Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-06-05

avor OF the position OF onr country, Is {
lot less remarkable in our politics. than /
gratifying to the American pride. Even
he whig papers, which are disposed to
carp at the bold declaration of Presld nj
POLK, are awed into an expressive si-
ence by the moral majesty of the De-
nocracy of Numbers. The great mass
IF the whig party would desert their
eaders, should they attempt to pursue
an anti American course on the OregonE
question. 81
ssTo the shores of the mighty Western sea,
Well spread the empire of the FREQ" a
has become the irrepressible aspirationl
of the democratic millions in the United
States. Neither will this feeling subside
with the hour, but will grow in intensity |
and power, as every additional emigrant
plants himself ives. If Iowa and Missouri.
On the annexation Of Texas, there
were two parties in this country. Thel
struggle was long aai bitter and fierce.
England undoubtedly watched that strug
gle with intense interest, but the election
of President Polk convinced her that
Annexation was popular, and that the
people of this country were determined
TO have Texas, in spite of British oppo-
sitlon. Since that election, and the con-
sequent triumph of Annexation. though
the whig papers here, have repeatedly
insisted that Annexation would be deem-
ed by Great Britain cause of war agaiust
the United States, nothing of this seems
to pervade the British Parliament Of
Cabinet, They have suddenly overlook
ed the Importance Of ofTexas, and alighted
upon Oregon. and there they seem de-
termined to make stand against the al
lodged encroachments- of the fierce de-
mocracie" Of America, or as has beef
most pertnently remarked to try an
experiment on the nerves of this country
Yet it1scems to rejecting minds, when
it once becomes known in England that
Oregon, even more than Texas. Is pops
ular with American people--that thero
is no party and in truth can be none with
US to sustain British assumpion-thaI j
the expression in favor of the American
claim, will not be in one state, but i1
every state in the Union: and above all,
that the Great West, with it's ten mil
lions of souls, foels an enthusiasm Oh
Oregon, more resolute than upon any
subject which has agitated our country
for twenty years, that the aspect Of the
question w.l! change. These considers
atoms are not yet fully understood by
English statesmen When it. is, it seems
not improbable that their tone will be
modified under the irresistible influence
OF Tie folly if not danger of provoking a
nation to war who must be the more for.
midable enemies, because when war isnn-
dertaken by. them it is declared not as ln
Europe by the executive alone but by tiis
solemn assent Of the Senate the Honss
of Representative & the President.com
bined. Even if the President advises |
declaration Of war and it passes the House
yet should it fail in the Senate no war i!
declared. These wise and extraordnar,
checks on the war-making power of GU
government, give moral power to dec
Iaration when once made by our coun
try, which can spring from no other gov.
ernment in the world. For war is virtu
ally declared, not by their rulers, but by
the people. This democratic sanction
unknown to the governments of Europe
must give terrible energy to war wher
waged by wealthy and powerful people
under wealthy government SO consti
tuted. 1t was this populariSing of wal
among the masses which in the early
days of the F French republic. gave its raw
and half-armed levies SO extraordinary
an energy, even when directed agains
the disciplined and before invinclble hosts
of Austria and Prussia this deep popu,
lar feeling is literally the soul of an army
for it alone can sustain the unflagging
zeal, from which springs iron endurance
ready enterprise and moral courage
qualities 50 necessary to make the per.
feet soldier. The appalling trials ane
the heroic fortitude evinced by our coun
trymen during the American revolution
must have taught England the influence
Of democratic institutions in forming {
race Of men as remarkable for valor. a,
the tenacity with which they defend thei
rights and their sacred honor
During the last war with Great Britain
the. distuingu gushing energy Of our people
was undoubtedly chilled by the action O
the Federal peace party, which reared uF
enemies In the very bosom Of the repub'
lie. But those days ofmoral treason have
passed. and we believe never to return
tor they taught lessons which will never
be forgotten by the public men of the
United States. The undying odiuu
which to this hour buried the leaders O!
the peace party, is an enduring monu-
ment of the unsleeping patriotism of the
people. The influence of the popular
condemnation which consigned the mem.
bers of the peace party to political death
will be le!t in our history thro' all time tc
come. No party will be willing to make
Oregon there political tomb. Its agitation
will undoubt edly excit some differences