Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-06-06

ty has sprung up, to check the return Of good un-
neutrality-suspicious., even, to give rise to new
rritatlon-by spenec utterances, on either part of
impntatons upon the motives which urge the other
TO peace. Calmly viewed, such conduct is as
senseless as 1t is bad: it Isl crime not only against
all fairness and the spirit Of that sacred thing be-
tween men and nations, eoop-wILL--good the
very message of God to mankind-but shocking
offence against common prudence LET there be
peace between us, !" is always blessed word inn
plying willingness 10 be just; for that's the foun
datlon OF all real peace. They who speak that
word are always, therefore, entitled to be looked on
as the good; and to tell them in return that it is
only fear that makes them utter it, is to accuse
and to outrage all good intentions and do all you
can to drive from you by contumely that very par
ty Of the just and moderate Of whose aid you have
the greatest need among the adverse nation.
In our pending controversy with ENGLAND, a
conduct Of this sort has, almost from the beginning,
been abundantly practised by certain men among
ourselves-busy, but by no means numerous: stir
rers-up OF strife on all sides keen for universal
quarrel, as if they themselves were sure heroes
whenever any thing Of that kind could be gotten
up This sagacious, worthy, and useful sort Of
councillors make haste to forward their own policy
of broils by declaring, as soon as an unnecessary
difficulty has been Matched, and the English Govern
ment and people show themselves averse to it, that
il is only because Great Britain is afraid and una
DE to fight u.s. and must therefore give way that
she exhibits this pacific humor. As if this was not
the most dishonorabe, as well as dangerous, of all
arguments among brave against respectable
people, this body of public advisers ressts all that
moderation with which nations must now assert
even their cearest rights, and would have us push
to immediate extremity every claim, however ex-
travagan that any body has ventured to set up
for us. In a word, they would drive us on to vim
dictate even doubtful claims by headlong violence
such as civilized men no longer towards each
other, even where their is the clearest and,
as if studiously to take away from the adverse par
ty all possibility of not accepting the insane quar-
rel, and, as if fight and fight only, was the OBJ
ject they stand up and tell that opponent and the
world that he dare not come to blows, no matter
what we do or say to him.
In spite, however, Of these admirable guides in
what is just, expedent, and brave, the good sense
OF the country, rallied at last where it has so often
meant to be entirely pacific and right is adopted II
goes forth to England and forthwith-as if merely
to demonstrate that she is not destitute of men
unfit for public councils-some of the public Jour-
mails there, the interpreters of the headlong of that
country, hasten to echo, with only changed name
what has been said on this side the water, and TO
proclaim that, if the United States have now sent
message of peace, it is fear only that has dictated
il. Witness the following, from of the leading
London papers, received by the Great Britain:
Though we do not profess implicit faith in
American declarations, it seems likely enough that
the American Government is now disposed to re-
new negotiations. AT the date of the resolution
Y. of Notice." as amended by the Senate our i'll
tempered kinsmen beyond the Atlantic had proba-
bly, just received intelligence of the glorious sue
cess of our armies in Asia, and Of the triumphant
termination Of the war-an event which, inasmuch
as it leaves us unembarrassed and free to act with
effect, is OF considerable importance to a cacula-
ting nation like America
London Morning Herald
Now, we trust, and have reason to trust that they
who in England start the opinion that whatever
Of calm and right and conciliatory, is done in this
country, is due TO American calculation is
fear-are just as few as have been among ourselves
the leaders who supposed England's prudence and
good temper TO be the effect of intimidation and
conscious weakness. But, in either country, such
men are dangerous out Of all proportion TO their
numbers or their usual influence; for in public
controversy it is easy to irritae, difficult to sooth
and national preudices and passions lend themselves
aptly to the former work soberer considera-
tons do slowly to the latter
Greatly, let England be assured, d, they err who
deem, the Herald does, that Jonathans temper is
that of " calculaton'-of very special caution and
long-headedness in questions like this, or, indeed
in his public affairs generally. In matters indivdu-
al, he has the "Ready Reckoner' athis inger-ends
but in public things he is far enough from being
like Michael Cassie, great arthmetician. There
he counts costs and profits exceedingly little, or no,
at all, until the consequences upon him and the
bills TO be " footed" We are young, and youth is
the age Of confidence and courage the most pre-
sumptuous we are hearty, full Of lustiness, and
therefore not afraid of irregularities and excuses,
which commonwealth Of an older frame would hest
tate at; out Of our surplus Of public happiness we
have much more to spare than other nations, that
waste il we will. Rich and young heirs will
squander their estates good deal more recklessly
than people in the decline Of life wont to do.
As 10 fear, Jonathan knows very little about il as
politician. He holds Constitutions dearer than his