The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-02-24
THE WAY TO KEEP PEACE

Our readers who have paid even slight
attention to the Oregon controversy must see
that the Administration have osiensibly pres
sed matters TO the very verge Of war. The
President and his partZans in Congress uni
formly made claim to the whole of Oregon,
denpuncing that of England an idle preience,
and this claim is reiterated with an imperti-
nent tenaciiy by the Secretary ofState in his
correspondence with the British Minister. A
proposition for arbitration has been peremp
toriIy refused. The notice TO abrogate the
treaty of joint occupancy has been carried
through one house OF Congress with the a
vowed purpose of taking military possession
of the disputed territory up 10 the Russian
boundary at the expiration of the year.
And yet we are told by the semi officials
at Washington most intimate with the views
of those who control the springs of the gov
eminent, that there will be no war. But why
this camness and serenity under combina-
ton of affairs so ominous 10 the unsuspecting
and the uninitated of approaching host.llties
with powerful nation, who, in our inefficient
state Of defence, and armed to the teeth. are
capable of making an avalanche Of naval arm
ameLts upon our coasts which would carry
havoc, coniagration and ruin through the
whole extent of our seaboard.
The reason for these extraordinary appear
ances have already been repeatedly binied a
by the Washington correspondents of the
/ Tribune and other papers. Even better au
ihoriiy than these have recently confirmed
their suspicious that The unrelenting claim to
the whole of Oregon with the passage Of the
notice, and the reduction of the Tariff, are
part of one system. Oregon is to be ours
Just as much rs we want oft. But it is to
be on not on the battle field, hut by fatal
sacrifice of all the great industrial interests Of
the nation, and By converting our country in
to one wide spread theatre ofpIundcr for Brit
ish merchants and manufacturers, and Of i'm
povershment and ruin TO our own. The
Administration ale to derive what capital they
can among the war bulies of the West by
displaying an apparent zeal for adding free
territory to the Union, and when Great Brit
ain has been hectored and insulied into bel
Iicoae temper, and the people are ready to
catch at any chance to appease her wounded
pride, our protective policy is to be made
sacrifice, not more satisfactory to her than
concilliatory to the enemies of the Tariff at
/ the South.
These inklngs of the schemes Of the Polk
lie Administration have been recently corrob-
GRATED by our correspondent at Washington
no should know. A count on the ratiica
ton of treaty 10 carry ont this menstrous
scheme has been made i'll the Senate, and
with the clinging curse of slavery in the
SCALE the balance is made by some TO turn in
its favor.
But never till the shameful deed is actual
and hourshing people can be sold az bond
men and dependents TO Great Britain. Who
could adequately depict the vilainy ofrulers
who, not satisfied with proclaiming death to
| the tariff, would so enaln down Tue natlon oy
treaty as to render it impossible, without the
consent of the British Queen, to reconstruct
system of protection wihoutwhich the sun
OF our prosperity would set to rise no more
Aud what is the consideration offeied for
this monstrous sacrifice! Why, few de-
grees of terra incognita, or frozen coast on
the Pacific, for which free trade for six months
would be rich exchange for Britain.
But it cannot be possible that two-thirds OF
the Senate can be made willing under any
circumstances TO vote for such compromise
as this 1t is too infamous TO be for mo-
meut tolerated by even the most obsequious
devotees ofparty in our country.