The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-08-29

wild shrek of horror at the idea Of
war with England. The cry was in
stantly repeated by the presses Of
kindred character throughout the inte.
rior. Many and mighty were the ar
maments which, we were told, England
was preparing against US, by land and
sea. Commerce, il was said, was to he
swept liom the ocean-cities laid in
ashes-the whole face of the land made
desolate, and all the countless calami-
ties Of the world were to be concentra-
ted upon our devoted country, if we
did not yield to the demands of Eng
land. The expenditures Of such a war,
in money and in life, were footed up
in columns of frigh,ful figures, and dis
played to our people and Government
as SO mlny additional reasons why we
should surrender 10 England such parts
of our native soil, as she, might think
proper to exact. TO be sure, it was
known that all branches OF the Gov
ernment, and the Senate, by unani-
nous vote, had declared our title to be
perfect to the whole territory in ques-
tion; 10 be sure. it was known that all
branches Of the Government had sworn
to support the Constitution; to be sure,
it was known that the Constitution for
bade the dismemberment of the State
Of Maine, by the surrender Of Terri
tory which lay within her acknowledge
ed limits: no matter for all this--no
matter for rights, for honor, for oaths,
for the Constitution--England wanted
the territory, and that was enough
And, therefore, the public man who
dared even to hesitate in the surrender
of his native soil to foreign monarch,
was denounced and reviled by these
presses, as though fidelity to ones oath
and country was crime, and virtue
was alone to be found in perjury and
treason.
Thus, then, all things being ready
the war-panic--the bloody humbug
having been skiIfully conjured up in
the United States, and so timed as to.
strike the two Houses of Congress at
the very moment of their meeting--the,
departure Of Lord Ashburton for Amer
ica was duly announced in the London
and Liverpool papers, and the an
nouncement duly repeated in those Of
our eastern cities. England, we were
told-unambitious, just, generous Eng
land-infiuenced solely by the pious
desire to maintli the peace of the
world. and to promote the sacred cause,
of civilization and religion, had gra-.
ciously condescended to send US mes
senger of peace; and, therefore, that
Lord AShburton would be furnished
with plenary powers 10 select such
parts OF the State of Maine as her Ma.
jesty Victoria the First desired to pos.
sesS. Upon this announcement, real
joy took the place of affected terror
upon the features of those, who had
been the instruments of the war-panic
imposture. Their eyes turned toward
the ocean, burned to catch the first
glimpse of the honor-burdened bark,
which had been despatched to our
shores, with this especial minister OF
peace, and gazing, now in this direc-
ton, now in that, they were beginning
even to rebuke the sluggard elements,
when all at once, that bark rose into
view. Lord Ashburton had arrived.
They hailed his advent, as that of one,
who had come 10 rescue an otherwise
ruined world. They followed him
wlthersoever he went, obseuuious to
his beck. On his side, his lordship, full
ly understanding this farce of the war
panic party, and knowing that the poll
icy of his Cabinet required him to act
out his part in the plot, threw into his
lace the alternating light Of hope and
gloom Of despair. UnoAending in his
manners to any, he was gay or grave,
gentle or abrupt by turns. and conceal
ing, under apparent frankness, the quiet
craft of an old dip!omatist, he express
sed in his bearing, equalIy,a sollcitude
for peace and an apprehension of war.
At length the hour for action had ar
rived. Lord Ashburton came to the
capital. On our part, the wise man
Of the East, Mr.. Webster then in the
State Department, was commissioned,
by the President, to cut the State Of
Maine in two, and to deliver over to
her Majesty's Minister such portion, as
her Majesty desired. The process and
the form OF delivery was to be styled a
negotiation, in crder that it might seem
to the world, that our Secretary had at
least talked some little about the mat
ter, hefore he agreed to the surrender.
bis lordship and our Secretary were
not strangers. They had met in Lon.
don before. "They knew each other,"
" both for good and ILL.," They knew
each others objects. and dispositions,