Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-05-09
THE RIGHT splRlr!-oREGoN.

we are clad 10 see The Lexington (hy) I'd
server, (Whig,) published at Mr.. Gays aoo,'
dropping its party character for The time aho'
,honab grumblpg liule at Mr. Folks course
avowing lis firm resolution TO MAINTAIN 'i'e i,s"''
and honor OF the nation, il, unfortunately, an nc
po,;ations should tail. The Observer declares,
that our right 10 Oregon "resls upon an lhues-
lrnctiLe basis" Mr. Polk conceives The same
opinion, and why should he not express Iia' OPP
mon, in behalf Of our rights
"Whateyer may be thought Of the propriety OF
The course pursued by Mr. Polk in his Inaugural
Address, upon this subject, whilst II was SUI
under negotiation, We are wholly at loss 10 know
how il is thai Lord Aberdeen, Lord John Russeii
and Sir Robert Peel can slate with such unqua-
lifted bodness, that their title 10 the oregon -
clear and indisputdJie. We do mol profess 10 uii-
dersland in full the various grounds Of lille as SCI
up by both Governments but so lar as our e1a-
animation goes We have come 10 the conclusion, ~
which we believe we are fortified by every ueii-
can statesman of every party, that the claim OF le
IT, S. is, beyond the reach oil doubt or equivoca-
lion, paramount 10 that OF Great Britain. Whe-
Their the claim is made 10 rest on ancient or mo-
dern discovery and settlement OF whether
il ress upon treaty, we believe that il is snsceplI-
bic of demonstration that the American title rests
upon an mdeslruclbe basis. We will not al
present, enter upon that examination. we sun
hope that an honorable adjustment may be effect.
ed, although from The tone OF The debate IN The
British Parliament, enthusiastically cheered
and acquiescet in by the whole Parliament, u
must be apparent 10 all that The peace oil t.'c
country hangs upon most precarioiis louhda.ioi.
I'VE cannot say that we were nnprepared Tor
this, since The Great Western brought out The
news as 10 the manner in which the annexation
Of Texas was received in England. How lar
that measure has operatedlo produce This waIliRe
demonstration by the British Parliament we
know not; hui unqucsionably il has had us due
weight in blackening with clouds The horizon OIL
our Foreign Affairs. This, as we have before
said, constituted with us one OF The first objections
10 the mad and preciptae course of John lyier,
in the getting up and presentation OF The question
a, the Time he did II was The doing oi what no
wise people ever permit-lhe making Of a mere
1arty queNion out OF a grave foreign international
subject
"Bui be the cause what it may, that has brought
down upon us the united threats and denunca-
lions OF both Great Britain and Mexico, We very
much eaI acting in concert and corporations; and
be our confidence in those who are now al The
head OF affairs ever so limited we deem it The
duty OF us all 10 initiate that policy which Eng
land has always pursued, and which is 50 strl-
kingy developed IN inns very debate upon Ole-
gon, and that is, 10 present an mnbrolcn front as
one people.
"When he rights of The Nation ale invaded lis
territory attacked, or It's honor violated, should
all negotiation fall Gas we trust ii will not and
The sword be made 10 settle the dispute, we doubt
mol The present race will prove true 10 their reyo-
uionary blood, and be found fully able 10 9sfend
and maintam Ame1can soii anil american ionoJ,
either by land or sea, against Great Britain and
he- almost unbounded resources.
although We should have been glad 10 lie
spared this cup and have had no hand in il, and
although il now devolves upon those who sowed
the whirwind 10 direct The Storm yet upon ques-
lions like these and upon occasions like this, 1re
must forget, 1pOSstbc, The part'saa, IN thai brOad
and cnnobiing patriotism, without which il makes
but lille odds where man lives-in Europe or
Amerca-under crowned head, or The Stars and
stripes OF freedom"