Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-05-31
FROM THE RICHMOND TIMES ASD COMPILER.
HONOR AND PEACE.

We have been reminded by the fredericksburg Recorder
that ought to regard the honor Of country much
its peace We freely admit it. But we happen to be Of that
number who think the honor of the United States to be pre-
served by bullying England and daring her us on
the field Of battle the United States Journal and other de-
mocc papers have been doing yet by seeking needless
and imaginary of offence which may be honoraby adj
usted without appeal but by sedulousy avoiding
which may lead into difficulties with other nations,
and if rights nfnged by giving the offending nation
fair opportunity Of peaceaby reressng the injury At the
me should be the last to submit any violation Of
rights which should be amply aoned for Our great
national policy has been proclaimed the establish
ment Of our independence That policy peace Weighy
induced forehes declare il the necessary
policy Of republics Experience has fully aested the wisdom
of their declaration.
If man, urged by principle of obedience to the com
mandments Of the Christian Scriptures, declares that he will
not consent to set them at naug by engaging in personal
combat with another he, of course, has the right and Is
Obliged in conscience to take that position but that
guilty Of dishonor if he wantony insult other men, and
mts greater magnitude than that Of the nsuted party
who promptly avenges the insult The principle may be
justly applied to national conduct Urged by the highest
sderatons of humanity, well by view the perma
hence OF nsitu the wises Of statesmen in their
management of the Government have proclaimed that the
United States desire peace with all nations that they will re-
main neutral during the contests Of other nations and if
be forced upon hem will seek make defensive rather than
offensive, Standing this ground ii is duty, peo
pie, to speak guadedy and temporarily When sup
posed rights in conflict with the claims other Powers it
becomes us to negotiate fairly and firmly, and embaass
the subject with clustering declarations II in the end our
undeniabe rights be disputed and Just settlement can be
made, then the will arise where general policy Of
peace must yield 70 the absolute nooes-i.y g =.
then yd inch Of territory 10 an unjust and
iniqutous demand War; with all its horrors is preabet
national disgrace .
But we disposed to believe that such contingency can
properly arise in the present age of the world The very
length Of the unexamped of general peace has
made its continuance only the necessary That saga
cous monarch, Louis Philippe who came to the throne of
France after that unhappy country had been drenced with the
blood of its people in the of the Revolution the Consul
late, and the Empire, has, with wisdom, maintained the
peace Of his kingdom and thereby immensely aggandzed the
prosperity Of France England has failed perceive that
her policy is the Although superior all other nations
in the power and magncence of her navy, is chiefly her
commerce which constitutes her preeminence. Peace
senia to the prosperity of that with the
most insignificant Power would be serious obstruction its
prosecution.
We therefore believe that none Of the nations Of the globe
will go to war nconsdeately and England least of ALL To
what conclusion brought by this belief Is il that we
may safely boast Of extraordinary prowess and in our
conceited disdan, dare the British Lion contest with the
American Eagle Far otherwise. We should be convinced
that England in her negotiations with us wishes terminate
them amcaby rather than with open breach of our friend
y relations We should regard her equally sincere with
us IN setting up her claims In this question Of the Oregon
territory, especially the actual right the country involved
In great obscuy Both parties claim by discoveries made by
navgators who is confessed did regard themselves as a
curing the title by discovery Both nations claim by occu
pancy and is well known that both have actually occupied
the territory treaty in force actually providing for
the Jtnt occupation This treaty alone acknowledge
ment from that the English have some right Such being
the facts, cannot imagine where conflicting claims
could be more properly compromised by negotiation The
English have already offered compromise the 49h de-
gree OF latitude until il meets branch Of the Columbia, and
thence down to the mouth Of that river We prepared
TO say that Government wrong in rejecting this pro-
position but the offer itself shows that the British Govern
ment do not insist upon their claim TO the whole territory and
haiti heya
We sincerely that the administration, in the conduct
IF this negotiation which has been made by exrnsc causes
o become delicate and difficult than was at all necessary
will have proper regard TO the interests Of the people and
will earnestly cndeavor TO avoid that highest crime of which
Government can be gulty-that of involving nation in
IN unnecessary ss.. =. -...-l-t-gss.