Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-02-28

It has been for SOME time past generally UNDER
Stood we have had occasion to state to our read
ers, that, in one form other, Resolution for CIV
ing to Great Britain the Notice" required by the
Treaty between that country and this previous to
cessation of.joint occupation of the Oregon Terri
tory would in all probability pass the Senate.
When we formed that opinion, and stated it to bur
readers. we did not conceive that the notice, accom-
panied with recommendation Of renewed effort at
negotiation, would have any other effect than to
lead to settlement Of the question in that manner
and, though not approving the present agitation Of
the question, we did not see that any harm would
necessarily come Of such resolution.
We must confess. however, that the language OF
an article in the " Union of yesterday has some
what shaken this confidence in the harmlessness Of
a resolution of notice. We refer to passage in
that article in the following words:
.The language of the British press in view of the pro-
ceedings Of Congress- somewhat less pacific than at first
upon the reception Of the Presidents message The
for the sudden change may easily be OWNED Symptoms of
divided opinion in the House Of Representatives had appeared
little timely buster in the British journals
sorted aggravae them Again the matter had up
in Parliament Sir Robert Peel and Lord John Russell
cautious and pacific in their general tone; and to Offset
this the Times and Chronicle take their stand the
honor of England, and blow blast the
pet The inference from this state of things seems clear The
British press is experimenting American firm
consistent sdherence the line Of policy marked by the
message, and already followed by House of Congress-
adherence without bluser, without passion and without
token Of Dread fear hestaton only proper
Spouse to such course on the part Of England"
We do not quote this passage for the purpose Of
exposing the Misrepresentation implied by it Of the
indications furnished by the London press-which,
far from being bellicose, stated, is obviously
restrained and with difficulty tames itself down to
the tone Of the Government-but to show by what
sort of argument the Administration paper now
urges the Senate to firm consistent adherence
to the line Of policy marked out Ito Congress- BY
THE MEssAeE." The British press speaks more
freely than the Ministry, whose speeches, the
/" Union" admits, appear on the surface singular
~ pacific and anlabie"-and, representing the tone
Of the British press, instead Of that Of the Govern
men, as fit rule of conduct the {. Union invokes
Congress as "the only proper response to such
course on the part Of England meaning one or
half dozen English newspapers--to adhere to
the line Of policy marked out by the Message
This is very absurd, without doubt; but its very
absurdity is alarming When we see such things
advanced by the government paper constituting fit
motives for action by this Government what may
we not next apprehendi
When such arguments as these are presented, on
the part Of the Executive, as motives for decisive
action by Congress in obedience to the requirements
Of the Message, ought moi Congress rather to pause,
and weigh the matter well, before they place the
destiny Of the nation under the unchecked control
Of the Executivel
Let II be always borne in mind that there are two
ways Of involving nation in war: the one by
wantonly "seekng'' it. and the other by not taking
due precaution TO avoid it.