The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-04-03

people. They have suffered themselves TO
be pushed into their present position with
out due reflection.
Now, being brought to the alternative
by circumstances over which ] have nc
control, | 90 for compromise and against
war. But 10 this course am attracted by
no unmanly fear Of consequences. know
that, under The existing state OF the world,
wars arc sometimes necessary the utmost
regard for justice and equity cannot al
WAYS prevent them. And when war must
be met, shall be among the last TO finch
| may appeal TO my past history IN support
of this assertion. But | am averse from
going TO war on this question, for the Tea.
sons have given. But no, for these on
" have still higher reasons. Although
wars may a, times be necessary, yet peace
is a positive good and war IL a positive
evil and cling to peace so long as Il can
be preserved consistently with the nutIonal
safety and honor and | am against war
so long as It can be avoided without sac.
rifce Of either. | am opposed 10 war N
this case, because neither Of these exigen-
cies exist II may be, as CONCEIVE, avoid
cd without sacrificing either The national
honor or the nationol safety. But II these
dangers did exist, TO a certain extent, war
is still highly ineNpedIent because our
rights IN Oregon can be sustained with
more than an equal chance Of success with.
out war than with il. This is great and
weighiy reason against war. lie who goes
so stuully TO war for all Of Oregon or none,
may possibly come out Of It with none. "
concede 10 my countrymcn the possession
Of all The bravery, p.tIlotlsm, and mi H..
gence Inch can be claimed for them, but
we shall 20 into this contest with great
disadvantages On our side. As long as
Great Britain has large force ~ the east,
and is mistress Of the sea, she can carry on
the war AT much less expense.
There is another reason why | am OPP.
posed To It the war would soon cease 10
be for Oregon the Struggle would be for
empire, and II would be between the great
est Power in Europe on tie one side, and
the greatest md most growing and spirited
people Of the West on The other. 1t would
be pressed on upon both sides with all the
two great and brave nations each would
strike the other in the most vulnerable
point, aud the blows would be tremendous.
Amidst the uproar OF such contest, Ore
gon would soon be orgotien--ullerly for.
gotten: to be recovered. It at all, on the
81 E.
Ny next reason Is, that though It is al.
legged that We must fight 10 order to pro-
iect our citizens N Oregon, instead Of their
protection war would ensure their utter
destruction. Il il The mos, certain way To
sacrifice them. THIS will never consent
to do. They are American ci,izcns--our
brethren aud kindred. We have encour.
aged them To so there; and never will
give vote, the reeult Of which mus, be
their utter and speedy destruction. But Il
we make a compromise on latitude 40 de.
greos, they will all be safe, for, il | am
f., rlghtfully Informed, there IS not man d
them 10 be found north Of that line, Tins
will cnrry all the points We have in view
iH0''ot VI eaN' litbthB wv 10 hlis
am against war, too, for reasons com.
mon to the whole Union. b-lcYe that
the most successful aud triumphant war We
could possibly wage-eyen # m ten year,
we should get all the most eytravngant ad
yocnte Of war has dared to hope for--i
we could take the Cunadas and New Bruins.
wick, and Nova Scotia, aud every other
British possession, and drlye her Dag from
the whole continent, and prosecute our ad
vantnges TIL We had accomplished the
downfall Of the British throne, aud she
should yield up spear aud shield and tfl
dent al our feet, 1t would be 10 US the mos
disastrous event that could happen. do
not now allude TO the ravsges aud des6la
tons Of warfare 10 the oceans Of blood
that must flow, aud the various udsefles
hat ever accompany the contest Of arms
because | have never observed that the
statement Of these things had any great
effect upon brave people. No doubt the
evils would be very great, because there
are no two nations IN The world vi no can do
each other so much harm IN war, or so
much good IN peace, as Great Britain and
the United States. The devastation would
be Tremendous on both sides. But all this
goes for nothing; for this may all be re.
pared. The lndomi,able industry and en-.
tefptI7e, and perseverance Of our widely
spread and still spreading and multiplying
population, will soon find ways and mean.
Of repairing whatever merely physical dis.
osters we can innict. But war has far
heavier infections for free people; it
works social aud political change in the
people themselves and IN the character Of
their institutions. 4 war such as this, will
he OF vast extent every nerve and muscle
on either side will he strained 10 the utmost;
every commandabIe dollar will be put il
reqWsllon; not portion of our entire
frontier but viii become the scene OF con.
test 1t will be a Mexican war on the orr
side, and al Indian war upon the other.
It's llamcs will be all around us it viii be
war on the Pacific and a war on the At.
lantic; II will rage on every side, and fill
the land. Suppose Oregon shall be aban.
0Oned. we must TaiSn sevcn a,,,,os ~, 1 ,.,,s.