The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-22
COM MUNICATION.
THE DEFENCEs OF THE COUNTRY.

THE DEFENCEs OF THE COUNTRY.
The language Of the Union Of The Goth instant,
meets the fullest appreciation of the writer Of this
article 1--WE must hold" on TO present attitude
OF hrmness. - . I'VE are la favor Of employing
| as hrm but as unmpassioned a language as possi-
Die IN all eur public discussions In our acts our
ac'Nhy should be shown-ln our preparations for
| any contingency"
ihls Is doctrine suited in the most exact man
ner 10 The present position of our political affairs
As sons OF brave and prudent sres who have had
transmitted to them rich inheritance of republican
principles, and of territory won from British thral-
dom, we should dispsrage the memory of our
fathers II we failed Of their vigilance and energy Ii
was not by supine incidence but by II wise and per-
vadng watchfulness and labor, that they succeeded
amid the difficulties which they were compelled to
encounter. These enabled them to resist success
fully the encroachments, that had been made upon
their rights by the same power from which we have
now cause Of apprehension. Looking to God for
deiverance, they did not relax The necessary cxer
ton, without which heavens blessing cannot be
sonably expected la these, la most other partlc-
llars, they trod themselves path which 1t is safe
Tor US to follow. The potential voice Of the Father
Of his country comes in aid Of his and their exam
pie; I'm peace, prepare for war.n
That extensive preparation is necessary seems
generally acknowledgement PREPARATIONS, how
ever, as may be easily made, if we but ad-
just ourselves to the exigency and eyinee the
requisite determination, The Executive hos
come forward, and, with dishnctness and vgor ndi-
Gated system of measures which may he safely
adopted There will be no fear Of eneounlering
from him opposition TO system which he has open.
ly svowed and urged. The spirii of his recomnen-
dai'ons may be summed up ia the words "lhs bet
ter we are prepared, the more successful will be
negouaons--the more justice we shall be able 10 OBJ
tam" Under the obvious meaning of common
sense, the President inyokes the use of 80 much Of
the national resources may be truly necessary to
place the country Sin an armor and an attitude de-
manded by the crisis" IL is plain, therefore, that
his Concurrence with Congress may be fully ex-
peced to the extent which have indicated.
No one less undertakes the power and resources
of Great Britain, than The writer Of this essay, But
II is not therefore, to be supposed that he deems the
United States unable to cope with her in her palm-
est state. in righteous cause, the world IN
cannot subdue us. The vain boasts OF London jour
naists, would, IN the event OF real conflict, be dss-
psted into thin air. If we but true TO ourselves
All that is essential to a more complete triumph
than any We have heretofore gained over England
is, that we apply our resources with skill and
But in war, the ability 10 operate
with rapidity is one OF the primal elements Of mag
nIhcent success. The declaration lately made by a
leading English journal was critically correct,
hut yet is characterized by much substantial truth
II affirmed that the vast successes of Napoleon
III owing to his complete preparation 10 Strke his ad
rSary the moment that peace announced to
IN end Doubtless, Napoleon understood this part
If the art of war profoundly, as well as It's general
principles. The fact that he WAS always IN better
state of preparation than his enemies, until his VIC
ores had compelled them into general union, aud
nto an imitation of his own policy Of abundant
eadness for confctin all the military arrangements
calculated 10 ensure success, explains, IN great part,
his rapid and extensive conquests In like manner.
Louis the XIV was indebted as much To this cause
,s to any other for his ngcontlnued ascendency IN
Europe Ii was not until his aggressIons assumed
portentous character, such as combined the great
.st powers Of that continent against him, and led
hem to make as ample preparations as he himself
aat done, that his career of eDcroachment was
tested, and the grand alliance dictated the terms Of
peace al Utrecht.
We assume no air nor entertain any purpose OF
Iict,tion; 'our thoughts are turned on peace" We
ave demonstrated this in the offer Of compromise,
,fter the very able, and, TO own people cnnclu-
ave arguments of the late and present Secretaries OF
) ale. But, however well proven our title, we can
MT expect our adversary 10 acknowledge the fact,
after all the disclosures Of conflicting views in the
correspondence Of the respective governments.
1t may be alleged that the news from Europe, "
altogether sanction this conclusion; but we IN
rhned to hope favoraby from il A. he first busi,,
the accession of ministry pled- r' the repeal of
The corn-laws--coming in by the agency of that mo-
nentous question-would seem to authorize the Gx-
pecaton, anort certainly, OF pacific arrangen,snt
with the power from which the chief supplies must
come, in the event Of their repeal. But mist
consider the whole aspect OF things in Great
Britain in order to arrive at reliable de-
auctions. In the best state of the case, the
extreme probability is that new election must in
ervenc before any measure of satisfactory nature
IAN be carried through by the English ministry
That the lords will resist al frsithat they can be
brought to acquiesce in total repeal Of the
avs only by the force Of popular oplnIon--by the
combined strength OF the manufacturing and COM
nercial classes-appcsr TO US morally certain. But
he of these latter classes, in returning
ority to Parliament, we believe altogether proba-
DE What them Lord John Russell is pledged to
ota repeal; but the hereditary lords may draw Off
portion of the ohig landed arstocracy, and
he onset by modification; new conflicts, new dis
may from the lords of commerce,
the loom and the spindle In this state of the case
With at first but an imperfect victory, Lord John
Russell and Lord Palmerston may not feel disposed
vary the tory line of policy on The Oregon question.
Yet we regard ii as certain TINT the sding-scae
will in event be continued. If total repeal be not
he course, small fixed duty, or some compensa-
ion in some other neutrality-suspicious. reduction Of
he income .tar--wil be the alternative Delays,
therefore,, may occur, continued through for too
ong period for us to wait in respect to Oregon,
before the cornaws are repealed, although we re-
,ard that measure certain ultimately. To these
considerations we may add, that probable accounts
assign Lord Palmerston to the foreign Office If SO,
he character of his lordship affords considerable
ground for hesitation in believing that England will
I'd Just the Oregon question soon, on such terms as
we can accept. He may be oyerruled by his col
eagues; but we can be certified on this point only
by the developments Of time.
The wisdom, therefore, Of prompt and ample
preparation is recommended by calm investigation
If the general bearings Of the recent news, well
is by the admonitions ofcxperience. To be effect
la our expenditures need not transcend our ample
means. To be productive Of the greatest practicable
,ood, they should be prompt. We possess military
md naval officers fully qualified to plan and con-
truct the necessary works. and to mark the def
encies in any already existing, with view to
upply them by suitable appropriations. All can
,e done that 10 adapted either to honorable peace
Efficient war, if the whole governmental powers be
xered to compass these important ends
." AN AMERICAN.
Y OSI, ON Mondnu nffernnnn 10Th ina. ann1e-