The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-03
VIEWS FROM THE SOUTHWEST.

VIEWS FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
See what correct opinions a strong mind, at
distance from the metropolis, but with the advan-
tage Of books and papers and its own calm medita-
tons, forms in the bosom Of retirement.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
"My opinion is that the Oregon question ought to
be brought TO a crisis. The system OF "masterly
inactivity will not do. We will have to meet the
crisis That is inevitable, and there is no use in
idle demonstration. II were a member Of Con-
gress 1 would vote to give the notice; and would
vote for every other recommendation contained In
the Presidents message. l would not only vote for
Col Bentons bill-yiz; the two regiments OF mount
ed rihemen-but ! would vote for Judge Douglass's
bill throughout, II the was not compromised be-
fore the adjournment Of Congress- There danger
in taking these steps now there is no advantage in
delay Great Britain is not going 10 precipitate a
war II she goes TO war with the United States, II
might be the biterest pill she ever swallowed! She
will therefore avoid It as long as possible. She
knows that with this country will lose her the
cotton trade, and transfer II TO the continent; that
war will build up our own manufactures and those
of the continent Of Europei and that will efectu-
ally ruin her She has talked high Of her own pre-
tensions, conhding on a division in our councils.
But she now hnds-or, IL she has not already found
it out, she will hnds-that however divided we may
be among ourselves on matters Of domestic policy,
on the subject of Oregon all parties agree for, al
though there was and is, little hesitation with
some yet-rely uponit, when the day OF trial comes,
all men Of all parties, save a few whom II Is not
worth while TO count will be found 10 rally around
the standard OF their country Who VIII desert that
flag in such contest this, or as this will be, If
England maintains her pretensons as set forth IN
Mr.. Pakenham's letter. But am still under the
impression that there will be no war.
1.-THE whole difficulty Of this has arisen out
Of the convention Of 1878, and the continuance Of
lad ~ haon for fhatof atin
in the treaty allowing the subjects of Great Britain
to 90 there and trade, (though We had given them
the same privilege by courtesy we would now have
been in the legal possession Of the country, and
would have stood in no need of treaty to protect
us in the enjoyment Of il. As Demosthenes told
| the Athenians, ''what is done cannot be undone;"
vet although the past cannot be recalled, past
NAV be repeated. We cannot be too much upon
our guard when we are making treaty with Eng
land
"You told me in your letter that had guessed
what was in the Presidents message before saw
il. Men who consult their reason, and not their
prejudces will generally think alike on ell political
subjects where they have equal means of iniorma-
ton am satisfied that Mr.. Polk is much inte-
rested as any in this nation in preserving peace
with all the world and letting the country pursue
its march to prosperity. or this | entertain no
doubt | am satisfied, too, that he would prefer
war, in common with the great majority of the cti-
zens of the United States, TO national disonor The
national flag that floats upon every sea- and the sight
of which cheers the American heart and honors and
protect Is an American in the remotest of the
earth must not be dsgraced. Now, these two things
being given, as mathemaucians would say, what the
President will do in a case where all the nforma-
ton lies before u.s. don't think requires any great
degree of sugacity to foreel If there are Hospurs
in Congress who appear to differ with the President,
il is only because they have not the responsibility Of
deciding Place any of them in Mr.. Folks situa-
ton, and they would mitigate their fire down to
what he, presume, has determined to do. | find
it some what more difficult to account for the con-
duct Of those who still say that mastery inactivi-
ty" is the thing that is to give US peace, and that
will get the possession and sovereignty of the coun-
try. Now how we are to do this, confess am
altogether ignorant. Does not the treaty say that
the sovereignty Of the country is in abeyance as long
as the treaty continues Is it not fact that our cit
liens cannot settle anywhere on the north side of
| the Columbia river without being ntruded upon by
| the Hudson Bay Company, and coaxed off, or driv-
| en- of, or overshadowed by the mammoth corpora
ton which owes its existence and allegiance to the
British CROWN And yet they talk of the treaty Of
| 1918 getting us the countryl II we were only in
| exclusive possession Of the counry-f we only
| once had the sovereignty--then admit that "mas-
terly inactivity" .oould be the thing! But we have
not got il; we have surrendered il by that accursed
treaty of 1918; the sovereignty is in abeyance it ia
| nowhere; and there lies the rub. When our citi-
| zens attempt to settle anywhere, where the British
u u
ing property by the side of rich nabob who wants
| TO get il; he completely overshadows him; he COM
mits or suffers trespasses upon his lands. II he is
| sued for it, he has money enough to sustain law
| suit and in short, he harnesses him until he docs
sell it, | am satisfied that if we don't put end to
| the treaty Of 1918, the British will own the whole
of Oregon north Of the Columbia riper (cetainly.")
| [She viii learn to call her settled side of the
| river the British side, and the south side the
American side, and along with it all the fine, in
deed the only good parts which lie on that side OF
the river The longer the settlement is put of, the
longer this state Of things will continue; the frmer
her become knit the stronger she, with
the Hudson Bay Company at her back, becomes on
the north side, the more difficult it will be for to
dispossess her Of foot that sde,-without incur
ring the danger of collision, and the calamities Of
war. Is Great Britain now asleep Has she less sa-
gacity less enterprise fewer means than the United
States1 By no means. Shall we trust to emigra-
ton alone, in order to settle the country steathly
and then get the wholei Who does not believe
that Great Britain will counteract eur policy, by
initiating our own exsmplei We call it mastery
inactivity" when really design it to be secretly
active But will not Britain be secretly active also
Will ahe---is she not already 500 Hear what Mr.,
Owen says in his late admirable speech:
81 repeat my question; is II Of no practical inn
portsnce whether not we, the future owners Of
Oregon eede to Great Britain the only safe hsrbors
in that country, retaining not rosdstead Of
| value along the entire Pacific COAST Is the mari
| time control Of Oregon matter SO trifing that we
are tamely TO surrender il to England, merely be-
cause without color Of title she it to ask us
for III According to what code Of logic or morals
does il become our imperative duty submissively to
give way for this only reason, that she chooses per
| tinsciously TO insist
"see, in her cry pertinscity, theproof, how well
she estimstes-how differently from the gentleman