The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-02
THE OPPOSITION wAR-cRY.

Hall, that he had found il no slight work--no holy
day business,p to maintain on opposition against
General Jackson. ID begins now, we think, 70 DO
quite manifest TO the opposition and to the oppos-
ton press that Mr.. Polk, too, is President very
hard 10 oppose. Every day is making the fact more
apparent, that il the leaders Of the whig party are
TO keep themselves before the country in position
Of any credit, they must change their tactics. They
have made their first rally against the adminisira-
ton under the very worst possible battle-ery. In
attacking the Jorsigm policy Of the government the
opposition has made wofu blunder. II is
blunder. too, against the elearest light.
The events Of the past summer gave the wings
sure warning, that wherever else the President
might be assailable, he would, beyond all peradyen-
ture, commend his administration TO the fullest con
fdence and favor Of the country in It's management
Of our aahirs with foreign powers. The Mexico
Texan business was a business, when Mr.. Polk
took it, delicate and dangerous, and hard Of lust
ment. Every thing conspired to complieate il: the
state Of feeling among ourselves, the intrigues of
European governments, the madness and blindness
and anarchy of Me xico. And this whole most
weighiy matter rushed down upon the President and
his cabinet in all its fullness and mminenee of diff
Guilty, on the very instant when, b. bis oath Of Office,
he had grded on the sacred sword Of the constitu.
ton There was no moment for delay or hesitation.
He must decide on his at once; and in the
selection OF his there every possible OPP
portunity and peril OF mistake. Prudence, firm
ness sagaeity, patriotismall in the largest meas
ure-must combine in the administration to avoid
disastrous miscarriage The whole matter Of the
annexation has now become history-ss much so rs
will be fifty years hence. And sooner do we see
the end of it--no has IL become historical,
than on the instant il is hailed throughout the land
as a splendid and triumphant success. This eoun-
try has few greater matters. This country
never saw a great matter better managed The orr.
ginal policy is now almost everywhere commended,
or at least aequieseed in. But however that may
be- Mr.. Folks part IN the business is universally and
at once pronounced to be absolutely without flaw
or blemish. Ne party no clique, hardly any man
can be found TO deny that his Administration has
done, in the perous premises, sraeiy the rsry best
Thing possible. Hear, this point, the testimony Of
a foreign witness alike intelligent and unwilling
the London Morning Chronicle journal which,
as much any other, may claim to speak for the
wing party of England;
"Thai immense question, the annexation OF
Texas, which SEEMED difficult 10 solve that il at
frighted the boldest men and parties, has been
achieved by MIR. Polk in trice. The aeiirity Of
English enjoys, the nPpienss Of the French, the eGors
I'll If the nost able and eloquent parsans al hops
all pointed at and ,rorking against annsraont All
these obstacles hare been European inttrtsr
hos giren color Of reason 10 The act Of annexation
tchiA naHted before, since the ufgsrs one WHICH
DEFEATED AND ASsrLLKD EURorrAs INTERVENTION
HAN at0 al.
} war. Annexation, however desirable, argued the
wings, is not worth drop Of blood; but 10 il has
not cost drop Of blood-the Mexicans are para
lyzed."
All this gave the happiest augury Of the conduct by
this administration Of the Oregon controversy. Yet
all this was lost uron the wing leaders and journals
Smitten by the twofod blindness of rage and of de-
sPair they would not the light They clamored
in advance and at random sgainst the Oregon policy
that was to come. This iofuna, acting in the spirit
of an administration which eoxceaa nothing from
the people, gave, due advisement, in anticipation
of the message some general intimation of the
views which we supposed the message would pro-
claim. The wing cry was up III moment Be-
ginning with monstrous perversion and misrepre-
sentstion Of what We said, it forthwith raised a
camor, FIRST that our title to Oregon was good for
nothing, and then that the President and his party
were resolved to plunge the country into bloody
and causeless war; No sooner had the wing press
got itself well planted in these positions, than the
message came 1t came to the popular sentiment
like revolution--a revolution not Of overthrow,
but of establishment 1t changed the face of the
public mind 1t brought with it, and into broad
daylight, mighty and mastery augmentation
which settled at and torsrer The phoie question Of
territorial right 1t placed record the pacific pol
icy and the pacific measures Of our government. It
was full Of frmness and of patriotism, and yet il
breathed the whole spirit Of just and honorable
peaoe-peace to be secured by Armness and jus,
appreciation and maintenance of all our rights and
our position, by which policy alone peace could be
secured, and on which condition alone peace would
be worth having.
The message-we speak now of Its views on the
Oregon queston--was received by the masses of men
of all parties, throughout the land with degree of
favor almost unexampled. The wing press was at
fault was desperate, but not yet quite discour-
aged Something, right Or wrong, must be said
against the administration. There was non.,c point
of attack, and the old cry Of "War is a, hand -
was shouted again. But this time the shout was
feeble. few days passed on, and sorry supple
ment began to be added to the slogan Of the opposi-
ton "No preparation" "Scandalous want Of
preparation" was the "wachword and reply"
"You seek war" cried these journals, ''yet you will
not equip ship nor put a new gun on the defen
ces!' "Hear the hum of work in the British dock
yards; yet you rushing straight into battle, and
take no thought about putting on your srmor!"
Gan anything be conceived more transparency
absurd and selfcontradictory than these charges :
What warrant has this administration given to
any man to say that it will rush mady into war,
f unpreparedi 1t has met the chance Of one war al
ready. Was there in the encounter of that peril
any want Of prompt, energetic, adequate show of
preparation' Was there, or was there not, a due
land force and due force at hand, in time, on
the scene Of dangeri And ifthese things we're done
to meet the Mexican feebleness, shall any man be
hat 10. t-a..