The New York herald., 1846-03-06


not of much Importance
The News from India-English Annexation
The Oregon Negotiation.
In one respect, apart from all others, the news
which arrived by the Toronto is of considerable i'm
portance. We have been so long accustomed to hear
of wars and aggressions by the English in the
East, that we apt to view with indifference
ry thing coming from that quarter But at the pre-
sent time, when war between America and Great
Britain may not be an improbable event, any thing
that concerns the prosperity adversely Of England,
is OF some Importance to US, and we cannot tail to
be interested.
In this view, the war OF the Punjab, viii ch has
broken out with tremendous violence, is calculated
TO arrest the attention of our statesmen and it
may perchance materially affect the pending nego-
tiations between England and America. Letters
received in England by the overland mail, state
that "the Slkhs attacked the British army with fifty
five thousand men, and one hundred and fifty pieces
Of artillery, on the 2lst of December" The Skhs
are very powerful, supported by an active and brave
people ,and are goaded to vengeance by the contn
ual aggressions which have been made upon them by
the British, in their relentless policy Of aggrandlze
ment or annexation. Not content with the vast
possessions she already has In India, Great Brl-
tain looks, with longing eye, the fer
tile regions of the Punjab and will never satis-
fy her rapacity until she swallows up every neigh
boring power in that section Of the globe But
short time has elapsed since she forcibly annexed
Natal to her African colonies, on plea of philan-
thropy but really for the value OF the country tor the
production OF cotton; and now she seeks the
Punjab to her Indian territories, with the bloody
power of the sword Yet this is the nation whose
presses whose pupits, whose parliamentary orators,
have the felicity to abuse tor the peaceful and
bloodless annexation Of Texas by the free consent
and desire of her people
The bold spirit OF resistance which the Sikhs have
manifested, although urged on by England, leads
TO believe that the permanent annexation of their
territory will be no very easy matter; easier,
perhaps, than the permanence OF the French pos
session in Algeria There seems to be every pro-
liability that England will have to contend against
a force equally as determined as any in
Afghanlstan at any rate, there will be
such difficulties thrown in her way by the gal
liant SIkhs to give full employment to her
arms, and TO weaken her capacity somewhat for
carrying on a war with the United States. She is
aware that we are now too powerful to cope with
while she has other nations to battle with or sub
due and IN this view, this fresh outbreak in nd
near her East Indian possessions, may have its
effect on the negotiation for the settlement of the
Oregon question.
This news is thus likely to have an influence in
leading to the peaceable adjustment of the Oregon
question. 1t may tend TO weaken the persistence
of Great Britain in maintaining her pretensions,
and strengthen our government in the assertion of
our rights. We shall see 1t will not be the first
time, at all events, that troubles in India have had
an influence on negotiations between England and
America.
STATE PRINrINa.-It is an old saying, snd true
one, that, when rogues disagree, honest men get
their due. This adage has been verified to the let
ter in our Legislature this winter From the COM
mencement Of the session until the present time,
the democratic party has been divided into ciiques
and factions, each urging its preensons 10 the night
of having the public printing. The old hunkers and
barn-burners, headed by their respective leaders,
have assalled and abused each other with perfect
frenzy; and the consequence is that it ha caused
suchi disorder in the party as nsures certain de-
feat at the next general election.
The wing members, in both houses, looked on
this family war with the greatest comp AGENCY, and
did all in their power to bring it to crisis In this
they succeeded to the satisfaction OF themselves and
their constituents. BY uniting with the old bunker
faction Of the democratic party, they have pro badly
carried bill abolshing the Office Of State printer,
and contracting out all the public printing to the
lowest bidder has passed the Senate, and been
ordered to a third reading in the House, This bill
was expected TO be sent to the Governor, for his
approval, on Wednesday last.
This is an unexpected measure OF reform, and we
rejoice that the bone of contention is thus removed
The public printing averages forty thousand dollars
a-year, and has always been the source OF corrup-
fion and political profigacy. There is no praise due
to any party tor this bill The wings stepped in,
not for the purpose Of carrying the bill a mea.
sure oil reform, but with the hope of widening
stli further the breach between the cligms OF the
democratic party and keeping them hostile to each
other, so that, at the next election, they would be
divided. and thus offer an easy victory over them.
Now that this knotty question is disposed Of we
hope the Legislature will the remainder of the seq
SION, bear in mind that they were sen, 20 the can;
tol to transact the business Of their constituents.
The HOP TRADE-A bill has been reported in the
Assembly OF this State, requiring the inspection OF
every bale of hops sold In the State. The deal
ers, exporters, and consumers, are opposed to any
such restrictions, as they depend upon the in
specton for quality, invariably using their udg-
ment upon that point. The consumers do not require
nny protection from the State, in the shape OF an
inspection ot the article and all interested in the
production and sale OF hops in this, or any other
market, are opposed to the bill alluded TO, except
those who wish to pass of an Inferior for superior
article, under cover OF official inspection ii the
Legislature will let this thing alone il will regulate
itself