Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-02-05
THE WAR SPIRIT.

Every true friend of peace-every lover OF
his country's best interest-cannot fail 10
read with sadness and apprehension, many
of the war-speeches which have been made
on the floor of Congress, during the Oregon
discuSsion-some of them, too, delivered by
men who have generally been regarded as
honorable and high-minded statesmen. II
is not much to be wondered at, that young
and fippant orators-whose chief ambition
lies in making speech, and elici,ing
the unmeaning applause of the caucus
room or debating club-should wax valiant
with as much familiarity and enthusiasm
as if they were really objects to be sought al
ter rather than Stunned. But that grave
and dignifed Senators--who hold, as it
were, the destiny Of the nation in their
hands-should, at such a critical moment in
our national affairs as the present, make use
of language fitted and designed to stir up a
feeling of animosity and jealousy between
two great and rival nations, is matter OF
surprise and deep regret. The language Of
bravado and insult is more becoming to
towards and blackguards, than to men who
have been callad to fill the high stations of
the land .- wrE -
FOOT, ara GpGfGen. Cass, since his return
no went backward anything but pacific.
f.at s,;cL;n; nm. ROB, he seems to have
aoed him con,ip, mat bitter, implacable
prejudice against the British which forms
so essential an ingredient.in the. nature and
ea-~-sfon or the French people. AT all E.
vents, he has mounted his war-horse, and is
squirting him on with desperate energy. 1t
is surmised in certain quarters, that he
hopes Herewith to ride into the Presidency
in right gallant style. "The war-spirit, or
the love of military glory, has made three
Presidents, why may it not make another1"
reasoneth he, as he spurs on his old charger.
But if we mistake not the spirit of the age'
he will find that the enthusiasm which moves
the people to honor the heroes of wars gone
by, is quite different spirit from that which
thirsts for the blood, and rapine, and glory, of
new wars. He will find that however glori-
GUS war may appear in Poetry and History,
the people of this day have too much practi-
cal sense--too much philanthrophy and hu-
manity--to rush headlong into conflict
which can only result in pecuniary loss to
both parties, infinitely greater than the en-
tire value of the object at stake, to say moth
ing of the suffering and loss Of life which
must inevitably ensue. ....
But, ",oiU there be scar ?" is a question
which is often and earnestly asked. We
profess not the gift of prophecy, but we think
ourselves safe in predicting peaceful ter
mination of the question under dispute be-
tween our Government and Great Britain
The latest foreign news confirms US in, this
opinion. A war for Oregon would be the
most unpopular movement in England
which could possibly take place. And sure
we are, that if the people of this county could
decide the question, such an event would be
voted monstrous absurdity. II is only
some ambitious congressman, whose speech
es are echoed to some extent by the admin
istration press, that war-spirit is famed and
kept burning. The nation as nation is
for peace :.
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