Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-05

vocal manifestation OF our purpose 10 sel.e aAs
appropriate the whole territory, ana III sle~ =
legislation formally enacted for The dispo:seSs'II.
OF her subjects and her complete ehPu's.on sn'
should not await the termination OF inc oon.e :
ton, but waving notice, and awaiting hersell .
her superior state Of preparation, strike al once
fearful. il moi decisive blow. Whether mus nea
or more remote. war by our reckless course VII
be made almost certain. And what, Mr. Chair
man, must be the nature and probable consequen
ces Of such war;
Under any circumstances MI. CHAIRMAN, wa
is great evil, perhaps The creates. WHICH e 'al
befal nation, except dlshonoI. De.eI ~
such nations as Great Britain ana Inc ohlte'
States, each of bravery unsurpassed, possessed
immense resources. and aided in The WORK OF mu
tual destruction by The inventions and improve
menls of modern science, the conflict would o.
frigh,fu and the devastation shocking. Wisi
not 10 dilate on The mere horrors OF war. bul
Mr. Chairman, il from the dreadful aggregate o
misery, anguish. and death which must resnl
from even a single field OF carnage, we coulc
scgregale and indivdualize 10 the minds iull con-
cepion each case OF the wounded or The dying
with all its attendant suffering, and It's mournfu
result 10 the home of The bereayed-to Inc WHO"
and The orphan-we must have hearts more sa'
wage than thar of the bloodiest despot who ever
outraged humanity, H. holding in our power Inc
blessings of peace, without the most palpa6e ne
cessiy we should "cry havoc, ana lei sliP .ne
dogs OF war" To my mind, the character OF Inc
Duke of Wellington is not more Illustrated ds :
conqueror in The annals OF history oy the decisive
victory Of Waterloo, than as man IN Inc we"
Of enlightened humanity, by his simple answer
TO friend who, congralulating him on MS g'o,l'
Gus achievement, expressed wonder at The alb
sence of all elaiiion on his part. "Be not sur
prised, Che said,) for, in my view, save defeat,
the greatest OF all calamiles is glorious viclo-
ry." He was right, Sir and the noble moral OF
his sentiment is OF peculiar applicability 10 US
For, if assured-as we are far from being-ot
triumph in war beyond our sanguine anlicipa-
lions, OF what profit would it be compared with
the destruction Of human life, the ouIpourinS oil
treasure The devastation of property, the jeopardy
10 our institutions, and the rctardation OF our
progress in improvement and happiness by
which its blood ined laurels would be gained !
The genius OF our institutions are essentially
peaceful, and il is The glorious privilege OF our
position on this continent that we are most sure
ly aggrandized as nation by the noblest instru-
the culture and peopling of the earth.
Our Government is admirably adapted for The de-
and prosperous display the individu-
al energy and industry ofis citizens; and in every
form OF human effor!-ln agriculture, in COM
merce, and in manufaciures-we have ihrlven
and prospered in manner wholly unexalnpled
in the annals OF mankind. Many hoary head is
yet seen amongst US, whose possessor, having seen
our nation emerge from colonial vassallage, has
its progress with scarce check, ill
now, by the acknowledgement OF the first states
men of Europe, il ranks among the greatest OF
the earth. For The conduct OF war will not say
our government is incompetent for on the sutii-
cc.cy u is energies for every want, have great
confidence; but certainly in its capacity for the con-
centrated executive efforts essential for war itcon-
Irasts less iavorahly with the monarchies and
arislocraces OF Europe, and especially with the go
vernment of Great Britain, than in its adaptation
10 inspire incentives TO industry and secure the
riunphs Of peace. There have been frequent
on this floor OF feelings hostile 10
England, anu as il to incite 10 resentment and
vengeance. We have had paraded in vivid array
all The crimes and atrocities alleged 10 have been
by her for ages back in all quarters OF
he world, and have listened TO fervid appeals
in behalf of the groaning and down.trodden mil
ions OF her subjects, who, j, is said, wrilhe
beneath The oppression OF her boastsd aristoc
racy. Sir il We are TO be animated by such ma
ona Quixolry or be betrayed into crusade for
he deiyerance Of those who desire mol our SYM
,alhy and would spurn our prof1ered aid, lei me
,ay that in my opinion, they would greatly err
would resort 10 war for vengeance or redress.
