American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-03
[For the American Republican. ]

For the American KepuOlCan,
MEssRs. EDlroRs: ana not only a subscri-
brr to the Clipper, but constant and careful
roaOer Of its pages, and have always found
much TO admire and approve m the sentiments
OF It's editors, As public journalists, | know
Of none eVidencng more good sense, SQUAD
Judgment and correct opinions upon all the al
fairs of every day life; and with most OF your
political views ] also cordially agree-with
some exception, however, or rather limits, !
might say, as it regards Native AnerCanism.
But there is an Inconsistency in the late
course or views of the highly respected editors
on the Oregon question, which | trust they
will excuse sincere admircr and well wishcr
for respectfully endeavorng to point out
will premise, that have been a member
of the whig party for more than twenty years;
that am well satisfied as to the evils OF war;
its blightng influences upon the interests and
prosperity Of every nation that engages in it,
while it lasts; that every Christian nation
should deprecate and avoid it, if possible, con-
sistently with its inst rights and national hon
or; and that the acquisition Of territory seldom
compensates for the sacrifices, losses and eXpen-
scs of war. These are truths that must be ad
mitted by all, and so far agree with the ed
tors. But when find them ready to catch at
every expression OF desire for peaceful or
amlcahle settlement of our difficulties on the
Oregon question, emanatlng from the English
Queen aud ministry, and so backward m adj
hitting the sincerity Of like declarations COM
ing from our CWn Cabinet, | am truly Surpris-
ed and must think it inconsistent with the
character aud sentiments of the CdItors--sO
American on every other subject. My wing
ism, strong as it is, cannot make me so much
of paItiZan as to believe that my own gov
eminent is less honest aud siocero in it decIa-
rations than that Of England, nor can believe
that free and enlightened people, by large
majority, have placed in power tiien so deceit
fully wicked as to be making professions Of
sincere desire for peace while they are striving to
bring on a war-and that the powers OF for
eign government who have ever been hostile
to our Institutions, jealous of our Increasing
strength and power, commercial and manuac-
turing rivalship, should be honest and sincere
in their declarations.
! To shew how little there is to Justify the ed
| itors in what must consider Their preudces
or erroneous conclusions, will ask them to
look fairly at the question uninfuenced by
party feelings. Have the President aud his
Cabinet, in claiming Oregon-yes, the whole
of Oregon-done more to involve th0 two
countries in war than the British ministry, who
| have never offered to rellnqulsh any part of it,,
save that South of the Columbia? Did not
| Mr.. Calhoun, who is SO much oxtolled Just at
this time by the wing press for his statesman
ship, (although the time has been when he was
as much abused, y in his negotiation with the
! British minister, urge our claim with as much
pertinacity as Mr. Buchanan? Has there been
any distinguished American statesman yet
found, wiling TO say that our title was not
good, or to propose giving it up? 1t must be
admitted by all, wings and democrats, that our
Cabinet has shewn as strong desire for peace,
and done as much to obtain it, i'll its PROPOSE
tion to renquish all north Of iorty-nne, as
:, any one has right to ask,
7 Would you, Messrs. Editors-would any A
mercan consent to, or justify the President in
yielding to any of the propositions made as yet
by the British government as to the dividing
line of this territory? According to the most
liberal admissions by American statesmen, if
we are claiming little too much, surely Eng
land is claiming a great deal too much. Pro-
LESSONS are nothing. Both governments pro-
fess a desire for the continuance of peace; why
not give one as much credit for sincerity as the
other?
We have had no war message--no prepare
tons for war-whereas Eng land is arming, and
by the admission of her Secretary, not altoge-
Their without an eye to the possibility Of war
with the United States. AS TO the little ex.
element there is in England upon the subject,
as shewn by the late news in the declarations
of her press and public men, that is no evil
dence that she intends TO give up one iot or
title of her claim. She is at present entirely
absorbed by that great question which has
been agitatng her for years-her corn laws
Besides, from the very nature of her govern
ment, she does not talk but acts-while il
ours, more popular one-every thing must
be submitted to and discussed by the people
Il Is it not an historical fact, that Mr.. Pitt, in Sc
cret council proposed the seizure of the Span
nish GALLONS with their treasure before de-
claratIon of WAR; And at this very time Fog
land may be taking the most prompt and eff.
fectiva steps to enforce her claim by recourse
to arms should negotiation fail--although she
says nothing about 1t, That the probabilities
of war are great, from the very nature of the
conflicting claims OF the two countries, and
the circumstance Of large numbers of the clti-
zena of each being now mixed in that remote
region, Che rights of the two nations not de-
fned;) and at some and not very remote Pc
Rod collision between the two must necessar-
ly take place unless there is settlement of
tins question, cannot be denied-y surely no
American can Justly blame Unr government if
ii is not settled unless England makes some
!, much more equitable proposition as 10 the di