The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-07
BRITISH ABUSE OF THE AMERICAN
PRESIDENT.

BRITISH ABUSE OF THE AMERICAN
PRESIDENT
n John Bull has not declared actual war against
the American people, il is not to be denied that the
statesmen and presses in his interest have waged an
ircessant "war Of words" against the American
President. Sir Robert Peel and Lord Aberdeen
first set the example in the British councils, when
thew, by preconeert il We're, Embossed voey
upon the devoted head Of our Chief Magistrate.
OF such immense importance were these parliament
srv datribes regarded, that the steamship lin
trusted with report Of them) was detained day
beyond her allotted time for sailing, in order that
lanes K Polk might lose no time in hearing how
terribly his inaugural had been criticised! Strange
10 relate, neither Sir Robert Peel, nor Lord Aber-
deem, nor the vessel, were so unfortunate as to
"burst their boiler" Notwithstanding each seemed
about equally surcharged with steam. That, il will
he remembered, was a perfect shower-bath of in
dignaiion, and might well have shocked the nerves
of one less accustomed to British batteries than
Uncle Sam. The old gentleman, however, as in the
stormy conflicts Of l776 and 1912, bore il all with
phiIosophic composure and was as unmoved at the
terrible tongue-lashing as though il had proceeded
from the veritable Mrs. Caudle. Indeed, the abuse
of the ministers was regarded as little more than
plagiarism upon the celebrated ''curain lectures"
needing only the embellishments of "Punch" to
make tappear highly diverting
But il is an old and trite adage: SIT never rains
but il pours" Our transatlantic friends 1--WE will
not say enemies) have not yet done with scoldiig
our popular and amiable President. Sir Robert
Pees philippe peelsr, il is true; but it was
eomplacency itself compared with the tissue of abuse
which is contained in "Wilmer's Times, = of May
II, from which we extract the following decent and
dignfed passage:
uThe mooted pointthe Oregon-s not generally beliey
ed to be worth fighting for 1t not point which appeals
,b ths little island territory enough and colonies and
subjects which its sway in part Of the habtable
globe that plume themselves their Identification with
The British name without measuring ances with kindred
people about few thousand miles OF barren and protless
s public mind Of this countrywhich pervades all classes
and and shades Of opinion and unites them as one
10 what thew conceive to he the arrogant overbeang
lying style with which the opposite claim IS advanced II
drive they resist you lead they may concede. Mr.; Polk
must crude judge of human nature, or he would not
have put forth in his inaugural address about the Oregon
sentiments which merely indiscreet not merely
uncaed for and out Of place but which sneered at may
have hurled defiance at the British claim We say
nothing now as to the justice the claim all that aim
at to the extraordinary unanimy which ex
lists on this questions animty surprising, that IL
we do 20 to war about it, every hand win be held up
purse will lie opened every arm Will be stretched to
There are men who would tameiy submit to wrong that
would instantly insult The country feels itself
ean that thus gives his opponent such an advantage
places himself in the wrong BY his manner while ne +
GSasS v .ss s ANS SO eactua or
ting as in crucble the dscordan elements Of which
u opinion a done % and
any truth in the saying Of that even
first will not be his last blupder'
The foregoing extract adds but another to the
many hundreds Of proofs on record, that the Eng
hsh journalists are lamentably ignorant Of the true
character of the American people and their republic
can institutions. They do not appear acquainted
with the fact that an expression from President
is but an echo of the peoples WILL rejecting, not his
but their opinions. Here, no crowned monarch
Yields his scepre over a submissive populace,
wringing from their fears slavsh obedience to his
mandates. Here, those who invested with author
iy, (paradoxical as the expression may sound in
English ears,) are the peoples servants, not the
peoples masters. Here Presidents and governors,
fhones and faithful in the discharge Of their trust
esteem it their business to follow, never aspiring to
lead public opinion. These sublime relations of ruler
and people exist as emphatically in regard to this
identical Oregon question we have ever known
them to exist before. Our title TO Oregon was dis
tncy asserted at the ballot-boxes in the result of
the last presidential election, and in terms plain
and unequivoca, as were those employed by the
President in his inaugural address. Had British
ministers and journalists forgotten, or had they
L.. Dill noli n,u
CON" the issue upon which that memorable
battle was fought and WON Were they so blind to
passing events in America as never to have learned
that Oregon" especially constituted chief eemen,
Of democratic success from Maine to Louisiana;
Had they never been informed that Oregon" was
emblazoned on our banners--streamed in letters OF
living light from our towering hickories, that it
was the burden of our newspapers, the theme OF
our orators, the inspiration Of balad-slngers-
in word the electric fluid that vibrated from heart
to heart in popular assemblages Of ten and TWEEN
ties of thousands Where, then, was the virtuous
efervesence of Messrs Peel and Aberdeen, and
Of their affiliated newspaper echoes' We heard not
a word of it.
The story is, however, but half told. As if to
complete the chain of popular expression, the peo-
Pies representatives, the session Immediately sue
eeeding the election, reasserted our claim to Oregon
IN manner, if possible, yet more pointed and
emphatic. BY the decisive vote of 100 to 81, the
popular branch of Congress resolved to notify the
British government of the desire and intention OF
the government of the United States to terminate
the joint occupancy Of Oregon, by annulng and
sbrogatng the convention with Great Britain, con-
4.
Of the second article of that convention Was this
too, the isolated act Of mere "bunging tactican-
as Mr. Wilmer is pleased TO stigmatze Presiden,
poik-or did ii not rather transpire month beor,
Mr. Polk had assumed the heinz
It's perfectly plain, therefore, that England com.
mits an egregious blunder when she seeks to con-
vert the Oregon controversy into one of mere per.
'onal interest between President Polk and herself