Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-12-07

The War and the wings.

hhe war ana TIC w htss.
Compelled by scsthinR article in the Baltimore Anne
rcan Go qualify its original ground in regard the position
occupied by the Wing party The Mexican War, the
Washington Union nevertheless attempts Keep alive the
npressen that with occasional honorable exceptions the
Wings permit, their opposition the Administration TO
lead them to the expression of sentiments which, II not
exactly reasonable in their character yet national
IN spirit and therefore calculated dsparage us in the
estimation OF other Powers To this allegation, however
il scarcely necessary make any farther reply than has
been already hundred times rumphantly given There
few presume, the habit of considering ma.
tOnal affairs ALL who capable of detecting its
iaacy. and OF Perceving the injustice of the impuaton
founded IT, based upon tho absurd idea that the
ADMINISTRATION and the COUNTRY and insepaabe
and therefore that whenever former may think prope
TO plunge the latter into without conforming TO
the plain and imperative acquisitions of the Constitution
every citizen Is forthwith bound to keep silence, the
hazard OF being denounced a traitor in sentiment if no,
in act According to these modern apologists of Enc
CuTlNE oMNIPOTENCE, must be false to the Con.
sutution in order be faithful the Country our
allegiance which only be shown by our foay TO
the President and unquesoning acquescencc in what
ever policy he may adopt If to-day by gross usurpation
OF power he shall make war upon neighboring nation
we must submit without a word OF enqury-as we must
do also If tomorrow in It's prosecution he shall annex ene
Provinces TO the Union, organize Territorial Cow
eumens" IN place OF those subvered by the PROCLAIM
lions OF the officers Of his Army-appont Governor, and
Judges make laws and execute thcm-absolye
the citizens of the subugaied province from allegiance 10
their government and compel them 10 take an oatb
of fidelity TO that forced them by their conqueror
word II nc himself powers as large os
those exercised by Caesar ancient or by NAPOLEON
IN modern times. According to this code patriotism
oboying the laws or in defending the coun
Try but IN sustaining the President, whether he IN con-
ormy to, IL violation Of laws and whether the
effect OF his measures be 70 advance retlrd the ma
Tho uf
10 be the law Of the land and obedience and sub |
mission 70 1t is TO be the test OF patriotism. We
protest, for one, against this democratic ties,
rule very convenient and SAFE, it may be- Tor usurp-
ing Executives and their defenders, but less sub
versive Of the Constitution, and liberties of the
people which that Constitution intended to preserve
ami maintain. IT. indeed the position taken by the Wash
iugon Union susianable, should begin 10 thr Z
that Patrick Henry endowed with prophetic wisu onn
when commenting upon the powers OF the Executive he
justified his opposition the adoption OF FeerR Com
stuIion by saying that at had an awful sourt,n, -
sIuinfs Monarchy" Tie was not far wrong if ,;s r
test 10 be applied, when he exclaimed YouR PRESIDENT
MAY BEcONg hlNG :" Has he already become n u,,
arch IN every thing but the "THE AMY Is IN MS
HANUs-and who doubts that the War with Mexico would
have been avoided had he ordered that Army
sary and without the shadow OF pretext, to merch from
the Neuces, where had been originally stationed on the
annexation OF Texas, to tue Rio Grande And who does
that with THAT ARMY ~ HIS Hands, ne has sine.
assumed 10 himself power DO whit many of our se.,
Statesmen doubt or deny the right all the Departments
oil the government combined 10 Go-pOwer with which IT
Is indspu'ab.y certain Of It's branches has been
ClOhcd7
Aud the people remain silent when they see. one
by one, the pillars U Constitution undermined because
iorsoUtn exsts"1 We readily concede thai i, ould
be highly improper If our harbors beeaguored by hos
tile navie and If powerful invading armies were rayaging
our coasts aud sackng our towns TO in the conflict
Tor the purpose Of discussing the policy government
either IN originating the war, OF conducting
IT, But there is little necessity as proproty in putting
locks upon our lips who fleets bockasIng the
coasts OF neighboriIg natoE, and armies
are occupying ITS frontier States, aud by the will Of
the President, annexng them the Cuniedoraey Re-
gardess Of imPuisons OF the injustice Of winch their
authors less conscious than ourselves we shall
whe insisting that the ought be prosecuted with
the utmost energy, continue TO show that Congress the
only making power had agency IN producing it
thatI therefore Executive war, commenced in viola
ton Of the Consuuuon-and that ia the march of events
which 1t mas given BIRTH the Limitations o. that nsr-
have been without hesitation iroddcH under foot
by the very VINO have been for its deiense"-
For It these things be done the green tree what may
we expect the dry7 Ii in the fresh and pslmy
youth Of this Republic the great charter OF our freedom il
10 be coven down by Executive usurpaon, what may
expect when time shall have introduced elements
and agencies Of corruption and violence Nor is the
danger diminished nor less seriously to BE- deprecated be-
authors claim be siet eonsfruetoHsfs and
in the very Of sustaining the President the
Of unlimited power profess be sensvcy jealous VI the
slightest nfracton VI the Constitution and the
deepest for the rights OF the States. Ii the &C.
Of Consolidation has assumed bodily shape and
form, has been since the Inauguration Of James r. Polk
and yet his friends, who have always shrunk with we'll
iegned horror the verge OF dreaded gulf are now
with rapid strides marching caessly is porious edge
Ii the powers exercised by President and h agebt
within tho last eighteen monhg, do constitute him an
unlimited Monarch, have yet go back horu-
books Tor definition Of that term. II u not. them the
dI,y Of all who IN that opinion while using every
render the 30 which engaged sac
cessful and its termination honorable, expose and De-
the upon The Constitution w5gcd under color
Of tho "tyranrs plea, Necessity" we find, when 10
shili be nte remedy the evil that although may
have dsmembcred and sub1gutod Mexico, aud extended
our territorial limits the Gulf direction and TO Tho
Pacific IN the other, have the time rovolu-
tonized form Of government, and converted our
written charter VI freedom piece Of worthless parc5-
montl