American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-30
SHALT WE HAVE WAR? This is question

order to Commodore Stockton to proceed witt
the Princeton and other vessels of war from
Norfolk to the Gulf OF Mexico, as is supposed,
indicates that our government feels 10 assn
rance that peace viii be preserved with Next
co, and exhibits determination 10 be prepared
should she assume hostile attitude. But our
difficulties with Mexico would be considered of
little Importance, were it not for the condition
of our relations with Great Britain in respect to
Oregon; for it is supposed, with some proba-
bltv, that England would seize the occasion
of a war between the United States and Mex
leo, TO give assistance to the latter.
BY some persons war between this country
and England is believed to be almost inevitable,
as the ministers of the latter have expressed
their determination to maintain her claim to
Oregon, whilst our government appears to be
equally peremtory in sustaining our right to
that Territory. The North American judici-
ously recommends that matters in regard to
Oregon shall be permitted to remain in their
existing position for the present, as there can be
no danger that the people Of that territory
Will ever attach themselves to the British
government, the settlers being mostly from the
United States. CAN, therefore," Says that
paper chat we have to do, in order to come
into secure possession of Oregon, is to let her
alone. Time will make her ours, without any
fighting either with goose-quIls or guns. She
is bound to us by the great laws of affinity and
sympathy, laws which can be defeated only by
rashness and folly. She will come into our
arms Just as naturally and inevitably as yapors
rising up from the sea, floating off 10 distant
mountains, and there becoming condensed into
showers, return in eXulting streams to their
parent ocean. But suppose worst comes TO
worst and we have to fight for Oregon; even
in that event the longer we put off the conflict
the better for us. With ninety thousand
Americans there and ten thousand English, or
one hundred and eighty thousand Americans
and twenty thousand English, who can doubt
what the issue would be? We can see reasons
why England should wish to push this matter
to an issue now, but none why America should,
unless it be that lIotspur-ambtion which over
leaps itself and falls on the other side"
This is sound reasoning, and correctly points
out the course which should be pursued espe-
cially under present circumstances, when so
many states are so heavily pressed by their
debts as 10 be totally incapable Of bearing the
additional burthens of war. If we remain
quiet, the presumption is, that England will be
content with the assertion OF her right to Ore
gon without further attempt 10 maintain it
Are we prepared for war with so formidable a
power as Great Britain? We should be able
to answer this question affirmatvely before we
proceed to engage ourselves in hostlities.-
Where are our army and navy? where our
means? Hostties would at once cut up our
commerce and destroy our revenue, and we
should be left to sustain the war upon our Gre
dit alone, or by direct taxation. By procras-
tinaton we shall be enabled to complete our
means of detence-to enlarge our army and
navy, and to place our finances in better con-
d.tion We agree with the North American,
that it would more resemble "Hot> pur-amb-
ton'' than sound discretion, for our govern
ment to court war. 1t is a subject upon
which our rulers and people should pause and
consult "the sober second thought" whatever
inexperienced mad-caps or violent politicians
may say to the contrary. We should count
the cost and consequences of the blow before
we undertake to strike, for afterwards it will
be too late. War is a great calamity W hich
should be avoided if it can be done without
dishonor; and yet members of congress and
others have spoken of it as though it were
mere pastime-a sport to be coveted rather
than eschewed.
The New York Herald in discussing this
subject, says-"it is very evident that Great
Britain is i'll earnest in her announcement o.
uncompromisng hostility to our claims to the
Oregon territory. She assures US that she i:
prepared to maintain her pretenslons at every
hazard She is certainly at this moment in {
very excellent condition for enforcing her claims
and carrying her threats into execution. Sht
has settled her difficulties in the East She ha!
satisfactorily arranged the Chinese affair Sht
has at present no particular business in the way
of war on hand. Her financial condition Il
prosperous in the highest degree. She was ne
yer, in fact, more powerful, more unembarras
sed, more able to effect her purposes thar
now"
This is very true. In case of war Great Bri
tain could command the whole of her resources
and direct them 10 the one object. Such bein!
thee ase we should be cautious not to afford he
just cause of war. We would not yield ''a.
inch or even hair-breadth" of our rights; bu
we believe that they can he maintained wthou
having recourse to hostlities, as stated in tn,