The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-02
CITY OF WASHINGTON F.,
THURSDAY NIGHT, DEC. 2, 1s47.
The Question OF Territory ON the Pacinc

oho"HiB athCie iom the Baltimore American MANY
Of its views are conceived in the American spirit |,
compehends that vast commercial and territorial Future
now opening upon country, which has taken ias,
hold of the antcpaons and the convictions of the people
and which they will either 10 sacrifice or
impair at the bidding of party spirit or in subservence 10
its purposes. Without pronouncing any opinion as 10
the future influence OF any particular section of our
country upon its future destnes cordially approve the
views set forth in this article Of the vast results Of
national growth and expansion, which, under Providence
our present policy is fast maturing.
We cannot but contrast these sentiments and this Ian
guage in the columns of leading wing journal, with
the whole spirit and the avowed policy of the speech
in which the Wing Chief at Lexington has recently sum-
moned his followers in Congress and out of Congress to
the political arena. How utterly has Mr. Clay failed TO
rise TO the height of the great argument which lay
before him, when. classifying alike the great natural a
lures OF the Pacific slope OF the North American CONT
nent and reversing altogether the rghtfu position of our
enemies and ourselves he protests in the following
gloomy tones against the acquisition by of any ndem
nifty from Mexico in the only form in which its payment
would be substantial advantage (rather than an injuy
TO her, and ncacuable benefit at once to us as n
ton, to the future jewellers in the territory should &C.
qure, and to the progress of Civilization and Liberty
throughout the world.
"We do the mines, the mountains the morasses
and the sterile lands Of Mexico To her. the loss them
would be humilang, and be perpetual of regret
and notification To us, they might prove fatal ac
question: producing distraction, dissensons, division pos
siby dsunon Let therefore, the integrity Of the naton
existence and national territory of Mexico remain und
bed For one, desire to part of her territory tom
from her by war"
1t is to carry apocy like this into effect that Mr. Clay
has forth from his retirement denounce his coun
try 1t is to this end that he has called upon Congress
declare the "objects and purposes of the warp He in
vokes national legislation TO convict OF nation
al falsehood against enemy to sacrifice our jus
rights and to stay the onward march Of institutions
and our power We glad to perceive that not the
least influential portion of the wing press ventures open
ly to rebuke and refue him.
AI8 From the Baltimore American
The Edinburgh Review devotes article Of Length
to the subject of American and statistics
numerous, and Of its specuations
anciul its facts imperfect The general tone of the
disquisition however, is somewhat in contrast with the old
style of British comments American affairs. The truth
is beginning be pretended in Europe that the Uni
ted States at this moment is of the first powers The
world with faculty of progress and of strength
which indicate coming future of most extraordn,g
and wonderful character
The Review calls us the great republic :" the prouda
and most irritable nation earth y 1t declares that the
camest observer "gaZes with admiration and the
portentous fabric Of American greatness" II INDUCES
deed in inisgivngs that the unity Of the republic WILL BY
aid by, give way-an apprehension which its own analysis
of orr political history thus FAR ought to dispe Referring
TO the divided interests and hostile feelings which have
sometimes arrayed the north and the sonh in Threatening
aDtagonism, the Review remarks that collision pre-
vented by the introduction Of the States and
adds that his third and powerful element kept the oten
together in compulsory harmony"
This fact, recognised should be lost sight
Observers both at home and abroad, may with al
vantage, if they would form Just idea of this grand
onality OF ours. which is assuming the form and pro
portions adapted to its grand outlines Let be mis
by the phraseoogy of the present day. What hawL
been i'm the habit of calling he Vest" is really the
region of the United Staescenfral in relation the ia
of national basis The Atlantic States whe
the germs of empire first planted-ihe Atlantic STAIRS
which first grew to maturity, which have long held the
control of government, and given shape to its policy,
prepare to see the scepe pass the Aleghanie T
reign OF sectonaty must
The Mississippi valley knows no north nor south The
great river compartments both exemitics and binds them
together by its unity has its and its west which
it must regard with equal favor because they hold the gates
of access TO the Atlantic the hand and the Paci
on the other.
Let us amiliarze ourselves this great idea The Mis-
sssipp valley is to constitute the body of our nationally
In its essential unity, find the guarantee of nations
unity; in its greatness the of national gea
its vast extent gives security against sectionnsmfor
own predomnance is sure, and every portion of the repub
will be prosperous otherwise, in proportion as il draws
the elements of wealth and strength from its teemng rel
With this great fact acknowledged and made tl1
central point from which view other pertaining
political and territorial relations we are possessed with
the belief that Ineligible guide of opinions might N
found and easy solution obtained for many very perl
picking problems.
With regard to territory the Pacific, for example-E
what rule is to be adopted determine how much TIL
national interests require retain of the re gon h
quarter already in our hands, and which is by b
rights OF and of occupancy, if fit keep n
How much? port of entry the Bay of San francisco
It is said that we need that for the accommodation Of
whaers. Let ask question-is it likely that I
people of the Mississippi Valley, whose friends and rs
lives have gone to California and who looking III
Pacific, just the dwelers the Upper Ohio looking
the Atlantic for the extension of their commercial ri
ationsis it likely that they will seek reach the barb
,i San Francisco by the way of Boston, New Bedford
Nantucket /
1t is now matter of conjecture, merely that h
of the East Indies, China and Japan with the
hundreds of millions Of population, WILL in due
lime, and before very long me tend to the Pacific con
IF the United States The of communication lro
Oregon, overland, the Atlantic, by way of the Columbia
The Missouri, and the Ohio, and from California by ih1
valley OF the Rio Grande, already foreioken the utor
course OF the trade with Eastern Asia and the rest
The commercial world. Its transit be ou !
territory In view of the great revolution thus plainly N
icaed is il the policy of statesmen, this day
70 lose sight of the mighty and interests connec
with such revouonto lose sight of that expansive fe
,lready opening the dazzed eye, and confne who
policy, in respect TO its accommodation on b
coast of California the possession of harbor for