The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-10

remembrance OF the late defeat al Ferozeshah be-
come, and they will naturally be impressed with the
idea that We have been seriously crippled in our
resources by victories, 10 be unable TO follow
them up with that activity which would have tend,
ed materially TO advance the end OF the campaign
IL is farther not to be denied that is absolutely ne
cessary to be provided to the utmost possible extent
with stores and ammunition, for it would sound ex-
| tremely awkward to be compelled to confess in
second despatch that our artillery had been unable
to return a single shot
"From a careful examination Of these points, and
| the circumstance that Delhi, whence supplies are
deryable is full $50 miles from the scene of action
we confess ourselves unable TO see how the arrange
for entering the Punja ub are TO be completed
| so soon as was anticipated, and we apprehend that
the presence of the convoy which leh us yesterday
under charge of the 9Th native infantry, and which
consisted of 600 hackery loads Of ammuniti on, be-
sides cloud Of camels will be necessary TO enable
the governor-general issue the final orders for the
advance, although such very large quantities had
been despatched before, with and AFTER the train.
THE Skhs evidently aware Of our position
and prepared to take advantage Of il; and though
they would suffer defeat by fighting battle on this
side, and defeat British ground would be more
fatal TO them than defeat on their tide, they
are not slow to observe that victory To us our
side of the river is likely to be attended by conse-
quences less desirable than similar result on their
own side. Another engagement similar TO that OF
| Ferozeshah would have the effect Of retardinx our
progress on the river considerably, and every delay
at this advanced period Of the season would be ia
vorabe them and aid 10 protractng their defence
when we did take the initiative.
| alt is becoming daily more probable that Gooab
! Singh will join the war party, and though he may
not come TO Lahore, we think he has sufficiently
! Identified himself with them TO exclude the propuety
of treating him in any other light than Of
the common enemy. With Goolab Singh against
us-and we cannot see how it can be otherwise--we
do not think that three hours will settle the busi-
ness, and we must protest against the general de-
probation OF enemy, which Is so frequently in
dulged in by Engshmen.
| The augmentation Of the army has already begun;
the first fruits Of collision with the Sikhs add
seven regiments TO our muster roll the maintenance
Of the Punjaub will yet require twice many
-Four regiments Of irregular cavalry have been
dered 10 be added TO the Bengal army; ten regi-
ments Of infantry, with than the usual proper.
ton Of artillery, must follow by the time we cross
the Suuej, and ten or twenty moro before We
keep the country. Three regiments Of native IN
fantry with a small proportion Of European artil-
| lery, ordered for Bombay-an augmentation
which, like that Of Bengal, must also speedily be
doubled. ..'
The Madras government has been called upon to
supply six regiments 10 take the place Of Bengal
troops moved upward, so that Bombay is not the
only one Of the minor presdencies whose army will
find work more than enough carved out for them,
and all this with army beforehand more numer-
Gus by nearly 10000 balance-shcct three mil
lions less favorable than in 1888. At present, how
|
complaining. The Sikhs had been told publicly
from nearly the highest authonty-speaking, it 10
| true, without the slightest warrant, and ut q time
when there was no idea of with them--that
| they would be asssed; and assuming that the
| terng Of our troops only preliminary to inva-
son they took the initiative into their own hands,
and commenced the assault which they imagined US
ready to begin.
/ THE OREGON QUESTION
The attention Of the London press, however, was
not given exclusively to affairs in the East. The
passage of the Oregon notice resolutions in the
House Of Representatives gave tho journalists ma
teria for divers leading articles, the staple Of which
was a compound OF virulence and anxiety So
far have seen, the Times came the nearest
to an intelligent understanding Of the matter when
it said:
at must be borne in mind that there is nothing,
either in the nature in the form of these resolu-
tons, which exceeds the undoubted right of either
party to the convention of 1927, or violates the
courtesy of nations Thus far the difficulties Of tho
case are scarcely aggravated by the notice. But
this resolution having been iTevocably taken the
peace of the world depends upon the next step. IL
Mr. Polk now prepared to reopen the negotiation
| on an admissible basis must we infer from his
silence that the settlement of this question is not tho
real object of his policy, but that he ontertans very
different designs, which the next twelve months will
j disclose TO the world
| "ln estimating the causes which guide huma n
conduct and govern the destnies Of the world there
is unhappiya very wide distinction to be drawn be-
tween good reasons and probable motives; and the
history Of the follies and disasters which befa
kind is nothing more than the result of the prepon-
derance which the worst incentives sometimes
qulre over the best convictions. That form of gov
eminent is undoubtedly safest and wisest which is
best able to preserve the balance of temperate and
| rational policy from the accidents of passion and
| popular deusion. But the more government
tends to the extreme Of despotic power or Of demo-
cratic license, the less can we rely upon this salu
| tary control and the reason have we to dread
| the performance Of its true interests.
| Excellent, innumerable and unansweralable ar
guments may be found to demonstrate the absurdty
| and wickedness Of a war between the United States
and Great Britain-the immense disproporton be-
| tween the forces of the contending powers the
close relations Of their common interests-the worth
lessness of the territory in dispute--the enormous
injury which war must infict on the states engaged
| IN II, and may possibly, on the whole world-and
the lnfamy which such a catastrophe must heap
upon the heads Of the accidental statesmen and the
popular dupes by whom alone it is provoked
Nothing can be truer, nothing more certain but is it
ascertained that truth and reason are exclusively the
guiding lights of the policy of MIR. Polk Must we
not rather argue against truth and against reason, if
we would arrive at a correct calculation Of his per-
verse career,
"From the portentous declaration contained in
his inaugural address down to the very last act Of
his government, which was to heap fuel upon an
angry debate, by the precpitate publication Of the
negotiation so lately renewed by Mr. Pakenhau,,
every part OF his conduct has evinced direct ten
dency to war, which we have only treated lightly,
because it seemed in spite Of HIMSELF to be utterly
| incredible. The good reasons against war are 90
evident to the public in this country and throughout
Europe-and the bad motives which may lead to
war are so obscure, peculiarly American, and in
part so nefarlous, that we have never condescended
to acknowledge that the cause of peace could be
sacrificed to, such considerations. But since tho
repeated messages and public acts Of the President
have thrown of all disguise, and rejected every al
tentative, he must be judged of as a man actuated
by the most deplorable motives, and who can only
be arrested IN MS disastrous career by the reaction
which the consequences of his policy must occa-
sion.
"No doubt that reaction will occur; it is the retri-
butive punishment of the excuses of democratic
governments but we are compelled to add, tina, il
| to prevent them; and it is more likely to pursue