The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-01-08


Representative in Congress, Hon. VIM. Sawyer,
in which he discusses the prospect Of contest
with England. aud the probable consequences to
that power, which hostilities might occasion. We
incline to the view expressed in that letter that
the danger Of war is not imminent. Nevertheless
very eminent and far-seeing statesmen view war
| inevitable, If our government does not recede
FROM the position takenin regard TO our territorial
rights in Oregon. If this should prove tho alterDa-
| tive, though we are . psaceloying people, and
though the happy homes Of our country plead for
peace-we can not now recede--nor do we
desire it-and better war with all its evils, than
peace dearly purchased with dishonors
Had no compromise ever been made upon this
subject, and were the claims of England to our
territory in Oregon now, for the first time, set up,
there 10 not man in this broad Union who would
listen to the pretension, and he would be esteem.
cd traitor who would entertain it. And yet the
eomprsmise by which England obtained the pri-
vilege of joint occupancy, expressly reserved the
question Of title; but it is nevertheless assumed
| by the Wing press % conclusive reason why
England's claims should bs yielded, and our
rights surrendered to her demands. =,
On our part contest with England, lift should
be forced upon US, would not be war for aggran-
dizsment It would be one strictly defensive
We would only be maintaining our right to con.
tiguous territory, while she would be stretching
her arms over half the globe, and tasking anew
her impoverished millious, to add to possessions
already SO widely extended, that it is her boast
that her " morning drum beats round the world"
In this wide extended territory is the source Of
her greatness and its peril. Our territory is broad
but il is nevertheless compact. It is one great
whole, not scattered in fragments, composed Of
different races and languages, but embracing
one free united people, bound together by COM
munity of origin, laws, and language, and one
equal and beloved form of government England
has the republicanism Of the Chartisu, ihe rest
lessness Of Ireland, her colonial dissatisactions
the crimes of her conquests in India and China,
with the jealousy 0: the very powers which she
upheld and sustained to aid her unholy warfare
upon Democracy in France, to clog her efforts in
any future contest. She can never league the
despots of Europe with her to make common
| cause, nor band their mercenaries to extend her
power. If she begins the contest, she will find
| enemies on every side, and her power, so often
mercilessly, so haughtly exercised, and SO grasp
ing, will be shorn. ~
England is making large preparations for no
defined object. The late news from that country
show that additions are continually making to her
navy and materials of war, for which the situation
of Europe furnishes no explanation. We know
that England's rulers hate our Democracy, fear
our rising greatness, and desire to crush it
To atte mpt this, Oregon may be made the pretext
But if this is 80, will be no war undertaken for
barren territory, as some have described Oregon.
but the contest will be liberty against despotsm |;
it will be the shock Of opposing systems ofhuman
government striving for the mastery. England
has already felt the " might that slnmbers in a
| freeman's arm''-we have twice humbed her,
and checked her boast Of an invincible navy. We
can do it again.
If compelled to this necessity, sound policy
would dictate that the struggle should not cease
till English power be swept from the continent
otherwise we might afterwards become embroiled
|
tend our boundaries to the frozen north, or permit
free people to rise in amity by our side. This
would circumscribe England's commerce, and
favor free trade principles, by making England
depend upon our Republic in greater degree
| for her markets. To the west the free outlet
Fl ON the Great Lakes TO the Oeean by way Of
the St. Lawrence would be opened. The east
| f. H. l.. f.l..
north opened to their industry, and an increased
home market for the cotton of the south thereby
secured. While our inland territory would re-
cevs the benefit of furnishing tho supplies Of
the contest. -f
But the greatest obstacle 10 hostilites is with
in our own borders. The south desires peace be-
cause Of her large cotton trade with England,
and the influence Of her Statesmen will be for o
settlement of our difficulties in the sasiest way
practicable. So with our sea board States, theil
sympathies are reagainst war arising from their ex-
tensIve commercial relations with England. II
these interests should control Congress and pre-
vent the maintenance Of our rights, waf will on
ly be delayed not avoided. We can only escape
the calamity by steady adherence to all we
have demanded.
The course of the Executive thus far has beer
one which has won for him the approval anG
enthusiastic support Of tho great body OF the
nation. 1t is one to which he will finally ad
here, unless Congress should decide otherwise
This, present indications do not render probable
The policy recommended will be pursued, ant
let war come or pc ace, it is the only course
which is consistent with national dignity ant
honor
, MR.. SAWYER,S LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1s45.
Il n,.n cvp Ou,;n,, to had beoltb 7 bov,