The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-07


tons OF the two countries. The eOIps dc main that
have been feared, the most silly apprehensIons
possible. Such things attempted only when
great results expected Sir Gao. Cockburne
might make a dash al Washington, IN war, for
personal renown, but the English government
knows full well that declaration Of war, or an at
tack Ia consequences Of our giving the notice, woald
dlsgrace II In the eyes OF the world leave alter
native but TO fight the matter out, and probably
cause the loss Of the Canadas. am not one those
who believe the Canadas viii fall, a simple con-
sequence of war between the countries but do
think such an assault on the part Of England would
raise spirit In this country that would sweep the
English power of the whole continent We are
quite strong enough TO do il, II we set about in
earnest, and with high popular feeling TO sustain
the effort And who doubt that We should be
In earnest--and that popular feeling would be
aroused to fury, il England were to attack for
doing that which We have perfect right TO do by
treaty. England appreciates her own character too
highly TO be guilty of SO false step.
England cannot be forced, we are told She
was forced in 1888, to give up the whole Of this
country and they who wish to tell that story should
not come here TO make the experiment. Every man
Of sense knows England is brave nation, power
fol nation, and most formidable enemy; neyertle-
less her nynsions Of this country have never
amounted TO much. What did she do at Platts-
burg, at New Orleans, At Baltimore Least Of all
has her success-ln attanks on our water batteries
been very brilliant. Forts Moutrie, Bowyer and
Mifflin tell that story. As for steamers, their use
be relatively the least Ia attacks stationary
objects. We are not exactly Turks or Egyptians,
as any one knows who has ever fairly come under
active American FIRE. In my opinion, should
war come, England viii not attack large town in
the whole country, unless she might be foolish
enough 10 attempt a military expedition somew here
in the gulf IL she could burn New York, she
would do herself as much harm as she would do US.
We burn It ourselves as often as once in twenty
years"
England has thousand reasons for not hurrying
into war with this country. The lower classes OF
the English know that America is paradise for
hem and she could not trust her soldiers sailors
in such struggle she once could. Provost lost
one-tenth Of his army by desertion IN 1915 m
1886 he would lose onehalE Depend upon H. II
war does come, as sincerity hope may not, II will
come more from ourselves than from England |
mean this, too, in the way Of positive hosttes."
We lay the above before our readers, be-
cause there is much truth in many of its sugges-
tons. We promptly say at once, that no patriot
desires war with England; that We all deprecate its
caamities, and greatly prefer an honorable peace
We have not the slightest ambition to blusier or to
insult England. We acknowledge her bravery, her
resources and her power. But in just and righteous
cause do not fear all her chvalry. Let her try to
batter down our towns and still more, attempt to
raise a seryile war in the South; it would react with
fearful effect upon her own interests. 1t would
rousea fame in this nation, which could never be
extinguished until she was swept from the CONT
nent. Besides, the danger which the South
would then be in has been grossly exagge-
rated. The police Of the South would inter
pose its shield at once England would soon feel
the effects Of the increase of population every
where since the war Of 1912. She would find,
too, still MORE how powerfully the extension of our
thousands Of miles of railroad along the Atlantic
border, and penetrating to the bold and popuIous
spirits Of the West, would accelerate the transport
tack, We repeat therefore, that whilst desire an
honorable peace, and do not intend to underrae the
horrors Of war; there is nothing in the threats of the
English pspers-nothing in the savage tactics OF
the "Unted Service Journal'-nothng in the fancies
Of her orators or Of our own-to deter us from the
assertion of our rights at every hazard. II isl
strange, and let us add, disgusting spectacle to see
orators expatiating upon the power Of England,
and bctraying any alarm at its magnitude. We did
not shrink before it in 1914 And we will fearless
ly meet it, if necessary, with augmented means and
unaltered spirit.
But we do not regard the notice as war. We be-
ieve it is better calculated than any other measure
to bring the two countries to serious consid-
Grafton Of their position, and Of the best means for
preserving the peace We do not desire to counter
act its effects by any violent or impassioned Ian
guage. We would treat Great Britain all
proper courtesy and moderation. So long the
tone of the British press continues conciliatory
and pacific it was on the sailing Of the Hiberna,
would on our part gladly initiate their example.
We would much rather act than abuss-carry out
the recommendations of the message promptly, than
utter insulting threats against England. If she
wishes to negotiate, we cannot doubt that our gov
eminent will frankly and respectfully weigh her
propositions If she presents prcjet to which we
cannot agree, doubt not that it will be declined
with all courtesy. But whilst the last words of
the Secretary Of State in August last still
ring in the ears of the British penipoten,ia-
ny, that "the President still cherishes the
hope that this long-pendng controversy may
yet be finally adjusted in such a manner as
not to disturb the peace or interrupt the harmony
now 80 happily subsisting between the two ma.
TONS" it would be fatal mistake the part of
England to suppose that we would sacrifice our
honor to any fears Of her power. Let her direct
her force in the direction to which some of her Pc
riodcals have pointed, and to which the correspon
dent Of the New York Evening Post alludes, and
it would be the most fatal policy to her Of which
her statesmen have ever been guilty. Even if her
''iron Duke were to attempt to carry it out, he
would soon find his own green aurels whitening on
his brow.
The reply Of Mr.. Bayly, of Virginia, to Mr..
Johnson, OF Tennessee, made in the House of Rep
resentatives few daya ago, which we copy in to-
days Gazette, will show what are the ordinations
and denominations now going on between the diff.
ferent factions of the party under whose control the