The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-02-27

/ bicNt LL't3lh "ttA NHC Cil!lct
States
He also advcrtcd to tie fact tha
such preparations as were actually
making had been commenced before
the relations between the United
States and Great Britain had be.
come as serious as they now appear
to be, and therefore, could not, a
that time, have had any connection
with difficulties which had sine,
grown out of the Oregon question
He thought, too, that the rcprcsen.
tations as to the extent of the prepa.
rations must have been exaggerated
He denied that they related particu.
LARRY, as | had been informed, to {
/ distant service, or that they were
making any addition TO the Old form
of marine. He stated that the most
extensive and formidable parts Of
their preparations were the fortii-
cations of the principal and exposed
ports and stations, which he thought
could hardly be supposed to guard
against invasion from the Unite
| States and the increase of the num-
Der of steam vessels in lieu of the old
craft, which it appeared other ma
ticns were about TO adopt, and
which he confessed he thought a
matter of doubtful! policy. In short
he assumed the preparations in pro-
gress to be only part of wise and
prudent system of national defence
and protection, and of preparing in
time of peace for the eXigencieS OF
war, if it should unfortunately come
from any quarter whatever; and he
distinctly repeated his disclaimer
that they had particular or direct
reference to any rupture with the
United States on the Oregon ques-
ton, or any other ground.
In regard to my own opinion upon
this subject, which the president has
been pleased to desire, X %
it is altogether probable that the
possibility of other difficulties from
other quarteas in Europe
may have its influence in debating
the policy of the extensive prepare
tons in progress in all parts of the
kingdom and with undated conf
dence in the frankneSs and straight
forwardness Of Lord Aberdeen, and
without meaning to distrust in the
slightest degree tie sincerity Of his
disclaimers IN our recent couversa-
ton, DO not think it ought TO be
assumed by any one that warlike
preparations upon such a scale as
tlat upon which they are undeniably
making here could not have even an
indirect reference to tie possible
contingency Of rupture with US.
And, at the same time, It - perfect
y obvious that they are IN grra.
degree. and cspecia.yso far as they
consist oil au augmentation iu the
number of steam vessels. and OF the
naval marine generally. precisely o.
tie character 10 be die most apprc-
pirate an. the most useful in a war
with our country. am not prepar-
ed TO say, nor Go | deem it material
to decide, how far we have a right
to expect an explicit disclaimer OF
the character and purposes Of the
warljke preparations now making
by Great Britain, under the circum-
stances. They may be the dictate
Of various motives of policy, and the
result Of many causes; and, without
attempting to assign to each its par
ticular influence, | am by no means
prepared to admit that the apprehcn-
Sions of difficulty with the United
States had no share in them; and it
is very clear that if rupture with
the United States should grow out
Of our present difficulties, this coun
/ try will be as fully and efIectually
prepared for it at all points, and for
all possible purposes, as if that, and
that alone, had been the object Of all
her warikc preparations. She will
be in a situation to act and strike as
promptly and signally as she could
have been with her energies exclu-
sively directed to that end and
feel it my duty to add, that not to
expect, in case a rupture become
unavoidable, that this government,
thus in complete armor, will prompt
ly and vigorously exert her utmost
power to inilict the utmost possible
injury upon our country and all its
interests, would not be doing justice
to such crisis.
think it ought to be cxpected-in-
deed, from all | learn, cannot doubt
that in case of hoStiities the ain
OF this government will be to strike
its heaviest blow at the commence.
ment, in the expectation of being
thereby enabled to shorten the dura.
ton of the war.
have the honor to be, &C.,
LOUIS MCLEAN.
Hon lava, p,oL,,o,