The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-12-26

deliberately, and without the advice of
Congress then in session, involve the
country in foreign war Of conquest,
and yetnot dare give utterance to our
indignant condemnation Of his uncon-
stitutional acts! Where is the man
who does not know and feel that this
Mexican war is a Presidential war?
A war which before its commencement,
Congress would not have declared! Al
war begun without adequate cause, and
without any great, Unsuitable, and COM
lnensurate object, compatible with the
interests and integritygo Of the Union.
A war conducted without wisdom Of
design at Washington, and relieved
from utter disaster and public odiun,
only by the prudence, bravery, and
brilliant exp!oitsoot Gen. Taylor and
his gallant army Of regulars and volun-
teers, who have triumphantly upheld
our national banner, and won for them
selves imperishable renown, and the
gratitude Of their country. 28a estl.
In conclusion Of this subject. let it
never be forgotten, that whilst the free
men of Ohio will in all time to come,
as they have. IN all times past, cheer
fully march to the field of battle at the
cali Of the constituted authorities Of tho
country, they will NOT fail, by word
and deed, by the ballot-box. and all 9TH
.er constitutional means in their power,
to hold those functionarles to a strict
accountability for every violation Of
the trust committed to their hands, and
especially for every infractlon Of that
great constitution, to which we are in
debted, not merely for liberty, but for
our national existence, and which is
worth infinitely more to US than the
conquest of a continent. afi ,i1oda q
ltmay be thought that these are sub
jects belonging exclusively to the Gen.
eral Government, and that Ohio has
no right, either through the messages
Of her Executive or the resolutions OF
her Legislature, to expressher opinions
concerning them. But Ohio is not an
isolated State--she is one of great
confederacy OF sister States. As such
she has passed her solemn judgment
upon these and other great questions
Of national policy, and it is for thatrea.
son that.l have referred 10 them.
II is for that reason that ! feel called
upon, in her mamie, to protest against
the repeated exercise ofthe reto po,cer.
which sees nothing in all the West con-
stitutionaI or worthy Of its regard but
snags and sand bars, and which for
years has been obstructing the health
fuI channels Of legislation, and swal.
lowing up, one by one, all the powers
Of the government, just as these favor
te objects Of its protection have been
choking up our rivers, and engulflne
our steamboats,, our commerce, and oul
Lives.
| She has also entered and proclaims
her protest against that odious and oft
rejected Sub-Treasury system, re-en
acted at the last session Of Congress
not only because it deranges the cur
rency, renders the public treasury in
secure, and magazines the powers Of tn
selfconstituted monarch Of the United
States, but because 1t inevitably tend
to drain the specie oGthe country from
Ohio and all the interior States OF th'
i Union, to the great seaports, where
4 the revenues ofthe nation are collected
and where, according to the constItu
tional veto system Of administering tn
government, they are to be disburse'
also. sysa ci ar aiil
4 Ohio furthermore claims the right t
declare that by reason other great ma
ural resources for manufacturing, he
!, superabundance of food and her scar
city of fabrics, he inland position wher
: the cost OF the importation of foreig
+ goods, and especially Of the export'
i ton of her own agricultural produ'
[ tions must, if continued, prove forevt
{ a heavy taxupon her labor, she hi
been induced to invest large sums j
! manufacturing and mechanicalpursult
!. That unlike the older estab' 'ishments'
e some Of her sister STATES, these branc
9 es Of industry are in that infant sta
n requiring protection. That she has
Il confidence in a foreign market for h
y great staples exceptin seasons oi sta
u yation abroad like the present. Tn
b she must have home manufacturers al
r. home market. That she will ney
e submit to free trade and direct tax
,!iI ton. That the people were Prospe
IS Gus under the Tariff of Ils47; and tn
.e she believes that not only the revenu
.hl Of the country but all her industrial
d. terests demand Its immediate restoI
IN tion. {. 81 "a.
l-l4Deriving what lessons Of experlen
le we may from the present condition a.
4 past history of the State Of Ohio, b
ofItrue policy. seems to be sufficiently 9
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