The banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, April 01, 1846, Image 2
WARLIKE PREPARATIONS.
The following Message was received
by the Senate on Tuesday, laid on the
table and ordered to be printed.
To the Senate of the United Stales :
In answer to the inquiry of the Senate,
contained in their resolution of the
I7th instant, whether, in my "judgment,
any circumstances connected with, or
growing out of, the foreign relations of
iL*^ -
mis country, require at this lime an increase
of our naval or military force
and if so, " what those circumstances
are," I have to express the opinion, that
a wise precaution demands such an increase.
In my annual messag of ihe 2d of
December last, I recommended to the
favorable consideration of Congress an
increase of our naval force, especially of
our steam navy, and the raising of an
adequate military force to guard and protect
such of our citizens as might think
proger to emigrate to Oregon. Since
* J 1
mui pcriou, 1 nave seen no cause to recall
or modify these recommendations.
On the contrary, reasons exist which,
in my judgment, render it proper not
only that they should be promptly carried
into effect, but that additional provision
should be made for the public defence.
The consideration of such additional
provision was brought before appropriate
committees of the two houses of
Congress, in answer to calls made by
them, in reports prepared, with my sanction,
by the Secretary of War and the
Secretary of the Navy, on the 29th of
December and the 8th of January last;
a mode of communication with Congress
not unusual, and under existing circumstances,
believed to be most eligible.
Subsequent events have confirmed me
in my opinion that these recommenda
Hons were proper as precautionary measures.
It was a wise maxim of the Father of
his country, that " to be prepared lor
war, is one of the most efficient means
of preserving peace and that, " avoiding
occasions of expense by cultivating
peace," we should " remember, also,
that timely disbursements to prepare
for danger frequently prevent much
greater disbursements to repel it."
The general obligation to perform this
duty is greatly strengthened by facts
known to the whole world. A controversy
respecting the Oregon territory
now exists between the United States
and Great Britain ; and while, as far as
we know, the relations of the latter with
all European nations are of the most pacific
character, she is making unusual
? and extraordinary armaments and WarlllfP.
rirpnnrntinnc nnn?i
----- 1IUVUA M 11 1 U1 TJTj
both at home and in her North American
possessions.
It cannot be disguised that, however
sincere may be the desire of peace, in
the event of a rupture these armaments
and preparations would be used against
our country. Whatever may have been
ine original purpose of these preparations,
the fact is undoubted that they
are now proceeding, in part,* at least,
with a view to the contingent possibility
of a war with the United States.
The general policy of making additional
warlike preparations were distinctly announced,
in the speech from the throne,
as late as January last, and has since
been reiterated by the ministers of the
crown in both houses of Parliament.
Under this aspect of our relations with
Great Britain, I cannot doubt the propriety
of increasing our means of defence,
both by land and sea. This can give
Great Britain no cause of offence, nor
iticrfiiisn lhp rlfinrror rif n ruMiiM T r ?
w IUHIU.C 11 U11
the contrary, we should fold our arms
in security, and at last be suddenly involv.
d in hostilities for the maintenance
of our just rights, without any adequate
preparation, our responsibility to the
country would be of the gravest character.
Should collision between the two
countries be avoided, as I sincerely hope
it may be, the additional charge upon
the treasury, in making the necessary
preparations, will not be lost; while, in
the event of euch collision, they would
be indispensable for the maintenance of
our national rights and national honor.
I have seen no reason to change or
modify the recommendations of my annual
message in regard to the Oregon
question. The not^e to abrogate the
treaty of the 6th of August, 1827, is authorized
by the treaty itself, and cannot
be regarded as a warlike measure; and
caiffiot withhold my strong conviction
^tfttk^shouid be promptly given. The
othw rtteoamendations are in con form iwith
the eltijOing treaty, and would
afford to ^Uaeric** citizens in Oregon
ftaamore than thei?a**? measure of pro
feetata'which has loXfe .since been exttndtdto
British subjedi^in that territo"^btir
relations with MfeSrf
utWettled condition,
"^mgres# another
- ttaucottn
try, by which the Government has passed
into the hands of new rulers. This
event has procrastinated, and may possibly
defeat, the settlement of the differences
between the United States and
that country. The Minister of the
United States to Mexico, at the date of
the last advices, had not been received
by the existing authorities. Demonstrations
of a character hostile to the United
States, continue to be made in Mexico,
which has rendered it proper, in mv
judgement, to keep nearly two-thirds of
our army on our southwestern frontier.
In doing this many of the regular military
posts have been reduced to a small
force, inadequate to their defence should
an emergency arise.
