Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-03-21
For the Herald.
Peace or war.


Peace OF war.
Nh. EDITOR The opinions which enter.
tain, with regard TO the question of peace or
war, are expressed in the following commune.
cation. and request Of you to do me the favor
TO publish the came in your paper, for the sat.
isfac,on Of all who may wish to know them.
In this land Of freedom. it is the privilege of
every citizen at all times to form and express
his own opinions in relation to public affairs.
and it is undoubtedly upon snch questions as
the foregoing, and al crisis like the present.
that freedom Of speech and freedom of the
press become and are very properly deemed
rights of inesIimable value to every member of
the community.
Men Of the greatest talents and the mos. on.
igbIened patriotism in the United States have,
within the last few years, rapidly succeeded
each other in the Office of Secretary of s :,
and have done all that diplomacy can do to
procrasinaie an even. which every one must
see is inevitable. The Oregon controversy
even if it proves to be possible 10 stave off for
a few days longer final decision--musi, in
my opinion. terminate in war. A war cannot
be avoided. The fact can no longer be dis
guised. The resources of diplomatic manage.
men, are exhausted. The even, is as clear as
reason--i, is as unavoidable as fate and il is
coming with all the rapidi,y that time and the
force of destiny can inpaH.
My opinions are founded upon considera-
ton of the circumstances Of tho two countries
England lie bu, small island, scarcely larger
than one of our largo States. The mass Of
her population is represented as sunk in ignor.
ance and poverty. But the few who conduct
her Government, are immensely rich, and are
actuated by graspiog and inordineie. ambi-
lion. Britain styles herself "ihe mistress Of
the ocean," and she has not the materials &c.
ship building, bot is compelled 10 import even
the necessares Of life for her population. BY
the mere force of tyranny and ambition she
has extended her commerce to every country
on the globe, and her politicians boast tina, on
her dominion "the sun never sets" Bot,
from The nature of things, that dominion can
no, be lasting. The foundation is too limited.
loo email, for the supers.roc,ure, or rather the
fabric is baseless and must crumble whenever
the accidental circumstances which raised and
for moment supported il have ceased TO OPP
esate. But while that dominion does last
though /, be acknowledged on all hands to be
but transient. and momen,ary incubus upon
the world---ils pressure upon the millions
whom i, enslaves is not the less real, less
galling, degrading, and insufferable.
View Tor moment the condition of Ameri
ca. The United States occupy the hes. part
of the North American continent, which is
larger Than the whole Of Europe. aud is insu-
lated from the old world by two of the largest
oceans on the globe. Here nature has reared
mountains, marked the course of rivers, raised
forests, aud spread out plains upon scale Of
the creates, msgnihcence. Here people may
grow up that shall ou,-number the Chinese in
population. and outstrip the British in COM
merce, manufactures, and the arts. Here the
Americans may establish dominion that shall
ous-stre,eh the modern Russian ia extent of
Teuitory--ou,-shine the ancien, Roman in the
fame of its power. and the influence Of its in
situations upon the des,inies Of mankind-and
ous-las, the Egyptian and Babylonian which
their monuments failed to perpeIua,e--all that
the ancient poets faneied with regard TO the
Fortunate Islands which they represented as
located 10 the midst Of The Atlantic. and all
that fabulous and eredalous antiquity conceive
cd, 10 relation 10 the garden Of the HesPefides
and the Elysian fields, was more Than realized
by the discovery Of America. Bat the most
interesting point Of view, 10 which we can
look upon this subject, is, that the uniied
States may now be considered as the last
refuge Of civil and religious liberty from the
despotie Institutions OF modern Europe. Ia q
people SO si.uassd-in people possessed Of
al the resources which the inexhauslible stores
Of ns,ure can furnish. and all the superiority
which modem eivillzaiiOn can give. anj enjoy
ing all the advantages which The mos, liberal
Constitution aud Government On earth can
afford. the tendency 10 expansion is bOunJless
and irreprsssible. Accordingly. Ihoagh ii IS
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