The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-24
THE MESSAGE IN RELATION TO THE
NATIONAL. DEFENCES.


NATIONAL DEFENCEs.
We give in another column the message Of the
President, in reply to resolution Of the Senate, in
curing as to the propriety Of increase Of
val and military forces, in view Of the existing state
Of our foreign relations. This document must con-
firm the confidence Of the country in the wise fore
sight which suggested the recommendations con-
tanned in the annual message. The President sees
no reason to recede in the slightest degree from the
positions which he assumed at the opening Of the
session Of Congress. The events which have trans
pred during the period Of four months that has nearly
elapsed since the commencement Of the session, have
only made more manifest the wisdom and the expo
diency Of tho measures which the President then
recommended in view Of our rights and our du-
ties in the Oregon controversy. The proprioty, and
indeed we may say the necessity, Of the
notice, are now hardly disputed. Upon that point
the public mind-and, if we may judge from appear
ances which seem to leave no room for doubt, the
hardly be question to the policy of the other
measures Of protection to our citizens and our
rights in Oregon, which the Message recommen ded;
while the progress Of events in England the speech
from the throne, and the official declarations of min
listers in both houses Of Parliament, combined with
the extensive military and naval preparations now
commenced or in progress there, leave no doubt Of
the prudence and strong propriety Of meeting them
on our part with some corresponding augmentation
of our means of national defence.
The unfortunate course Of events in Mexico, which
has delayed the adjustment of our difficulties with
that distracted country, renders such increase of
our forces yet more obviously expedient as meas
ure Of precaution.
Nor is it only in precautionary point of view,
that such action on the part of Congress is desra-
BILE. In our view, preparation for the national de-
fence is to US yet more important, as tending to
the more efectual prosecution of our negotiations,
both with Great Britain and Mexico, in the event
that these negotiations shall be resumed. The ap-
pearanee Of adequate preparation will then be as i'm
portant to diplomacy, the preparation itself
will be indispensable TO defence in case HOSTILE
ties shall arise If there be any one lesson to be
,sthered from the whole history of the Oregon con-
troversy--and the same remark is true of our con-
troversy with Mexico-itis, that we can gain moth
ing by negotiation, so long as our negotiation is
open to the slightest suspicion that it may be de-
feaied, or thwared, postponed, without the most
serious consequences. The pressure of stern al
tentative addressing itself to the timidity of Mcxi-
co, and to the prudence and wise craftsmanship Of
England, is the Indispensable condition Of success
fu maintenance and vindication of our rights. The
recommendations of the annual message and of
the Presidents recent reply to the resolution of the
Senate are so framed as, if carried into effect by
Congress, to secure to our diplomacy this indis-
pensable requisite Of success. We cannot doubt
for moment that Congress will so regard them,
and that no further precious time will be lost in CIV
ing TO them the force Of law. The responsibility
will indeed the President Observes be fearful, if,
after every effort to secure an honorable peace,
find ourselves compelled, in the maintenance Of our
rights, to enter unprcpared upon hostilities with
powerful and ambitious nation.
But il should not be forgotten--and we trust it
will not be forgotten-that military and naval pre-
paration, however important, is not alone sufficient
to carry us happily and peacefully through the
present crisis in our foreign relations. moral
preparation is needed as well. 1t may DO summed
up in one word-UNANIMITY Is it too
much to hope that such unanimity will now
he reached' There is no doubt IN the coun-
try, that the advances of England hitherto
towards compromise with US, have fallen very
far short of that which we are called upon by
every obligation to demand. There can be as little
doubt that in order to secure rights in the event
Of further negotiations with England we must show
ourselves at resolved, prepared, and prompt to
maintain them at every hazard. Surely, Congress
cannot hesitate for moment to assume this atti-
tude, in view Of the renewed and solemn decla-
ration, by the Executive, Of Its settled pur-
pose to pursue such course Of policy as may be
best calculated to preserve, both with Great Britain
and Mexico, an honorable peace" Who can doubt
that to the preservation Of such peace, unanimity
and 6rmness in the disposition to maintain "sl our
Just rights" are, as the President declares them to
be, Of the most vital importance Every consde-
ration both Of prudence and Of patriotism, now
presses with irresistible force upon Congress to delay
no longer those measures Of precsution, of protsc-
ton, and Of energy, in the vndication Of our rights
which the peace, the interests and the honor Of the
country, alike imperatively demand at their hands
Mr.. noge, who we regret TO learn has been de-
aimed from his seat in the House for several days
by severe indsposi,on, we are happy to state, has
so far recovered his health as to have resumed his