Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1846-01-24
THE HER AID .
NEGOTIATION AND WAR.


We are pleased TO find that the Union. Of
Dec. 29th, contsadicts the truth Of the rumor,
,aie!y given to the public through the N. Y.
aso.niag News, tina. settlement Of the Ore
gs' question had been effected on the basis
8! the 49th degree-the proposition having
ccgas from Gres. Britain. The Uuion also
e,iares other rumors upon the same subject
equally destitute Of foundation. This 10 40
W. expected, and We hope there does not ex-
Isl, il the democratic party. man who is
wiling. by base surrender Of the rights Of.
lis county. to bring upon himself deep and
eternal political damnasion. II there is such
perscn. let him ses in the fate Of the Ameri.
ean statesman who negotiated the Ashburton
seaa,y, the certain doom of all who would
5asely barter away the rights Of their country
1c propitia,e q foreign monarchy. We canno.
b.lievs that, after the adoption Of the noble
sediments uttered in his Inaugural, and reit-
sTa,ed in his Message, respecting our clear
ard unquesiionabIe rights to the whole Of
.otegon-sfter HE adoption Of the patriotic
declaration Of Mr.. Madison tina, British colo
azation upon the American continent must be
hersaf,er prohibited after the mastery and
ncon.rover,ible exposition Of the justice Of
Bur claim TO the whole Of Oregon, and the ut
or weakness and insigni6cance OF that Ct
crea, Britain, by Messrs. Calhoun and Bu-
zhaoan-afier the loud and hearty response
which the sentiments Of the President and his
Cabinet have awakened in the Leaus Of the
people-we cannot believe that, after all this,
and in foil knowledge Of the enthusiastic sen.
siments Of the American people upon this
eubjec,, President Polk will be found willing
TO disappoint their high hopes, and, in meas
ure, blast the brIgh, prospects o. his admins
t'ation, BY any surrender Of American coil to
British aggression.
The position assumed by the administration
upon the question Of our rights to Oregon, is
sst and .enable i! must be maintained by re.
go.iation. il possible, and failing that. by war.
Having satisfied ourselves and the world of
the strict justice Ct cur claim we have fear.
lessly cast the gauntle. in its defence, and to
retire from the contest, should the glove be
lifted by an adversary imprudent enough TO
enter the lists Of controversy. can be attended
only with indelible national disgrace. We
have assumed our posi,ion-,he world pro.
nounces it just one-and 10 recede from it,
and compromise cur rights, is 10 detract from
our national honor and dignity, and disgrace
our national character in The eyes Of The civil.
lied world. The syren song Of peace may be
sung by the voices of the same party that has
already chanted it 50 loudly through two
wars with England, but the music will nei.
Their mislsad the footsteps, nor bewilder the
understanding Of those who correctly appre-
bend our position, and are aware Of the con.
sequences Of forsaking it. Though a few al
the South, from whom we had hoped better
things, may, now .ha, their wishes have been
gratifed in the annexation of Texas, show the
white feather upon the subject Of Oregon. and
through contemplate jealousy Of the North
and West, become the advocates Of "a wise
and masterly inactivity" which has already
involved Us 10 so many difficulties, ye, this
question Of Oregon has so commended itself
to the people. and our nights are 80 clearly es.
tablished. that concession and compromise
will surely cover with disgrace any man. or
any party, who proposes them.
We believe the Oregon question is ye,
matter Of negotiation between Great Britain
and The United States. TO this there can be
no possible objection if it .uiA give US our tn
dispatable righss-herstofore j. has sigually
failed 10 do 60, and, il i, cannot do 60 now i,
cannot be too severely reproba.ed. If nego,i-
alton will give Us the country Of Oregon az
far north as 81 degrees and 40 minutes, and
enable Us to protect tho rights Of American
citizens to that extent, il il far better than
wsr-if il has no power 10 accomplish this
much. II can result only 10 evil. and should
be discountenanced, War is, indeed, a great,
on admitted evil, but, in the Divine economy,
II has. heretofore, subserved wise purposes-
oy delay OF twenty years we have shown
disposition to avoid tive have tried nego,ia.
tion. and it has failed to render us Justice
others, not ourselves. are responsible for the
consequences Of war-and, failing all other
means, we feel there can be no national mi.
guilty in maintaining our claims 10 Oregon by
tho same means BY which Canasn was an.
ciently possessed. Besides, it is the plain
teaching Of History, that by war, and by war
alone. republican institutions have ever been,
and must ever be maintained against the in.
if'guss and aggressiens of monarchical and
dsspolc power. Wild visionaries and mad