Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-02
A JUST REBUKE.
FROM rHE rHILADELrH1A 1saurmrn OF srpr. "a

THE PHILADELPHIA IsoUIRER SEPT. %.
We perceive thata prominent and influential Lo-
cofoco print charges the Wings as BODY with
having opposed and interrupted the war;" The
Wings of the nation, generally speaking, regard
war as great calamity and avoid il whenever il
may be avoided with propriety and honor. Never
theess, purer patriots never breathed than NAV be
found among the Wings; while the fact that the
blood OF some of their best men and most cherished
favorites has been freely shed upon the bate-felds
of Mexico, should call blush to the cheek of every
Locofoco who has the remotest sense of shame
whenever attempting to underrate or deprecate the
gallanry, the patriotism, the heroism of his politi-
cal opponents. Such unmanly limitations consti-
tute an outrage upon the manned and mangled
among the living, as well as to the memories Of the
gallant dead. 1t is indeed Infamous to find the or
gan of the Government assailing and libelling the
Wings by charges OF want of patriotism, while
thousands of Wing citizens are serving as officers
soldiers in our army in Mexico--at the very mo-
ment, it is possible, in which some of them may be
pouring out their blood yielding up their lives in
a national quarrel. The Government that is guilty
of such conduct deserves the severest condemna-
ton, the keenest rebuke. That the war mighthaye
been avoided with honor, and hence should have
been avoided is the opinion not only of thousands
at home, but OF many Of those who have parci-
paed in its perils and its triumphs. And upon this
point there will be no evasion, no equivocaon,
when the matter comes up for discussion in Con-
gress. The real authors and promoters of the war
will be there unmasked. Their objects, selfish and
ambitious, we believe them to have been, will be
exposed to the public eye and mind.
That the people have already pronounced against
Mr.. Polk and his policy in this matter is quite APP
parent from the results Of the recent elections.
When he provoked and commenced the war, he
had an overwhelming majority in the popular branch
of the National Legislature. But how stands
the case now? What is the verdict of his own
State! The probability is that the next House of
Representatives will be against him-against him
too through the influence of the people who have
been afforded an opportunity Of recording their SEN
timents through the balIot-boxes But, we repeat,
an influential journal, identified with the Admins
tration, charges the Wings with having interrupt
ed the war;" How interrupted it? Where and
when? No! The error, from the first, has been
at Washington. The war was heedessly, reck-
lessly, bllndly brought on-and then it was mise
rably mismanaged. Mr.. Polk and his advisers
blunder after bunder; and in some cases
the blunders have, if possible, been worse than
crimes. They started with the idea that the Mex-
cans would not fight. When convinced of their
error, they argued that their first battle would prove
their last, and that single defeat would dispirt
and overwhelm them. Under this deusion an
arm ditoSClici iHddequdtt W lie Wds
called into the field and many of the volunteers
who rushed to the rescue were sent back to their
homes, mortified and indignant. But another bat
tie took place-and then the services that were re-
fused were earnestly courted. And this has
been the history from the first The Adminstra-
ton has been crying g Peace, Peace !! while our
gallant little army has been compelled to fight bat
tie after battle, and in many against fearful
odds. Even now if the negotiations which were
in progress at the last dates should fail, the cause
verify believe, will be found in the fact that Gen.
SCOTS army was not sufficiently powerful. In
brief, the war was commenced unwisely--it has
been conducted in spirit at once niggardIy and
cruel and has been protracted wantonly and unne-
cessarily. These the sins and respons Utilities
of the Administration. It's head and its members
must and will be held accountable, while their I'M
worthy, unmanly-nay, dastardly assaults upon the
Whigs-such assaults have quoted above. |
will only react upon themselves. The American
People will never permit the memories Of the Wing
heroes who have laid down their lives upon the
battlefield to be libeed and insulted with impuny