The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-30
lMPRUDENT AND UNWIsE.

the friend of psace?" and we then succnctly stated
the course whichthe American government had pur-
sued in respect to the highly interesting and much
agated question presented in what is properly de-
the Oregon controversy. Wethen affirm
ed, what we think the whole history of this soon
troversy" will bear out in asserting that the course
of our government had been characterized by dis.
position which manifested the most earnest desire
to bring the Oregon controversy to peaceful termi-
nation. This course on our part did not involve a
gross sacrifice OF American rights and Of the nation
oil honor, WHILE if our propositions had been acceded
to, it would have given incontestabe proof on the
part Of Great Britain that she was animated by
spirit as equitable and as pacific.
II does seem to u.s. whatever honest hesita-
ton there may have been in any quarter of our
country, or among any opposed to the administra.
ton of Mr.. Polk, and the system of opinions en-
braced by the President that since the publication
Of the diplomatic correspondence in which our title,
and the ,oant of any just one on the part Of Great
Britain, had been powerfully demonstrated by
Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Calhoun, that hesitation
noto, in the belief of our clear and unquestionabe'
rights, cannot, in due candor, be justified
We have not unfrequently, since the presentation,
from the high sources to which we have referred.
of the American argument for our right to the
"whole ofOregon," heard acknowledgements made by
very determined opponents Of the present admins
traon, of the conclusveness in all its extent, OF
the case as put for the United States by our two
Secretaries Of State.
But on the other hand, we have witnessed with
modification mingled with surprise, not to say dis
gust, the efforts which have been made from day to
day by certain newspapers of character and inAu-
ence, to Undue this nation with the belief
that there is an unhaowed war spirit perva-
ding the councils Of those who stand forward
the avowed supporters Of the administration
From the anxious endeavors Of persons vho
are thus signalling their zeal for peace, it lis most
obvious to our apprehension that much of the mis-
chief so industriously sought to be prevented, will
probably proceed For in all these appeals to that
spirit of moderation wherein the guarantee of peace,
it is said, must he found, we always discover that
our own country, with a laborous ingenuity, is
placed in the wrong An Englshman himself,
whose amor patrie in its arlor, had ripened into
feeling hostile to every foreign country, could
upon the United States by many who glory in the
protection Of the "stars and the stripes" of the
Union. How few paragraphs are to be found, in
dited by any wing or neutral editor, who has
been conspicuously loud for peace, and ambitious
ly vehement against war and its "terrors,o in
which firm, and generous, and hearty nspi-
alton escapes for the writer's own "nativc
Iand!" We will not say by any means that
this course results from restitution Of patriot
ism in these writers. On the contrary, it is char-
able, and perhaps just, to ascribe to them senti.
ments of loyalty to the government under which
they live. But what we mean TO say 49, that engaged
as such persons are in the gratuitous and unneces.
sary business of warning, day in and day out, the
President and the legislative authorities against
rar, or the adoption ofany measure which may prec-
plate war, the course itself, as matter Of
fact puts those thus employed in the predicament Of
seeming to be in opposition to the conceded rights
Of their, own country. Such editors always argue
upon 5he implication that, if hostilitIcs should
break out between the United States and Great
Britain, the responsibility for that calamity will
devolve inevitably upon this country, and those
at the head of public affairs. To establish this
favori,e hypothesis, ingenuity is tortured to an
end so preposterous as the making Of our own
fright" cause appear the "worse."
We must say--and entertaining, as we do COM
paravely, little respect for the editors Of the
National Intelligencer-that they have been princi-
pally instrumental in debating this pernicious
course of policy, upon which we have from time to
lime felt il our duty to animadvert. But recently
that journal seems to have been little stricken with
some little conjunction, and will, commendable
discretion, which we should be very much pleased to
see employed by the subordinate journals who GUS
omarily obey its voice, the tone of it's editorials
has been changed.
But the journal of Commerce." whose signif-
cantfname indicates peace for the merchant sat all
hazards" has become rdiculously pugnacous in its
purpose to keep England and the United
States from ending their quarrel in war. The
Journal in its lectures upon war, preserves its pacific
emper toward those whom it assumes, in this par
ocular, to be its adversaries with control equal to
hat of Sir Anthony Absolute himself. All who
hall not be willing to give up, if need be, without
my preliminary opposition, the whole Of Oregon to
England, submit its disposition to the arbitration
,fthe "crowned heads" are inconsiderate madmen,
Who regard not the shedding Of blood. This is about
he sum total Of the anti-war sermons lately preach
ID in the editorial columns Of the Journal.
Let us see a little in detail what that paper has
'ad by way Of replication to some causc structures
IF the Providence Journal. The Providence paper
Ipbraids its namesake in New York for having
,ided in the election Of Mr.. Polk--to whom is as
ribbed the design Of punging the country into
war. The Commercial" paper, for all that il has
oeen preaching against war, singularly enough de-
,lares that the head of the administration is for
peace and upon that proposition, il is supposed the
message supplies corroboratng proofs.
Notwithstanding these admissions, and although
nothing incompatible with the recommendations OF
he President has been done or proposed by the pc.
tcal friends of Mr.. Polk in Congress, yet we find
The Journal of Commerce INDUCING In train of re.
aections which implicate party not disposed to 60
an inch beyond the line of policy marked out by