Washington telegraph., 1846-03-18
PEACE OR WAR.

/ The belligcrent tone of some OF ouI
politicians in Congress night lead Us 10
suppose that they regarded war as b!es'
sing instead of a curse. Nothing but the
whole of Oregon. which they know there
is but little prospect of our getting, Will
begin to satisfy their gun powder appeil'es.
They lumber away on high key as if no
other nation had any rights or the power
to protect them but our own. They are
perfect fire. eaters, and SO entirely wolhsh
about the head and shoulders that they
are ready TO devour every poor lamb oil a
Congressman who advocates peace. The
deepest water is ever stillest, and buster
ing breath seldom springs from a brave
source. The Yankees, when they threw
the tea overheard in Boston harbor, did
their work quietly without unnecessary
bragadocio and cavorting. They feif what
pugnacious members now only profess 10
feel.
We are disposed to be charitable, but
we cannot attribute this war-spirit TO the
genuine movings Of patriotism. We have
too high regard for that noble quality
to think i, has any hand in manufacturing
the belligerent bombast which bursts out
occasionally in Congress on the Oregon
question. like a blazing brushheap. We
have been in the habit of regarding patriot
ism as deeper seated than the tongue,
and composed Of something more substan-
tial than combustible words. We have
been led to believe from reading the history
of our glorious revolution that the blades
Of those who figured at that cveniiul time,
were not drawn from their scabSards by
the mere love of human butchery, by pe-
cuIiary expectations or the prospect of
military promotion. The sword as it
CLEANED upon the batile-cloud emitted
flashes of patriotism, for love of country
called It forth; but the mouths of fighting
members of Congress emit smoky gusts
of something which we cannot recognize
as patriotism, nor can we tell whether IT
be called forth by a naturally savage dis.
position, by the hope of gain or the capti-
vating vision of brace of epaulettes.
Every sensible, well meaning man must
deprecate war as the greatest earthly evil.
1t destroys national intercourse, drives
men back upon their own cramped indi-
vidual resources, and drenches the fields
which should be clothed with rich harvesis
for the use of man, with the worlds best
blood. 1t checks the social amenities OF
life, clogs the wheels of literature and
scientific improvement, and causes the
earth, in every thing calculated 10 benent
and exalt her children, as Joshua did the
sun Of old, TO stand still. When there is
indeed real necessity for it-when free
dom is assailed in her sanctuary, and the
freeman's rights and the freenan's home
are trampled on and. Observation-Disclosures
war is even then terrible, its horrors are
lessened and made more endurebe by n
pervading spiri, ofpatriotisn. But is there
any such necessity in the case of Oresonl
With all the prudence which nations can
exercise, war will come too soon for the
worlds prosperity. 1t will require no
extraordinary share Of this estimable quail
ity to prevent n war about n few acres
of Improbable land. situated in the bleak
region of the 40.h parallel of north latitude
and thousands Of miles from our most
western settlements.