The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-01-13
From the Union.
THE GREAT QUESTION OF THE DAY,
THE PETTY INTERESTS OF THE DAY.

THE PETTY INTERESTS OF THE DAY.
The overwhelming popular enthusiasm excited
by the course Of the administration on the Oregon
question, and which has acquired fresh intensity
from the debates still in progress in the House of
Representatives, is stimulating certain of the
stock jobbng and violent wing journals into still
more fierce and unguarded denuncatons of the
administration, the democratic party, and all who
resOuey insist upon the bold and determined
maintenance of the national rights at all hazards,
and at every risk. Amongst these journalists,
the New York " Courier and Enquirer" and the
Baltimore " American have characteristic
conspicuOusness. The former, in rather inco-
herent article on Tuesday last, most piteOusly i'm
plores Congress 10 delay any action on the ques-
ton insists with great vehemence that it would
be exceedingly unkind and uncOurteous in them 10
carry out the recommendations of the Executive,
until they hear what the British press and the
British government have to say in the present state
of The question; and winds up with an affected
appeal to- - the press and individuals" calling
upon them TO check that awfuy wicked spirit
which so peTtinaciously Insists forcing on the
attention of Congress " measures of fearful i'm
port" The Baltimore American is not one
whit behind its respectable, upright, and patriotic
confrere in the great commercial metropolis, either
in the bitterness of its denunciation, or the ncOhe
rency of its reasoning. 1t devoes nearly column
10 recapitulation of the claims of England to the
Oregon territory, as presented by Lord John Rus
sell and Sir Rubt Peel, and then declaims, in pas
sionate terms, against the Administrations one
breath assailing the President as wanting in
sisency and candor, and in the next, abusing him
for his obstinate adherence to his position and his
extreme frankness in the declaration Of his views
and sentiments The great object of both journal
lists is to represent the policy Of the admnstra-
ton as rash. precIpiate. and imprudent, and cal
culated heedlessly to plunge the nation into all
the horrors Of war.
Now, have we not again and again sufficiently
exposed the Stiffness and absuTdlty of the twad-
ding defamation against the Oregon policy OF the
government, with which the editorial columns OF
such whlg journals as these to which we have
just alluded have been daily teeming for some
time past? And does not every citizen who re-
cards this question in its broad and national as
pects-who views it in the true American light,
as one involving interests of trsnscendent nagn-
tude and importance connected intimately with
the progress and prosperity of the republic, and
altogether overshadowing all mere local, sectional,
and petty interests Of the hour-teeI fully pre-
pared 10 render to the course of the administration
an intelligent cheerful, and enthusiastic support
Firmness and decisiOn--the most determined firm
ness, the most resOluie declson-tnust character
ize the policy Of our governmental crisis like the
present No man impressed with due sense of
the character Of the present emergency--no man
who considers that this question has bound I'D
with it influences Of far weighlier moment than
those which regulate the rise and fall of stocks
can for one instant tolerate any inculcalions how
ever carefully attempted, Of the expediency and
propriety Of delay, of trucking concession, of
shrinking timdty. And the enlightened patriot
who most desires Peace--the really DISTINGUISHED