The aspect of our relations with another great country, the
United States of America, is less promising at present. Mr. LINE'S bill for settling the Oregon Territory and defining its boundaries has been carried in the Senate. The bill at one time seemed to be lost : but the American Congress allows itself the licence of revocations and alterations of its design: a Senator dis- covered that his vote had not been rightly recorded, it was trans- ferred to the losing side, and LINE prevailed. In its direct prac- tical results, perhaps, the measure is not of much immediate moment ; but as indicating the temper and disposition of the American people, its importance is only too great. Unquestion- ably the conduct of our proud Transatlantic kinsmen has tended to bring their institutions into some discredit abroad. It was the boast of the young republic, that its Democratic character did not prevent the scrupulous discharge of the pecuniary obligations in- curred during the war of Independence ; and the merit was duly acknowledged by many who would have been willing, A priori, to pronounce the good faith impossible to a Democracy : the more recent proceedings of the debtor States have gone far to destroy that prestige. The Republicans, exulting in their youthful re- sources, thought themselves free to laugh at contracts : they have felt the consequence ; for their President tells us that they have appeared as borrowers in money-markets, and been refused, where the pettiest despot in Europe would have unquestioned credit. So, in diplomacy, their recent behaviour is such as to make other nations imagine that they are a people that cannot be treated with. Let that notion once obtain firm hold, and the nations of Europe will learn to regard the Union as a semi-barbarous marauder, who cannot stick to terms. The consequences would be serious ; for all the world must keep on guard—truly an "armed peace "— against America. Treaties are the guarantees of peace, which enable nations to lay war aside, not fearing to ungird the sword under friendly assurance. The United States destroy reliance in such promise. Their patriots will do well to consider whether the young nation can afford this practical isolation—this Cain-like predicament.
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