Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-08-25
Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot.
WASHINGTON, August II, 1916.

To James X. Polk and John SlidelI. moro than
to any or all others. belongs tho glory shame
of plunging tho United States into u boo,css and
vastly expensive war, and that too purely from
motives of ambition md pquc! Not particle
of patriotism actuated either of them. No, no,
lOta!
Mr.. Polk wanted to be rc-clec:od IIe below
ed tho people of this country, from patriotic i'm
pulses, would rally round and support tho Gov
ernmcnt, in 4 time of war, and that all the yicto-
rics would cnuro to the Chief Magistrate who set
the IN motion.
Mr.. Sdell went out to Mexico, as Minister,
full of hope and expectation of rcaping, by art
full negotiation in SO abundant field for dipo-
matte under currents, rich reward. lie was
not received. He buicd tho MoXlcans--and
cano home, resolved to make them pay for their
temerity He beset Mr.. Polk, who lent a willing
TO tho rejected Plenipo,ontiary. BY
with Mexico thor fortunes werc both to DO made!
Congress was III sosslOn--but Its advice not
solicited. Means resortcd to, to bring
tho 1t was brought on--and thon, amid n
state of confusion and uproar, appropriations
were asked for and hurried through Congress
with an alacritv which showed that the members
had idoa of being found obnoxious to tho
charge of opposing the war! The dread of be
ing saddlcd with similar stigma to that which
attached 70 those who opposed tho war of 1872
caused them almost all TO vote tho money aud
men asked for, without hardly stopping to count
whether they wero doing strictly right not.
What the boasts Of tho organ Of tho Ad-
ministraiion in relation to this war? How splcn-
dldly It's volunteers from the valley of tho Mis-
sssppi wcro to march straight to tho 'l1as Of
tho Montezumas'' and place all Mexico under
their subsection and sway! The war has been
going for four or five months. ut expense,
Of moro than sixty millions Of dollars already,
and the bravcst, and most enthusiastic and
gctic of the valley Of tho Mississippi arc in tho
ficld--but not in the ''IIals Of tho Montezumns"!
Mr.. Polk cries out poe cavIl pax portion boo!
He sends over,ures to Paredes, tho Mexican
President for negotiation and peace, and protests
that from tho bottom of his heart, he chcrishes
none but good feolings toward Mexico, whilc, in
the next breath, he turns to Congress and in,-
porcs I, grant of two millions Of dollars, In adj
dtion to all that has boon appropriated for carry
ing tho war, IN order that he may bring said
war to close, and send Mr.. SIidel back to Mex
leo the accepted American Minister. Mark
that.-he does not say that Mr. SIdell IS tho man,
but will me say he Is not! In fine, ask now, and
here, III this place, if Mr.. SideIi does not
claim 10 be the Minister to Mexico, on the strength
Of his former commissions when his nomination
was squeezed through tho Senate by vote
ma ority, and to have and to hold his salary from
the iln,o of his appointment until such time, af
ter the difficulties are settled with Mexico, he
may choose to surrender the sind mission. Tho
public ough. to know how tho matter stands
Will the Secretary Of State give the answer!
Bu. why does Mr.. Polk ask for two millions
of dollars get the country out Of the war he
has plunged 1t into9 Why was not his suppca-
ton sent to Congress early the date of his
letter of overiures to Parcdcs! If he deemed
that two millions would be necessary, why did
ho no; confidently ask the advice of the Senate
in the matter before writing 10 Paroles! Why
send TO Paroles his koneycd phrases and then IN
form Congress what he had dono aud call upon
tina, BODY. in the hubbub and confusion of the
las, moments of its session, to grant him two
millions to carry out his scheme Of stopping tho
war he had set in motion! A wise and good
man would have consulted tho Senate as to tho
propriety of making over!urss 10 Paredss
weak and bad man would, perhaps, first made
overtures to Paroles and thereby 50 involved tho
National honor in tho matter as 10 cause Con-
gress TO feel it to be its duty TO vote the gran.
asked for.
But VIVA. did Mr.. Polk want tho two millions
for! 1t has been openly and broadly charged
and not denied, as have learened that his end,
aim and object were to hold out brito 10 Pare
des; TO corrupt him 10 sell US a part Of his peo-