The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-09-05


Fl ont of the Pacific Ocean; because, if
successful, she not only adds positive
strength to herself, but, by our loss of
that region, subtracts positive strength
from us--the most dangerous of her
rivals, commercially and politically.
The most dangerous, commercially, be
cause, with one-fourth Of the worlds
whole tonnage already in our posses
sion, we promise soon to hold the one
halt of it; because, also, with country
vast and various in extent and resour-
ces-of an unlimited seacoast, and num-
berless harbors--with close proximi-
ty TO Mexico, to the West Indies, to
South America-with affiliating insti-
tutions-with the great staple OF cotton; !;
with the means to manufacture that
large article of consumption, in the
warm climates of those countries
with heavy demand, on our part, for
their products in exchange, ,--because,
| say, with these things in our favor,
and aided by the mighty energies Of
this great people, we bid fair soon to
drive her from all those markets, and
10 take sole possession Of the Atlantic
seas.
Yes, sir, the most dangerous politi,
cally, not only because powerfully our
selves-we are the most secure, by the
absence of powerful neighbors--but
because the contiguity of her colonial
possessions, renders it easy for US to
wrench of that large portion of her
empire, and thus to give the signal to
Russia and France, TO do the same with
her East India and Asiatic dependen-
cies.
But when, sir, | am told, as | shall
be, that England has larger navy
than we, and would, therefore, Prove
the more powerful in conflict with
US, | admit the fact, but dispute the
conclusion. The combative power of
nation consists, not in the number OF
its guns alone, but, also, in its relation
to the system of the world around it.
and in its own social condition. Nor
is that power 10 be viewed in the alb
stract, as so much positive force; but.
on the contrary, is to be considered in
comparison with the power of its ad-
versary, with the object to be defend
ed, and with the pressure of the neces-
sity for such defence. IfGreat Britain
has many guns, she has also to scatter
them around the world, for the defence
of many colonies-coonies always
threatened by rival nations, threatened
with colonial revolt, and the loss ofany
considerable portion Of which, would
contract the circle of her commerce,
unsettle her public and private credit
close her factories, turn out yet more
other laborers to starve, and, by bank
ruptcy and famine, provoke civil revo-
luton. For, sir, her whole system,
both internally and externally, is al
ready stretched to its utmost tension.
1t can bear nothing more. Externally,
it cannot be relaxed or contracted by
the loss Of colonies, without ruin. Nor
can her internal condition be relieved
from the pressure of taxes, by even the
temporary suspension of the dividends
upon her debt, because, the debt being
domestic, the dividends are the chief
support Of q million, and the sole sup,
port OF not less. perhaps, than two hun.
dred thousand of her own subjects
who have no alternative between those
dividends and famine.
And now, sir, mark the precarious
condition Of her colonies, independent.
ly of all danger from the ambition o
her rivals. Those dependencies arc
in number, Il speak upon British otfcia
authority, beside the United King
doms, no less than seventy, embracing
an aggregate population of one hundret
and thirty millions Of souls, Of whom
but t,co millions and a fraction belon!
to the whue European race, and all tn,
mighty balance of whom, having beer
subdued by her arms, and exasperate'
by oppression, stand ready to revolt
upon the first prospect Of success. o
these two millions and half of Euro
pean whites, al,s ,saue sir hundred MOuS
and only, are to be found in her Mort
American possessions, leaving but tn
latter aumber, scattered through, an
to keep in subjec.ion. the whole res
due Of an hundred and tioenty eight mi
lions of human beings, whom she ha
reduced to her sway, throughout he
other colonial dependencies. What
spectacle is here!
One-eighth part Of the whole race G
man, held in subsection by the preSenc
of less than million OF strangers, an
! by the terror of distant Government
itself menaced with destruction, boil
by civil discord and ambitious neigh
bors. Can such state of things Ion
exist? Impossible. Nature admits no
of such disproportions.
On the other hand, what colonie