Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-27

hey oil encroacnmenl; American Democracy
: claims all, seeks all, will brook no interference
from Europe in the affairs Of the American CONT
nent declares since the acquisition Of Texas that
the whole of Mexico, FIVE or six times larger than
France, shall also be Incorporated and that the
turn Of Canada must soon come, for the keys Of
the navigation of the st. Lawrence must not be in
: European hands. The passion and scheme of
possessing all Oregon follow Of course. The nu-
merous that repair thither are like ennis
: saries commissioned to seize the promised
land. American national vanity is fattered by
this boundess aggrandzement; it believes that as
Mexico has been humbled so may England be,
and it goats with the notion that the British pow
er was twice vanquished before. The folks of
the West insist tina! Oregon, to the last acre, must
belong to their Union and, unfortunately, Presi-
dent Polk adopts at present this odd conclusion.
Thus the British and American Cabinets are very
widely separated in opinion the concern of mere
interest has become secondary, the point Of honor
rises and rules. Sir ROBERT PEEL and Lord
T ABERDEEN equally pledged; their declarations
are not all. England has gone further; she has
continued, with outlay of many millions, mari
time preparations, at which France took umbrage
mented to the most formidable degree Of power.
AT this moment she is prepared for any issue she
has taken her precautions as if war might break
out in ls46 The United States, on the contrary,
: have not prepared themselves for this fearful
/. event." The Debats pleases, besides, to repre-
bend President PoLK's assertion of title in his in
augural message, and to anticipate persistence on
his part in his forthcoming message 1t ventures to
assert that he peremptorly rejected British propo-
sails of arbitration, and has been determined in his
conduct and doctrines by electoral plans. 1t en-
ploys the substance Of what the American adverse
ries of the Administration have adduced without
proof, concerning bargains with the West for re-
election, and so forth. Advantage, let me add, is
constantly and eagerly taken on both sides of the
channel of the hyperboles Of the New York He
raid, the invectves Of the Tribune, and the Wash
ington correspondence of the Journal Of Commerce.
The whole is turned against all American insttu-
tons, character, rights, and advantage, in what
ever dispute or discussion.
| The Paris Ministerial organ proceeds to depre-
cate rupture between the United States and
England as calamity for the civilized world, and
as likely to bring about general war Of the mari
time nations. But, " whatever may be the language
itof Mr. Polx, the cause Of peace is not hopeless.
T. If the rupture take place, New York, New Or
leans and Boston will be strictly blockaded, their
commerce ruined while, however, American
cruisers would do incalcuable mischief to Bril-
fish trade, covering, it does, all the oceans.
What would be the condition of Manchester on
the failure of American cotton! And how the
+ Southwestern States of the American Union, fore
l. seeing that cotton is their main growth and re-
sourcel What might not be the shock TO the
+ Constitution itself of the Union? We may,
therefore, trust that courageous orators will be
found to utter the accents of truth and open the
eyes of the American people," The manifesto
of the Debats terminates with the wish that the
British sensbty of national honor will be silenc-
ed by the immense risks Of war; and that the
United States, from kindred calculations, will de-
eide for peace, even if President Polk should be
SO blind or headlong as to pronounce the impru-
dent language which has been promulged be-
forehand'
1t appeared to me well to furnish you with the
foregoing abstract including portions Of the text of
this rather tardy exposition of authoritative SEN
tence The Opposition editors will fight to-mor-
row, more or less, on the American side. The
Americans in France expect from President Polk
an exposition Of fact right, and policy and gene
raj fitness of tone, speech, and impressions, which
will sufficiently refute and discredit the fallacies
and calumnies hitherto propagated in England and
France. Although one party, or certain men Of the
United States may be for the nonce not merely ex-
cepted, but even graciously commended by the wri-
tiers and orators who thus assail the Democracy
and its elect nevertheless be assured that the spirit,
motives, and objects Of the defamation extend to
the whole American people and poty. One Sec
ton of the Union is obnoxious the other the
game is to use one against the other for the COM
mon ruin. We have in the London papers of the
day before yesterday, the advices from your side of
the water by the steamer Caledonia. The explana-
tory article of the Washington Union has some
what stilled the waves in England, and it will serve
to abate the war-panc in France.
There is nothing to-day of consequence from
Algeria. II is surmised that Marshal BUeEAuD
meditates some grand stroke, Of which we shall
hear at the opening of the Chambers on the 9th
instant Our weather continues mild and moist,
The vintage in France is deficient in quantity and