Granted a less tactful leader than himself, there will be friction with our high-strung frontiersmen in that country.

No man can tell when the thing will come to an issue.

For my own part, I would agree with Polk that we ought to own that country to fifty-four forty--but what we _ought_ to do and what we can do are two separate matters.

Should we force the issue now and lose, we would lose for a hundred years.

Should we advance firmly and hold firmly what we gain, in perhaps less than one hundred years we may win _all_ of that country, as I just said to Mr.Polk, to the River Saskatchewan--I know not where! In my own soul, I believe no man may set a limit to the growth of the idea of an honest government by the people.