Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-05-06
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENcER.
PDNDENT OPINION

We have already had occasion more than once
TO remark, that opposition to the origin and objects
OF the Mexican War is by no means confined te
mat large and respected portion of our countrymcn
who are classed as Wings. 1t 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
liinging OH party shackes, in regard to this great
question, has just come under our notice, i'm the
case OF MIR. 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 Inc had not changed his principles, but he be-
ileved that the Wings are nearer the true Demo-
cratic ground In relation to several of the (and
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 Governments
lie said. further, among other things. Gas reported
in the Columbia Observer,) the following, which
fully bear us out in the belief we have heretofore
expressed, that opposition TO the measures of this
Administration is more deeply rooted than the
ground upon which parties have heretofore divided
sit was time MIR. S. said) that every true lover
or the unlon-every true friend of the South,
should speak out plainly OH this momentOus sub
Ject The nation Is truly in crisis dangers
threaten all sides: we have closed the first
volume of our history under the Constitution
The second Is now opened: new era is presented
an era OF conquest: mortal foresight can
ioresee what will be written in it,"
lie said she believed that if the matter had been
managed with ordinary prudence, our difficulties
with Mexico might have been amicably and hon
oraby 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 a cues
ton OF this disputed boundary. If The army had
remained at Corpus Christi and Mr.. Slidel 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 this 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 i'm
Congress that the President was responsible for
all the consequences of the war.
10 give the President the right to make war
and then TO denounce all who do not sanction his
course as 'enemios 10 their country'-as the
Mexican party'-as friends, compatriots, and
fellow soldiers of Santa Anna and Ampudia ,
would be to convert our Republic into Despot-
ism'
Mr.. Sykes said she did not agree with the
w hgs IN many of their views upon national ques-
lions: he was with them in their opposition 10
Executive usurpation he believed that it was ne
cessary for the Wings to come into power, to save
the country from the awful consequences of the
deep msrule Of this Administration"
Amidst the clash of arms, and the natural eXal
tatlon o.; great military achievements and brilliant
victories, we may yet do well to preserve our sense
of Justice, morality, and true policy, and to streng
en- and refresh it, by reference 10 the maxims and
IolI l..
gulshed masters i'll the schools of moral and politi
cal wisdom
Ii is with this view that we have Transcribed the
following passages from Sir James Macintosh al
lowed 10 have been enc Of the most enlightened
men of his age:
The employment of force III the intercourse of
reasonable beings is never lawful but for the pur-
pose OF repeiling or averting wrongful force HUI
man life cannot lawfully be destroyed or assaied,
or endangered for any other object than that of Just
defence. Such is the nature and such the bounda
ry OF legitimate Selfdeence i'm the case of indiyid-
uals. Hence the right OF the lawgiver to protect
unoliendIng citizens by the adequate punishment of
crimes; hence also the right of an independent
state To take all measures necessary to her safety If
1t be attacked or threatened from without provi-
ded always that reparatlon cannot otherwise be OBJ
tanned that there Is reasonable prospect of OBJ
test are not probably greater than the mschicfs of
acqulescence In the wrong; including on both sides
o, the deliberaton, the ordinary consequences Of
the example as well rs the immediate effects of the
act. Ii repar2tion can otherwise be obtained a ma
ton has no necessary, and therefore no Just cause
OIL war; 1t there be no probability OF obtaining it
by arms, a Government cannot, with Justice to
their own nation, embark it in war and if the e.
wills of resistance should appear on the whole great
or than those OF submission, wise rulers will! CON
slider an abstinence from perniclous exercise of
right as a sacred duty to their own subjects and
debt which every people owes to the great common
wealth OF mankind, of which they and their enc
mics are alike members. a war is Just against the
wroDgdoer when reparation for wrong cannot other
wise be obtained but it is then oniv conforrnabe to
all the principles of morality when it is not likely
to expose the nation by whom it is levied to great
er than 1t processes TO avert and when ii does not
infllc on the nation which has done the wrong suR
ferlngs altogether disproportioned to the extent OF
the injury. When the rulers OF nation are re-
CURED to determine question of peace war, the
bare justice Of their case against the wronodoer ne
yer can be the sole, and is not always the chief.
matter on which they are morally bound to exer-
else conscientious deliberation. Prudence in con-
Quoting the affairs Of their subjects is in them
part of justice. "--.Nm Int
FoUNrNN Pen is the name Of a beautiful and
scientific arrangement for writing with speed and
grace, invented by Mr.. Horatio Reed, of jersey
city. MIR. Reed is glass blower, and during the
nine years that nc has soourned among u.s. he has
shown superior aristical skill. His Fountain
Pen Is happy union of science and art. The pen
is of gold the point is of iridium Acid cannot
attack the former, and paper wear blunt the
latter.
The Fountain is glass cylinder, the size Of
goose quill. SIX inches in length. pionge or ps-
ton is fitted In the cylinder and worked by thumb
screw. 1t IS hlled In two seconds by placing the