Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-12-30
RICHMOND DAILY WING
TUESDAY MORNING, DscEnBER 10, Uses
OREGON AND WAR.

We copy the judicious and truly enlightened
article which follows from the Charleston Mercu-
nv. paper apart from the peculiarities of South
Carolina politics, always enlightened, moderate
and high principled. We will try to find place
to morrow FOL. the important analysis of the sup.
posed English ministerial views, to which the
Mercury audcs. We would fain hope that the
Mercury was the exponent of the views of Sen.
ators Calhoun and McDuffie, and that their in
fluence in the Senate would be exerted to pre-.
serve the pacific relations Of the country, matter
Of no difficulty il it be sought in the right spirit
ofno difficulty, even having regard in the first
place, to the most punctious scruples OF national
honor But the Mercury has of late, exhibited an
elevation Of thought and superiority TO mere parti.
views, much surprising the South Carolina
Senator's as those Senator's outrank the Mercury
IN position.
The true difficulty in the way Of pacific and
honorable adjustment of the Oregon question is
the ambition Of presidential aspirants. striving to
carve political capital out of this and every other
prominent question which comes up before the
country. it is the very Of our institutions.
and the cause which will finally lay them low, that
ambitious men seize upon and appropriate to their
can only be wisely settled when approached in
he most passioness and disinterested singleness of
spirit. There is ever in this country large par.
" ready for with England, with or without a
usiiiable pretence, from hereditary hatred alone:
that party is swelled by the population of
our immense frontiers, Atlantic, Gulf Paci6cl
Lake and Inland, who would look to war as the
descent Of golden shower among them! The
hundreds of millions that with England will
cost, will find its way to their pockets. War
with them is a mercantile speculation. Again.
there are legons, oilers, loafers. who having no.
thing to lose, hope to gain something by turning
ihe world upside down.
These constitute the elements, and the power.
fu elements, OF the war par,y-powerful in mum.
bers, powerful in energy. They form the nucleus
of a strong Presidential party, which Mr.. Cass
observing, has stolen a march upon buchanan
Allen Il Co., and placed himself at their head
Who doubts that in moving his resolutions, and
making his speech, he was looking more at the
Presidential year of ls4s than at the defences of
the country
As TO the point Of honour made by Mr.. Cas-
aud alluded to by the Mercury, what can be more
preposerous! We make three several offers TO
England which she rejects 1--WE rejecting hers in
iurn) we then make a fourth offer less favorable
to her than the three preceding, and because she
rejects that of necessity (baving rejected more
advantageous propositions, not sufficiently Just
TO herr it becomes point Of honour that we should
have all of Oregon, or appeal to arms! Could
ihere be a greater absurdity, more stupid def.
milton of honour! Can they who insist upon it,
really think as they say, and possibly conceive,
that the honour of the American people requires
them 10 be fools, and TO tits al wind millsl
These gentlemen clearly did not study honour in
the school of Bayard and Sir Philip Sidney, whose
humanity and disinterestedness shone even more
conspcuously than their vaor and punctilio.
A distinguished gentleman of this city has a
plaza 10 suggest to Mr.. Polk, for settling the diff
Guilty with England after the method sometimes
observed in Heroic times, that is by single combat
between him and Prince Albert A plan which
we presume the courage Of the Duck River Co.
lionel will eagerly embrace! But in advance of
chat plan, we express the confident opinion, that
Messrs. Webster and Rives, negotiations were re,
opened, could settle all difficulties with British
commissioners in five days, to the observance of
the honour and the entire satisfaction of both ma
tons: This however, is exactly what Presidential
asPrants do not wish.
The Charleston Mercury says:
ave have copied from the N. Y Courier s Enquirer,
extended analysis Of several leading articles OF the Lon
don Tines which suspected very plausible ground.
have emeBaied from the British Cabinet They possess
therefore peculiar interest These articles show
danger which peaceful relations exposed and
the with which they might he preserved The Brit
sab government desires compromise and settle the dis
pute-but IL has determined to aggression with
On side all is extreme We give our opponent
every adynnoge-we hasten TO load ourselves with every
prejudlce-we defiance the opinion OF the wOrldwe
mock pretensions TO be peace.lOvng nation. After
having occupied Oregon IN common with England
thrty years. the President declares IL oil belongs and
Mr. DOuelas IN the House offers resolutions affirming he
and rcpelnR the suggestion Of arbiuaiOp. After ha
wing offered England adjustment less favorable than
had three times offered before. Mr.. Cas- in the Senate
makes point Of honor that should recsde
ineb from that Other Senators use language foil Of men
and INSULT England. II we recede from
Offer without disgrace neither Engsnd from hers; and
thus u made grow cat Of the penceablo
occupancy Of obscure ct the earth by
nouons in which neither take step towards ADJUST
nent without being dishOnored! THIS is monsuous!"