Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-17
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
New ORLEANS, DEcEmBER 81. /,

Messrs GALES ~ SEAToN: The Presidents en-
cycopedical message as well as the Oregon cores
pondence have Of course been received here, read,
and dgested For one, | was glad to perceive the
Administration had strengthened their position by
renewing the offer Of the forty-ninth degree, and
though, when rejected, they have Withdrawn this
offer, should hope that they would be willing to
compromise on that boundary, il it can subsequently
be effected. The silly vaporing of the Union (which
only has any weight from being considered as an
official organ) and its appeals 10 the party TO sup
port the Government, are disgusting to every man
possessing any patriotic feeling. Howeverunwsey
or unnecessarily we may be involved in war on
this Oregon question, the nation would rally to the
support of the Government and no portion Of it
would do SO more promptly or more efectually than
the Wing party, who would be found in the front
ranks against any common enemy, though at the
same time they would endeavor to effect change
of rulers, and place the destinies of the country in
ADLER and safer hands but it is thing to stand
by the country and render the most cordial assis-
lance in prosecuting war, however unwisey il may
have been commenced, and to carry the nation ho-
morally through it, and another TO encourage and
abet the Government to enter into such war UNI
advisedy.
1t was, consider, the height of folly to place the
nation thus prematurely in its present position on
this question, whilst we are in SO defenceless con-
diton, in respect to such enemy as England. If
the time had arrived for asserting claim to Ore
gon, great injury certainly could arise from fur
Their short delay Of two three years in addition to
the twenty-five years that have already waited,
and during that time to have taken measures for
placing the country in some sort OF condition to
grapple with such foe. 1t may be considered We
ny brave, chivalrous if you WILL for naked and
an unarmed man voluntarily to throw himself into
personal and deadly combat with mail-clad war
Int ahould
prudence nor common sense; nor will former wars
give any idea as to the results and mode of con-
Quoting war at this time, under all the modern i'm
provements both in military and naval operations,
and particularly the latter Awar at this time would
be attended with more prompt and extensive devas-
ation, and would greater loss of life and
more Distress injury and ruin, than can be well ina
gined; and lose all patience when hear or read
of the slangwhangers and demagogues who speak
of it as if il were holyday pastime No one can
possibly estimate more highly than do the Prov
ess and bravery of my countrymen their indomita-
BILE spirit and the desperate and frantic struggle they
would make under the knock-down blows which
we should receive from such an enemy but what
possible chance would we have In contendinp with
such steam-marine Great Britain would bring
to bear upon US! Build and equip similar one, /
suppose will be the answer. Yes, and how long
will take us to do it. under the pressure and losses
OF such a warfare as will be waging against us
Whilst we are trying to thus build and equip, the
enemy would have eighty or hundred war steamers
on our coast conveying at the rate of two hundred
miles in twentyfour hours body Of thirty or forty
thousand disciplined troops from point to point, ra-
vaging our coast and capturing and destroying our
naval depots and, at any rate, will il not be more
advisable to build and equip this fleet in state of
peace, with the full command of our uncrippled re-
sources and undivided attention, and when we could
accomplish more towards it in six months than we
could in six years under such state of warfare,
II is really annoying that SO much precious time
has already been lost in supplying the country with
suitable navy. Had we began, as we ought to
have done, six or eight years back with our steam
ships, we would now have been in a condition in
which we could have boldly launchedupon the ocean
to face any foe upon our own coast. In war with
such Power England, thirty to forty first class
war steamers, manned by 10000 seamen, would
afford protection 10 cities, harbors and coasts
which 100000 regular troops cannot do on such an
extensive seaboard, to say nothing of the loss and
distress caused bya movable column of 10000 men,
rapidly transported by the enemy's steamers upon
every assailable point in quick succession.
war at this time would inevitably be rag
money war; and notwithstanding all their former and
present EXPLANATIONS against it, and all the holy
horror they have expressed, our Locoloco friends
and their Administration would have 10 patronise,
father, and depend upon shinplaster currency,
and that too in less than six months after declara-
ton of war; will not, however, believe in such
an event as war. will not believe the sober good
sense OF either nation will be willing to encounter
the horrors andperils of such war; for such an OBJ
Ject though il is melancholy to see the motives and
influences that govern those in our country who are
trying to stir up the elements of strife. can ex-
cuse or palllate the conduct Of those who, without
resources or means, cry out for war, in the hopes
that, in the chapter Of accidents, something may
turn up in their favor, or to those numerous aspi
rants for military fame, who, because they may
have shouldered a cornstalk or a broom-handle on
a militia training day, consider themselves qualified
and entitled to fill the station Of colonel or major, or
at any rate captain lieutenant in the large regular
army that they think would be organized but there
is no excuse for those in high places who fan the
embers, and whose position gives weight TO their
and who do it against their true and
private opinion, merely to promote their personal
political aggrandizement and particularly when we
see this among men who aspire to the highest sta
ton in the gift of the people.
The present war rumors are now acting like
perfect incubus upon the general business and pros
poets OF the nation il meets and crosses us al every
turn, and It is almost impossible to conceive what
relief 1t would be to the nation to have this weight
removed from her breast, and allow her 10 breathe
Freely once more through all the channels and ave-
nues OF trade, commerce, and agriculture. Nor do
| know of any thing that would give such burs,
md orlal e sx~.-