Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-12-26
TO THE EDITORS.


GENTLEMEN: In looking over the references
Of the several parts Of the Presidents Message to
the appropriate committees of Congress, perceive
that two important matters named in the message
have been overlooked. These omissions have arisen,
l have no doubt, from nadvertence on the part OF
members. ! therefore take the liberty of calling
their attention to them. They are
|. That part of the message which may be call
ed the I" aad and comfort" part, in which the Pre-
sldent speaking OF those who have represented the
war as unjust and unnecessary, saws: Al more
effecual means could not have been devised to
encourage the enemy and protract the war than to
advocate and adhere TO their cause, and thus give
them aid and comfort"
Q. The intrigue part, in which the President
says " When orders were issued to the command
Z er of our naval forces in the Gulf, on the 9Th
Z day of May last, the same day on which the ex-
istence Of the war was recognised by Congress, to
place the coasts Of Mexico under blockade, he was
directed not to obsruct the passage of Santa Anna
to Mexico, should he attempt to return
As these two parts of the message germane
to each other, and are subjects for legal nvestga
ton, suggest that they be referred to the Commit
tee on the Judiciary, in each House, with instruc-
tons to inquire
l. Whether the expression Of opinion against the JUS
lice and necessity Of the in law the act Of
treason.
Whether the Of aiding and abettng Santa An
ma in his return Mexico for the purpose Of taking command
Of the Mexican army then in actual hostility against tho Uni
ted States does not amount in law to giving aid and comfort
To the enemy IN time or war.
g. To inquire and report the degrees of offence be-
tween those who voted fifty thousand men and ten million of
dollars of money to conquer peace by fair fight with Mex
but who at the time Of giving their expressed opn
against the justice and necessity of the war; and he who,
of and moneys hin, hon
orabc warfare employed the navy of the United States in
conducting the first military commander of Mexico back the
head of her armies thereby giving aid to her military power
and her dsconsoate troops under their defeat
by General Taylor.
| know Of but one parallel case Of this kind of
aid and comfort to an enemy in time of war, and
beg leave to direct the attention Of the committee to
it. II may aid them in coming to correct conclu-
sion in this important matter
In naval fight between the English and the
Dutch, the Englishman suddenly stopped firing, yet
kept his flag flying and his men all standing to their
guns. The Dutchman, seeing this, and not wishing
to waste his fire upon non-resishng adversary,
also ceased firing. and hailed his foe, ''why he did
not either fight or strike" The Englishman
swered that, as TO striking his hag-never, as long
as there remained plank beneath his feet; and, as
to firing his guns, he would cheerully do SO if his
adversaryswould have the generosity to supply him
with potoder, his magazine being exhausted !;
that if he would not comply with this request the
/ fight must 90 on, and be determined hand to hand
| by boarding, which would lead TO great loss Of
life on both sides. The Dutchman, being man Of
feeling as well yalor, and believing that in any
event it was certain that no change whatever in
the circumstances Of the English ship which would
deprive her commander of the excuse of boarding
l. could be for the worse far as the Dutchman
was concerned, while it was highly probable that
any change must be for the better" agreed to COM
ply with the request of his gallant foe, provided he
would pay him fair consideration for the article
furnished. The sum being agreed upon at some
thing less than two million of dollars, think, the
Dutchman directed his own boats to place the pow
der safely on board the enemy's ship. Thus pro-
vided with means to renew the fight, the English
man soon taught the DuIrnman mat he had been
guilty Of the folly of furnishing his adversary with
La club to beat his own brains out.
The only difference in the two cases is, that the
Mexicans stopped fighting, not for the want of pow
der, but for the want of an efficient COMMANDMENTS
chief. We have most generously supplied that de-
iciency, by placing SANTA ANNA at the head of her
armies; and now in the language of the President,
:" it remains to be whether his return may not
yet prove to be favorable to pacific adjustment
Of the existing difficulties, it being manifestIy his
interest not 10 persevere in the prosecution Of d
war commenced by Paroles to accomplish pur-
pose so absurd as the reconquest of Texas to the
| Sabine
] See Presidents message, page 90