Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-11-21
THE WAR, AND IT'S OBJECTS.

ratively few who had reason TO suppose themselves
pretty thoroughly informed of the state OF public
affairs. This state of war was, every one knows,
brought on by the march of our army into the ter
ritory west of the Nueces, then wholly in posses.
sion OF Mexico, posting that army in front of
Mexican fortress, and erecting battery within
gunshot of it. The Executive is, therefore, un-
doubtedy responsible for the existence of this war,
and for all the consequences which may grow out
of it responsibility which the Administration
cannot cast off, if it would and which, in truth,
has shown disposition TO enlarge rather than TO
shrink FROM by its avowal of designs Of conquest,
and by already establishing civil governments with
in the Mexican territory-acts not less against the
Constitution than the first inception of the war.
When, although without the consent of Congress,
the war-making power, this country found itself al
war, and its small but gallant army already in con
hict with Mexican troops, il time for Con-
gress or the People to hold back. Nor did they.
Congress with bounteous hand placed abundance of
means, men and money, at the disposition of the
Executive, to carry on this war and all the people
approved that action There has never been in
any quarter murmur Of disapprobaton Of the ap-
preparation Of men and money thus made.
Whilst, however, Congress thus provided for the
rescue Of the army from apprehended danger, and
TO guard the flag of the United States from humla-
ton by defeat there was no thought on the part of
large portion of both Houses of Congress, or Of a
still larger portion Of the People Of the United
States, OF releasing the President and his advisers
from their just responsibility for the measures
which led TO this state Of things. The right of in
quiry, how this calamity of war, with all its con-
comtants, was brought about, was indeed post
poned, but not rclinquished The conduct of the
Executive, in seeking and contriving this war, in
contraventon Of the very terms Of the act of annex
alton, was arraigned by number of speakers in
both Houses of Congress. twas also condemned
by many public journals, and amongst others by
this press, decidedly enough, but briefly, and with
no more of harshness than was unavoidable in
speaking the truth.
The government paper, intolerant as ever, max
ing no allowance for honest difference Of views up
on public affairs, fell luriously upon the National In
telligencer, as if it thought by abuse and ma
evoent aspersion 10 que inu the spirit of freemen
But, it may be ,recollected in the very article in
which it threatened 10 brand this paper for de-
lawfully induced, the official paper itself Piled guilty
TO the impeachment, by making the point that the
official statement Of the facts which lied to the war,
and compelled it. and justified Il on our part--the
case, that is, of our Goyernment-has Thai1 mol
get for want of time alone, been fully mule kaoarn
TO The country" Nor has this statement of /" the
case" yet been made known to the country To
this day, whatever was then unknown, which JUS
tilted the undertaking of this war by the Executive,
is still unknown. The whole country is vet un-
enlightened to the reasons why an army was
marched by the Executive into territory which
was, by the terms Of the act Of annexation of Texas,
admitted 10 be at least doubtful ground, and ordered
to be made the subject Of negotiation with Mexico
No sufficient, even plausible reason has certain
ly ever been given, either officially or unoficially
for this resort as substitute for the nego-
tiaton directed by law
Whilst yet al a loss for the motives of those in
the party of the Administration who approve of the
war, "rght or wrong our attention has been at
traced by an article in leading Southern paper
a central Administration organ for the contest
ed State Of Georgia. paper bearing the name
Of the Federal Union, under date Of the 10Th in
stanton the subject Of This war, which freely
avows the motives that actuate some Of the sup.
porters OF the war for the sake of the war. From
this article--than which we have rarely met with
one remarkable for its mal-address, its peril
Gus betrayal Of just what should have been conceal
ed and hardly whispered in the darkest and closest
counsels OF party caba, in order that il might not
ruin those entertaining such purposes--we extract
the following:
"The Wings of the North oppose the war be-
cause its legitimate effect is, as they contend the
extension Of Southern territory and of Southern
slavery. 1t is true, this is a war in which the
South IS more Immediately Interested. Its vast
expenditure must be made within her limits Du-
ring IFS continuance, New York the great empo-
rum OF commerce, must be shorn in part Of her
greatness. Exchange, usually in her favor must
now be reversed and in favor of New Orleans.
where the supplies are furnished for the army.
But what force is there in these objections 10 the
mind of Southern Whg The time has been
'when he has complained that he knew his Gov
ernment only by its exactions. If its expendi-
lures now made in his own vicinity, has not
the time arrived when he may know il from the
benefits il confers Does he not know, too, that
'every battle fought in Mexico, and every dollar ex-
pended there, must tell upon the acquisition of ter
ritory which will widen the field of Southern en-
terprise and extend the domain Of Southern pow
'er! Does he not perceive that the result of this
war will be to secure to the South the balance Of