The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-01-21
THE wAR-wHAT is TO BE DONE

H9NSu "PPIOFlhSiy III the Nauonal IntelHgencer
We recommend it to the consideration of Editor
pro tenn of the Barre Patriot:
Messrs. Editors: To you, who are in the verv
midst OF the great political current it NAV seem
superf1uous that one who lives apart from it should
volunteer communication for the purpose OF
presenting the great topic of the day in a new
point Of view. But sometimes the subdued
sound OF the distant torrent is more inspiring than
It's nearer and more deafening roar. At least
there IS chance that other and gentler, and per-
haps more elevang tones, may be heard
In reading late number of the "Unon'' was
torclbly struck with the contrast presented bv two
dlherent narratives OF recent events at the seat of
war, detailed in neighboring columns A cores
pendent, writing from the army, describes the in
dlgnation that had been aroused there by the roh
berries and murders lately perpetrated by the
Mexicans on some of our soldiers These ont.
RACES had naturally excited our men to vengeance
and they had taken 1t in two fold measure For
every American thus basely assassinated, the ac
count states that full two Mexicans have suffered
retribution the guilty, no doubt, if they could
be caught; if lot, the innocent Indeed. the
writer observes, somewhat boastingly, that they
have not acted on the precept that sit is better
that nnety-nine guilty persons escape than one
innocent man should suffer-" What a school do
such scenes afford for the culture of our vounr
volunteers In the arts which are to adorn their fu
toiS iNSS' hHUW not now IDlS recital
strike the minds of others, but to me the picture
it presents is horrible.
From this appalling exhibition Of the demonis
cal part OF human nature, it is delightful to turn
to the narrative of another scene in which this
same human nature shows the divinity that was
first stamped upon it; and yet this narrative is
one OF danger, suffering and deah-the shin
wreck OF the brig Somers. | have seldom read.
any thing more affecting than the accounts Of the
noble self devotion IN he ;Gco -
sell, manifested by the officers and crew of the
il-tated vessel. The details are probablv too
familiar to need repetition. 1t is enough TO saw
that they make one feel proud that he BELONGS to
a species capable Of such gallant and noble con
duct. Let any man who reads them ask himself
tne question, whether these achievements have
not displayed more true heroism than 9ny thing
which is recorded of PaIo Alto or Monterey. and
whether they do not entitle their actors 10 more
praise than would the storIning of the Castle Of
san Juan dUlloa; and, il he has mans heart
In his bosom, have no fears for his answer.
In some late remarks reviewing the Presidents
message, you expressed an idea, which must
quote from recollection: A." What a strange sort
OF commerce this Mexican affair exhibits to "a
when TO offset the immense expectation nj tro,s
ure and provisions, and the grievous waste of lie
we import the bones of Cross and Ringgold -
In the same spirit 1t may be said, What stranre
spectacle have we transacted before US when the
most refreshing and consoling news from the seat
OF war is contained in the narrative of shin
wreck
Mr. Kendall tells us, in his narrative Of tho
santa re expedition, that. while he and his com.
panionS suffered every indgnty and priyation
from the Mexican men, their women acted ike
"angel ministers OF mercy An account was
recently published in several newspapers relat.
ing some events that occurred in the lombard
ment OF tabasco bomb fell in the midst of
family sitting at dinner, and scattered death
through the circle. A father had his DAUGHTER
ga beautiful girl Of seventeen, cut in two before
his eyes by she'll This is sufficiently dis
tlnct, though very imperfect picture of those
"ahgel ministers OF mercy are suffering AZ mr.
hands. But "these are the evils of war" saw The
apologsts OF the present state of THINGS and TINS
draw their minds away from the contemplation Of
the subject. Exactly-these are some of the ey
lis OF the present war. And where are its beno.
hts is It not all evil, so far as the individual
human being OF either nation is concerned p
None but an ultra abstractionist, it seems 10 me,
could discover counter balancing ADVANTAGES
Now, gentlemen, did not sit down TO write
with the view of narrowing up useless human
sympathy. do not 60 for 'sabsractonism," but
would at once meet the practical question, "What
is TO be done - | believe the number of ner
sons in these U States who deprecate this war il
sufficient to give them the power of bringing it
TO close, provided their efforts were concenlrat-
ed on the proper means to effect the object II
seems to me that the course is simple and plain
II there really be controlling majority Of the
people who believe this war unnecessary 10 its
inception, unwise in its progress, and pernicious
IN the results which must inevitably flow from r.
would propose TO them simple question, What
is the proper course to be pursued by an indivd
ual under the same circumstances When
man finds that he has started wrong, gone on
wrong, and IL certain OF getting more and more
wrong the farther he goes, what should he do p
There can be but answer. II his error con-
Germs only himself, common sense says, s'back
out" If others have been made to suffer, true
heroism and moral principles join in the same mo-
milton. Who is so ignorant not to know that
1t requires more moral courage to turn back in
such case than to rush mady forward
Assuredly, the character OF nation would be
enobled by following the same course which we
admire and praise in the individual. The yalor
of our people, and their ability to face the world
in just war, are sufficiently proved no further
end, in any way desirable can possibly be attain.
ed. And II may be set down as certain that a
single foot OF Mexican territory obtained by CON
quest must bear with fatal weight upon the III.
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