The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-13

supposed 10 result from it, has yielded up th
whole subject of dispute which had led TO the war
There is, IL is true, more than shining instane
in which a nation has conquered its independents
without imparing the position Of equality Of its op
ponent There are instances, too, in which con
quered people have yielded all. But know Of no
treaty IN modern times, between equals, in which
one Of the parties, after war, has given up IN,
whole subject in controversy without equivalent
There may be such instances, but do not remem
Der one, even in the most successful period of the
career Of Napoleon Neither Marengo nor Ausier
liz ever gave him such results in his treaties with
Austria. OF all the European nations, Great Brit.
ain is the most distinguished for the pertinaci,y with
which she has hitherto struggled for her rights and
her honor. Now, Mr. Chairman, is there a man
amongst us who supposes-does the widest dream
er Of US all belieye-that she would ever close
war by yielding not only the whole subject in DIS
pute, but her undoubied territory until she had
first waged Il, and been defeated in IT, as war not
only Of mastery, but Of existencel Would her sa-
gaeious statesmen be slow TO perceive that any
treaty which branded her with the visible stamp OF
inferionty after war, would be the precursor
Of her downfsll' She knows that the hungry
ard expectaBt eye Of continental Rarpp~ 10 hxed
upon the prey which division Of her mighty en-
pire would afford. She Is aware, too, that the cal
culaton has already been made as TO how far the
invention Of steam has destroyed the security OF
her natural defenees-of her insulor position. She
longer feels able 10 continue the proud boast that
britannia needs no bulwaTks, no towers along the
Steep" for she is now engaged in constructing
offences She must feel that the whole charm Of her
power lies in the idea Of her nyncibty on the ssas
and in her colonial possessions. To destroy by her
act this idea, would be to hold forth the signal for
the eagles gather 10 the banquet and would yolye
the loss Of power empire and character itself Can
be mistaken in supposing that war which brought
her TO such conclusion, would probably be the
longest and bloodiest ever known in the annals Of
mankind lieDIlenen have prnnniaed TINT this
thing shall be done. | do not stand her to dispute
il. In the event Of war ! wish that they may
be able to make good their words But before
this can be accomplished, must track the British
lion in his blood from the rising to the setting sun
We must hunt him from stronghold TO stronghold
until we have pursued him throughout the eircum-
ference OF the globe. Every sea- every cline must
become familiar with the noise of the terrific
strife. Far distant people, nations to whom as yet
we are scarcely known, must be startled at the
apparition Of this new power which is to struggle
with Great Britain for the mastery in places where
she had long reigned the most supreme. From
Alden to the lonan isles we must pursue her over
wave and through fortress, on one continuous line
Of blood and FIRE, until we have swept her flag from
the seas, and buried her fleets in the ocean. We
must throw down her places of strength; we must
despoil even her gardens Of "pleasaunce." Yes
sir; to this dreadful extremity must bring her.
before she can agree to conclude the contest upon
terms which would destroy her most cherished sem
tment Of national pride, and probably lead to the
destruction Of the mightiest empire which, yet,
the world has known.
II we ore to obtain wha, gentlemen have promised
us, such must be the which we are to
wage What, Mr.. Chairman must he the con-
sequences OF such war upon ourselves and our in
stitutonsI Who can foresee these consequences in ali
their extent, or undertake to measure The results
How great would be the danger Of centrali-
zation Of all power in the federal govern
mel and of ObllteratiOn of the ltnea IF State
authority How many hundreds Of millions of
debt should we entail on ourselves and our poster-
tyr How far should we fall into the lower depths
of the paper SYSTEM To how distant day in the
democratic reforms which we had fondly hoped we
about to introduce, and for which we have
labored so long and often with such doubtful sue
cess? We should go into the war a free, happy,
and moral people. Who can undertake TO foretell
the extent and nature of the transformations which
we may undergo before we come out of it, or who
can measure the waste Of all the elements of HUI
man happiness and social order which such a war
would occasioni Should we be justified in the ewes
of God Of mankind, for thus perilling the great
interests of our country and of humanity for the
sake Of obtaining possession of Oregon few years
earlier, when we sure of acquiring it little la.
ter by honorable and peaceful means' Could we
be justified In exposing the country to such ex-
tremity if there be even probable chance of ac-
curing the territory by means not only peaceful
but compatible with our honor Or if war and such
a war be inevitable, ought not to postpone il UNI
I'll we have more men, more means, more resources,
and more suspicious circumstances for its COM
mencement? But, Mr.. Chairman, it may be said
that in my view OF the probable consequences of
such war as that must be which should lead to
such conclusion as is promised, | have virtually
admitted that the republican system of policy is
practicable only IN time of peace. Such is not my
opinion. We have not had time as vet to intro
duce or mature our system. The ideas upon which
they rest are not fully possessed by the public
mind. They require time and period of peace for
their full development. But if once matured and
developed, Lbelieve they would enable our govern
ment and people to stand the shock and pressure Of
war with far greater ease and buoyancy than under
any other course of policy. l. for one, am of the
opinion that if wewere now to plunge into war we
should fall into Of the worst forms of the paper
system, owing to the remains Of what believe 10
be wrong idea once implanted in the public mind
and yet believe that the expenses of a war could
be far better sustained without these abuses of that
system than with them. have long thought that
we suffered almost as much in the last war from
such abuses as from the British troops But, Mr.
Chairman, have yet another answer. The genius
Of our institutions is pacifc-they were not organ
lied for distant and offensive warfare For defen-
sive war believe they the strongest in the world
for they bring TO its aid the united hearts of our peo-
pie. We were not organized for career of war and
conquest, and thank God for it; for then we should
nave required u lar more uesp0uc form OF govern
ment, and we might have stood as fair chance az
any to become the curse of mankind instead of being
their benefactors, as | maintain we have been by
the example Of our institutions and our progress
We have always been proud to believe that ours
was higher and more glorious destiny we have
believed il to be destiny to achieve our triumphs
in the useful arts Of peace, to subdue the difficulties
and master the secrets Of nature adorn and cult
vate the earth to introduce and higher civil
zation to develop better forms ofsocial and political
organization, and TO minister the progress and the
universal peace and happiness of naankind by the
benehcent example Of free and happy people, who
were wealthy without rapine, strong without crime
great without war, and peaceful without fear. To.
wards these great and benhcent ends we have already
done much; and in doing it we have won more true
glory than II, like Tamerlane, had left pyramids
OF human heads as the monuments Of victory, OF
like Attla or Alarc, the scourge of God and the pes
Of nations, ravaged and desolated the earth in the
storm Of our warfare. Our thousand Of miles of rail-
roads and canals which have thrown down the bar.
rers Of nature to the utilization Of our people, and to
the common and kindly interchange Of so much that
ministers TO the happiness Of man, are far nobel
monuments to the oenius of n neonle than the col