Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1847-02-04
From Ae National Ea,e'Igenesr.
CRISIS.

prosperous. We had tariff which pro-
tected our own labor against the paupcr
labor Of Europe. All the great enterprises
of the country were ia successful opera
ton. Real estate was gradually advan-
cling in value, and the products of labor
NE, with ready sale, The money mar
ket was steady, and credit rested on a
solid basis. There was a general conf
dencs felt and expressed in the state of
things which existed. All this was at
tributabie to the wise measures adopted
Y the Wing party, which came into pow
with the Harrison Administration.
But this fair scene which cheered the
hearts and enlivened the holes Of this
great people, was doomed to sudden
reverse. The Baltimore Convention, with
its baleful influence, met, and assuming
to act for the people, without their in
saruclions and against their interests, yir
tually elected the present Chief Magis-
rate, a citizen who did not himself aspire
to the Office, and who, without the infiu-
ence Of the nomination, could not have re.
tcived the vote Of any county in tho union.
!sut this usurpation Of the popular rights
" tho convention did not stop here. The
same body decrecd that the whole Of
Oregon was ours-that Texas should DO
annexed-:hat the Tariff Of '42 should be
uverthrown-and that the Sub-.roasury
should be established.
Never did q body of men in so short a
time entail upon their country system
of measures so calamitous. And when
we consider the elements of which that
Convention was composed-some of its
members being irresponsible, others self
appointed and many Of those who had
show of authority receiving itin disregard
of popular rights, and Of the principles
which they profess to hold sacred-it is
amazing With what tame Submission
submission tina. augured unfavorably for
the cause of free govcrnment-the de-
crees ofths body were received.
The rights of the people were not only
usurped BY imposisg upon them Chief
Magistrate, but the Convention bound in
party letters this instrument OF it's crea-
ton, and the National Legislature. True
to the behests OF that body, Mr.. Polk, in
assuming his duties, expressed determ-
ination to carry cut TO tho letter its de-
crees. The Oregon question brought US
to the verge Of war with England, BY
which we were saved by the wisdom and
firmness of the Senate. But Texas was
annexed, the Tariff was ovsrthrown and
he Sub-trsasuEy enacted. And now we
are realizing the fatal consequences Of
these measures. @
We have had q war of about eight
months with Mexico. Two brilliant VIC
tories in the field against superior num-
'bsrs and the eaptnyeSf city, strongly
fortified and defended BY force much
greater than ours, have added 10 the re-
nown Of our arms. We claim nomin-
al possession over great extent Of coun,
try, through which Gen. Kcarney has
marched, and which Captain Stockton has
surveyed from his quarter deck, but we
hold By q forcibls tenure that which has
been subjuga,ed by General Taylor
And to maintain this possession. our little
army is necessarily divided and placed
in garrisons remote from each other. lia,
bio 10 the attack Of the enemy, and diff
cult 10 BIO defended. This is the bright
side of the picture. Let us turn to that
of darker shade.
The people with whom wo are Of war
are greatly exasperated, and thcir discor-
dant elements have in great degree be-
come united. Their most favored Cap
tain, by the permission Of tho United
States, has returned from his Punishment
and now leads its army. Several thous'
and OF our brave citizens have fallen
victims Of this war, whose graves are on
the battle fields Of the sthand 9th ofMay,
nj Pt. Isabel, Monterey, on the shores OF
tho Rio Grande, or on the liAe OF their
return home gard aud II 10 impossibleto
say how many now bear with them the
seeds Of fatal diseases in tho army. nj
home or on their way thithcr.
The. Administration seem TO have been
a. ian. rant Of the Mexicaa character as
they have shown themselves OF their
own powers and Of The great duties which
deyolw upon them They evidently be-
lisycd that military array ON the MO
Crunds would alarm the Mexican Gov
eminent send induce il to avoid con-
fiict. by large cession Of territory and
that'this would glorify the Administration.
But if this threatening attitude OF our ar
NV should failto in.imidate, it was Ger.
tain that collision would take place,
which would give occasion for our troops
"a sweep over The country, and m Inc
couy.a of a few months to 'revel in the