The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-03
COM MUNICATIONS.
THE GREAT QUESTION.
For the Union

THE GREAT QUESTION.
Every man who loves his country must feel its
honor and prosperity TO be objects Of the most ieal-
Gus vigilance. Our government stands alone in its
principles, organization, and success. II wields
powerful influence on the affections of the suffering
and oppressed millions the Old World, well as
in the New, and partially assimilated communities
Of this western hemisphere. Our destiny is an i'm.
poitant one and we have shown that we possess the
intelligence the abilities, and the national resources
u fulfil that destiny. Have we also the frmness
and courage to dare the dangers which lie in our
PATH
The rebound of the Presidents late message from
the shores of Europe has at length reached as.
Constrained TO acknowledge its ability and power,
reluctant praises recorded in every. organ Of
public or party sentiment The lone Of that most
atrocous calumniator of American character, the
London Times, is remarkably changed IL conde-
sends to acknowledge that we great nation;
that the two nations England and the United States
Of one origin, Of similar language laws, pursuits,
sentiments and principles Of moral action. awe
are two people, but Of one family. We have fought
but have been reconcied." Such is now the affect.
ed language of lbellous paper which has been
exertng for years all the power OF the press TO con-
centrate upon name, nation and government the
general hatred of Europe, and oflse, the hostile
ton of England. Not content with general abuse,
the "Times" has descended 10 the dissemination il
not the manufacture, Of the Libel Of the Missouri
frigate shackles, which, inthis country, would
have disgraced even The Louisville Journal more
than that could not be said
The French press similar language. II
speaks Of the great ability displayed by the Presl
dent, whilst some Of its leading positions
sailed. There is, however, one significant remark
in Paris paper which we think deserves the imme-
diate attention Of our administration. Ii appears
that the extraordinary naval and military prepare
tons which have been progressing with ceaseless
activity in England, had excited the attention and
approximations Of the French government, and had
elected demand to their oh ject. The answer
perfectly satisfactory, and convinced the King
of the French that his apprehensions were "n,aL
apropos.n IL not aimed at the peace of Europe,
against pIiom they directed
When we look bAck at the transaction by which
we stripped Of so valuable portion of our
frontier, by diplomacy that loses nothing of its
character by having been national, Americans
should be more guarded in all Of contest with
England than they would be in ordinary cases. We
have seen that she is capable Of sitting up a false
claim while in possession Of the evidence to show
it, and of concealing that eydente until we had
weakly yielded to her bullying and diplomacy.
Shall we repeat the folly, and thus convince the
world and ourselves, too, that we are regardless of
our rights, or lack intelligence to sustain tbem'
The general language of the British press is, that
can be easily induced to surrender our rights in
Oregon by opening their ports 10 our commerce,
and thereby putting money in our pockets of which,
say they, yankees fond" Does not the
hot blood Jingle in the cheek Of the American patr-
OF while lisrning to such insultsi
Our forefathers, in the infancy Of our nation,
grapped with the British lion, rather than surrender
principle almost an abstraction. In the war of
1912, whilst enjoying, by our neutnl position, the
most profitable commerce possessed by ma
ton, we threw it all aside, and drew the sword to
vndicate the personal liberty Of our gallant
No. We leave it to the usurping and aggressive
monarchIes Of the Old World to wage destructive
wars for the acquisition Of dominion and power.
We love peace--we love our feow-nen, and desire
to dwell In amity with aIlnations. But it is asking
too much Of us to expect that we will sit tamely by
while our national domain shall be occupied, forti-
fed, and now claimed by neighbor to whom we
had granted temporarily the privilege Of usufruct
in it. And when we at last wake up, after quar-
ter of a century, and find our territory thus occu
pied by one who has more than once acknowl-
edged she had no right to the SOIL are to he told
that, as compensation for territory equal to an
empire in extent and value, she will trade with
on on terms ofequaity-a rule which she has hither-
to rejected, and is now induced to adopt upon the
direst necessity
And what should our government do in this inn
portant crisis The people have heard the opinions
of their elected chief and they fully support his
views Wo to the statesman who shall fail to stand
by the rights of his country now!
In the first place, demand should be made on
the British government as to the of their
maments. We cannot doubt, indeed, that such has
already been the case. Such ia the practice among
European nations and all the circumstances Of this
case call upon imperiously follow the practice.
Her answer should be weighed with 6rrpness, and
acted on, if not satisfactory, with the promptes,
| energy.
In the second place, give the notice to dissolve the
joint occupation. 1t is surrender Of our rights
withhold it. England has already built title, seiz-
ed and fortified the country, organized. the Indian
tribes, and now claims right to the whole; and her
principal evidence of right is our tame submission
to her aggressons. Europe asks why we have
permitted her quiet occupation Of the territory, il
we were not conscious Of her right For one,
confess my shame citizen of the United States
when compelled to answer it, and confess crimi-
nal supineness With commerce and whale-fish-
cry on the Pacific ofimmense value, and without oc-
| cupied harbors to which our vessels might repair
for supplies and protection, we have permitted those
| to which we have undoubted right, and of the mos,
ample dimensions and adsptedness, to fall irto the
hands Of our great rival and enemy.
We'll may Europe shake the head, and say that il
looks suspicious that we, who are fond Of terri
tory, should permit empire such as that, 80 adj
miraby suited to our commercial and naval wants
to remain unimproved and to be occupied and even
fortified by another and more powerful nation.
Will the present Congress evince such love Of
peace, such dread Of war, "a to surrender this en-
pire' To fail to support the President in his
concentrations is to abandon il The people sustain
him, and will duly call TO account their misrepre-
sentatves in every branch Of the government.