Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-05-01
INDEPENDENT OPINION.

We have already had occasion more than once
to remark, that opposition 10 the origin and objects
Of the Mexican War is by no means confined to
that large and respected portion Of our countrymen
who are classed as Wings II is to be found in all
classes of men, under whatever political denomna-
ton they have heretofore ranged themselves.
remarkable case Of independent opinion, and
fingng off party shackles, in regard to this great
question, has Just come under our notice, in the
case Of Mr.. SYKES, late Editor of Democratic
paper at Columbia, in the State of Tennessee, who
attended Wing State Convention at Nashville,
and in public address, gave his reasons why he
should, at the ensuing election, support the Wing
candidate for Governor Of that State
In the course of this address, Mr.. SYKES said
that he had not changed his principles, but he
believed that the Wings nearer the true Demo
cratic ground in relation to several Of the land
some Of them momentous) issues that have been
sprung upon the country than the Administration,
and therefore he goes with the Wings in opposing
the Administration of the General Government. He
said, further among other things las reported in the
Columbia Observer,) the following, which fully bear
us out in the belief we have heretofore expressed,
that opposition TO the Of this Admnistra-
ton is more deeply rooted than the ground upon
which parties have heretofore divided:
:" 1t was time (Mr. S. said) that every true lover
of the Union-every true friend Of the South,
should speak out plainly on this momentous sub
'ject. The nation is truly in crisis dangers
threaten us on all sides we have closed the first
volume Of our history under the Constitution
the second is now opened new era is present
ed-an era of conquest: no mortal foresight can
foresee what will be written in it,
He said " he believed that if the matter had been
managed with ordinary prudence, our difficulties
with Mexico might have been amcaby and hon.
orably settled. The war was owing to the mis-
management Of the President. The President
assumed to do that which, under the constitution,
: he had no right or power to do, TO decide ques-
: ton Of this disputed boundary. If the army had
remained at Corpus Christi, and Mr.. Slidell had
not been sent TO Mexico until the settlement Of the
Oregon question, in all probability there would
have been no war with Mexico, and thi, nation
might have obtained more from Mexico without
mourning the stupendous debt the war has brought
upon the country, than she will acquire by the
war: he had been convinced by the discussions in
Congress that the President was responsible for
all the consequences of the war;
ITO give the President the right to make war,
: and then to denounce all who do not sanction
: his course as enemies to their country'-as the
9 Mexican party'-as friends, compatriots, and
fellow soldiers of Santa Anna and Ampuda,' would
be TO convert our Republic into Despotism.
Mr.. Sykes said she did not agree with the
Wings in many of their views upon national ques-
tons he was with them in their opposition to
Executive usurpation; he believed that il was neces-
sary for the Wings TO come into power, to save the
country from the awful consequences Of the deep
msrule of this Administration"