The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1846-05-02
Fom the London Times.
The Oregon question

said or done by the British government. Inc
strongest desire has been repeatedly expressed,
on our side TO terminate this controversy. Our
casd has been studied with such moderation,
and our claims confined to such narrow limbs
that nothing but extreme assumption, or rath-
er a species Of hestile infatuation on the part
Of he American democrats, could lead them TO
suppose we could make any further abatement
Of our rights. We are in actual possession Of
rathermors fthe Oregon territory than W ehaye
ever claimed as our own, because aslong as the
joint occupation lasts, the concurrent rlghte Of.
both parties extend over the whole country
We have al our disposal ample means Of defend
ing our rights. We have never at any period
within the history OF our country, less reason
to recoil from wa, or to fear the result of a
contest with any power but more especially
with the United States. Yet we on one side,
have strenuously and sincerely labored %toeffect
a compromise. We have not alluded to the SUI
periority Of our maritime strength, from a mis-
placedrespect of the American Government, no
use has beenmade of those blunt Argument to
WHICH alone they now appear to be accessible;
until at length we learn with more contempt
than surprise, that MI. Polk and This advisers
are embarking in a course which can only lead,
if they are allowed to persevere in it, TO ag-
g~ressivo hostilities.
In our zeal for the maintenance Of peace
and our Difference for a nation with which wo
have So much IN common, we have gone so far
as to admit that their claim to the Oregon terri
tory is equal TO our own, since they themselves
do not dare to submit to the arbitration Of a
third party, knowing:that the public opinion Of
the world has already pronounced against it,
Yet from THE perfect and most incontroyeytible
claim they seem 10 EXTRACT twice as much as
we contend f%or--nay, they raise their own pre-
tensions to absolute and total sovereignty,
whilst they altogether annihilate the rights we
have practically enjoyed for more than half a
century. Thus in facty the question in dispute
has meyer been beonghl to a true issue. The
two quantities have been reduced to common
denomination; they differ in their very nature,
and whilst our position not only admits of a
compromise, but suggests and requires it, theirs
is utterly at variance with the first principle Of
such an arrangement. Mr. Buchanan's last
note says too much, unless indeed it says mad
y%ertantly what is the truths so far as arguments
in which he endeavors to show that the United
States cannot submit their claim to arbitration
are equally cogent to prove that their claim
will not admit even of negotiation. Mr.
Buchanan appears 10 forget that the United
States have negotiated, that he himself, by his
last proposal, for the fourth or fifth time conce-
; ded that point; that the House Of Representa-
tives, by their second resolution, have in fact
sanctioned the principles of negotiation, which
is in other words the principles Of mutuul con-
%cession.
When the American Secretary of State says
he cannot do what the manifest dignity Of the
> two countries require, he must either mean thai
the Government to which he belongs, will
Q not do it, or that that Government is acting
under :he compulsion Of the party excl
> ted to madness on this question, which carried
e Folks election. The practical question for Vi
l. is to ascertain the intentions Of the American
Government. If Mr.. Polk and his advisers arr
sincerely pacific, they cannot but succeed. Tt
e bring abont a war with US, under such circum
!, stances, they must be theworst statesmenin thu
world if they do not seek it, or the most rasl
d and unprincipled, fthey deliberately intend it
The time is, however come, when we are forceC
to Judge Of t%heir,real motives by their conduct
and as they have not encouraged further argu
ment it may not be premature to enquire int
the amount Of their forces. We are informed
n by the intelligent volume Of American stats
o tics recently prepared for both houses of Par
e lament, by lthe diligence of Mr.. McGregoI
:, that the Standing Army of the United States
!, consists Of one regiment Of Dragons, one regi
ment Of r%ilemen, four companies of artillery
and eight regiments of infantry. The who'll
g number of troops now in service is 9,847, e1
Q elusive of 78l commissioned officers. An &C
a of Congress Of l842, reduced the rank and file
of the army 1920 men. This reduction is nov
: proceeding, and when it is c completed, the stand
ing army will consist Of 1890 non-commission
: ed officers, musicians, artiiicers, and privatts
1t is true, that if this corps should appear toe
small for the defence of the United States
(here " lines in the papers before US ART
Obliierated. The militia force of the United
States might, by Its numbers ut least. have ok.
cited the envy Of Xerxes or Bonaparte. The
Army Register for 1913, conlainsthe appalling
announcement that this multitudin0ns host il
commanded by 627 generals 1889 general stat
officers, I3l, 1913 held %oflCersi A, 1888 company
officers being in all 6s,2O5 officers: nor ar,
these numbers at all excessive. when we learr
that the forces under their command consist o
IsS85,645 mentor the purpose Of defeace a
gainst akforeign invasion we have no doubr
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