The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-11-02
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
OUR REPUTATION.

National character is ofsome valGe as an in
strument Of national security. Whenever II
nation OF even moderate power establishes
reputation for extreme Jealousy about nation
al honor, for prtmpttudo in resisting every
aggression, without regard 10 the power OF
h" aggTessor, it is rarely molestcd by other
nations though much more powerful. kno-
wing that it will resist to the utmost, tSay
know that any attempts against il necessarily
Involve war; and in modern times, n war
is grevious calmity, even 10 the conqueror
One grea, source Of the impuniy from ag-
gression which England has long enjoyed,
has been the alacrity with which she has al
ways buckled on her armor in defence of
national honor. But wherever nation able
10 defend its rights, has exhibited any timid-
i'y under aggression, it has surely forfeited
The respect of the world, and encouraged
even the weakest in assailing its rights or
dignity. Before the war of 1912, tho Uni
ted States had exhibited the most incxcusa-
bic forbearance under aggression. The En-
glish and French, theK at war, pIoyed upon
our commerce like pirates without tho slight
est respect for our rights, or the laws of ma
tons. Our government, instead Of ropell-
ing the assalants with sword in hand, took
shelter under embnrgoes and non-inter-
conne laws, or in other words, in running a
way; and the partisan opponents of our gov
eminent among ourselves taunted it with IFS
tlnidiiy, saying that il would not be kicked
into war" The British and French gov
ernmcns, believing this, especially as it was
said by one of our political parties concern
ing the other. continued to kick, and for n
long time with impunity. But they kicked
our government into war at last, aud our
prowess in that war enabled us TO recover
The character lost by our previous timidity.
Had we exhibited proper resentment at the
commencement of these assaults, we should
have avoided that war, besides saving mil
lions of our proporty. Nations never loso
ultimately, by prompt exhibition Of proper
spirit. But they always lose through want
of il.
These remarks are induced by the extra
ordinary declaration of Mr.. Webster, in
his speech before the "Whig" Convention
of Massachusetts. recently held at Spring
field. lie said that if the President, in his
annual message TO the next Congress, did
not present satisfactory excuse for tho war
against Mexico, the duty of tho Wings
would be the refusal Of all supplies for tho
prosecution Of the war This was the sub
stance Of his declaration. Let US suppose
that, Congress adopt and act upon This doc.
trino' and refuse supplies. Whit are the
consequences? The Executive must with
draw our armies from Mexico, and abandon
all our conquests. Did consequences stop
here, our case would not be desperate. The
Mexican might not be fool enough to think
of invading osr territory, and if they should
would be very promptly and ,oifectually re-
pelled. But consequences would travel
little farther. The Mexicans would boast Of
a victory, and taunt us with ons imbecility;
and all European nations, seeing Is abandon
a country that we had almost conquered,
and spare an enemy entirely in our power,
and all through our own dissensieIs, would
that we had not patriotism, or ma
tionalty, or courage, sufficentto defend our
rights. And then they would not only laugh
at us in scorn, but would conclude that we
could always be assailed with impuniY,
England and France, and especially the for,
mer, ever readyto improve the slightest sd-
vantage against US, would see our own des-
sensions base line Of operations against our
rights and dignity. English Or Fronch
statesmen would say that if they assailed US,
one Of our parties would always join them
against our government, or sgainst the par