The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-04-30
WAsHISoroN, April Is, 1876.

chessboard. This question must, indeed, have been
most important one, judging from the time which
both houses of Congress have devoted TO IT, and
from the intense interest manifested In the result,
by the public, both OF Europe and America. Surely
the decision of such question must mean some
thing; ard what does il mean ?
The Union is apparently quite delighted with the
result, and claims il a triumph for the admins
tration It has, in fact good authority for claiming
il as a triumph. Mr. Crittenden. who must have
understood the meaning OF the resolutions original
ly drafted by him, and who cheerfuly accepted all
the amendments, confessed to his friends in the
It first passed the Senate gave the President all that
he asked The President thought that the notice
ought 10 be given forthwith the resolution express
es the opinion that II IS advisable to give the no.
tlce, and empowers the President TO give II when
ever he pleases. What more did he aski Viewed
IN this light, the administration and Its able and
amiable organ, have certainly achieved a most glo-
rious triumph. They have brought the wings TO
their knees-have compelled the most distinguished
champions OF the wing party IN the Senate, to come
forward and surrender all that the democratic Pre-
sident wished or demanded. They have compelled
the taest wings TO pass under the yoke. Nothing
short of the all powerful logic and eloquence Of the
organ could have accomplished such result.
II is true that Mr.. McCernand and some other
stout friends OF the administrator make wrv mouths
at the resolution, and declare that it not only au.
thorises. but instructs tn. President to make any
sacrifice necessary TO bring about peaceful adjust
Ipent OF the Oregon question. This results from
their msapprehension OF the Presidents intentions,
which were always peaceful The organ always
expressed Its desire tor peaceand never advocated
the notice, IN any shape, except as "a weapon OF
peace" and the resolution tenders the sharpest
weapon of the kind that could be fashioned. II
chops the war hawks all to pieces.
The result, therefore, is precisely what Messrs
Adams and Giddlngs, who were SO eager for the
notice, as a weapon OF war, expressed their chris
nan-like tears of-lhat the administration would be
expressed it, that Mr.. Polk would back out. mr..
Adams IN TACT, man unsurpassed in experience
and penetration himself, knew that Mr.. Polk was
not deficient in either-and that Mr. Polk could not
cooly survey the iaterna and external relations of
the country without perceiving at glance, that a
war growing out OF the Oregon question, was
merely bqg-besr TO brighten children with.
Let us take look at the exports of domestic pro-
duce OF the United States, which are the measurer
OF their foreign trade, and OF their interest in the
maintenance OF peace The total exports for the two
years ending Jan. 80, 1916, averaged $99 6O7,a77
per annum-of which the exports OF cotton rice and
tobacco, (Southern products) averaged 1868 OO6 $50
or nearly 20 per cent Ii Ia evident therefore, that
the slaveholding States own at least two. thirds Of
the domestic produce exported--and it is with our
exports that our Imports are purchased. The aver
age OF exports from the non-slavehodlng States was
less than $35 600 600; and the population Of those
states, during the time OF there expectations, al
lowing tor the increase since The of ISlO was
about eleven millions, making their interest in the
exports about three dollars per head. The in
IL.
IN their exports, was nearly eight dollars ahead-or
1t the slaves are deducted, twelve dollars head The
voters OF the South, therefore, have feur times as
much interest in our exports OF domestic produce
az the voters Of North; and their produce is ex-
ported chiefly to the very nation which it was pro-
posed to 60 TO war with.
OF the expenses of war. Their taxes would be
trebled upon them, while their means of paying
would be destroyed. In addition to this their Sec
uon OF country would be the most exposed to the
NV yAlpIA ho nlIal
guardl against two senemies-one within and one
without-ln loving cooperation with each other
Under these circumstances, nothing seems NOR.
natural than that the South should decline the pol e
Invitation OF their Northern and North. western
friends to have game OF war, and reply Thankee
az much as if we did" Considering that they
these Northern friends, of enjoying the bless.
lngs OF free trade with Great Britain, the conse- |
quences OF war with the same power were in lu- |
dicrous contrast with their antlclpatons and they
might well have asked Mr.. Polk, whether this was I
the entertainment to which they were invited {!
When we reflect with now much difficulty the |
country was driver INTO the last war with Great |
Britain even after - trade had been etfectually
destroyed as II could have been by war-atter the
strongest provocaton had been viven and scarcely
any inducement renamed tor peace-h0w sensitive |
our people are to any unnecessary taxation-lhe !
enormous taxes which even preparation for, war |
with Great Britain, in her present condition, would
require, and the quarter 10 which the evils and bur-
dens OF the war would be most severely fet-when
we consider the matter "curlously." as Hamlet |
says the idea OF such war, At least of Its eonti
nuance tor any length Of time, with the concur
renee OF the South, is preposterous
Great Britain has no doubt great reason to avoid
a war with US /; but her reasons are not strong,
and would not be so deeply telt by her population,
az those which exist ON our side. She is already
prepared tor war, and it is the first step which costs
most. A. war would be, in some measure, relief
for her laboring population, and afford them en-
poyment and subsistence. She would carry the
war, too, into the enemy's country Her objections
therefore, nj erahl lin
our side the objections are such the strongest mo-
tves only-appealing most iorclbly to the national
prde,as well as national inierests-couId overcome.
Fne South, therefore, must triumph, for the pre-
sent. But In the end, the victory may possibly
prove fatal to them. A triumph over war feeling
Is not congenia with the tastes Of the mass OF the
which 1t in fact does, in some degree-the moral
force OF the nation The nation has been accused
OF bullying weak power, in order to benefit the
South. II, at the same time, il is accused OF show.
ing the white feather, and trucking to powerful
government, in order to benefit the same section
Southern statesmen must lose caste in the eyes OF
the people, They are too proud to submit quietly
to this. and yet not foolish enough be ensnared by
what they consider a trap prepared for them by
tariff men and abotionists, or as one of them has
called II, compound tariff and abolition plot. In
der these circumstances, they must either push their
triumph still further, and succeed in holding up the
authors OF this PLOT to public obloquy else be con-
tent 10 be shorn OF the influence which they have
welded IN the councils OF the nation.
he cabinet minister most obnoxious TO
them, 10 the Secretary Of State, whom they regard
as having purposey done all in his power to embroil
the relation OF the two countries. and render Ii i'm
possible tor Great Britain 10 make any further ad-
vances to peaceful adjustment OF one of the great
questions OF the day, in order that he may NOT be
hlmself embarrassed by the decision Of another
rectly or indirectly, nil the means and opportunties.
and influence, which his official station affords him
to preserve the protective tariff which, If he cannot
DO, he must either resign or lose the support of his
SfSfa "A Wal a,tfb fh~ III.
would relieve him from his dilemma.
la this connection, as the reverend gentlemen saw
curious circumstance has been mentioned to me.
which have not an opportunity, just now, TO verify,
but which you do yourself by referring TO the
hie and writings oil Mr.. Legare, lately published by
his sister understand that Mr.. Legare, in a diary