm a false
position. The Presidents uncalled for loaU-
clousness, denoting, as it did IA iortgone con-
cluslon, produced the warlike explosion Of thc
present and the proNimate Premiers-Pe, and
Russell-in the House of Commons. The two
Governments stand pretty much in the posi-
ton OF the yarlets who represent the rival
houses OF Capulct and Montague in the play
do you bite your thumb at me SIR 'is
the law on our side if | say ycs?" If both
parties give and take ID little, all will be well:
II, ON the contrary, neither will recede from
ms position, the sword, it is not improbable
nay, it is more likcly-will be drawn. we
hope for the best. "War is a bloody exchange
OF ideas at the cannon's mouth,'' some one
SAYS. We had much rather see am able and
clcar-headed dipiomatist like Mr.. M'Lane.
exchange his ideas" with our quiet and by no
means e~Xacting Foreign Minister. Lord Aber-
deen, TO some purpose-a pacific one. we
mean-than TO see England brisiling with
bdyonets, and America rampant with Jury
,,Cry Jury, and let slip the dogs of war; may
do very well Tor the adventurous and desper-
ate-ior those who have something 10 cain.
and nothing to loose, in the bloody cx-
change; but every friend of his species i'm
both countries, every lover of his land. wheth-
or BRUSH or American, will desire a peaceabIe
termina lion of the dispute.
The confirmed intelligence of these extra
ordinary preparations in England will not be
without It's elect i'm this country. There must
be preparation on this side of the water too
II the President intends to take the rssnonsi.
billty OF recommending the immediate occu-
patton oil the Oregon, might lac not i'm the
meantime take the responsibility of ordering
measures oi defence on our sea coast citics3
There is not time for elaborate Qualifications
where those structures have not been erected
-as at Sellers Point for instance. Yet steam
batteries are practicable. The safety of the
whole country approachable through the
chesapeake requires that there should be
heavy steam batteries at Hampton Roads TO
act III conjunction with Fortress Monroe aud
Old Point to defend the entrance into the
Chesapeake. Other batteries would be need
ed Tor the special defence of the Pdtapsco and
oil the Potomac. These batteries constructed
with great strength, massive and heavy. and
T capable OF moving from point to point as cho-
zee oi position might require, would b. ycry
effective. They should act in connection with
a hxcd fortress under the guns of which they
might find protection ia an exigcncy. as other
wise they would be liable TO be cut of.
From time TO time The Government has ne
elected the important duty OF putting our
coast Ia a proper state OF defence. Annually
Tor the last six or seven years the Reports rom
the Engineer Department have urged the
construction Of a Fort at Sellers Point Flats
for the protection of Bdltimore-yet annually
Tor the same period the recommendation has
been passed over. Other points have been i'm
like manner neglected. 1t may be, as we have
said, too late NOW TO remedy these omissions
10y supplying the delenccs 50 long left uncon-
siructed. The best substituIions tllat can b.,
avdIled Of must be- rcsOrcl to.