Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-02-24

sir, for the future. Now let me be per.
mitted to review the past.
During considerable portion ofthe last
session of Congress we were occupied in
the consideration of the thesis that nations
cannot go to war in this enlightened age
ofthe world. How we would have deci-
ded that difficult question, had decision
became necessary, l do not venture to
assert. Our deliberations were suddenly
interrupted by the sound Of hostile cannon
from India, from Australia, from the Cape
of Good Hope, from Algiers, from the
Caucasus, and from the La Plata, and still
nearer and louder from our own frontier
which announced that old.fashioned war
with all its evils, still found abiding place.
upon the earth, and that we were yet fal
from the age Of universal peace and benev
|olence. The disinterested English journal.
read us many homily upon our pugna
cious propensities and some of the cont
mental papers of Europe expressed theil
holy horror at the assurance of that grea
unbridled transatlantic democracy, in
thinking it had honor and interests to as
sert, and courage to defend them.
The progress of the war in which we
found ourselves engaged has furnished tc
the English and French journals, since
that period, favorable opportunities of i'm.
Ipugning our motives and our policy, and ol
arraigning us at the tribunal of public o,
pinion through the world; in contrast, it is
to be presumed, with the disinterested and
philanthropic conduct of their own govern.
ments. | desire, before | examine the in.
ternal questions connected with this war,
to snbmit few remarks on the external
ones. The conduct Of nations constitutes
the law Of nations. Ifthe enlightened and
powerful governments of the world take
redress into their own hands, whenever
their interests requires, they have little
right to arraign the course ofother powers,
who, after long years Of patient forbear-
ance, find themselves driven to arms. A
few brief statements of this selfredressed
policy, if | may call them such, will OK.
hibit the modern practice in bold relief.
In 1929, difficulties, arose between the
republic and the French, re-
specting the service Of foreigners in the
militia of the country. The diplomatic
agent Of France Immediately withdrew,
while the French fleet attacked the vessels
Of Buenos Ayres, which then submitted to
The demands imposed upon it.
England abandoned the Falkland Islands
in l774, after holding them few years.
On the assertion Of the independence of
Buenos Ayres that government took pos.
session of these islands, as the successor of
the rights of Spain. In 1888, after having
been the subject Of a diplomatic correspon-
dence between England and Buenos Ayres,
while peaceably held by the latter power, a
British vessel of war took possession Of
them, and its captain addressed to the
Buenos Ayrean commander this modest and
laconic note: "It is my intention to hoist,
tomorrow morning, the national flag of
Great Britain, on shore, when | request
you will be pleased 10 hand down your flag,
and to withdraw your forces, taking with
you all the stores, &C., belonging to your
government.
In 1884, difficulty arose between the
British and the Portuguese governments,
in consequence of the claims of certain
British subjects. England demanded
LIST. That Portuguese captain should
20 cashiered.
I'd. That certain payments should be
made within month.
Sd. That several magistrates should be
4th. That regular Judicial proceedings
should be disavowed, and compensation
made for injuries, they were said to have
inflicted.
9th. Another disavowal of the proceed
ngs of a magistrate.
And in all these cases OF dismissal, it
vas required that they should be notified in
he Lisbon Gazette, with statement of
he causes which occasioned them, and an
that none of these persons should
'gain be employed under any pretence.
9th. That certain duties on British
should cease.
7th. That compensation should be made
o an Englishman who had been ordered
back into Spain, in consequence Of irregu-
|arity in his passport.
9th. A severe and public reprimand of
a Portuguese officer, who had given of.
fence.
9th. The dismissal off judge conserva.
tor of the British privileges.
10th. A positive engagement that the
rights Of British subjects should thence
forth be strictly observed.
And to oil these demands it was added.
that none ofthem admitted of tho slightest
or modification.
This ultimatum was carried out by q
British squadron which cruised off the
mouth Of the Tagus, while the Portuguese
were deliberatng on their reply.
The nature Of that reply was determin.
ID by the notice with which the British
consul general concluded his demands, that
N the event Of their being rejected, the
British fleet would commence hostilites.
Before the time elapsed every demand was
complied with, and The Lisbon Gazette, on
he Cd Of May, announced the humiliation