PROSPECT OF WAR BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 13, 30 August 1845, Page 2

PROSPECT OF WAR BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

By the latest English newspapers we perceive that the greatest excitement prevails, in and out of Parliament, with regard to the inaugural address of the new President of the United Siates, Mr. Polk, — in which he not only announced the annexation of the province of Texas to the United States ; but, likewise, the determination of the American Executive to take possession of the western province of Oregon, and all other land beyond the Rocky Mountains. On the Ist of March last, Mr. Polk took his seat in the Congress, and delivered what is usually termed the " Message,'* and from which we extract the passages in reference to Texas and Oregon :

Texas, " The Republic of Texas has made known her desire to come into our Union, to form pat tof our confederacy, and enji y with us the blessings of liberty secuied and guaranteed by our constitution. Texas was once a part of our country — was unwisely ceded away jio a foreign power, — is now independent, and possesses an undoubted right to dispose of a part or the whole of her territory, and to merge her sovereignty, as a separate and independent state, in ours. J congratulate my country that, by a late act of the Congress of ihe United States, the assent of this Government has been given to the re-union 5 and it only remains for the two countries to a^ree ugon the teim,, to consummate an object so important to both. '' I regard the question of annexation as belonging exclusively to the United States and Texas. They are independent powers, competent to contract; and foreign nations have no right to interfere with them, to lake exceptions to their re-union. Foreign powers do not seem to appreciate the true character of our Government. Our Union is a confederation of independent States, whose policy is peace with each other and all the world. To enlarge its limits is to extend the dominion of peace over additional territories and increasing millions. The world has nothiua; to fear from military ambition in our Government. While the chief magistrate, and the popular branches ot Congress aj-e elected for short terms by the suffrage 0! those millions, who must in their own persons bear all the burthens and miseries of war, our Government cannot be otherwise than pacific. Foreign powers should therefore, look on the annexation of Texas to the United States, not as the conquest of a nation seeking to extend her dominions l>y arms and violence, but as the peaceful acquisition of a tenitory once her own, by adding another member to our confederation, with the consent of that member ; thereby diminishing the chances of war, and opening to them new and ever increasing markets for their products.

Oregon. " Nor will it become in a less degree my duty to assert and maintain, by all constitutional mean*, the right of the United Stales to that portion of our territory which lies beyond the Rocky Mountains. Our title to the country of the Oregon is ' clear and unquestionable ,' and already are our people preparing to perfect that title by occupying it with their wive; and children. But eighty years ago our population was confined on the wpst by ihe rid^e of the Alleghanies. Within that period — within the lifetime 1 may say, of some of my hearers, — our people, increasing to many millions, have filled the eastern valley of the Mis?is^ipi, adventurously ascending the Misouri to its head springs, and are already engaged m establishing the blessnus of self government in valleys of which the rivers flow to the Pacific. The world beholds the peaceful triumphs of the industry of our emigrants. To us belongs the duty of protecting them adequately wherever may be upon our soil. The jurisdiction of our laws, and the benefits of our republican institutions, should be extended over them in ihi* distaul regions which they have selected for their homes. The increasing facilities for intercourse will easily bring the St-ites, of which the formation in that part of our territory cannot be long delayed, within the sphere or our federative Uuion. Iv the mean tune, every obligation imposed by treaty or conventional stij uldtious should be sacredly respected.' 1 As soon as this Message of the new President reached Great Britain, it was immediately noticed in bolh Houses of Parliament on the same day, (4th April) . We admire, and rejoice at, the very loyal and determined tone displayed by both political p trties in the British Parliament ; and we think, if the President persists in his unjustifiable measures, that considering England has now an overflowing exchequer, with a most powerful steam navy, the results will be very soon far beyond what the Americans, with all their guessing power, may probably calculate. We extract the following from the "Atlas," of the sth April.