In view of these " circumstances," it
is my "judgment" that "an increase of
our naval and military force is at this
time required," to place the country in a
eniioklA ^ * - *1
uwiiuviB ovuic ui uuifuce. /vi me same
time, it is my settled purpose to pursue
such a course of policy as may be best
calculated to preserve, both with Great
Britain and Mexico, an honorable peace
which nothing will so effectually promote
as unanimity in our councils, and
a firm maintenance of all our just rights.
JAMES K. POLK.
Washington, March 24, 1846.
MR. CALHOUN.
The following sketch of Mr. Calhoun,
is from the ready pen of a correspondent
of the Boston Journal?a whig paper
:?
To those who have not seen Mr. Calhoun,
a short sketch may not be unac
ceptauie. He <js a man of about 62
years of age?about six feet in height,
though the extreme slenderness of his
person gives him an appearance of greater
height. His hair is a dark grey, very
thick; and very strong; and he
wears it brushed up and standing erect
from his forehead, which is rather low
and narrow. His features are, I think,
the most expressive I ever saw?and his
eye is a living wonder?no man that I
know, possesses so penetrative a glance.
I remarked him a short time ago, when
Allen was making his violet attack upon
him, and although he replied calmly,
and in a few sentences demolished the
arguments of the noisy Ohioan. yet the
unconscious? curl of the lip, the contemptuous
glance of his eye, and the uneasy
shuffling in his chair, plainly demonstrated
thut he is a man of naturally
quick and sensitive feelings, and felt annmrnrl
"< ? ' 1 1
..ujvu?as au uiepuuiu can De vexed
by a musquito.
His head is rather small?hardly, I
believe, what a phrenologist would call
a fine head?nor, I understand, is he very
remarkable for phrenological assistance
in his acquired greatness?but he
is sufficiently great without it. His
dress is always a plain black, without
ornament of any kind?he makes no
display of jewelry, except a watch chain
and bunch of seals, which he wears after
the old fashioned manner. He wears
a plain black military stock, with an upright
collar, and has, as you perceive at
a gi.ince, an utter contempt for show or
affectation?on the contrary, he is careless
almost to slovenliness in the matter
of dress, and the veteran old blue cloak
in which he daily walks to the Senate,
looks as if it had done sufficient service
to entitle it to be pensioned off for life
in the family wardrobe or the National
Institute.
Mr. Calhoun's style of speaking is
nlain ? v*/1 ?- *
|jiuiu aiiu uiiussuilliug J?IlC 13 3S ICTSG
as Webster, and depends for effect more
on logical argument, than on tropes and
flowers of rhetoric. He makes no display
of action, or the usual accompaniments
of oratory. He seldom moves a
foot, but clasp his hands before him, and
proceeds in a loud, manly tone, to grapple
with his argument. With him every
sentence i3 a blow. He has no dodging?no
winding?no appealing to the
passions?no American eagle's " patriotism,"
and all that kind of thing?but
he is clear and precise in his reasoning,
and powerful in his attack on the errors
of his opponents?who, in the present
instance, are his "friends." He does
not descend to personality?but his look
expresses indignation better than words,
and his hints of scorn is sharper than
any two-edged invective. Thus, while
refering to the scoffing manner in which
his recommendation of a u wise and
masterly inactivity" had been spoken
of, and assuming that many senators
and others understood by this
" mere inaction," the sneering manner
in which he assured those who thus con
strued his meaning, that " they were but
in the horn-book of political science,"
expressed more, as he turned round and
spoke it at Hannegan, than an elaborate
Vtai?J-?n 1 *
uiuruuui o viuuicanon oi aavice, which
' all understood, however they might
have represented it.
He only deals with facts, and is essentially
a practical man. He discards
all theories, and is reported to have a sui
preme contempt for - modern meta*
/ ~
physics, deeming them visionary. If
the speech he delivered yesterday in an
hour and a half, had been diluted on the
Hannegan system, it would have occupied
at least three days.
However we may differ from Mr. Calhoun
in some of his political views, vet
all must confess that he is one of the
greatest men of the age, and his great
intellectual precedence is rendered more
admirable by the uniform morality of
his life. I believe that the whispers of
calumny have never dared to breathe
aught against the purity of his manners.
He has neither gambled nor dissipated ;
but when exempt for a time from public
duties, his days are spent on his
plantation, which is one of the best in
the South, and exhibits throughout
marks of the excellent taste and the love
of agriculture of its proprietor.
THE BANNER.
U LIBERTY AND MY NATIVE SOU.."
/"NTT A Fi I r-r * * ? *
^nAivLiEiO iri. ALiLiJ^iN, l^dllor.
Abbeville C. H., S. C.:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1846.
