The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-30
THE WAR.

Now that the Federal leaders have fairly shown
their hands, and after proelaiming the Mexican war
san improbable offence have resolved to make 1t
IN, .,kng horse of their opposition during the aP-
rroaehing session Of Congress, let US consider the
character and the result Of the war thus far, and see
how much Of case for opposition the Federeils'a
can make out Of il.
They charge, in the first place, that the presiaen'
A,1su ths gar Laying out OF view, for the moment
the long and black list Of Mexican outragesi the
Avov,l of the Mexican minister that annexation was
var; the unrtlaxing claim Of Mexico to the whole
or Texas; her declared determination to enforce
this claim by arms; her Psrhdious, and seornful'
and repeated repuse Of all our profsred negouanoni
n, m,,,tering Of her armies the Rio Grandei and
finally, her attack Of army upon the soil OF DIS
,riot thenqspsssentsd in our congessi-lenSing all
this out of view-iu reply to the charge that
our government began the war, we present
the admitted fact, that, on the 18th OF April
1916, rhs our army toas this side Of the Naees', the
Mexican dictator Paroles issued his proclamation
declaring the existence Of war between the two
countries, and ordering General Arsta TO Attack
and capture the American army, or drive il beyond
n, Sabine. This proclamation Of war by Dictator
Paroles was issued full month before the proclama'
lion of President Polk. So much for the beginning
Of the war!
Rut say the Federalists, "nObOdy voted for The
,sa.p On the 18th day ofMay, one day before the
Presidents proclamation, Congress passed vote
declaring state Of war and authorizing the Presl-
dsrt IN mise 50 900 volunteers and ten millions Of
dol,ra 70 carry it on. This vote was almost unani-
NOUS The votes in the negative we're but fourteen IN
IN. House, and but two in the Senate. 30 much as
10 the presidential war" which "nobody voted
for"
But then. clamor the Federalists, the war is so
rninously expensive On this matter, let us refer
to the Treasures books. They show that the
expenditures of our government for the nine months
ending September 3OtS, 1876, lat which time the
war had been carried on nearly five months were
about s97OOOOOO During the same months
Of the year 1s4l, when the Federalists had the
control Of matters, with Mr.. Webster in the
Deparmen: Of State, and Ohsn there Uas no
rar, the expenses of the government were s24,-
100000, as shown by official reports. Let the
people bear in mind what has been done in the war,
VIVA, memorable and glorious victories achieved,
and what territories taken into military posses-
sion; and then compare these two statements Of
Federal and Democratic expenditure. So much
for the "r,in" brought upon our treasury by the
war
But, say the Federalists, the war will ruin the
credit Of the country, and, with the new tariff to
help on, this ruin to credit will be complete.
On this point, we ask attention to the following
condensed and crushing statement Of the loans
made by our government in l84l, and in the pres
en-, year, as furnished to by our able and accu-
rate commercial correspondent, and published in the
Union If Saturday: ..
ain July, Is4l, Congress authorized loan sl2,-
900 900 in six per cent. stock redeemable years
from January lS42, and appropriated $4,000 to
pay an agent to negotiate it, The Secretary offered
1t in the marketat 5,hs per cent. interest," and got
$4,000! He then offered it at 81 per cent and got
about 50 500 600. He then raised the rate to per
cent, and got 50 000,0 900. In his annual report he
proposed, as further inducement to capitalists, to
extend the loan to 90 years. In April 1912 the per
cent. loan issued in September, lS4l was selling at
IS cts. on The dollar Congress then extended the time
ofthe unnegotated balance to 90 years, and author
lied it to be sod at any price, specially pedging the
customs for its redemption Still the Secretary could
not get one dollar. In august the acting President
sent an agent all over Europe to sell the stock, and
he did not obtain dollar. Congress then repealed
the authority to sell it under par. Before January
the department got few millions more on it; but
1t was not until January lS43, one year and half
from the first attempt that the balance Of the loan
was taken. That was in time Of profound peace,
and under administration elected for the purpose
Of restoring the credit of the government! Let us
now see what was the case this year. In July
Congress authorized Sl0,O00,000 six per cent.
loan, redeemable in 20 years, treasury notes, at
the option Of the Secretary. He used treasury
notes until Oct. 80, when he issued proposals for
the stock; and in twelve days double the amount
asked for was subscribed, partially at premium;
and that stock cannot now be bought at II pre-
MUM. This in the midst of a war said to be un-
popular because tho democratic vote at State cleo
lions is diminished by the numbers spending their
blood in Mexico. This loan was taken in the
face Of the great uncertainty Of the extent Of the
government wants, and at the moment in which Mr.
Webster was endeavoring to discredit it in Boston
1t is curious TO reflect the Of this change
Was it not that the anti.commercial policy Of the
government Of 154l created distrust in time Of
peace; while the liberal policy, to carry out which
the present government was elected creates a conf
dence that even the existence of war cannot de-
sroyl''
So much for credit, under Federal and a Demo-
cratic administration, respectively!
But, charge the Federalists again, the doings in
New Mexico and 10 California have broken down
Ill the restraints Of the Constitution and forced inn
nense realms into the Union without authority
IF law. The plain fact is, that military pos
session has been taken Of those realms, and
temporary provisional measures adopted to keep
The peace there, while they are 80 held in mill
AIRY possession--the whole question Of their an
nexation and future government being left to the
constitutional authorities, to DO settled dulv and in
Tue season. Ia this violation of the Constitution
Let us hear on this subject an authority which the