Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-07-23
LETTER FROM JOHN NJ. CLAYTON.
WAsHlYsror JuIT 2. 1886.

WAsHINGroN. July 2, 1886.
Gentlemen The press ofimportant duties
here, will prevent me from joining in the FEES
tiyal 10 which you have invited me. We are
ON the eve of testing by Congressional votes,
the strength OF the great principles for which
the Wings commended, and with which they
succeeded in the memorable political contest of
1910. Under other circumstances IT would
have been to me high qualification to have
met the gallant " higs Of Philadelphia, in their
celebration otthe coming anniversary OF Amer
lean Independence.
concur with you, gentlemen, that the pre-
sent is Juncture which invites the Wings Of
the nation TO rejoice over the triumph effected
by Wing minority IN aveTting an unneces-
sary war with Great Britain. Had that MINOR
lily lent itself 70 the views Of olh.rs, wk3 were
not less sincerely the fr;eu s fpease. m Also
ln,c!y voting Gown the Executive rtccHJAea
daton, 10 give the notice 10 Eng and Tor abgo-
gaupg the convention for ihe JOINT occupancy
Of Oregon. what would have been our present
condltlon2 Does any one believe in that event
England would have offered us treaty for the
partition OF the Territory, containing better
terms for us than we had ever asked al her
hands under any previous administration Of
this Government Ii is my humble opinion
that whatever Of good has resulted from the
action OF our government on this subject, is the
direct consequence OF thar pacific and friend
ly language by which, while the assent Of
Congress TO the notice was freely given, Great
Britain was denied the slightest pref xt for
supposing that we meant 10 exact by threats
what we were not entitled 10 by right The
passage OF the resolution authorizing the no
tee, was measure which avoided two dangers
OF about equal magnitude-the one, the dan
ger Of exciting the party pride Of our Execu-
tive, who on the refusal Of Congress to adopt
his recommendation, might have arrested ne
gouauons, and appealed 10 his party to sustain
him in his new claim To the whole Of Oregon
the other. the danger Of wanlonly or unjust
ly wounding the pride Of England. hy notice
couched in such terms as would have been
properly held 10 be offensive especially after the
President had asserted in no measured terms
the right 10 all The territory III dispute, and re
fused all arbitration and all concession and
compromise. THIS subject is ?or the present
too much enveloped in secrecy to enable me
to explain fully the position Of parties in relef-
ence 10 II but when the veil shall be with
drawn. the wings IN Congress may fearlessly
challenge the admiration OF those who honor
that patriotism, which, rising above party and
personal considerations, uobly dares to Go
justice TO all men in defiance Of The elamors OF
the ignorant and the unprnclpled and, oespi-
sing the imputstions OF tmidity cast upon il,
gives mankind the brightest Of all examples Of
true courage--the courage TO do right, regard
less OF the selfish consequences.
"No, to the ens,nguin'd field Of death alone.
Is vsor limited She sits
10 the de llberste council, ssgcly scans
The source OF Gcton: weighs, preftuts, provides,
And scorns 10 count her giories from The fesls