Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-06-18

is, my lords, a %ruinous and destructive war;
it is full Of danger; it teens with disgrace,
and must end in ruin In these bold words
are indicated the true course of parliamentary
opposition TO an Outrageous policy. Mr..
Burke declared that he would be ever ready
to support a Just war, whether against sub
iects or alien enemies; but where justice, or
a color Of justice, was wanting, he should
ever be the first to oppose it, And Mr.. Fox
said, he could not conscientiously agree to
grant any money for so destructive, so igno-
bic a purpose as carrying on a war commen-
ced unjustly, and supported with no other
view than to the extirpation of freedom, and
the violation of every social comfort This
he conceived to be the strict line of conduct
to be observed by a member Of Parliament.
These expressions apply with singular force
to the present war, and 10 the duties of Con-
gress.
The record Of the debates at the formation
Of our own national constitution show that
these high examples of constitutional oppO-
sition to an unjust war had not been forgot
ten. While the convention were considering
the provision which authorizes the President,
with the adyice and consent of the Senate. 10
make treaties, MIR. Madison moved to au-
thorize two-thirds of the Senate TO make trea.
AltN VI HI"'f ttftft'ttf III Nbl1Nlt u Nv L ltci
dent The President he said, would ne.
c~essarily derive so much power and impor
lance from a state of war, that he might be
tempted, if authorized, to impede a treaty OF
peace Mr.. Gorham thought the security
unnecessary, as tie MEANS If carrying on The
tcar trouH NOT DE in the hints If the EXE-
cuTIvE, bit Of Tie LEGISLATURE (See Eli
otis Debates, vol. V. p. 52i.) Here is a
distinct recognition by Mr.. Gorham, who
was a delegate from Massachusetts, Of the
principle that Congress would have The pow
or to refuse supplies, and thus control the
Executive in time ofwar; and this opinion is
supposed TO have influenced the convention
in rejecting Mr.. Madison's amendment as
unnecessary.
The propriety of Withholding supplies is
sanctioned, then, not only by its intrinsic rea-
condolences as a mode of restraint, but by
opinions expressed in the British Parliament,
and in the very convention which framed our
constitution.
Congress having the power, the present
occasion eminently requires its exercise. AT
the same time, it cannot be expected that
they should refuse to the soldiers, who have
already been called into this unwelcome SER
vice, the reasonable support which their COM
fort requires. No new sanction should he
given TO the war, and no supplies should be
afforded for its further prosecution. 1t were
better to build a bridge of gold for the re-
treat of our army, than TO vote a man, or {
dollar, for further conquest. A war, which
has been denounced as the Presidents, anC
which was made in defiance of the c%onstitu'
ton, and for unjust purposes, should be lief
to him, and to the mission of his will. The
true lovers of their country, and defenders o
/ a.. 10 - ill 1--,~A 80 ,Aa-a 49,
attempted by which he may be restrained
As, in ancient Rome, under the decree o
Punishment, the criminal was denied fire
and water thus cutting him off absolutely
from all sources of support, so, according t.
the genius of your constitution, should a Pre-
sident, wdging an unrighteous contest, bC
deprived OF all the means for its prosecution
His murderous plans should be starved
His dishonorable and unchristian war shOulC
be left without fuel FORTS flames.
(T0 be C0niinued.)