Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-02-05
THE GAzuTTn.
VIRGINIA.


Mr.. Editor After getting over The
shock Of seeing my last humble comnu.
nicatoe, which had signed e" ep-
pearing over initials which gave me ralh.
or more prominence than | had designed,
was prevented by other ayocatlons from
replying to your remarks. was medi-
saiing il however, when fortunately met
with the piece in the North American
Review which | seed you for your Pc
fusai, and which you will return al your
convenience. My views are there express
ed with much more ability than could
have expressed them, although may Tu.
y say almost every important one in II,
was entertained by me before reading H.,
aud as iar as could be done IN so short a
piece, are foreshadowed 10 my former
communication. viii except however
the mastery reply TO your land Mt.
Buchanan's) Wanted argume Mt, about the
Nooika Sound Convention, preciudIng the
English from claiming any benefit from
subsequent discoveries, which | would
have answered in diff, rent, and doubt
less less satisfactory manner.
You will perceive that neither the Re-
viewer nor myself are disposed to make
"a good British argument" but TO bring
the public 20 reflect upon the real nature
both OF their title and our own. Although
our title may be and believe is he best,
yet it certainly is not perfect, and the
English conlessedly have some rights and
claims in Oregon. Il would 8, em to me
therefore, unwise and unteneble, to clam
the whole territory in SO presumPtory and
arrogant manner as we DO. TO my
mind, there never was presented, between
nations or individuals, a more proper case
tor moderation, and for negotiation or ar
bttation. 1.-The people could be persusd.
Ell that our title is not so perfectly indie.
feisible, but tina, we might negotiate
about it, without national degradation,
the peace OF the country is secured. But
the course we are pursuing, is likely 10
hurry us into war with Great Britain,
in which the sense Of the civilized world,
will not sustain us, not because our claim
is the worst, but because our conduct, in
sustaining it, is imperious and oytrbesr-
ing. fear too that this contest, under.
taken without preparation on our part,
against the most powerful nation in the
world, fully prepared for the contest, must
cndanger the whole country for which we
are contending, involve US in vas, en-
pense, expose US to great loss and calami.
~, and most certainly overwhelm the
party which supports it. One year longer
of even the Just war we last wsged against
Great Britain, would inialibly have over
turned the deeply seated popularity Of
Mr.. Madison's administration. If pre-
isfed the interests of party, to those oil
the country, should certainly rejoice in
such a war. am not deficient Of the
courage or frmness Of America, nor do
fear that all Europe combined could con.
quer US upon our own soil. But our
means oil defence and offence arc very
unequal, and it must be remembered that
in this war, to make il eventuate fortu'
nately, both class of powers must be equal
ly exerted. II Oregon affords such IA
Critics for the China trade as we are told
what is to hind,r Great Britain, in any
campaign, from throwing portion OF hen
army Of 100000 men, always ready in
India, into the disputed territory ond
sweeping it from one end to the other be-
fore the approach o! winter? Let the
war come when II may, depend upon il
We shall oil be found supporting the honor
oftte country, but be assured, not The ad.
ministration nor the party which induced
it. Its commencement, and first years
must be highly calamitous to us, however
il may terminate, and then if not before,
people will ask cua bono whilst they
support the country with one arm, they
will tear down the administration with
the other.
My object however is not political DIS
cussion. but | desire greatly to preserve
you and all our Wings of Berkeley,
within what believe will and mus, ul-
timately prove, the conservative policy OF
the great Wing party from which should
deeply regro, 10 see any of you separate.
You say in your remarks, that you re-
ally do not see the applicability Of my
argument, concerning the British claim
Of continuity to the country North of 40,
including the North branch of the Colum.
bia river or its parallelism with our
claims TO the Ohio, antecedent to the war
Of 1868. think f you will read il over
again, with a map Of Virginia and the
map of Oregon before you, and pu, A le-
ghaay for Rocky mountain and Ohio for
hcGillvray, you cannot fail TO see the
exact similarity of our positions, and how
exactly every argument we then used,
may now DO turned in favor OF Great
Britain. The Review, which only reach
cd me tho evening before the last, takes
The same ground.
You say that you kno W that your
views on this sub ect are "tho true Ame-
rican views" in accordance with "tho
best American interests" thereby strong
~ implying that those of your adverse.
IIes are unpatriotic. ! mean no offence
to you when say, that this has been the
language Exclusive patriotism, wisdom
and virtue) Of every demagogue from the
days OF the unambiiious A5Solom, to the
present time. Now if understand wbs,
"eorrect American views" and "true
American interests" mean, il is that which
IS most to tho advantage OF tho American