Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-07-17

they wished for their comfort, and on credit.
FELLOW CIrIzEss: 1t has been said OF Repub.
lies, which have existed heretofore, that they have
been ungrateful. However true the charge may
be with regard TO former republics, il is not true
OF our own. Patriotism, talent, and virtue, have
ever been remembered, in this government; and
they ever will be-
It is not for me. fellow citizens, TO discuss the
merits OF this war. But il is natural that |, for
one, should say something in relation 10 it, 1t is
a strange war: when first commenced, it was de
nounced by a large party in our countIy-the
party to which belong-as war for political
purposes. But, when soldiers were to be raised
for its prosecution, you find that men OF all par.
ties-tho opposeIs and the advocates, the aCcusers
and the accused-were ready to engage in the
war, to rally under The same standard, TO fight in
the same tented field. What spectacle for the
people Of the old world TO gaze upon!
Men who engrossed in the strife OF pc.
iitical preiudces were willing, like Roderck Dhu
and Filz James, to lay aside those prcjudiccs, Tor
the time, when a common enemy was to be en-.
gaged--to renew their dssensons, il ever, when
peace should be restored. Fellow. Ctzens-l
wish that the same patriotic feeling had existed
in the councils Of this nation; wish that Mex
co could have seen the same unanimity in our
people, in the prosecution Of this war, that they
have seen in our forces in the field. ! recolect
we'll the impression made on my mind, on one
occasion, when an express sent by me TO Gen.
Wool, brought me such stray papers as had found
their way TO the Generals camp--thc latest dates
were of the 29th November consequently, we
had seen nothing OF the proceedings OF the last
session OF Congress, or OF the Presidents mes
sage. The first thing cast my eye upon was
speech OF Mr.. Corwin, Senator from Ohio de-
nouncing the war, and those engaged in it, ss
little better than band OF robbers. Gentlemen,
a winter shower bath would have been pleasant
compared with my sensations on reading i'll
Freezing-chillngl Such speeches might have
been deemed patriotic in the United States; but,
place yourselves whore we have been, and endure
what we have undergone, and then imagine our
sensations We were in city numbering in
population at least twenty times our force, and
surrounded by enemies on all sides. We had
crossed the Sierra Malre, and found, when we
had arrived at Chihuahua, that we were looked
upon as little better than band Of robbers!-
Fellow Citizens, the speeches which ale made in
opposition to this war, are said 10 emanate from
the Peace Party; bu, say that they are made by
those who are postponing the peace e,ernnlly!
If the Honorable Senator's Cunning to Mr..
Benton) plans had been adopted, the war would
have terminated long ago. If our government
Taylor, each 10000 men. they would, ere this,
have subdued the whole Mexican power To
talk about guerrilla warfare is nonsense, against
such forces as this. If Gen. Taylor, with 4, 500
men. whipped Santa Anna al Buena Vista with
10000 he would have hunted him down and
crushed him! II Gen. Scott had had q sufficient
force on his march from Vera Cruz 10 Mexico,
TO establish line OF communication between his
army and Vera Cruz. he would, long ere this,
have marched into the city Of Mexico, and there
dictated the terms Of peace.
Fellow Citizens! What have we gained by
this war? or Gen. Taylor | can safely speak,
having been through all his lines Of operation.
He has gained four distinguished vctores--per
haps the most brilliant victories that have ever
been gained on this continent-and yet he has
gained nothing. Why, sir. burning to Mr.. Ben
TONI is it that the efforts Of army are like the
efforts OF q (evered patient, who spends all his
strength in spssms, and as soon as they are over,
is Frustrated? After the brilliant victories which
they have achieved, they have been forced, for
want oil men, ammunition, money and conveyaD.
ces, to lie idle until the enemy have been able to
gain strength anew, ard then the battles have to
be fought over again. In our victories. nothing
has been gained. Suppose Gen. Taylor remains
where he is, will we have gained any thing? He
has been there ever since last September, and
unless some better means are afforded him, he
will remain there until next October! The ex
pense oil this war is enormous. have been
told that s ,0O0,0 900 week has been paid to
sustain the war, and yet Gen. Taylor lies in the
very position where he was eight months ngo, and
there he mus, lie.
Although have not been over Gen. SCOTS
line OF operations, yet it is clear that he cannot
sustain himself from his want OF means. He
may take the city OF Mexico, bu. he cannot sus
tain himself lhen-take he may but it is mpossi.
BILE for him to keep it. For Santa Anna, although
he was stoned when he went to the city OF Mexi
CO, from some cause has gained new strength,
(some have thought that it arose from Gen. Scott S
proclamation and he will soon have an army
sufficient 10 cope with Gen. Scott.
Il is true, fellow citizens, that this war has not
been without its effect. 1t has had great moral
effect upon Europe. We now present to the
world spectacle such az we have never before
presented. 1t has been said, that the United
States could not wage war OF invasion. We
have shown that we have waged it successfully.
We have shown 10 the establishment OF the world,
that volunteer troops can be depended upon
that private citizens can be transformed into good
soldiers by proper discipline. We have shown
1t al the battle Of Buena Vista, where the whole
force was composed Of volunteers; and defy the
world 10 produce parallel 10 that battle. The
whole left wing was turned, and the myriads OF
Santa Annals army came pouring down on that
handful OF volunteers, almost surrounding them
on all sides yet they were sufficient to drive this