Message of the President.?In another
column will be found this document,
which is in answer to the call of
the Senate upon the President, to know
if the present aspect of affairs in this
country, according to his iudrrmpnt
o - J O "3
mandcd an enlargement of the army
and navy. It will be seen that the President
has recommended such an increase,
which has produced some considerable
excitement and alarmed the
fears of many. It would seem that in
recommending such precautionary measures
the President had departed from
his former opinions with regard to the
probabilities of war, for he has expressed
himself us not fearing such a result.
The position of this Government upon
the Oregon question is a critical one,
and becoming more and more so, and
the present signs of the times are
any thing else but favorable to an amicable
settlement. Dark clouds are beginning
again to gather in the political
sky, and the storm may yet burst upon
our heads with all its pent up furies.
This endless question still remains open, J
and every mail bring the very gralifiying
tidings of some Senator having spoken
eloquently for or against the notice,
and of some other having the floor for
the next chance. Attempts have been |
made formerly by Mr, Calhoun, and re-;
cently by Mr. Allen to close the question
by taking the vote upon it; but so
far, such efforts have been a failure.
Oregon, Oregon, is still the sweet exhaustless
theme. Why the necessity of
every member speaking upon this
thread-bare question 1 The yea or nay
of many of them would be infinitely
morp. olnnnpnt nnfl to/m-o
uiui V* OUUOIUU"
tory to their constituents and pleasing to
the country in general.
Foreign News.?By the steamer Hibernia,
we have news from England,
twenty-two days later, which is interesting
and important There is no doubt
of the final success of Sir Robert Peel's
free trade measures, as a large majority
in the House of Commons will support
him in it. There has already been
quite a lengthy debate in the lower
House upon the measure; and so great
was the excitement to know the result,
that business out of doors was almost
entirely suspended.
The refusal by our Government to
arbitrate upon the Oregon question produced,
.considerable excitement among
politicians ; but the speedy depnrture of
the steamer. n? in tko
??uw uuia uo IV
the effect'it may have upon Parliament.
The British forces in India have had
a severe engagement with the Sikhs, in
which they have sustained a Joss of killed
over 3,000 men, many of them officers
of rank and distinction. The loss
upon the side of the Sikhs estimated at
I
from 25 to 35,000. It is said they \
fought with great bravery, and were t
well prepared with arms?their canon i
of the largest calibre, amounting to 150 t
pieces. If such be the case, the British j
loss must be greater than represented, t
TMhq wnr mon Uoipa o 1 - ?
. ..ut >iiuj uuiv <4 vuiy iiiuicnui III- (
fluence upon the Oregon question, for 1
England would indeed have her hands <
full if this matter should result in a rup- t
ture between her and the United States ;
whilst she has such formidable foes to <
contend with in the Sikhs. <
(for the banner.) '
"OWE NO MAN ANYTHING." 2
Mr. Editor:?The maxim above,
. ..... ?
was given m the spirit of inspiration by
one, who was no stranger to the true
source of human happiness. The fcliI
city springing from a conscious freedom
irom indebtedness, is perhaps unknown
to many of your readers. The contrac- ^
tion of debt is the folly and madness of
our age and country. The facility of
obtaining credit is the procuring cause
of the ruin of thousands for time, and
for t eternity. It first tempts persons to
live in advance, and beyond their means,
which ruins them for this life, and when
they become involved, then they are
tempted to use unrighteous ways to be
relieved of their liabilities, and this ruins
them for eternity. The ethical philosophy
of the world, and the moral code
of heaven's Boole, alike teach the fact .
that there is but one way of discharging
a debt?and that is by paying the de- j
mand. To take a legal advantage of a ^
creditor can never be justly construed
imo oDeciience to the admonition of religion,
{t Owe no man anything."
Both the policy and morality of several
of our laws which gives the debtor
the advantage of the creditor, may be
called in question. The statute of limitation
of time, is of this class, in which a i
mere lapse of time discharges liability,
and a di^rence is made between one
kind of indebtedness and another. Now
this very law bears heavily upon those .
who are in defenceless circumstances i
and need the protection of the strong '
nrm nf 1 n tif A II I~ ~ 1
, -?.?? vri????. xiji uiui iuw uugui 10 say
in this case is. that lapse of time shall
render proof more difficult, and never
make it a proof of the non-existence of 1
fact. This statute in its operations has 1
often shielded fraud and oppressed the '
orphan. It has operated as a legal discharge
from the payment of millions of
money: but this is no obedience to the injunction,
" Owe no man anything." i
The statute respecting usury belongs
to the same class. This has not the
first redeeming feature?it is nothing '
more nor less than a bribe to villany
It is said you must hold out inducements i
c i
iu ucici.1 viuidliuiis OI xa\V J II U1G VIO- I
] at ions of law cannot be detected without
corrupting the citizen, the law ought
to be repealed. The one who promises j
I excessive interest, is more guilty than <
] the other, if he made the promise with
the secret intention to avail himself of j
this act afterwards, and besides he may ^
in this disposition make the ofTer, and if <
either should be punished, the penalty <
should fall on the more guilty. If a
man promises, he is bound to fulfil in s
the very sense he knew his promise to '
be understood, otherwise he remains un- (_
der the full condemnation of the com- 4
mand, " Owe no man anything." j
The insolvent debtors' act, in some 1
of its provisions, and the law respecting 1
persons called in law infants, belong to ^
the immoral category; but our limit* ,
will not permit the exposition. andr<#e >
pass on with the single remark tfwl if 1
an infant fourteen years old may^icMrfiiit J
his life, no good cause can be shdWaf %
, . ... 't^r j
why he may not sign away his cj^ifl^, |
to his property, and the plea cf infancy J
ought always to brand with < i i 1
But the most immoral and melted: of /?
