Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-04-24
aSte1lae.oasU asmantrer4

,be;r col, ef1or, would he how 10 avoid war, by Inc
FnoI;sh ced,no all thai could be ceded consistent
" with The national interest, in order to meet ana
satisfy the unreasonable and unrisheousaenahus
OF The Americans. ,.:,,.
Th.r. NAV be in this some lowering in dignity,
and certain lowering down oil the national P.loe.
But depIecatins all wars We deprecate more tnan
any o,I:er a war with The United States; and lhs,
nui only from community Of origin, anc tongue
and ideas, and commerce, in the past ont because,
even in The present, il would be war carried OH
against ms By orr own blood, our own sons GU
own sinews Fry ,hon-ani cmisran's yearly
leave our shores ,oI Tie Cnittd states, each WIN
some wealth and almost all with Strength arc
youth. And il is with country, INTO which %
thus tcarsiused best blood, and cur surplus
Lille. that we are TO 90 10 war. And 10 mat wal,
who are The first The chief, the most lormida-
bic combalanls whom We are to encounter anu
kiln English seamen-men born, npriuIed
taught among US, even 10 their formidable an VI
seamanship and naval STRIFE and enllced rom US
by The natural cause OF the high price OF labor
n America. Surely war with such Toes is ci'h
war.
There may be in these considerations no good
and valid reason for sacrificing The solid interests
and profitable rights OF this country But mere
is reason here, why we might make sacrIhce OF
pride without dishonur. II the possession oil me
10 any great interest oi trade to any wise pres
poets oil colonization, or even 10 4 preservation
necessary balance OF power, lei US insist
| upon il. But it, in rsaifv we cannon hope TO G-
rect hilher any portion OF The tide Of emigration
! ~ oir sale interest be The trade an 1urs, Thich
must disappear tsiore advancing og'nuiiWe-if
the population OF the upper part OF these streams
| must be American-let as n0tpeTsta IN ether per-
petuadv ,ntrudins, or acting as perpetual Keep
ers and Janitors ci The mouth ot stream, Inc
current OF which we cannot make really ours by
population. ,
we must make Or receive new proposal. The
minds Of our Ministers ought TO be made up 10
an nHima,am. Yield The whole oil the territory,
as claimed by the Americans we could no.. IL
would be a disgrace, and such an amount Of
weakness, as would cmbOlden and eniille Euro
pear rover 10 contenn US, and 10 give Us solid
aud inconyeEient proofs ol thai contempt.
We hear now Of an offer 10 be made BY Great
Britain &c accept Mr.. Gailalin's proposal Of the
degree 49th 10 the sea, The line TO be- continued
through the midst of Fuca's straits II the
United States refused such an offer, which would
leave them line best ports on Fucas straits, we
can only say, that they are determined 10 pro-
woke war, and deserve its worst consequences.
Nor do we think that they would, or could refuse,
il the national interest and desire were consulted
on hs matter OF the Columbia river. Some have
proposed TO offer the free navigation of the 81.
Lawrence 10 The Americans, in reluln tor that OF
the Columbia. II there be insuperable obJec-
lions 10 this The free navigation Of The Columbia
might be stipulated, as We before mentioned, for
period Of years-say 10 the erd Of the century.
Should the American Government refuse such
an offer, we might presume that it would refuse
any offer, and was prepared 10 bully and 10 fight.
But no party in the United States would be long
tolerated in the maintenance and pursuit of such
a feeling, The consequences OF which are suffi-
cienlly formidable 10 deter any, except The per
verse and The mad.
The sooner this uhimatum is profFered, and the
result know, The better The present state Of
Mexican affairs renders our position, with re-
spect 10 The Government Of Washington, more
critical Paroles and Almone are both pledged
To resist Anglo American diclalion. Aud ii i
all as well that, iihere is 10 be struggle agains
The resolve of the United States to bully both Eu.
r0pean and American Governments, that slrug-
gle should be Simultaneous and combined one
The real stale OF The case is probably, that the
American Government is merely seeking 10 gel
the hes, terms and acting the bragsaiocio with
our not very adrot or spirited Government in
order TO do so. Mr.. Polk has private, as well as
patriotic motives, 10 win the most from US. His
reelection To a second term Of Presidency, indeed
his whole character as politician, which al pre-
sent rests on nothing, will be annihilaled or
made BY his success in the present negotiation.
No wonder that he strains his efforts and his
impotence to the very verge OF war. But We
doubt his readiness 10 step beyond.