Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-03-14
THE ONE QUESTION.


In regard to all questions with foreign nations
the dominant party have protested to be governed
by the noble rule Of asking only what was right,
and submitting TO nothing that was wrong" This
fine theory, however, like most professions intend
ed to impose on the credulous mass who swallow
party dogmas without examination, has been found,
in practice, TO mean something more nearly allied
to the real nature of party which counts amongst
its auxlares the professors Of agrariansm and anti
rentism and that is, the demanding NOT only your
oa rights buf the rights Of other people, and con-
ceding nothing, Uhether right or Wrong. That
this is the true reading Of the democratic maxim has
been particularly exemplifed by the party organs
in regard to the Oregon dispute. There are, to be
sure, some honorable exceptions among the papers
which may be classed as Democratic, in SO much as
they advocated the election Of President Polk, and
have supported the policy Of his Administration.
Foremost among these is the New York Journal Of
Commerce, which we have heretofore had occasion
to quote in reference 10 this subject, and which
commands respect for the manliness and ability
with which it continues to uphold the sacred cause
of peace and the true honor and interest OF the coun
try. The short article which we copy below, from
that paper of Monday last places in strong light
the inconsistency between the plausible democratic
maxim cited above, and the application which they
gave it on the Oregon question.
JOURNAL OF COMMERCE.
OREGON AND THE SENATE.
The debate in the Senate the Oregon question has taken
turn which must awaken through the land interest like
that which it excited in Washington The speech of Mr.
HArwooD. exhibiting the subject in its present position
touching its main points with great force and claiming dis
tncy and repeatedly that the President pledged 10
the Offer should it be made of settlement the basis Of
the 49h parallel might well be expected the
ton il did among the war-members Of the Senate.
The nteocutoy alteration respecting the Presidents po
stion and pledges, made some startling exposons would
from their statements that such men as Messrs
ALLEN and HASsEe still insist every inch of Oregon
at all hazards, and would an commit the President to that
extreme demand, with the full expectation of leading
later to They CO. meek naugh" for the whole
of Oregon talk of "the President turning traitor 10
whom what to his country, only to the clique of
party y if he should compromise upon the 10Th ; and in hot
passion declare che would be sunk into infamy pro-
found damnaion Deep that the hand Of resurrection
could draw him forth"
is however, an i'll wind that blows no good and even
of peace The hear driven the WALL grows CRASHES
his teeth in sheer vexaton his impotence and the
spso Senate the sickers claim exuavagani
be discarded by all fair minds bctray by their
sensiveness the Of Mr. HArwooD how fearful
they Of being abandoned by the President the rec
their suicidal folly They must il their open,
hear ess day echoes fbs people cane P-Ae-,
such terms fair and honorable negotiation compromise
still within the reach Of either party the pending dis
pute. Even their West will sustain them in the
mad policy of plungng fifty millions of people into about
such bone Of contention and left in small minority
of the Senate and the country wonder not that they should
wrhe under the speech of Mr. HArwooD, and threaten
empty the walls of their wrath upon the President he does
not lend himself to the execution OF their avore but fatal
plans.
To quite clear that these really bent
No other superstition for Intercourse; because
they know that England will yield to the exorb
claim which they make. On looking again the map
of Oregon drawn by the late Exploring Expedition have
just counted nearly dozen English forts in the country north
Of 49, and about half many in the regions drained by the
Columbia II take the number of places thus
pied the basis Of comparison, shall find the British claim
the of actual possession much better than and
II would from this very map Of our that compro
mise the 49th parallel would bge England to yield far
than should, and give decidedly the best bargain
Indeed should give up nothing that is in possess
sion, while she would renquish considerable number Of
places which she has occupied for long time. No man,
looking this map and seeing how extensively England has
dotted with her forts, for moment suppose she
will yield the ok territory a claimant occupying not
quarter many places she does and a between
40 and Sd no. Of which tract she has had actual possession for
forty years. We wonder the strange demands Of
these and feel thrill Of honest pride patriots,
when hear Mr. HArwooD boldly avowing, in the Of
our Government and country, that eve would not de-
mand the whoLe Of Oregon if could obtain with
war;. That noble avowa the world will admire
il; all aminded through the land will cordially respond
to and II such spirit carried into renewed negota-
TONS should confidently anticipate speedy adjustment
the substantial satisfaction Of both parties
We think clear that the question Of peace
with ourselves England has evnccd spirit decidedly
pacific but rulers and people take cacu
late much her continued foreannce The passion
reused there in earnest would render collision nevita
BILE and should popular sentiment here second the demand
Of the in Senate for all Oregon at all hazards
then Here is the alternative; and il is time
for the nation TO look il full in the face and they wish for
peace rebuke the spirit and policy which would provoke
war.
ANTICIPATING STORM MAGNETIC TrLEeRarH
The various that will be found for the Magnetic Tcle
graph will not be fully ascertaincd till fairly into ope-
ration. The knowledge of few facts however, enables the
public form idea Of Of the useful ends may
The Toledo Oho Blade points out how may be the means