Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-04-02
THE MESSAGE.

We lay before our readers this week the
Message of President Polk 10 the Senate, III
answer to a resolution offered some days since
by Senator Dayton of New Jersey. The first
impression of this Message on the public mind
was rather alarming, and seemed TO impress
many with the belief that the clouds oil war
We're beginning to thicken over the existing re-
lations between the United States and England
A more calm reading Of the Message, howey-
or, seems to have quoted down all apprehen
SIGN, and the business Of the commercial cities
to the Eastward, which was for a moment dis
turbed, has glided back into its wonied chan
mel and all seems again 80 be ,ce4, ="
The Message Of the President certainly does
not change the aspect Of ''the Oregon ques-
ton" one iota--he occupies the same ground
precisely that he did in his Annual Message.
We believe the President is sincerely determi
ned, So far as he can do SO, to preserve peace.
We can see no disposition manifested in either
his Annual Message or the present one, to dis
turb the peaceful relations existing between the
nv ANR NbhlRuNaa " navy nv NO't' 'N'
that he desires compromise and and an hoaor-
able peace We make these remarks because
we deem them just to the Chief Magistrate of
our Country, and because we deem them Just
TO his course and action upon this great Ma
iionoi question. We consider the whole Ian
guage of the present Message pacific. and as
another evidence of the desire OF the President
for an honorable aud amicable adjustment ofall
OF cur controversies with Foreign Nations.
We have more than once ntimated our de-
sire and wish to see the Naval force % our
country increased The United States are Sc
cond only to England in a Commercial point
of view. andyet a!mosteyery liule rotten Mon
archy in Europe is ahead of her in Naval
force" We are no advocates Tor useless ex-
trayagance--but we are decidedly in favor Of
adding Immediately to our Naval force consid-
cradle augmentation, We consider such a
step upon the part Of our Government as ne
cessary 10 meet the circumstances and spirit of
the age in which we liye-aEd in addition
to this, as the best means Of preserving ''he
peace of the county" "In time of peace"
said the immortal Washington, "prcpare for
war" The counsel was wise-let il be heed
ed.
The Philadelphia "United States Gazette"
one OF the most able and correct journals IN
this country, in its comments upon the Mes
sage says -
What he recommends now. was more ear
nestY urged before, and his reiteraton. we re-
peat It, is nothing but the almost necessary
answer to a resolution ofthe Senate. We hope
steamers will be built and, if NECESSARY, other
vessels of war not that we think the Message
Is warllke, but because we think now, and we
have thought and sad for long time, that
such an addition 10 our Navy IS required by 4
proper reg2rd 10 our sea coasts. the interest OF
our merchants, and our national honor.
At least we may say that there is nothing in
the Message (which has not been publicly talk
cd of; nothing that The President has not area-
dy stated, (the fact about the changes in MeNi-
co excepted !; nothing, in short. which should
make the least difference ia the calculations
about war, because There is nothing that was
not said before with greater emphasis-noth,
ing nclr.
There is one remark of the President in the
Message, which carries with il the idea TO some
persons, that the additional force required IS 10
meet the contingency Of a war with Great Rri-
tam We allude 10 the following After
mentioning that our preparations can give no
offence 10 Great Britain, the Message says:
Should collision between tho two countries
be avoided as sincerely trust it may be. the
additional charge upon the treasury, in making
the necessary preparations, will not be lost
while. in the event Of such collision. they
would be indispensable for the maintenance OIL
our national rights, and national honor"
II viii be perceived that the additional force
is nor regarded blythe President as entirely con.
'tingent upon disputes with England, though
the mode OF introducing It's remarks gives hd
as the principal motive.
There is, without any regard TO the question
now at ISSUE between this country and Grea
Britain, an absolute necessity for conslderabl,
addition TO our naval force and if the Oregon
Question was settled tomorrow, additiona
strength TO our deicnCes would be required
and the President himselfadmts the same thing
in the closing paragraph Of the Message. Fo
example he alludes 10 ihe verv troubled stat
80! MeXico, and includes herbostily as WORTHY