The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-01
THE SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL
HONOR.

e., ,o,sns To be a phenomenon. The only txcepA
,bieh We have noticed for some time past, was
il, stand which ii took some weeks ago, in relation
>, Texas Il maintained that 1t was the duty of the
rxscu,iye to defend mot only the inchoate but the
,,.;,iye rights" which we had acquired To the
,.,,,orv of Texas This course was the more re-
wsrkabe, because it was so unique; but yet we had
s,,rcev ceased to express ottr admiration Of the pat
.o,;,m il had displayed, before IA change came over
tho shirt of its dream, and the foreign influence
ofis feelings began manifest iiself-6rs in doubt
inc the extent Of our territory, and then about the
,,onrietv of marching our troops beyond the Nue.
%. Every day seems to be adding further strength
,ousdoubs, multiplying its objections, and calling out
,sopposton TO the rights and honor OF our country
We are now told that the Nucces is our boundary
and mot the Rio Grande; that the President has no
authority to march man to the west of IL; that
tho Mexicans and the Cumanches have right
IN occupy it to our annoyance; that to send regular
soldiers into this region, is, IN fact, to make Often
sve war in defiance of The constitution; and the last
If its recent objections Isl that If our regular troops
No insufficient to stay the advance OF the Mexican
forces. vet the President has right to authorize
our commanding general to accept the services Of
the volunteers of Texas, and no right to authorize
the general to ask the governor of any Of the States
FIR the aid of its militia or volunteers.
We might retort the compliments of the lntelligen.
c.r if the Justice of our required the aid Of
invecye and retaliation. We might say to that pa
her that il should be cautious how il animadverts up
on the course of other journals lest it provoke some
.,:,xk. q, ,IS /,
with all the influence which it ever possessed, and
which it partially retains, its own positions be-
ginning to be viewed by the more liberal and
patriotic portion of its party with jealousy and
suspicion. So frequently is it found arrayed against
It's own country, and obstinately does it "stand on
foreign ground, j" that they are beginning to doubt
The patriotism, if they do not dispute the ability, of
heir former champion" Its devotion" to foreign
influences exposes their own acts to suspicion and
its apologies" becoming "fatal' to the very
party which employs 1t.
The last of its maneuvres, is the course which it
is now pursuing about scaling out the militia"
We leave il to our correspondents to pour out
the Indignation which this course is well ea-
cuated TO excite We leave it to our cores
rondent from Indana--one Of the noblest spirits
in the west-to show how little in unison with the
American feeling the carpings, and "hair-split.
lungs" and captious objections Of the Intelligencer
For our own part whilst we leave them to express
the feelings of the country, we will confne ourselves
to tue general position which it assumes ON this
question.
1.-THE law dor calling out the mta) spec fc and ccor
the practice under it. natural and uniform For deegating
such high discretion there is no precedent and we see no
The power the militia thus vested in the
President and naturally vested as he is e1o6ci9
mandern,chlef of the army and nayyis as to the
We hardly explain yhody that has any tocrable
notion OF legal principles that the great legal rule
to discretionary power is that it Is PERSONAL trust hay
ing motive know and special confidence
Judgment OF the individual TO whom 1t conded together
with in most the hold Of particular responsibility up
him is therefore settled axiom that real discre
onary power is from its very nature incapable Of delega
tom
And thus the National Intelligencer denies that
the President can authorize general Of the United
States to call for militia volunteers. We hold on
the contrary, that General Taylor, if authorized by
the President, accept the aid of the volunteers of
Texas, Their own Congress has authorized them
to offer their services to the United States And we
hold, further if the Texans could not be assembled
in sufficient numbers to the relief of the regular
troops, that, sooner than see the Mexicans overrun
the country, and wres Texas, or any portion of it,
from our hands, rather than see the regular forces
Under his command cut up, the commanding-ge general
of 'the army Of observation" may be authorized to
notify his wants 10 the governor Of Louisiana, and
accept the services her gallant volunteers.
We say that this power has been delegated be-
fore and that the National Ineligencer undertakes
to contradict the history of orr country, when il
rashly affrms that the "praciice" under the law is
at war with any power delegated TO Gen. Taylor;
that "or delesating such high discretion, there is
no precedent, audi ice no moiire." What the lnte
gencer is pleased 10 see, we know not and care not
But 1t seems to us, that the National Inelligencer is
rather purbind in seeing anything that may rebound
TO the safety Of the country Though il is uncertain
whether Mexico is to invade our territory, it secs
no moirs in authorizing Gen. Taylor to draw vol
nnteers enough to assist him in repelng them, or
10 secure himself from defeat. Though the Mexicans
may even invade us, and threaten to sweep to the
Nueces, and even beyond it, the National lntclli-
sencer sees no molipe in authorizing a force TO be
collected to repel them, before the tidings may reach
Washington, and the sgn-manual of the Prcsi-
"'"J 'e'Wn W IuUiSn with duAlidfy
oFce to stay the tide of invasion, or prevent the
DISASTROUS defeat of our troops. What though
me honor Of our country may suffer in the mean
'Ne-what though such wings as the National In
e"gencer may have the opportunity Of twittng
"e government with making no adequate prep
Ata'ions to resist such an enemy as the Mexicans--
s"a' though the property of the Texans may be
threatened, and some Of them carried off az prison.
'"'o ferote, or may be sacrificed martyrs 10
o"o'hcr Alamo massacre;--all this is nothing at all
ne National lntelgencer. II sees no motive in
making previous preparations to resist the Mexi-
ans and to avert our national disgrace.
Out, says the National Inteligencer, there is "no
'eceoent' for such a course. Such power has
ever been delegated to any general This is, in
Strange and a rash assertion. We advise
eul'ors, the next time il ventures these statements,
'OoA aIi''Ie more into the record, and to speak
"seIy by the cardD We have no doubt that its