all laws, was the Bankrupt the
Congress of the United States. Its life j
was short; but its career was fraugjit \
with the deepest corruption. Villanv "?
" 1
was never legalized before to the same 1
extent in any christian land. That
is the foulest stamp upon the pages of
our Legislation. It was a violent ti^just \
at the moral sense of the natiotf,*and li
F\
1:
tvas a deliberate fraud perpetrated upon
housands of our citizens Language
r * *
3 too ieeoie to portray the moral turpi;ude
of the law. Among its many objectionable
features, we now only no:ice
two, by its full and perpetual discharge,
and its post facto bearing. The
first contains the diabolical feature of
Government's laying violent hands upon
;he justly acquired property of one citizen,
and forcibly transferring it to those
ivho were base enough to accept the
wicked offer. In this may be discover3d
the germ of all those hated agrarian
schemes of both continents, and was one
step towards reducing oar citizens to
i common level?abrogating all rights
:>f property, and severing every bond of
social order. The precedent has been
set, and what shall follow may be the
snactmentof the wildest dreams of Fourier,
of R. Dale, Owen, or of Joe
Smith. As if the deed was not sufficiently
villainous, another dark feature
is added?it paid debts contracted years
previous to the passage of the act, which
blackens the fraud perpetrated upon the
creditor, as it permitted the debtor to
take advantage of a law, which neither
party anticipated when the contract was
made. The law being so deeply wicked,
and grossly immoral, the fact of any
man having taken benefit of ft, ru.
a very strong presumption against botu
Uis Christianity and his morality. The
bankrupt, though discharged by man,
is not discharged in the Court on High ;
lie is still under an eternal necessity
to pay with valuable consideration all
bis debts, and thus obey the Apostolic
command : " Owe no man anything."
1ST -XT n
I.I. I . IV.
ENGLISH NEWS.
We give below some extracts froin
English papers received by the Hiberuia:?
Riots at Inverness.?The following
is an extract of a letter from Inverness,
dated the 8th of February :?
"We are at present in a state of seige,
rind our towns under martial law, in consequence
of severe potato riots. Several
bouses have been attacked, and windows
robken. Several persons have been wounded
from stones, and a few with the bayonet,
but no shois have been fired, and,
up to now, no lives lost. Although
things at present wear a pacific aspect,
it is by no means certain that, after the ^
Sacramental week now terminated, tho
disturbances will not be resumed." I
Switzerland.?On the 14th instant,
Lhe-Grand Council of Berne passed a
iecree regulating the formation of the
Constituent Assembly. The election of '
Deputies is to be held on the 7th of
March. There is to be one Deputy for
Bvery 300 citizens, making 130 Deputies
lor the whole canton. The qualifying
age for voting has hitherto been
twenty-three years, but on thi3 occasion
those who have attained twenty are to
be admitted to give their sufterages.
The only exceptions are men of unsound
mind, bankrupts, those who have
received charitable relief, and convicts
:ondemned to infamous punishments.
To be eligible to become a Derutv. th?
candidate must be a citizen of Berne,
je qualified to vote, and be of twentyhree
years of age and upwards. The
Constituent Body is to meet bfi^the 16th
)f March. j :: : v
Immediate Repeal.?Our ' readers
ire already prepared for the announcenent
which we have now the pleasure
>f making, that M. Villiers has given
lotice of his intention to move, in (he >
Committee of the H -use on tho
ial Corn Bit), it a amendment for macing
the lotai repeal of the corn-law imi^ediate.
After the very satisfactory j
irid ,%able intfr 'ven by Sir i
Bob it. that he '
f/1' -I
5t
bat, i.
^^^ojbusl,
DWtan^ndtcii,
ipprettenjion that tl
lOien&hent will endoo
josiiion to the Govern **
tyll riot have the su?>pposition.
To.
Peel will not fa1
During the wrt
/Mount St. P
Leicestershire
irs^t
?;
\