Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-06-17
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
The probability Of w@ ri.A E.glsnd,
TUESDAY MORNING. JUNE IL. is4s.

first an opportunity Of making, forces tho reluc.
tant conviction upon our minds Of the extreme
probability of war between that country and the
u. States. We are no alarmists and none could
more deplore the occurrence Of that cruel calami.
ty; but il is folly to shut eyes and delude our
Understandings. Wiser were il to prepare for the
exigency, for were il to como in our present state
Of preparation, with rich commerce scattered
over every sea OF the globe, with our inadequate
navy half IN dock and the remainder dispersed
the world, ports deienceless, the first
six months would undoubtedly record an unparal.
leled amount of ruinous calamity. Pending by
itself the Oregon difficulty even if it terminated
ut last in war, might be so managed and protract.
ed to afford time for defensive preparation; but
entangled and embroiled it is in the minds the
two nations If not in reality with the affairs oil
Texas, an adverse turn TO those AFFAIRS and a war
with Mexico could scarcely fail TO lead to sudden
hostilities with Great Britain. Whatever might
he the ultimate results Of such a war, and what.
ever glory might again finally crown the Ameri.
can arms, in our two previous conflicts with
that power, we should at first have greatly the
worst of it. Our commerce would be swept from
the ocean: our ports bockaded, perchance
bombarded: our little navy scattered in every
sea, captured in detail by superior force. Nor
could we retaliate except by the predatory
warfare Of privateering, and by an invasion
of Canada, than by conquering which we
could not well, even in the opinion OF many
British Statesmen, confer greater favor on Eng.
land. The war would be contest to try which
power could infict the greatest injury on the 9TH
er, and rs the theatre would DO the ocean where
the immense superiority OF England is undoubted.
the U. States would be the greatest sufferer.
They've think are greatly deceived who imagine
that Great Britain has more TO lose by war than
we have. She has much to lose indeed, but we
have more. The sacrifice of ou- East India com.
merce alone, which would be the certain conse-
quence OF the capture ofour East India Merchant
men, would probably indemnify her expenses for
the first year OF the war. England has on the
coast of Africa alone 40 vessels of war, mounting
500 guns, and on the coast of Brazil IL, mounting
$50. These would iniallibly capture every home
ward bound American ship from beyond the Cape
of Good Hope, from the East Indies and China:
For, the Washington Constitution well observes:
"The part Of the Atlantic is between Brazil
and Africa and the track ofour vessels from India and the
Pacific, owing TO peculiar winds aud is confined
upon the path Of returning vessels could escape
them The value of our east Of the Cape OF
Good Hope, very twenty-six million OF dollars; and
that Of the Pacific already immense, sud annually grow
ing IN value and importance"
What could we inhict on England by sea or
land to compensate for this single heavy bow
Nothing. The conquestofher whole British posses.
sions from the St.Lawrence to Hudson's Bay would
not indemnify the American People for those
,sr;..s l. r.. I.,,I. L.
are VIGOROUSLY burthen on the Crown. We
should no doubt make havoc on her commerce too,
but to lar inferior extent.
Setting aside the Texas question as a possible
cause of war, let confine our attention for the
moment TO the Oregon difficulty in the same con.
nection.
The farthest Southern limit that the U. States,
we arc given TO understand, can accede to, is the
parallel of 49e. Others, the New Hampshire,
the Illinois, and all the ultra "Democracy," as
they are pleased to style themselves, claim the
whole of the Pacific coast from latitude 42e the adj
mittcd Southern boundary, to the parallel Of $40,
the Southern limit we believe, of the Russian
claims, thus excluding England altogether from
the North West Coast.
The hope Of compromise rests on the boun.
Diary Of 40. This would give the United States
7 degrees Of coast, or 400 miles, from I2s to 49,
and England five, from As to $40. Mr.. Calhoun
is understood to have favored this proposition,
which would have carried the Northern boundary
Ofthc U. States in straight line, or ON parallel
oilatitude from the Pacific, or rather Vancouver's
Island, across the Rocky Mountains to the Lake
of the Woods, our extreme North West limit, East
ngt he cly
our territory compact. (And we should really
have imagined extensive enough too y
But England claims all North of the Columbia
River, and that that River shall be the boundary
between her and the American Pacific Empires.
lf successful this claim, che would deprive the
U. States ola territory stretching from the Rocky
Mountains East to the Pacific West, and from the
mouth Of the Columbia in latitude 46e I2' to 400
or as the "Progressive Democracy" contend, 10
54e.
Whether England will prove 9bdurale and in.
flexible in insisting upon this claim to the mouth
ofthe Columbia as her Southern boundary, is the
doubtful question upon which hang the momentous
issues of Peace or War. IL she does, it canno,
be doubtful what the result will be. War will be
inevitable. II might unhappily grow out OF the
controversy even u she were 10 relinquish this
pretensionI but insisting upon it, no power and no
considerations Of prudence, OF humanity would re-.
strain the American People from resorting to force
to maiu.siq what they believe their unquestiona.
bic right.
That England is at present disposed to insist
upon the Columbia we regret to be under the ne.
eessiy Of believing, though we deyoutly hope that
Il is but for the purposes Of diplomatic policy, and
that she will ultimately roceds from ground
which she cannot defend against the superior
claims Of the U. States.
A late London Atlas, Ministerial print Of
much weight, says:
Pl 10 In we'll informed quarter. that de,ps,eb..
have been addressed by Lord Aberdeen TO the British
ident az Washington, Of the serious anu eapse de-
scnpon aud that replies thence expected by Govern
meni wihthe greatest anxeiy-not 70 say apprehension
Lord Abefdeens object y understood be bring tho a
fair 10 an immedsto settlement Further delay on the par of
America will nOi s believed be submitted tor The Alias
concludes ~ remling that Lord Aberdeen toW isssf
or We mouth q ME Columbia ripeT: the question f psace ~,