The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-01-10
d National Defence.

theresolutions offered by Gen. CAss in
the Senate Of the United States, in re.
lation to our naval and military affairs.
On the 18th ult., IN defence of his reso.
lutions, Gen. Cass rose and said: 9a
MR. PRESIDENT: It is impossible TO
peruse the Presidents message, and to
observe the progress Of public opinion
in England, ts this is indicated in the
declarations of her statesmen in Parlia-
ment and in her daily journals, without
being aware, that crisis is fast ap-
preaching in the intercourse between
that country and ours, which demands
the serious consideration, and may re.
quire the cordial and active co-opera.
ton of the whole American people,
The President has told US that the ne.
gotiations respecting Oregon, if they
have not reached close, have, at any
rate, reached position almost equiva-
lent to it. The claims Of the respec.
tive nations are utterly irreconcilable;
and acompromise, by a voluntary sac.
rifice Of a portion Of their pretensions
BY one party, or both, or submission
OF the whole matter in controversy to
some foreign power, seems the only al
Aernatives by which peace can be pre-
served. .g .-....,.s., r,.,e.,.
Our government has already declin-
ed to submit our rights to foreign arbi-
tration. That is process which, un-
der equal circumstances, may well be
adopted by independent nations to ter
inmate disputes, which would otherwise
seek the arbi,rament of war. Ii pre-
serves the honor Of both parties, and
ought to preserve the just interests OF
both. Ii substitutes reason for force,
and is therefore suited to the advancing
opinions OF the age, and to the duties
and feelings Of Christian communities.
But these equal circumstances do not
exist in our present dispute with Eng
land. There are obvious consdera-
tions, into which | need not enter here,
growing out of the relative situation of
that country and Of ours, with those
powers of Europe from whom an arbi-
traitor would almost necessarily be Sc
lected, and out ofthe influence she pos
sesses over their counsels, and, | may
add, growing out Of the nature of our
institutions, and the little favor these
enjoy at present upon the Eastern con-
tinent, which may well have made the
government hesitate to submit import
ant interests, at this particular juncture
to such a tribunal. 1t may we'll have
thought it better to hold on to our
right, and to hold On also to our reme-
dy, rather than commit both to a royal
arbitrator. War is a great calamity.
and ought to be avoided by all proper
means; but there are calamities greater
than war, and among these is a nation.
al dishonor. a"' ''.'
did not rise, sir, as will be seen, to
discuss in whole or in part the question
OF our right to Oregon. That subject.
will come up in its own time. There
may be some difference Of opinion, as
well in Congress as in the nation, re-
specting the territorial extent of thai
right; though take this opportunity of
expressing my entire and hearty con-
currence in the claim as advanced by
the President. But am sure there is
noigreat party, and TRUST there are few
individuals in this country, who are
prepared, even in the extreme spirit Of
compromise, to accept the most liberal
offer that England has yet made. Her
pretensions, and ours are so widely sep
arated, that there seems no middle
ground on which to meet. Our most
claim, and her most liberal
offer, leaves the parties asunder by sew
en- degrees Of latitude, and by large
portion Of The territory in question.
What, then, is our condition? Can
we recedel Can we stand still? or
must we advance? n ava 5.,s,it.,,,s,
AS to receding, It is neither to be
discussed nor thought of. A refer to
4, butto denounce it--a denunciaiion
which will find response in everyi
american bosom. Nothing is sea ever .
,ained by national pusillanimity. And
he country which seeks to purchase
enporary security by yielding to un-
ust pretensions, buys present ease at .
he expense Of permanent honor and
afety. Itsows the wind to reap the I
| have said elsewhere !
What / will repeat here, that it is bet /
sr to fight for the first inch Of national 1
erritory than for the last. Ii is bet. I
sr to defend the door sill, than thel h
earth stone the porch, than the all #
lr. National character is richer q
.easure than gold or silver, and exer- h
ises a moral influence, in The hour oil !,
anger, which, if not power itself, is n