The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1845-02-21
raE OREGON BILL

,evieY of the proceedings oil tho Ninth
Week Of this Session Of Congress, has tho
Fo!losing smong other remarks;
The purposes of the pending bill have
attracted less Of our attention. than the
tone oi the debate upon it, during which
there has been further development OF
that unbounded lus, for territory, and that
passion for extending the dominion OF this
Government not only without regard 10
consequences, but as though counting them
which we have had occasion 10 remark up +
on as having characterized the debate up /
on the " Annexation question. In the /
debate, Il was the hostility of Mexico that |
was defed; in the debate upon Oregon, It |
IS that Of Grea, Britain. We do not know
that the gentlemen who have thus taken
occasion TO show their contempt for the |
consequences Of war with either Power
are entirely serious IN their declarations;
mos, earnestly we hope tina, they may not
be bat We confess that we, who have
stood at the helm Of this paper Thirty
years ago. through a war Of comparative
Nv short duration with one of these Pow
ers, have nc desire TO witness a renewal OF
such scenes as no man can recall without
thrill of joy that our country and insIi
tutions came safely out of them. We can
not bear 10 hear 50 painful an alternative
as war spoken of with leyity or indl.ier-
ence; knowing, as we do, what a scourge
and calamity i would be TO the nation,
and not more TO others than 10 those who,
without experience, and therefore without
Judgment In the matter, seem 10 make SO
Ugh, Of il.
"He tests al scars who never felt wound"
What most Of all surprised US was the
discovery that there are persons, even 10
Congress, who cherish a rancorous feeling
towards Great Britain, on grounds OF ear.
Her date than the honorable war OF lol2,
and the not less honorable peace between
the two nations which followed that war.
One or two gentlemen honestly and open
~ avowed this bitter enmity and IT is pos
s,ble that other gentlemen of the same
party may entertain the same sentI-
ments. We sincerely trust, however,
that these declarations are to be regard
ed only as expressions Of individual sentl-
ment that this enmliy is not very widely
diffnsed and, abuve all, let US hope that
!, is not to become a party principle, and
thus to control TO deslinies of the Republic.
Wo 10 the nation that allows itself to
cherish rancors which honorable war cam
not giut, nor peace, however fair, eSlin.
guish As little as a man can nation
safely give the reius 10 settled animosi,ies
The man who does i, will speedily forfeit
his happiness, II not his good name, and
even his personal security; and the nation
that chsrishes such passions will becom
their victim in its own atftrs-will be mad
the dupe of mady. ambitious men, who 1
secure dangerou, power 10 themselves
will play on this popular inirniiy and urg
on the country 10 qnarrels disastrous wlth
cut, and finally f.tal to is own freedom
within,
There exists. perhaps has ever existed
no ration whose interests were or are $
much those Of peace as ours. Framed a
our Government is, 10 the restraint of a.
those energies which, in order 10 make
formidable abroa must have made il dar
eerols a, home, our whole organization .
society is emlnen;ly defensive only.
Indeed, las liberty must ever be systei
Of precautIon aglinst rulers and as, Q
the other hand, military spirit Is on
which strengthens hem, by submitting
obedience, so that there may be that publ
force which results from the unity Of a
action and effort under single wiIl-so
despotism is Ear ft'er Or offensive war, 70
conquest, THIN free State. Nay, whatev
er Government engages in frequent an
successful contests Of aggression must pre-
senlly become despoiism for while wa
lasts, almost unlimited powers must be ex
ercised, and freqlen, wars habituate PEG
pie 10 submission, by placing every citizen:
life and fortune al the disposal Of the ru
Ter. This IS TO free people one Of the
dangers Of . spirit ofunjust aggrandizemcnt
II was vel and finely said by Mr.. JEFF
ferson, that war was depIorabe game a
which both parties lost. the vIctois some
times even more than the vanqulshed.-
The people, at least, except in defensive
war, must ever be iosers-iheir rulers the
only gamers. A successful war mas
strengthen the Government, may even en-
rich some privileged class that WELD il, !
but il must ever cost The mass of peopl
dear IN life, in property, and finally in thei
liberties. These are surely a heavy pric'
TO pay for the qualification Of nationa
jealousy or dislike, or for the vanity Of ;
few mems reno"n, bought by the blood 0
multliudes who perish obscurcly, leaving
their children 10 become the slaves Of per
haps the very man Cor whose success Tho
fathers fell.
Among the many wise things left by the
lllustrioUs Madison in his writings, We
know none SO just 10 lis sentiments or st
finely expressed as the following passage
which we find in his i" Letters Of Ieyidi.
ns." Nothing could well be more oppor
tune to The subject Of which We are speak.
'ng.
"War is, in fact, the true nurse OF Exc.
ediise aggrandizemeni In war a physi.