The mos, certain means for US TO overthrow En-
,Iish power-lo avenge the past and remedy The
,resent ills of her inhclng-s by our peaceful
progress, by successful competition in commerce
Ind manufactures on her superiority 10 which
esls the main staff OF her dependence. Our as-
cuure Of course exceeds hers; our commerce.
Il marine is fast approximaling 10 hers; in many
branches OF manufacture, Tor which our country
Without artificial slimulants is ripe, We are un-
lersellns her in the markets Of the world. Let
is but await our growth, and time and peace
will, in few years, do more 10 crafty such ma
ional antipalhy, lift unfortunately exists, than
present war could by possibility accomplish.
But sir, what would be the probable conse
luences Of war, should il come, in relation 10
his disputed country OF Oregon2 II has been
we'll remarked, in a leading English journal,
what can England Justly dread in that territory,
when she has command OF The seaboard and the
Interior of the fors and The Indians? !" Her re-
'ourccs there w0uli be far greater than ours. and
ler facilities OF access superior. Between ma.
ions, al least kindred in vaor and skill, these ad
,antapes would sean decisive Elsewhere we
night and probably would, obtain indemnilies,
.specially in The Canadas Bur, after ALL the
,reat struggle must Re on The oceans, and for no.
hing short of the supremacy of The seas. I'm
nense present odds must there be against usi yet,
or one, il The cunfic. begin, should not despair
Il at least an equal -esult. With all our nation
Il energies ronsed, and our immense resources
ully directed TO naval ascendancy, the God OF
,altles could alone foresee and award the ulti-
nate issue. But against conflict SO doubtful,
md consequences as dire as must ensne, every
patriot should strive while honor will permit
Such confidently believe 10 be The feeling OF the
,nlightsd constituency have the honor to rep
.esenl on this floor. Prepared as one man TO
breast the shock OF arms whenever necessary,
hey are too sagacious not 10 perceive that in The
WAYS of peace their true honor and interests lie,
and TOO conscious OF real valor 10 dread the idle
of timidty in adopting the counsels
Of prudence and wisdom. In their name, humble
as am, protest against and denounce the folly
and The madness which, by such improvident le-
gslalion as this bill proposes, would expose them
and the country to The hazards and sacrifice of a
needless war.
To The grave objections which have been
urged 10 this bill without the restriction OF The
amendment, one answer, having sniff
lien, plausibility 10 require notice, has been gi-
ven. II is, that the English legislation applica-
bic 10 this Oregon territory is co extensive with
he proroscd operation OF this bill; and that in
adopting il we but follow the precedent and *
ample Of Great Britain, who will consequently
be precluded from complaint. Now MIR. Chair
man, am no, disposed to cavi about TECHNICAL
lies, or bubble on the precise construction 10 be
given 10 some Of the clauses Of the English act
IF 1921. | am inclined to admit that the gene
raj phraseoosy Of that act may be Justly sns-
ceptible of the construction commended for. But
il must be remembered when that act was passed,
and with what assurances it was followed. The
enactment was a. far back as 1921, after the
adoption Of The convention of 1918, and when il
was 10 endure for years; and it has been subse-
cuenlly continued under the renewed convention
Of 1927, which was Indefinite in its duration.-
After lis passage 100, as is we'll known, on The
application of our Government, who apprehend-
ed It's provisions nigh, lie inconsistent with the
satisfactory assurances were given
by the Government Of Great Britain that its pro-
visions were not intended, and should no, be con-
strued, TO extend 10 citizens OF The United States,
or invade The rights secured by The convention.
Practically and substantially, then, this English
enactment was passed with reference only TO the
continuance Of the convention, and TO operate
under and in strict subserviency TO its provisions.