Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-05-17
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE PARTY IN POWER, AND THE DOCTRINES
1T ADOPTS


doctrnal politics and literature of the Democra
cy" SO called there appeared an article its leader
on " the Mexican Question:" so remarkable in its
character and language that we were about to point
TO 1t the Reproduction of every rght-minded citizen
when, to our surprise and shame, in that very mo-
ment the newly-established organ of the Executive
adopted that article into its columns, accompany
ing the publication with the following common
datory notice:
The idle complaints and the clustering menaces of Mexi-
60 must be exposed opened the merits Of the
Oregon question. We must proceed to Mexico We
commence the discussion this evening, by publishing the
rst part OF very able paper the Mexican question: be-
ing the first article of the May number of the Democratic
Review. We shall finish it tomorrow when we shall
commence series Of original articles on this subject prepar
cd for The Union"
The words I" we commence the discussion" &C.
clearly declare the intention of the government pa
per to make this article its own; and since, SO
adopting il and commencing il at large, it takes no
exception TO ITS tone or terms, il cannot be held to
do any less than to assume for the Administration
the language, equally without precedent or excuse.
which we are about to cite. All this is the clearer.
because the Union, it will be perceived, indicates
that this and series of articles furnished to il by
acontributor, will form-as they have yet formed
It's sole regular discussion of the Texas question
Like one who thinks that the instigators of
public enormty, the instant they have committed
Though not yet consummated) it, acquire the right
to stgmatze recreants and traitors all citizens
who having strenuously and loudly opposed what
they believe to be great wrong, cannot cease to de-
nounce it until it has become fixed and rretrievable,
the Review sets forth as follows
'sTHE MEXICAN QUESTION
Its an i'll bird that fouls Its He is bad patriot
who to make object of eager partisan zeal to de-
grade and disgrace his country and his counys Gov
ernnent not only IN the eyes Of people, but of the
rest Of the wordnot only of those engaged in controversy
with US on the point at ISSUE but of that envous
land ever scowng magny upon with evil eve from across
the water keen for the discovery of every occasion for
snee quick to seize it and bitterly cornful in pushing to
lis utmost possible length of insult against us and dsparage
ment Of democratic institutions
The annexation of Texas is measure which industrious
arts of Misrepresentation and sophsm have abored to
into an act Of national apac spoation and bad faith
aggravated by the comparative weakness the poor neghbor
who the object Of the imputed wrong In the relations Of
private lie similar charge would certainly be one which an
honorable seespect would epe with the most sensitive in
dgnaon The honor of country surely should be no less
sar TO each OF her wholly unworthy of parent
age We acknowledge therefore, sentiment not far remoy
cd from that which Is the just need of all treason when we
see portion OF the American press itself teaching to the for
eisner this language of outrage against own national hon.
or-peadng guilty to the charge name Of the country
for the sake of maintaining partisan argument or partisan
clamor against antagonist party ascendant in the Govern
ment To the American in Mexico or in England reading
in the journals Of those copous extracts from the ma
pers OF his cwn stamped every line with this unpaotc
moral treason and fully sustaining the worst that can be
pretended by worst enemies thereby testimony parad
ed as the confession Of the party crnated-hee can be but
he consolation IN the reflection that these indeed Amer
can Journals rom whose columns such insulting citations
thus fouted in his face
In truth, this raitorous anti Amecansm has been dealt
with all too lenieny Too much indulgence has been ex-
tended to that which may perhaps have been honest difference
OF opinion before the action Of the country became decided and
committed but which, after that time, lost right 10 SINH
lar chaHtableness Of construction and treatment,
such, then, on great public question, not yet
settled, and involving not merely the reputation, but
too probably the ultimate peace and union Of the
country, immense personal interests, vast body of
patriotic feeling, powerful mass of intelligent and
honest dissent the deepest convictions that the mea
sure Is fatal blow to constitutional security-such,
II appears, is the language which the recognised
organs OF the Administration have the efrontery TO
apply to their free fellow-citizens.
"Treason !" Treason, we retort, in the teeth Of
the slanderer who earns perhaps foreign mission,
rich consuship or collectorship at least by such
oPprobrous aspersions of the best and noblest sp-
rlts whom the land can boast TREASON (thank
Heaven y is defined by the Constitution, or, under
ihe rule OF such men those who profess and sus-
tam the doctrines Of the Democratic Review, the
oDice OF execuioner for the offence of treason might
De made one OF the most lucrative in the Govern
ment. "Treason against the United States" says
the Constitution shall consist only in levyinp war
against them, or in adherng to their enemies, Civ
ing them aid and comfort" Treason" under
this Government therefore, can exist only during
war; and the imputation of treason 10 citizens
OF the United States when there is no war, is the
mere dwelling of fools, or the continuance of de-
signing knaves. Yes, thank Heaven again Trea-
son IS defined by the Constitution; and when the
makers OF that Constitution so defined it, well they
knew what they were about They knew what
crimes against liberty ambitious Democrats y or
ignorant demagogues would be too prone to perpe-
trate under the pretence of Furnishing crime they
knew, and they gave it as reason for opposing 10
this peculiar danger the barrier of the definition of
treason, that " new-fangled and artificial treasons
L.. l.. - Il. r. :