The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-12

The War.
The sorry predicament in which the Federal leaders
and journals have involved their party in relation to the
becomes every day manifest The justice and
sound policy Of the have come at last to be almost
universally recognised throughout the country II rs
clearly and INCIDENTALLY popular The first effect OF this
fact appears the chsm which it has already created in
the Federal ranks and especially among their file leaders
portion of these leaders staggering under the
odium OF having denounced the wicked and dis
graceful Another portion of them, yielding to the ne
cessity of the times, are laborng to make what pol
ca capital they for their party by protesting all
readiness support it. How this family quarrel between
the two sets of Federal popularity catchers will eyentu
ate cannot yet be foreseen. But the many petty and
puere shifts and maneuvres into which the difficulty
drives them are ludcrousy characteristic of the pary
OF expedients.'
Neither of these sets of politicians-nether the Fed
eralists who are willing stick TO the old Federalism of
1872 nor yet the Federasts who seeking to slough
off their Federalism as the reptile sheds his skn-neither
of these sets of men dares for one honest moment
to speak out the whole truth, and acknowledge that the
war is rghteously wagea, and unavoidable, and that
therefore, it ought be cordially sustained, and prose-
cuted with the whole power OF the nation To say this,
character OF an opposition party the cardinal question
of the day. Federalism, whether creed or
clique is capable of no such sacrifice. On the other
hand neither set OF these poltcianswith the possible
exception of the notorious "fourteen." now dwndled
down. we suspect, TO something less than "bakers
dozendares heartily, and zealousy, and openly to OPP
pose the further prosecution Of hostilities
| In this sad dilemma, nothing is left for them IN
or out Of Congress, but TO speak one way and
to act in another, and so to dash their arguments
| in pieces against their votes Thus we have seen
the war appearing the Federalists throughout whole
prolonged debate altogether odious and abomnable-bad
every way, begun in violation of the constitution,
tinued without hope of good result waged on no Just
cause and bringing upon country the condemnation OF
all the nations; and then behold when this dark picture
has been painted the strongest and most sombre color
ing inst then comes up the vote with its formidable
ord of ayes and noes and, as by magic, the whole
scene to Federal comprehension, suddenly changes and
this same war becomes good enough to warrant hon
est man in voting away the money of the country and in
calling upon the patriotic valo of the country to carry
on with vigor AT Philadelphia dinners in Ashland let
tiers, in the columns OF the Federal press, whether it be
the 'organ Of foreign influences here at Washington
in humble and provincial organ of factious
huences elsewherein all these quarters the war no
cradle But when the party to vote in Con-
gress, then il becomes good enough to be voted
| for
| But even then, let who fears Federal wrath
attempt anything like uindication justification OF
the war of his country Let him say nothing, if he be
prudent, of the wrongs and ourages which Mexico has
perpetrated upon u.s. These federal orators who
have just voted men and money will cry with
voice that all of that old matter has already been set-
tied by treaty Again and again, the Federal speakers
in Congress have deliberately ransxed themselves upon
the point of this most absurd declaration The Intel-
gencer OF yesterday morning tells that in its long
view of the Presidents message, it did not make the
point of an existing and valid treaty settlement of
difficulties with Mexico, precuding all reference to old
Mexican outrages as causes of war, but that il means
soon to repair its omission.
treaty settlement of the wrongs which Mexico has
heaped upon us for twenty years This is now the
shield which the Mexican party in this country would
hold up protect enemy, whose cause it advocates
1t is the very last and amest and most ridiculous of all
the Federal devices, 'o make the appear the bet
ter reason" What is this 'treaty settlement the
part of Mexico What is it but dreary and unre-
deemed spectacle of public faith ruthessy broken and
DELAYS evasons and falsehoods following swiftly upon
the footsteps of another What is it but the picture of
American forbearance exhaustng every arthce OF per-
suasion on the one hand and of Mexican duplcity,
ming through every dsgaceu shift of aithlessness, up
on the other Ae- years of outrage, got treaty OF
anty and The ouiages faster and fast
err Then, with full of in our hands, we OBJ
ained after years of effort mixed American and Mex
lean commission Then all the man9uvres of dis
honest litigation Frivolous delay, false witness, sup
pressed evidenceall the viIlanous enginery of
fraud; and meantime, Mexican robbery, and prison.
men and murder held on their high handed career. AT
last something like two Millions out of claim of more
than SIX Millions passed. with Mexican consent into the
shape OF lquidaed damages payable of course the
damages OF rapne should be paid, without delay But
payment not forthcoming In our old spirit of for
bearance and friendship, gave time Mexico fixed
her own time, and ample time. The day of payment
thus fixed has and has gone and seventeen install
ments out of twenty remain unpaid But the twenty in
staments cover but onethrd of the caim and for the
rest of the claim have labored in vain through years
TO obtain even that hearing which could at any time be
granted and which, according TO the treaty stipulation
was to have been granted without delay. Such is the