Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-31

Signs Of War.
We publish to-day the Speech of the Governor
General of Canada, at the opening of the Cana
dian Parliament on the 10Th inst. That portion
of n, which treats of the military preparation in
Canada, will Immediately arrest the attention of
the reader.
The symptoms of approaching outbreak
seem thickenng upon every hand. In the first
place, we have the extensive military prepare.
lions Of Great Britain, which, it at last turns out
were made. after all, with reference TO our coun-
Try then, almost at the same period of time, re-
Communications by the President of the L nj
ted States and the Governor OF Canada, to
place their respective countries in state OF rea-
dneSs for AT the present moment, nesota-
ton is suspended, aud each party seems TO be
waiting for the other TO make proposition. The
condition of things is most critical, WHILE on all
HAMS it is admitted that by mutual concessions,
such in,.,ad. Is the Government of Great Britain
mud IN, S,nste OF the United States are believed
20 be viIing 10 make, peace, honorable TO boid
counties, could be immediately eff oteI.
Under such circumstances, we ask, it be
possible that two civilized ana Christian nations
will suffer false notions Of honor 10 terminate their
efforts for amicable adjustment Of the qles
tons at issue liave mankind learned nothing
from the progress of Christianity and civilization
Or, If the voice of religion cannot make itself
heard above the din of angry passions, if the ap.
peals Of humanity find answering chord
OF pity in the heart will not the dictates Of com
mon sens, teach them that Of all modes Of deci-
ding this controversy, war is the most absurd,
as well as the most wicked, because, after millions
Of baya hear daI nd IF
blood have crimsoned land and sea, the subject in
dispute will be far from adjustment, and,
must at last, if it be terminated at all, be AMIGA
bly, terminated
Senator A,!en we think it is, who talks of ''pre-
pairing the heart OF the nation for war" We en-
w not that gentleman bis task. He will find the
materials but too well arrangsd,-the fuel ready,
the fire at hand, and nothing needed but some
demagogue's breath TO fan 1t into q dsyourlng
blaze. the present generation knows nothing OF
war but what il has learned from the page of his
tory. There 1t sees it in its magnificent pomp,
It's streaming banners, Its glitterlng columns, It's
brilliant victories. Ii drinks in the inspiring
sic of its march it gazes in ecstacy upon its
squadrons shaking the earth with their furious
charge and rending the air with the fierce cries
of battle. 1t hears not the sounds Of mortal ago.
ny that rising from the field of carnage.
They arc drowned IN the clangor OF the trumpet
and the cannon. 1t sees not the mangled forms
with which the earth is strewed,-the headless
trunks, the severed limbs, the wide, gaping
wounds where the blood is pouring in rivulet, from
the heart The smoke of the contest conceals these
horrors from view. History dwells lightly
upon scenes like these. 1t goes not with TO the
hospital, where the victims of war are bowling
with eIcruciating pain, and cursng the day they
were born into a world of such unutterable mise
ny. 1t takes us not to the thousand deserted
homes, where widows SIT and wall beside the !
broken shrine Of hope and happiness where or
phans' means fall upon the listening OF Hea. !
ven ; or, where grey old mothers, bereit of the !
sole stay of their declining years, 20 broken.
hearted to the grave. These are the achieve.
men,s Of WARRIOR which grave Senator pro-
poses 10 prepare tie nations heart
Think of what are considered the minor evils |
Of such state,-the heavy burthens of taxation,
the interruption of business the separation of ia
miles, the demOralizing influences of the camp.
And all this,-for what For national honor |!
No. For Independence No. 1t woui not be |
necessary 10 prepare the heart Of the nation for
such a war. But to carry cut the DEGREES of a
political caucu7, aud to annex worthless terrific |
rs 70 an already overgrown empire! Por this, |
the earth must smoke with human blood Tor this /,
she .lD1d. gales OF crime be opened, aud robbery
Tap.ne and murder poliute the land for this the
digit, of day be darkened by .he clouds Of battle,
and the midnight sky be redeemed with the glare
OF burning cities. And, when all s done, Oregon
WI. not be our. Our armies cannot reach Il by
ion1 nor our nayics by sea. We must maze g.
peace VITA the object Of our war still unattaineC.
Again wc mus, resort 10 negotiation o.. treaty.
Ga, ihe senseIess folly that refuses to exhaust
these rem edles now, before il u.ns tc tne despe.
rate alternative Of battle