Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-05-02
Late From England.

nv of our most lnlelngent CI'1e"~
that our relations with England are dest'n'
ed. at no very distant day, to be serious
" disturbed-ti1st war with that power
il almost inevitable. Whether those who
entertain this opinion are correct or not.
can only be ascertained by the lapse OF
time and the development circumstances
Bv the arrival of the steamship Caledonia
al Boston, from Liverpool, we have dates
from England up to the 9Th of April. The
news by the Caledonia derives its chief
indeed almost its only, importance from
the accounts which. it brings us ofthe spirit
in which the statesmen Of the English Lee
gisIature have commented upon that por-
ton of Mr.. Folks Inaugural Address which
refers to the Oregon Territory. In anoth-
er column of this weeks Journal we pre-
sent our readers with an abstract OF the
speeches of Lord John Russell and Sir Rob t
Peel. both eminent British statesmen.
and the latter at the head of the Govern
ment. It will be seen from those speech
es, that the people of Eng and take in high
dudgeon the declaration of Mr.. Polk, that
the title Of the United States to the Terri
tory stretching along the Pacific Ocean,
from the 42d to the 54th parallel of North
Latitude, is clear and undoub!ed. The
closing remarks of Sir Robert Peel are pc
cullarIy significant. "As the subject.
SAYS Sir Robert. chad been brought under
IS discussion, he felt it to be his duty, on
"the part Of the Government, to state, in
"language the most temperate, but at the
"same time the most decisive. that they
consider that we have a right to this
territory of Oregon, which is clear and
UNREASONABLE; that we desire all AMIGA
"ble adjustment Of the differences between
ourselves and the United States; but that
"having exhausted every effort to obtain
ait, if Our rights are invaded, ne are re-
solved and preparedto maintain them. ="
Now this is no idle declaration by rhe-
torical debater in the House Of Commons;
but it must be regarded, at least in effect,
as the solemn dicta of the English Govern
ment We may then, regard it as certain,
that Great Britain will contest our right to
that Territory. For those at all acquaint-
ed with the politics OF that country, we'll
know that the English Ministry are by the
declaration other mouth-piece, the Premier
quoted above, committed on the subject
The London Times newspaper, the poll
teal articles of which are supposed to bs
semi. official, al the close of an article on
this subject, holds the following language;
"Our position in the matter is a defensive
though not altogether passive, one. Eng
land desires an amicabe adjustment; but il
that be rendered impossible, the untractable
policy of her opponent, the aggressive con
duct of the American government, and the un'
paralleled language of the President, suffice
TO prepare US for the other alternative. The
rights of British subjects in the country o
the Oregon must Of course be defended; and
indeed, the British positions there are suffi
ciently strong to defend themselves from am
sudden attack likely to be made upon them
but if any such attack be made by American
citizens, the American government must, 0
course, be held responsible for it, and the PEG
pie of the United States must take the conse
quences.
Now if both Governments persist i,
maintaining an absolute right TO the Ter
ritory west Of the Rocky Mountains, w
do not see how an armed collision between
England and the United States can wei
be avoided. That the people of this coun
try will peremptorily, and at all hazards
assert their absolute and unqualified right Il
that Territory, is beyond doubt. Tha
England will pursue the same course
would appear to be equally certain, if W
are to judge from the decided langaag
held by those who WELD her power
So that, so far as we can see, the chance
for third Punic war, are very fair. Sue
an event, should it take place, must brin
with i! the most disastrous consequence
to the people Of both countries. Englan'
and the United States are the two mos
commercial nations in the world. TIL
Stars and Stripes of Columbia, and tn
Gross OF Britannia are found side by sid
in every portion ofthe Globe. Should
war take place, each of them would be
come the prey Of The other. The CONNER
ciai intercourse between the citizens of,
two countries is much greater, and ofmuc
more importance, than that carried on be
tween any other two nations on the face G
the earth. But still, with whatever feeling
Of regret the American philanthropist an
patriot may view these evils, the necessa
ry incidents of war, yet, when the honor
as well as the ultimate interest of his coun
try are concerned, his bosom will be ami
mated but with one spirit and one deter
mlnation; and that will be 10 stand by, e
ven to the death, that honor and that ult;
mate interest. There is one thing which
pleases us on this subject; as regards on