Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-12
Thoughts for fhs Preside.

Rocky Mountains to take possession OF the dspu-
ted territory. Ii is very probable this individual
had never smelt powder, even from an Indian III
fe and therefore dealt in imaginary feats OF vaor
A little sober reality might temper down the ram
pant valor of this .'mighty man of war; or even
an occasional reference to history might bring
about a rational train of thought 1t may be. as
we believe it has often been alleged, that the in
ven,ion Of modern weapons of destruction, has
rconomised the splitting of blood, yet upon the
enlarged scale on which war between Great
Britain and this country would necessarily be
conducted, the horrors OF such a contest need not
be enhanced by a morbid imagination.
But let us look for a moment at the estimate Of
n reliable historian in describing the destruction
of human life in ancient wars, and ask whether
there is any thing in the picture which ought 10
be particularly captivating even TO an "ou'sde
barbarian" Are the yeomanry OF the county
those who now engaged IN the peaceful EN-
ployInent oil developing the e1ubsrant resources
of our favored land-so eager Tor change from
tranquil scenes, and health. giving pursuits, as to
be ready TO bark on with the demagognes OF the
day, in their vile game of carving out fat Jobs for
the spoils. huntersl We can scarcely think the
fully awakened to the imminence of the danger
into which the folly. recklessness, and apparent
faulty, of many of our public men, are likely TO
plunge us.
ALLISON, in his Principles Of Population, gives
some facts worthy of passing thou.ht. He says
Accustomed as we are To the effects Of war in cyi
zed umes when the b, oily contests are followed by
increase IN the numbers OF the people is dheut 10
form conception OF the desolation which 1t produced In
barbarous when the void caused by the sword
not supplied by the impulse of subsequent tranquility
few facts will show its prodguus nnuence IN former ages
IL is aseertaned, by exact computation, that when the
three cspils Of ChOrassan destroyed by II
mour, 4347, 900 persons put to the sword At the
came time, 100000 people were slain in the city
OF Monsu, which had risen IN the neighborhocd oi
the ancient Ninevah; and the desoaon Produced cen
tuy and half before, by the sack Of Genghskhen, had
been at least great Such were the ravages OF 'hs
mighty cnnqueror, and his Mosu followers IN the country
between the Caspian and the Indus, that they amostH
terminated the and 1--WE subsequent centuries
have been unable To repair tue ravaaes Of four wears An
OF 100000 Mogus under the sons OF Ginghs' 30
completely laid the provinces 10 the north OF the
Danube, that they have since reganed mn iOrnei
nambe and in the famine qnent upon the Eruption
Of the barbarans into the Chinese empire, thirteen
millions computed TO have pe'Ished Daring the great
Invasion of TimOur twelve OF the most honrshng cities
of Asia including Delhi Ispahan Bsgdad and Damascus
utterly destroyed; and pyramids Of human heads. one
f which contained 90G00 skulls, erected their ruins"
In reference TO occasional efforts of the ADMIN
istraton press, TO throw otium upon the Whi2
party for not Unfortunately joining in with rash
and denuhciatory proceedings on Oregon, we find
the following sound and Just remarks in the Balt-
more American paper always discreet and re-
liable:
Thcre doubt presume, any where % the entire
and unanimy with VIII all parties W. u!c
anie IN carrying "n VAR, If war must come EnS!a"c
caa { und no hopes a division among Americans Ia thai
contingency. What then Is capable cf 4pPre-
eilting national honor national .hs nut the President
Of the United States and those who with him Are MS
Recommendations he implicitly obeyed the only guides
Of opinion and aetiou! Opposition GOyernmsn,!-
IL the Governme-' inalslel Isn.mPos,be that SHOULD
lack discretion Paciiy, SPIRIT May be ra.a, pre-
eips;e, inprudent-ano If shall II rot be tod q 81
Nay, Is beyond the range Ut possibilities that tie
Government who 1t, may be
msnifesing silly iemeriy ume aud another =
tnidy approaching cOwsrdice Opposition to the Gov
ernment! Who knows what the Government intends -
Are those opposition vino favor peace the basis of
the forty ninth parallel Then the Administration 10
opposiuon se for it proposed peaceful settlement
that very basis Arc those IN opposition would
back the impatient ardOr Il The exclusive claimants the
whole Of Oregon Then Mr.. Calhoun o the Lead
Of the opposition. Does Mr.. Polk intend make good
his words mott VINO knows He has claimed the
whole Of Oregon and yet offered compromse for half Of
Are there to be no guardians OF the national nights and
hoIor but the Presioenn What that he
may make unworthy concessions Of both Yet he
be thwarted; he must be opposed. The
WbgI Of this free land know their duty better. They
guto dctators what honor and patriotism require
II the contingency pending shall by the action Of the
Administration. appear to have reached which
there alternative but shameful recedng they
il sustain the positions Of the President not only against
4 II -. l. L.
When the doctrine first laid down 10y Mr. Van Bu-
req, that the duty Of hrs party contend against
the puence Of permitting all the powers OF legislation 70
be absorbed by Congress the sensibty Of that parry
in degree shocked yet more unbushng claim
up by the presses and politicians in the servc,
OF the Administration. First deemed treason on tn,
por Of citizen to doubt the wisdom Of the President
this veIed Oregon question: and IS declared tina
COnRress ought be found opposition TO the Exec
Utive les Just clam, whatever 1t may be- should b.
weakened by conciliatOry course
The concoit Of a former President that he should be-
part and parcel Of the Lega u county, was bat
enouRh-bu, the claim Of supremacy Tor the E1ecu-
tive, could only have been conceived by the head Of on
utterly ignorant ngarjless Of he very first principle
81 government Of the rights aud mmuuies Of the peo
pies representative
We have indeed ouiyod at degrading point IN orr po-
leu history, when chosen t. quad against E1ecu-
tive encroichment, and ehpsed from States claiming
to be peculiarly jealous of the observance defined pow
Tfs, are unblushingy asserting doctrines which the To-.
generation would have secuted. They ore daily frucun,
away the simplest aud yet s,cted principles II ou
institutions Every thin must be made 10 bend 10 lr
progressive spntof Democracy" aud ,he people are on
" deemed free vhon they yield up willingly every yesug
Ol independence.
OFFICES IN TEXAS.
ssaid unusual setiviiy prevails Washington, anon
the aspranu Tor the TeEpu offices. Some ostiniai
may lie lnLmad u lhn ancdlu... The n.rL ...u =.