The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-01-20
he dangers of war, but probably the chance of

he dangers of war, but probably the chance of
losing Oregon.
MIR. Chairman, will go farther 1t from the
action of this House. from any other clrcum-
stances war; should occur, although there may be
southern men who believe that it could have been
avoided, yet | take this occasion To say 10 the
West, that when it becomes clearly necessary
and presents the only remaining mode of obtain.
ing our rights, they will find the South standing
by the country and by them with heart and hand
Yes, when that hour comes-and God grant that
there may never be necessity for 1.-THE max
i'm of the gallant Decatur will find one universal
accepiation amongst the whole American people
" our country, right or wrong" Many may be
found deeply deploring, indeed, the mismanage-
ment, or the necessity, which has plunged the
country into war, but they will not pause TO
settle the question of responsibility until they
have first done all that becomes them to preserve
national rights and honor. must, however, here
declare, in spirit of entire frankness that it, by
giving this notice, we should ultimately either
lose Oregon to be led into an unnecessary wal
to obtain it, those who give this notice will be
held responsible, at the proper time, for all lis
consequences. Ii is the undoubted duty of everv
section of this contederacy, North, South, East,
and West, to defend the national soil and protect
the national honor. But we owe it To ourselves
to orr poserliy, and To the great interests of hu-
mainly, to exhaust all honorable means of peace
before we plunge the nation into war Wo to
the people amongst whom war becomes familiar
and household word. and wu to the statesman
who cultivates spirit of violence amongst those
whom he influences, Instead of cherished dis
position TO peace. In this connexiun, Mr. Chair
man, must be permitted tn express the profound
regret with which have heard some of the re-
marks made in this debate. There are elements
enough of strife abroad in the public mind with
out enlisting the passions further in the work of
havoc and ruin. 1t was with the deepest regret
that heard members upon this floor haunting the
administration, and declaring the belief that it
would :" back OUT" and that it could not be
kicked into a war" These sounds fell on my
ear like the echoes of something of which had
heard before, and which contributed 10 the same
result upon another OccasiOn-a result for which a
necessity then exised, how unfortunate it might
be now.
There never was, there never can be, an ad-
minlsration elected by the people of this country,
which could refuse a war, If national rights and
honor required it. None but timid adminisra-
tion can be /" kicked into war; by domestic op.
ponents 1t requires far more courage TO resist a
war-cry than tn yield TO it. 1t sometimes re-
quires more moral firmness and greater and high
er qualities of mind to understand the first out
burst of the war feeling. and calmly to appeal to
the sober second thought of rejecting people for
ultimate instructions, than 10 be the hero of a
hundred fields.
Mr.. Chairman. will now say and | desire
my words TO be noted, that if any gentlemen here
believes that this notice will lead to war; and vet
votes for it under the hope that the President will
back out sooner than face the result, he is utterly
mistaken. This administration will not back out
from any position which it has taken in the face
OF the world, and before the American people
Whoever, therefore, votes for this measure, fore
seeing, but not desiring lis consequences, will he
far more responsible for the result. in moral
point of view, than the administration which has
acted, as believe, from an honest though erro-
neOus conviction of duty.
MIR. Chairman, will conclude by observing
that am fully aware that nothing which can
say will Influence the action of this House.
never expected that il would. But have pre-.
sened my views of this subject fully and frankly,
in order that may place myself fairly before my
constituents and friends, who alone feel an inter
est in my course. My sole aim has been to
vlndlcate myself with them. Would TO God
that | had the power to reach the heart of the
House and the nation! Would to God that
| could persuade them to beware, ere they pre-
cipiiated themselves into a war, and exposed
themselves to consequences which no eye but
that above can measure or pursue. would
beseech my countrymen first to exhaust all the
means of preserving peace with honor. They
character of the country, to the hopes of our race
and the great interests of humanity. If these
measures should fail and war should become in.
evtable, we should go into il united people,
with one heart and with one mind We should
go into it with those high feelings with which
conscious rectiiude, and an outraged spirit can
alone inspire man or a people. We should
carry with us the sympathies of Chislendom
and, more than all, we might devoully invoke the
blessing of the God of battles in a Contest which
we had alone nothing to provoke, and we had
sought by all honorable means to avert. If war
should become the only remedy for wounded honor
and violated right, all will rally To the rescue of
the country, and to avenge its wrongs. As de-
voted as any in the glorious band, will venture
to say, the Sons of the South will be found at The
post Of duty-not standing by as cold hearted
spectators, or as aggards in the day Of trial
No, sir; they will be found
True to the last of their blood and their breath,
And like reapcrs descend to the harvest of death.
The POINT SETTLED-Some DAYS AGO, two
honest boys of the Emerald Isle, says the New