The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-01-10

the communication to Mexico, if this
were designed te embroil US with that
country. The well-timed rebuke, ad-
ninistered by the President in his
message, 10 the French government
for its interposi.ion in our affairs with
Texas, might with equal justice, have
been administered to England; and
presume would have been so, had not
the President looked upon the course
Of the one power as natural, Judging
from past events, while the course OF
the other was unnatural, impolilic, and
unexpected.
But this whig lecture of Lord John
Russell, upon the ambition Of the Uni.
ted States, and these perpeturai eulo.
gums upon the moderation ofEngland,
are in strange contrast with the prac.
tical principles and the progress Of her
empire. The moderation Of England,
and the ambition of the United States
Why, sir, the world has never seen.
since the fall OF the Roman empire.
such colossal power as England has
built up. She has girded the earth with
her Notifications, and covered the
ocean with her fleets. A comparative.
ly narrow island, off the western coast
Of Europe, she numbers as her subjects
1y3,ooo,oOo of people being more
than one-sixth part of the human race;
and has reduced to her subjection g..
500, 900 square miles inhabited by them,
being one-eighth part of the habitable
globe. And in the long series of her
acquisitions from the reduction Of Ire
land downwards, with the exception
Of her union with Scotland and some
recent discoveries in the South Sea,
bslieve all have been gained by the
sword. And when has j: happened in
her history, that people, or the small
lest fragment Of people, has voluntari-
y sought peace or protection under
her sovereignty? Her armies and
fleets have too often been sent cut
wherever there was people to be sub
dued, or the fruits Of their industry to
be secured. have no pleasure in
dwelling upon this course of ambition.
| have no pleasure in national crimina-
ton and rscrimination. Ihad far rath-
er dwell upon all she has done, and she
has done much, to command the graft
tude Of mankind, and much for the
progresa of civilization, of improve
ment, and acknowledge. But we can
not shut our eyes to the fact that this
country and its institutions enjoy little
favor in England. That there is a
systematic attack upon our character,
and upon what we are, and have been,
and upon our future, SO far as it is Civ
en- to foresee and to fear il. confess,
all this has produced lasting impress
sion upon me; and feel little disposed,
in any controversy with that country,
to submit to unjust demands, urged in
spirit ofunfriendliness, ,ifnot fmenace.
And if England is moderate, we are
ambitious! Why, sir, we have made
but three acquisitions Of territory since
we have been a nation. And these
were not distant colonies, but coter-
minous regions. And all three have
been made peacefully, bloodlessly.-I
Two were colonies belonging TO Uu-
ropean monarchies, where the assent
of the people to the transfer Of their
allegiance could not be asked. But
they have since shown their satisfac-
ton by their patriotism, and their pros
perity has been the reward oft. No
where is the Union more priced, nor
would it any where be more zealousIy
defended. The third and last, and
most glorious of these acquisitions, is
now 10 the progress of completion, by
the voluntary action Of neigh5oring
people, who knew the value of our in
and sought to participate in
hem, and who asked admission to our
:onfederacy. And we shall receive
hem with open arms. And 1t is an
encouraging spectacle to the lovers of
reedom, through the world, and the
'est tribute that could be offered to
is value. e,g asod. lai,@ i.
Isaid, Mr.. President, that this was the
atest, but hope it will not be the last
# our acquisitions. While | would
acredly respect the just rights Of fother
lations, would cheeriully extend the
Of our own, whenever cir
may require it, and wher-
yer it can be, done without injustice.
have no fear that an extension Of ter
tory will weaken our government, or
ut in peril our Institutions. We have
n adhesive and a life,preserving prin-
iple, in the exercise Of political power
y the great body Of the people, which
a surer bond Of union and preserva-
on than fleets, and armies, and central