Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-04-17
= For Tie Journal
4R CALHoUN--THE ORE0ON.
NO. III.

SEa
In, Is concerned, is entirely ont Of the ques-
w., The British Government stands equally
.ommitted. Unless one -ecedes, or the Ser
o,s stens in, every one sees what must be the
;oovi,ahle consequence. The President can
"carcelv change his settled convictions. be-
oonse por,s have been opened, and England
will scarcely yield at this stage, because our
demands have grown more exoFbitans. 1t
Ibis awkward position Of public affairs which
makes Mr.. Calhoun address himself so forcl-
bIv 10 the moderate of all parties. Laying
particular stress upon what is termed the gem
erositv of the recent changes in the CONNER
eiaI policy of the British, he calls npon the
Senate to meet them in kindred spirit. and
arrest the impending horrors of war. Ihese
representations may may not nave an ihilu-
ence upon their course. They may hnd u loT
the general interest to allow Great Britain the
full Leneft of her claims, and if compromise
4. .Ftetsd. no better line can be ud0pted than that
.,t1gested bu Mr.. Calhoun. We will now ex-
anime the inducements to this course, and first
ie. US properly understand the position we
hold. ~,
The American Secretary, in one OF the most
luminous arguments which, on any question,
has ever been submitted 10 the judgment OF
civilized people, demonstrated the existence
Of a clear, indisputable, and entire right to the
whole territory. The President, by whose
direction and undef whose eye these paP':rs
were prepared, assuming their truth. boldly
DrocIaims the determination Of the Cavern
ment to sustain the rights Of the nation With
This view, he submits to the other branches OF
the government the necessary measures cali
cuIaled for a speedy adjustment. The great
est Of all these, namely. The notice. passes the
House by an overwhelming majority. No
comuromse is vet dreamed Of On the con-
trarV an amendment to that effect IS lntrodu-
Ced and voted down.. The American peaPie
claim TO be- owners of the soil, and will listen
to no qualification, which, if adopted, would
involve the deAial|0f that assumption. These
acts now comeup for ratification and approval
in the upper branch Here, for the first time
in this connection, We hear Of compromise.
We are told of equivalents in unfettered com
merce-ws are reminded Of moderated de-
mands and pacific intentions. ~.
We are warned of the dangers Of war.
Now we come to the question, what have
tUe to apprehend from conflict with GreaI
Britain! Our readers will hear in mind that
we rlghtfully appreciate the miserles which
such an event must OCCASION. We have beer
too much frightened. If not instructed, Of late
not TO know that such an affair is very dread
full, even in anticipation. Visions OF flaming
cities, ravaged coasts, and devastated com
merce, are even now almost staying the Iane
that would spread before the people vIndi
cation of their just rights and exact position
and which, If need be-, would call upon the1I
to stand up manfnlIy in their maintenance
For the Last three months we have heard @
nothing hut red coats, British steamers, ant
British armies. They are TO burn, terrily
md nd INN Olat
our inhabitants, and one would think, too. from
all .hat has been said, that all this would b
done with unmolpsted violence. Why,
these dreadful engines of destruction wer
even now battering down our cities, and vom
Ting their balls of fire into orr very habit
lions, more general alarm could scarcely b
apprrhenGed. How happy should the BIRTHS
Government DO that even when thPll hal
starved lion looks most tame and praceabl
disposed, tier" are those aDoPg rs who "
r"Men,hcr has ci US. Who can tPac!, our pet
pie TO dleAd his frown, aud lremb'e before hi
majestic though latent power. But we tru!
there is spirit enough left TO rebuke these tin
I'd and i-tined apprthensionS. We thu.
that the day is yet FIR distant when the Anne
ican people, taught by two successive confic,
with the same power, not only to feel the
strength but to WELD it successfully, will su
render their rights to her vaporin9 threats
her lOrdly dictation. Elements like thes
should he unknown in the discussion Of III
question. Can we never learn TO deal viii
England as an equal! Can we never forg
we no longer owe her allegiance and submit
sion! Full time tits we should know bette
and act better too. For the sake Of Justice
she has rights let US respect them. but for o.
own self-respect if she has none let us der
IofR kn 81, {
we are brave also. Let them be made TO IL
derstand that IS if we ask for nothing that
not right, we will submit to nothing that
wrong" Such ia the attitude that becom
nation of freemen. and such, # we mista
not, are the intentions of the American pc
pie. They feel that war is great evil, b
that there is greater. They dread a conte
with no nation. They trembe at no militia
display. Armed for right, they have tw
before met the same enemy, and they can
40 again. While they are fully sensible
the Perls Of such contest, none know bett
that concession mag become precedent nm
all 10 lost, and history teaches them that Il
flrSt inch gained from terror, differs not hut
precedence from the last one wIenched fro
despair.
Now what is there in these pacific inte
lions to warrant our confidence! What ho
they to do ,oifh the Oregon? Are we asking
favor that we should watch looks Of kindne
and seek moments of propiious inclination
What is there in any equivalent which W
atone for she breach Of public duty to our CT
zPnS in Oregon. that will reconcile the Reps
lie 10 the loss of it's domain? Nothing,
soIn,sly nothing. We know that in this
- vowal We hazard the censure Of those W
feel inclined to confne the language Of pAfi
ism to the rostrum or the closet They. W
tell us that plain men Of business look ID pr;
tical advantages-that our people are fond
swap-that to lead them to a bargain it
sufficient to offer a good consideration. \