Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-02-26
Peace or War?

the last news from Washington looks ex.
ceediusly sQnally tons. The assurances
oi Lord Aberdeen that The extensive pre-.
paraiions made hy Grea, Britain To place
itself in sta'e offensive and defensive
for any emergency have no connection
with the Oregon affair NAV he credited
Ivy oihers-'hev may even lull our wise
Statesmen into dreamy securilv-bn, in
our opinion no dependence can be placed
IN such assurances, made under such cir.
cnmstaEces. All Great Britain wants, if
she thinks there is any prospect of war
VIII this country, is to produce that very
qaescent state Of feeling which now
seems TO pervade the land. 1t appears to
be part of her policy to create the i'm
preston that she has no intention To 90 to
war with this country about Oregon in
any event. She is wise in so doing But
il is wisdom which has in il none of the
harmlessuess Of the dove. Ii is policy.
which if successful on her part, NAV al
mos, ruin us--a policy whiri, would give
her all immense advantage over us at the
onse, of war. and which counter policy
on our par, should guard against.
Although some may mol believe in the
proverb "ln peace prepare Cor war" none
will iemur agains, making suitable pre-.
para,ion when war is threatening us on
every side. When the question Of war or
peace seems evenly balanced hen a
feather may turn the scale either way-;i
certainly would seem prndrn, to take
some precautionary steps by way of de-
fence. We think such a crisis now s,ares
us in the face. Our government has re.
jeeted all the offers Grea, Britain has We,
made to effect compromise, and unless
Great Britain renews the CORES pondence
and makes more liberal offer than she
has done, we can see no other way of
settlement. Than The fearful and bloody
one of resort to arms. The notice of
the termination Of joint occupancy has
already been given as far as The popular
branch Of our National Legislature is con.
cerned. and now what remains than for
our Government, 10 take possession of the
whole territory! This will be the next
step, and when once taken nothing but
declaration Of war on The part Of Great
Britain can be looked for. Is our Gov
eminent prepared for such crisis! Far
from 1t.
With means most ample millions
Of free hearts and ready hands TO back
any judicious effort tina, nav be needed
these means are not brought into reqnisi.
tion-ihese hearts and hands are unem.
p!oy ed-and no energetic movement, seems
YET 10 be contemplated at all adequate to
such an emergency as may presen. itself
at any moment. millions for defence,
but no, cent for tribute" is a sentiment
that will be responded to by every free.
man. We have seen Great Britain bring.
ing into requisilion all her energies in
making herself formidable for some grea,
object. That nation would no, be likely
TO add 10 her now enormous national deb,
by spending millions. wi.hou, some impor.
tan, object. She is making preparations
10 strike blow some where. and as we
know not where il NAV fall. both policy
and prudence would dictate tina, if in any
contingency ii may fall on us. we should
be prepared 10 fend off, and make it as
harmless as possible.
We are not in favor Of war, but ir war
must come. we are IN favor of making
such preparations for it. as will secure its
speedy termination with as lule blood.
shed and mischief as possible. We are
able 10 cope with Great Britain and two
other nations like her, all things being
eqnal, bu, a giant when slumbering NAV
be pinioned and held fas, by pigmv.-
Great Britain is fully prepared for the
battle, while we are yet to manufacture
the very cannon with which we are 10
fight her. If. instead of making so many
fine speeches on mere collateral questions.
our congressman had insisted upon plac.
ing The country in complete state of
defence. il would have been much better.
We hope now they may redeem The time.
and make such appropriations as will be
adequate to save the country from dis
grace and vanquish any enemy with
which il is obliged to contend.
A law recently passed the Legislature
Of Indiana. which subjected all those who
had no, paid their interest on the Canal
lands To have said lands forfeited and
made subject TO entry. A number Of per
sons went In the land office and entered
several excellent farms under this law
The people in the vicinity. looking upon
the law as being a, variance with justice
and deprivins settler. Of their hard earn
ings. repaired in great numbers 10 the