Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-02-18

- A I4&4 W. ~ 4
dact thcm to tho neld. /
In the paths Of true glory. in days Of the
Athcnian democracy, werc the paths of peace;
how much more ~ are the now The benign
inioence Of Christianity and The enlightened
genius of modern civilization have operated a
mighty change I'm the feelings OF mankind. The
lame and popularity 50 much coveted by pub
lie men are no longer awanled ss the peculiar
prize OF war AMI ot wariikc counscls. The
sublime poet OF our mother tongue, clothing
himself in the mantle OF supsrhumana uthori-
". iinpreSsiyely tcaclics-
III there he i'm GLORY ausht of good.
ltmay by means lar different be attained,
Without ambition. war. or violence;
BY deeds Of peace, by wisdom eminent,
by patience. tempersnce--.'
The rights and honor Of the nation we all
desire 20 sre maintained. but they can be pro-
pcrly aud successfully maintained only by
dignity. moderation, wisdom, high sta tcsrnan;
like prudencr. united with iirmness and JUS
tice. What is there in the present attitude OF
England In regard 10 Oregon which should im-
pei M la provoke 4 war with lsr, aud tempt
the uncertain aud hazardous fortune of q con.
fict of srmsf Has she done any thing TO in
wade our right in the territory, or to insult our
national honor Both Govemme nts claim
rights there, and the citizens and subjects OF
both have made settlements there. Has Eng
land attempted OF threatened To- expcl our cit
izens inm any portion OF The territory now
occupied by thein' Has she advanced any
new pretcnsions offensive to our national dig
nifty Nothing Of oil this. On the contrary.
she sbidcs INA all things BY the arrangements
" hich have existed, by mutual consent for
twenty eight years, and il Is our Government.
not hers, which seek TO change them.
But IL is said that we have "a clear aud UNI
-. a. IL "
aud that this sweeping title must nov be as
serted aud enforced, for which purpose express
" the convention OF joint occupancy il pro-
posed TO be abrogsted. The entire course OF
the past proceedings of our Government on
the 'ubject is utterly Inconsistent with this
newborn theory Of clear aud ulquestion-
able right 10 the whole of Oregon. which in Its
origin rests upon no better foundation than the
fiat OF a party con,cnticle. not one member OF
which, IN all probability. ever seriously in
vcs,igated the title they thus dogmatically pro-
claimed. II our title TO The " hole ot Oregon
be thus clear and unique stionsble, how has IL
happened that the American Goyemment has
four several times. snd in tl,c last instance
by MIR. Polk himself Ire o>cd tn yield to Greet
Britain nearly one hslsof III II we have n
complete exclusive claim To the whole OF Ore
gon, how again has IL happened that by two
formal conventions. that OF ISIS and of ls27,
W fa't y ~ iffhEbt~Fu btuA nv tNaiNhV VI
Great Britain are not wiihou, some founda-
tion, at least, a. to agree 10 hold the territory
IN common with her Tor an indefinite PERIOD
The truth ~, IL T. impossible tn look al the long
aud able discussions which have been carried
on between the 1--WE governments ON the sub
ject Tor more than q quarter of a century, and
not 10 see at a glance that the United States
have peyer hitherto considered their right TO
Oregon, ss a whole, free from difficulties aud
-. ~ IL -. ]
Britain were - uniounded. ian every particular
ss To justify us in treating them as more idle
pretensions. Mr. Gallaiin, who has borne 30
able aud distinguished a part in three discus
.haQaas haslAal GlleR hls- leAlimopl 10 lhe na.
TO cmbafras> the establishment of our tilc, Ia
The latitude in which IL Is now put fcf.h. IN.
whole ofbcisl CORRESPOND. nee az the o,h,r
eminent ss5 Distinguished citisenIMr. Rush
ny Whom the defence Of the American claims
was 30 leemcdly and faithfully conducted at
London. b-s,s testimony 10 he same fact.
From what quarter Uf the horizon, then, has
tins new and clear light broken in upon a
question which the American Go, eminent
snd its most experienced and able ministers
have hitherto considered, Ia some extent a,
least doubtful and debstcablel We ia the
country, have anxiously sought information
on the subject rom every source which was
accessible TO us. We believe with General
jackson. that II ~ q sound precept Of national
honor. IN our relations with Foteign Powers.
To ASH nothing that is not clearly right" a.
wen an to submit to nothing that il wrong. .
we desifcn, thefeiorc, before the public sane
lion was iue,ocably given To measures intend.
ed TO enforce our rights, and involving the
hazard oil the last appeal of nations, TO under
stand correctly the nature and Just extent of
those rights and the iounda ton upon which
they resi-. We TUNED naturally To the able
correspondence OF our Secretaries OF State. Mr.
Calhoun and Mt. Buchanan, which accom-.
panies the Presidents Message. have meyer
Known any documents of that character Ia be-
motc generally read, or To be more anxiousIy
and carefully considered. IL may not be with.
Out It's use TO let you know The impression
they have made upon the minds Of the people
80 lar rs have been able to collect IL from a
Tree intercourse with intelligent men of both
parties in my own neighborhood.
ihe lucid and admirably drawnl letter ofMr.
calhoun To Mr.. Pakenham, containing his
statement aud view Of the American claims.
has made a powerful impression upon the com.
mon sense OF the country. He rests our title
mainly upon the undisputed prior discovery.
entfy, and exploration 10 a certain distsnocl oii
.ne mouth and channel OF the Columbia river
our hardy and gallant ccuntrymsn, Capt.
erey IN lFb2, followed By the equally undis
puted prio~ discovery aud exploration az some
% i's sources and upper branches, aud tracing
us course from the Rocky Mountains to Inc
Racine Ocean. ia the great n%otionai enterpnse
conducted with such distinguished harlibopi
sni bravery by Mesess. Lewis and Clarke in
$40 and ioOo; snd that sgsin followed by
we PRIOR settlements made in tie country by
our own citizens, aud especially the establish.
mett 10 i0ded by the American Fur Compsn
~ toll' under the ssgscious lead of Mr. A..
tof at place nesT the mouth of the Columbia