The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-22

ported by the most indomItable bravery. Sir III
Smith, whose victory over the Sikhs at Alwal has
been the theme OF unqualified euogy on the part
alike Of soldiers and civilians, is a name new to
fame--new 10 his countrymeDs' But il can
not be so hereafter. Tactics so telling followed by
success so brilliant, show that our army, notwilh-
standing lis comparative torpor Of late years
abounds IN men who are equal to any emergency,
and emily want the opportunity to rival the greatest
Of our historic glories.
The severe thrashng Of the Sikh forces by Sir
II. Smith has been consummsted by the total defeat
OF the main body by the goyernor-general of India,
and the eommander-n-chief. The loss of the enemy
IN this engagement is estimated at from 10 900 TO 49,
900 men; that Of the British in killed and wounded
at upwards of 1000, amongst whom is a large
portion OF officers. The action commenced in the
morning, and the work Of destruction had closed by
eleven o'clock in the forenoon. Sir Hugh Coughs
account Of this battle proves it to have been, while
Il lasted, one Of the most terrific ON record. Unlike
the able maneuyring Of Sir III. Smith, this
affair seems to have owed its to the daring
lnuepidity Of our men, who stormed the enc
my's entertainments, bayonet in hand, defended as
they we're by $4,000 Sikhs and 70 pieces Of artil-
ery. The slaughter was immense, for our troops
brayed the enemys fire by reserying their shot I'M
al they got within his entertainments. The horrors
Of painted with appalling power in the few
brief sentences OF the victorious commander. The
action terminated in the complete route Of the enc
my, INC " Hls guns INC loSS " us
camp and baggage. An awful sacrifice Of life took
place on the Sutej, in attempting to which
our troops moved down thousands Of the flying
foe, and those who escaped the fire were drowned
in the stream. This victory has put the finishing
stroke to the war. Il has brought the Sikhs to
their senses-to their knees-and they are now
humble suppants for our mercy and forbearance.
They have agreed to pay million and half ster-
ling, in the course Of four years, towards the ex-
penses OF the war, the payment 10 be enforced by
the occupation Of Lahore.
THIS result is, in many respects gratifying. The
honor of our arms has been brilliantly maintained
and the INVASION Of our soil has been adequately
punished The moral effect Of these victories on
the princes Of India will prevent any further effu
sion Of bood-wlll secure TO the continuance Of
amity and peace. Further, the elaborate prepare
tons, the consumption Of time and money neces-
sary for the invasion and subjugation of the Sikh
territory, will have been spared; and conflict with
a warlike race, which, under the most favored cir
cumstances, must have been protracted and could
not fail to have been bloody, has thus been entirely
superseded.
Anticipating a somewhat protracted struggle in
subduing and Furnishing the aggressors, the leading
English journals have been discussing the question
as to what we should do with the Punaub when we
had conquered it-when our injured honor had Ia
ken vengeance the parties who solicited the
hict. The general feeling has been ayerse TO the
permanent occupation Of the country. Every one
feels that our Indian empire is at present sufficiently
unwieldy without further extension. To seize and
keep possession Of the Punjaub would in pecu-
mary sense, entail heavy loss, with the certainty
of constant collisions with the natives The con-
quest Of the Sikhs would involve, too, the subjuga-
tion of the Atighans. Entering scheme gi-
gantic, hands would be constantly full, and an
empire, the extent and diversity of which is a mar
vel in the history Of mankind, might be exposed To
constant and superAuous trbuations All this will
he lhRH live Inra nf and 1lar-
ity attached to the British alliance, will the
end in view-the continuance Of friendly relations
better far than if ensign hoated in triumph over
Lahore. Such prince is believed to exist in the
person Of Gholab Singh, who, more wary than the
other chiefs, had not compromised himself by his
hostility 10 the British power With him Sir Hen
ry Hardinge had formed treaty for the future gov
eminent Of the Punjaub, the terms Of which will
probably restore order TO that distracted country.
The many demands on space prevent US from
giving the official documents connected with the re-
cent movements in india with the exception of the
commanderin-chef's account Of the last great vic
tory. glance at their contents will suffice for the
bulk Of our American readers. The governor-gene-
ra who was expected to enter Lahore, the capital
Of the enemy about the 10Th ult, had issued proc
amation relative TO the war, in which he denied that
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT sought or desired.
But "a an indemnity for the expenses of the cam
paign, the districts between the rivers Sutej and
Beas, hill and dale, with their revenues, were to be
affixed to the British provinces. He had also pub
ished general order, giving a glowing but by no
means exaggerated account Of the victory of So.
braon, in which the exploits Of the men and officers
are dwelt upon and eulogized with commendable
pride and minuteness. He announces his intention
Of having medal struck in honor of the battle to
be worn by the brave fellows who took part in it.
Thus has ended a war, respecting the conse-
quences ofwhch good deal Of anxiety not unnatu-
rally prevailed war forced upon us by the pecu-
liar exigences Of the case; from which we could not
shrink but for which we had made no previous
preparation, used no adequate foresight. The
Sikhs took an ungenerous advantage of the long al
lance which had existed between us and their great
ruler. Runeet Singh and their perfdy has been
punished in manner fully commensurate with ts
enormity-punished promptly, energetically, and in
style which promises in all future time to prevent
repetition of conduct once base dlshonorabe and
uncaed for.
Sir Robert Peel, on the evening Of Thursday, pro-
posed vote of thanks to the Indian army which
he did in the highest strain Of eloquence and i'm
FASHIONED feeling. The beauty Of the eulogy was
in fine harmony with facts and truth. The COM
mander-inchief and the encouragement are to be
elevated to the peerage.
The oregon Question again in Parlia-
ment.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 90.
On the motion for reading the order of the day,
MI BoRTHwICK rose to put the question of which
he had given notice. The honorable gentleman
commenced by reading the following paragraphs
from her Majesty's speech from the throne at the
opening ofthe present session: 81 regret that the
conflicting claims of Great Britain and the United
States, in respect Of the territory the northwest
ern coast ofAmerica, although they have been made
the subject of repeated negotiation still remain un
settled You may be assured that no effort con.
sstent with national honor shall be wanting on my
part to bring this question to early and peace.
ful termination" The honorable member proceed
ed 1t was impossible to select words more worthy
a powerful sovereign addressing her Parliament
Up to the present time the House had yielded to the
government silent and entire confidence in its
measures. He did not rise either to disturb that s-
lence or intimate any diminution of that confidence
But, though that House had appreciated the spirit in
which the government had acted, on the other side
of the Atlantic there was a party which had put
upon the words pronounced by her Majesty, and on
the subsequent proceedings of the government, a
construction the very opposite Of that they were in
tended to bear. 1t was time England should dis
tinctly as ert, that while she was ready to make
every sacrifice for the maintenance of peace con-
sisent with her honor, yet that she only deprecated
in .,c tnotn c..I al.