Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-04-22
rHE WARS OF 1879 AND 1916.

ken or written against mat contest, ana plc-
cling them in parallel with the censures which
Wing writers bestow upon Mr.. Pof.K's COR
neciion with the presentwar. As for instance,
This is Mr. MspIsoN's war" The war
with England isuujust' s'This Is Mr.. PoLE's
war; 1.-THE war with Mexico might have
been honorably avoided"
The object Of this line Of argument is to es
tablish the complete identification OF the Whig
party, in spirit and principle, with the old fed
eral party, and TO prove thai the one Like the
other, is deficient In patriotism. II proceeds,
in supreme contempt of facts, upon the logical
assumption that because the war of 1912 was
right, the war Of 1876 must necessarily be the
same; that because that war was not Mr.
MADIsos's war. neither can tbs war be }. X.
PoLK's war. 1t pays high compliment to
the intelligence, and at the Nme time 10 the
character Of the American people, when
takes for granted that IN ,hen eyes all wars
are equally just and constitutional. no matter
how different their causes, nH how opposite
the objects for which they areswaged-
And vet, il seems 10 us thai every school
bow would deserve a sound Hogging who
should reason in this way, or be unable topper
ceiye the broad and irreconcable diversity be-
tween the origin and propriety Of the two con
q
jsts'' denounced the war OF 1912 as Mr.. MAD
rsos's war7 For this good reason, if no 9TH
er, CONGRESS, the body TO whom alone the
Constitution has entrusted the power, declared
that srar. 1t was therefore national contest,
authorized by the people through the represen
tatiyes of the nation. Was the present wal
thus commenced No one can pretend it.
Congress knew nothing of the war, till, with
ttna,r
menced. The thunders of our artillery were
echoing from the Rio Grande. when they were
called upon 10 recognize conflict which was
begun by the Presidents determination to oc-
cupv disputed territory and sie2e by force
that which the Representatives OF the people
had declared was fit subject fer negotiation.
Hence it is no libel to pronounce this MIR.
Folks war, and TO hold HIM answerable for
every dollar of treasure and every drop OF
blood that has been expended in the struggle.
! To pronounce the war with England ''un-
ijus.," was palpable violation oil facts known
10 all mankind. Years Of aggression upon
American rights had preceded that conflict
Our national flag had been nsuted upon eve
nv sea, our vessels attacked by Brilsa ships,
and American seamen violently torn from the
protection OF their country's banner, TO man
| the navies of Great Britain. No such cause
was ever pretended by our Executive IN hls
onslaught upon Mexico. The possession By
that government of a territory which II had al
ways held, and which the Representatives OF
our own people had virtually admitted was
debateablc ground. might have been leit Tor
the negotiation TO which lis settlement was re-
ferred BY those Representatives, without any
Infringement of national honor orJusiice-
The armed appropriation OF such a territory
BY MIR. Polk may therefore be safely pro-
nounced unnecessary, without involving those
who bring the charge in the crime OF treason,
or fastening upon them any graYer offence
than an independent expression of opinions
conscientiously held, and trumphantiy sus-
tanned by facts and common sense
The same morality which governs the inter
course and department OF individuals will APP
ply 20 those of governments Thelaws Of God
and man recognize the duty OF self,preserya-
ton, and while both would acqut citizen
| for shooting burglar in the attemptto enter
his house, both would award the penalty of
death TO the same person, for mahclously Ia
liking the life of one who had ne; given him Of
fence. Or, suppose case which TO US seems
analogous 20 the late war and the war with
Mexico A man enters your house, heaps
insult upon your head. destroys your proper
ty, and kidnaps and kills your children. AT
Ter warning him Of the consequences, and
fading the warning utterly VAN. you resist
and slay him. There is no doubt that you
will stand approved TO your Maker, TO your
own conscience, and TO human society. IN the
act. But suppose, 10 course oil time, neigh
Dor of YOURS has tenement which you wish
10 occupy. de and his forefa,hers have lived
in it from time immemoral Net you assert
that il is your property, and that you intend 10
occupy il. The laws Of the lard have prescri-
bed the course for you to pursue. You aast
! bring your action Of eJecment, and, after a u-
nv OF ycur countrymsn has decided the q1es-
fton or title, if that verdict be favorable, the
law by its officers, will give you possession.
But suppose, instead OF rsserting TO the legal
remedy, YOU instantly rush into that ''dlspu-
ted territory" your nelghbor's house, and
drive the occupant out with pistol at his
/ head. Is il wrong 10 pronounce that an I'M
warrantable and very unnecessary action F.
I Because YOU are right IN defending your own
! family and mansion, are you also right IN be-
coming IN your turn the assallant OF others -
Are YOU not, on the contrary, pursuing an H.
legal course, placing yourself IN false posi-
ton, even conceding our title 10 be good, aud
Justly mourning the responsibility OF all the
consequences Of your rashness?
MADlsos was right in the war OF lSl2-a
war declared by Congress, and justified by eY-
cry principle OF honor and selfpreSeryation.
Polk. we dare 10 suggest. was wrong IN the
war Of 1876, because the territory he desired
to seize was at best disputed territory, and
in taking violent possession, he usurped the
war-maaing power of Congress. and refused
to adopt that settlement by negotiation which
the law had prescribed. Without even con-
sulting the jury Of the nailon---wlthout at
tempting to pursue the remedy of negotiation,
which had been indicated BY the statu,e--he
sends his servants to the Mexican mansion,
and at the point Of the bayonet, drives out Its
inmates The act was unconstitutional 1t
was unnecessary its sole responsibility rests
upon the head of JAMES X. Polk, its author
Rich. Rep.
PRINTERS IN THE ARMY.-The New Or
leans Delta says:
The following incident goes 10 illustrate the
great numerical force Of the printers with the
army Gen. ScoTT, on recent occasion,
wanted 10 have some general orders printed
al gwen time. lie sent directions TO The Of
fee of the Tampico Sentinel 10 have them
done lie was told that, in consequence OF
the scarcity of hands, the work could not be
Accomplished He then on morning Of par
~ glirssr