Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-16
DAVID FULTON Enron.
vol. 3.---NO. III.

Nor was that the only benefit. The voice of
the people in the elevation of Mr. Polk, not
only condemned a protective tariff but like
wise national bank, the distribution of the
proceeds OF the public lands, as well as every
other latitudinous construction of the consti-
tuition, upon which the prominent measures of
the wing party SO much depend With you,
contributed my feeble aid in producing such
"a state of things, and with you. recognize
in its fullest extent the obligation 10 stand up
in their defence.
In regard to the existing war with Mexico,
believe (although acquit them of any such
ntention) that the course of the wing press in
general, with that of the leaders in Congress
in particular, has been in reality extending
said and comfort . to the enemy and al
though it might not subject item 70 any want
of patriotism in It's more enlarged and compre-
hensive sense, yet it certainly renders them
Justly obnoxious to the imputation, that for
the sake of a mere party triumph they arc dis
posed to risk to some extent national disgrace
There are two kinds of patriotism, if you will
allow the classification, which every citizen
should possess, both of which are required in
any emergency. There is the patriotism OF
instinct, as well as the patriotism of cacula-
ton. While we should carefully take coun-
sci of the &c second sober thought" in the pro-
gress of a quarrel, yet the fight having CON-
meglced, the scabbard should be thrown away, |
and all our impulses should take sides with
our country. 1t is here that they have eXhib
tied a shameful deficiency; they have suffered
their natural impulses 10 be suppressed, and,
for party purposes, diverted from their true
channel. Against them bring ne railing &C
Cusations but | must be allowed to say that
[ admire a patriotism that is both national in
- a. a.. loo
diffusivein its 'sympathies in other words,
that kind of fmpulSlre feeling, which adopts
fully, cordially, and Internationally, the SEN
timent, my country, right or wrong, my
country That this chargeis not gratultous-
ly made, will simply refer to the past histo
ry of that party. When was it that those i'm
pulses were allowed to flow in their natural
channel, II by suppresslng them they thought
they could accomplish party end When
was t that any republican administration IN
any of our foreign &C broils % was right? Wei
were wrong in the difficulty which we had
well nigh got into about the French indemni
ty; we were wrong in all our Indian wars
wrong with Great Britain about the North
Eastern boundary; wrong about Oregon, and
now more wrong than ever with Mexico. Sup
pose that we are wrong in our present difficult
ty, (Which | am far from admlttlng,) what
practical good can result in promul eating 1t
from the house tops None that | can see,
but on the contrary, much practical mischief
The idea Of Withdrawing our troops from the
enemy's country, under the hope of obtaining
peace, is not entertained by them, or if it be,
they dare not avow it. Such a course could
produce no beneficial effect, and could only
end in an expensive and protracted border war;
and, in the end, we should be compelled at
any cost TO recover the advantages we now
have, which should only be abandoned when
peace was obtained. You might with equal
prOprlety expect bully, who IN single COM
bat had been thrice knocked down and so COM
pletely "used up'' as to be incapable of resls
lance, yet who still refuses to cry &C enough %
YOU might as we'll expect him to surrender
after being allowed time to "get his wind"
Both parties then, being in favor of a vigorous
prosecution of the war, what other object have
they in the ''hue and cry" now raised, than
the one imputed to them? Yes, gentlemen,
w'ite our country calls for the united energy
If IS sons while patriotic appeals have been
male TO the nation by its Executive while
the stars and stripes are already proudly wa
wing over the walls of Monterey and Vera
Cruz; while our gallant soldiers are suffering
tseaSe and death abroad in defence of our ma
tjonal honor, instead of letting our national
scoOping out their own channel, and spreading
both deep and wide over all the plain, we have
the notifying spectacle exhibited that there
are those in our very midst, bone of our bone,
who, for the furtherance of party, have, to
some extent, withheld the full homage of their
affection from their country. While the battle
RACES, union as to the justice of its origin, is
an important element OF strength; it not only
| buOys up the national vessel, but gives both
physical and moral power
Thrice is he armed who thinks his quarrel just"
In conclusion, let me say with you, that
principles which are worth protesting are GER
tainly worth defending and allow me to add
that no man would more readily grid on his
lmorand make the sacrifice you require, could
it be done consistently with the higher oblga-
tons under which find myself placed. But
the present health of my family, with the lit
tie probability of sufficient improvement an
time to canvass the district, render it out OF
my power to comply with your Wishes I'M
der different circumstances I would have done
so, no matter how great the probability of de-
feat. might and doubtless should have been
beaten, but in defence of principles, and more
particularly when called for from such source
| would risk &c fiogging" at any time. Your
strength, backed by the " unterrihed democra-
Cy Oh Tie sister spoken OF III your TeSOlu-
tons, might not have given success but one
thing is certain, that with Lincoln and the
g Hornets nest sustaining, | never should
feel disgraced.
In conclusion, let me say, that although we
have no candidate in the field, let not that be-
tray us into an Indifference to our principles,
but g follow whithersoever they lead" In
, politics as IN religion, the Judgment should
become convinced before allegiance is exacted,
but when given, there should be nc compro-
mise OF the fundamental truths of either. The
principles of our political faith have nobly
conducted the country through the first and
second wars OF independence, and will not be
found incompetent TO plant the star spangled
banner (if necessary upon the walls of Next
CO. Respectfully, your ob't serv't,
WALTER F. LEAK.
To Messrs John H. Wheeler, VIM. Lander,
and M. Hull, Esquires.
/ IHINGS FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AGo.-Ihe
t Westminster Review, in an article upon pop
e ulation, gives the following as the prices Of
: some of the ordinary articles of food in the