Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-08-27

reforms in our domestic policy, to
which the present Congress was pledg-
cd when It came together, the mind of
our people turned with keener interest,
if not with deeper disquietude, TO the
condition Of our foreign relations
The present administration, when ii
came into power, found the Texas
/, question IN ats most critical stdge.-
Annexation, on our part, had been SOL
EMMY resolved upon. The dispute
as to the boundary had been strenuous
ly urged to prevent that resolve. and
had been urged in vain. Texas up to
+ the Del Norte was to come into the
Union. But to the end that Mexican
pride and punctifio might be propitia-
ted, negotiation was to be had with
that power in a liberal spirit to adjust
the equivalents on the boundary ques-
ton to the mutual satisfaction of the
parties. In this state of things, Mex.
leo refused all adjustment and all ne
gotiation and with threats of hostility
broke off all her diplomatic relations
with Us. At the same time, France
and England interlersd to thwart our
deliberately chosen policy, and to
prevent, BY intimidation or by intrigue,
the Texans from accepting our over
lures. At this crisis of the question
PLAINLY its crises ofgreat diffic ulty-
the present administration undertook
its management. And that manage
ment, from its very inception down to
the present moment, has been one
unbroken series of triumphs both of
council and Of arms. The Texan
people came into our Union unanimous-
! ty. The forecast Of our government
IN sending minister to Mexico made
manifest to all the world, that we were
acting in good conscience and in a
spirit Of peace, and that the whole re-
sponsibili'y and the whole guilt of war,
If war should come, lay not with us,
but with her. Before we struck
blow on the battle field, ue had gained
It verdict from the civilized world
The war came, only to bring with it
series of triumphs, rejecting new lus-
tire Oh the American arms. And even
then, the right remained uith US, and
the world acknowledges that we are
fighting in spirit ofjustice, and not
of oppression. We believe that our
war, carried on with all vigor while it
lasts, will close ere long, and that, when
it closes, the public opinion of Chris
tendon will yet more fully confirm the
Judgment, even now not withheld that
we have made war with a desire for
peace, and solely for the maintenance
Of our rights. The issue of the whole
Texan question, thus far, is that Tex
as is ours; that our army sees its way
open to the Mexican capital; and tina,
Mexico has brought upon herself and
has deserved, al! that she endures.
! Upon the other great question of our
foreign relations, which it has fallen
to the lot of this administration to con-
duct-the Oregon question-we shall
speak with entire frankness. 1t had
remained an open question, incapable
of settlement, through seven successive
presidential terms. During all this
period it he'd not adranced one step
towards adjustment. 1t has been adj
justed finally and forever within the
first eighteen months of the present ad-
ministration. Every patriot, both in
England and America, must rejoice
tina, mode of adjustment without war
has been found. Every man of can
dor in both countries must admit the
boldnesss and the breadth of the poll
cy, with which the present Executive
presented and shaped the issue before
the world. 1t recommended the no
tice to be given; and it was this meas
ure which brought the question to is
sue, and finally effected an adjustment
of the differences between the two
|countries. That the policy of the Ex-
ecutive has been in every respect fully
sustained by both houses of Congress
to the best results which it was capa-
bic of achieving, and which, if thus
sustained, it doubtless would have a
chieyed, cannot be pretended. The
Oregon question was one ofthose vast
territorial issues in relation to which
different sections of the great demo
cratic party, not unnaturally, perhaps,
entertained somewhat discordant views.
That these views have been harmon
lied by an administration into result
so satisfactory, uponthe whole, as the
existing Oregon treaty, is matter of
honest and general congratulation.-
The present administration has gained
a settlement Of the controversy, in the