Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-06-11
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JUNE IL, 1916.

1880
Is party IN our country-a party, il
is true, comparatively weak In num-
Der and inslgnifcantly limited in polit-
ical infiuence-whose inherent and
deep.rooted hatred Of Democratic prin-
clples is so intense, that they will ar
ray themselves against the policy Of
and measures of the administration
Democratic president, even though
they should be compelled, in doing so,
SO stlfle every patriotic emotion, and
advocate the most absurd, anti AMER
ICAN sentiments.
Let those who are incredulous
as to the existence of a party such as
we have described, read the opposition
papers-their editorials, correspondent
ces, &c.-and no rational man will
need farther evidence of the fact. Mr.
PoLK's policy in administering the go
vernment, and particularly his manner
of conducting the difficulties between
the United States and foreign powers,
is denounced in the most unmeasured
terms as being unconstitutional and
disastrous to the peace of the country,
and, indeed, of the world. And as an
instance of the imbecility and reckless
ness of Mr.. PoLK's course, they point,
with pious indignation and horror, to
the existing war with Mexico. They
denounce it as unnecessary, unjust and
Ubiquitous. And why9 Simply be-
cause the president, in exercising the
power conferred upon him by the Con-
stitution to defend the country against
foreign invasion, has sent an armed
force to the Texan frontier-not, as
his opponents say, to menace and make
war upon Mexico, unnecessarily
but to repel an invasion which he had
been officially informed by that govern
ment would be made upon Texas, as
soon as that country should be annex
ed to the United States. Here is the
head and 'front.' of the presidents Of
Tending: He sent an a,my to repulse
the threatened invasiou of oalr so;I h.,
.Merico, uithout special act of CON-
gress authorising him to do so. Accor-
ding to this construction of the powers
and duties of the Executive branch of
the government, the president has no
constitutional right to call the sarmy
and navy and 'the militia ofthe sever
al states, 'into the actual service of the
United States without a special act
OF Congress. Suppose the territory of
the U. S. should be invaded by a for
elgn foe, during the recess of Congress,
may not the president repel the inva-
sion, by calling 'mto the actual service
OF the United States 'the army and
navy &C., of which he is made by
the constitution the scommander-in-
Chief without fist convoking and con-
sulting Congress upon the subject p
A government founded upon any other
principle, would virtually be without
legitimate power 10 defend itself in ca
ses of extreme emergency. Self pre-
servation is the first law of our nature.
and applies with equal propriety to GO
overnments and to individuals, under
all circumstances and at all times.
But to sum up all the causes that
are at work in this matter: be
CONSISTENT, those who opposed the an
nexation Of Texas to the Union, must
now pour out their walls of wrath upon
the head of the president for defending
its territory from invasion. How far
abolitionism is. connected with this OBJ
posl'Iohto the war with Mexico, let
the intelligent reader judge.
Bntthank fortune, if sthe Executive
has involved US in war without the
authority Of Congress, as a neutral
Wing G contemporary will have il, the
administration has been saved b. the
gallantry efthe army! Saved from
WHAT Surely not from defeat: that