Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-11-03
FOR THE REPUBLICAN.
THE WAR-TO BE CONTINUED INDIE
FlNITELT, WITH INCREASED
HORRORS

LIZ w hh-I " DE SoN lin INDIE
FINTrELf, WITH INCREASED
HORRORS.
Is this ruinous war never tn have an end 2 II
seems to be prosecuted with blind folly and obs,i-
nate perseverance in wrong. if the object were TO
show to the world how much mischief a few weak
and wrong-hcaded men can accomplish As vet
The Government-neither the President nor Con
gress-las not declared to the nation the object of
the war We do not yet know, by any official act
or our rulers, what is intended, or expected or de-
sired to be accomplished by this expensive bloody
and corruptng war. The world is left to guess
from the occasional argumentative declarations of
men In office, and from few disjonted facts which
from time 10 time are brought to light, what are
the real objects of those who wickedIy planned and
reckiessy play out this bloody drama.
Last winter we were told that the nation hav-
Ing, somehow or other, got into this war 'by the
act OF Mexico" we must prosecute il with vpor
TO get back the EXPOSES which we had been com
PEELED to incur. The original cause of war if any
ever existed, was overlooked and forgotten: we
were fighting for the costs! Now, that view of
the case in It's turn, is superseded. Mr. Trist. Gas
represented III the papers Of the day. in proposing
terms OF peace to the Mexican Commissioners. ey
pilcitly abandons the preposterous claim OF indem
my 'of me expenses OF the war. lie proposes to
grant peace to weak, impoverished distracted Mey
leo IL she VIII conscn, TO dismembcr herself. and
seH TO u.s. for consideration IN ,noney two States
Oh her Union! And this is our sine ana nom
Withont this there can be no peace. War endless
~ar-wicked. cOrrupting, and bloody in its pro-
gIeSs and IN It's results portentous of ruin both to
Mexico and to us. is the alternative And fr
what9 Because Mexico will not nprec to coli ne
certain tract Of land for certain sum of money!
IL Is enough to shock the common sense. and the
common humanity OF the widest SAVAGE and VIVA,
must &c thought of such wicked cruelty by civil
Ilzea ana CHRISTIAN people The blessings Of peace
are denied TO two great nations the finest civ nm
N prtI nI a,,l
obstruction and death inflicted upon its people and
us defenders, and nearly two thousand of orr own
conntrymen, many of them the brightest and hest
OF the land are slaughtered, rs a new BEGINNING to
ms endless war-and for what! Because Presi
dent Santa Anna refuses TO sell TO President polk
piece Of land van
now That we know on what terms Mr. Ttst was
authorized 10 conclude treaty of peace we are at
no loss 10 Know the motives which led the Admin
is'ration TO maize this war. They were lust of
uo'ninon, 4 greedy coveting ofthe lands of Mexico.
and ali unprincpled determination to wrcst them
ron weak and distracted neighbor, at whatever
cost OF blood and treasure and at whatever sacrifice
OF established policy, and ofhational character. to
DC incurred by resorng to hypocriiica professions
ana ia!se pretcnces. Still this Administration
weak as 1t is, was wise enough to know that this
nation would not brook the bold assertion of tho
right to conquer and hold foreign countries by the
NAKED power OF arms; and, therefore, that it was
necessary 10 gloss over the conquest with show of
a peaccabe transfer for valuable consideration.
III may be that Mr.. Polk and his advisers did moi.
AT the beginning of their enterprise anticipate the
severe struggle that has ensucd and did not a, all
expect me enormous sacrifices and the DISTRESSING
losses which they have brought upon the country
Iney probably thought that the robbery could be
ehecied very easily; that the war would he short
ana cheap, the victory certain and the spoils vau,
PIE. but IN this they showed their ignorance no
MS 'i'a 'heir want OF patriotism and sound policy
fp ,l,o
forgot what race OF men they were seekiDo. 10 CON
gIer they did not remember that these Spanish /
NieNcans are of the same race with those Gothic
Spanlards who fought the Mools for ciCht centuries
against all odds, and until they finally expelled
them from their country; the same who fouoh: the I
veteran armies Of Napoleon, in regular war. as oDr
as they could raise and support armies and that,
"n VINE oFoNen. scattered, and impoverished, they
sui ionght them with the dagger and with poison
Ihey AID not remember thar these Spanish Mexi /
cans are patriotic, proud bgoted and obstinate. bv
inheritance II they had known and remembered
tnese things, they would have felt the improprietv
oi attempting TO conquer people determined not TO
DC conquered. And then we should have been
spared this wicked and desolatinp war.
POSSIBLY MIR. Polk and his advisers NAV have
MAO some secret hope OF getting glory for them
selves by gallant feats of arms, and by spreading
cn Io'i'iion' II 50, 1t was most fantastic hope
ioredoo!ned to gr!evous disappointment Their con
duct OF the war shows that they are too lioht and
chalfy TO bear the weight of glory If Tiven to
them gratuousy, they could retain it no lonoer
lian does the wlSp Of straw retain the glory of The
,iame That consumes it. All the glory that has
Deeh acquired belongs to those who have displayed
.heir military skill and their vaor and constancv
N actual battle and no part oft cnures to the Adj
whose duty it was if the war must he
carried on to devise practical and consistent plan
anu PROVIDE ana supply, In proper time and place.
'"el,'lo ana convenient means TO accomplish the
nu Unsigned, but tailed in every point Of that duty
IL had no plan. 1t avowed no national end lie (,
l,oioy IuOghS ny It's acts, consisted of the unset
ed purposes and the aTtiul tricks of the denapogue
The raising Of troops at home, with the appSint-
nent oil 0ilceTs and the selection of men yyas but
|, system Oh elec,oneerng for political power: and
me INVASION ct the enemy's country was anotbor
system OF eiectiODeering, consisting ofdenunciaiions
u certain Mexican leaders, and shameful bvpocrisv
ma false professions of kindness towards the Mey
cdn people. witness the procIamaiions which
,cott and Taylor were made to issue while all the
line our invading armies were left weak in nnnher :
ma unpoylded with adequate means. and exoosed :
od'gcIS rom which nothing could free them but ,
ne consuinmate skill Of a few officers directing eC
ollS almost sGpeThuman, and thus obtaining sue ,
esse5 almost miraculous. Witness Monterey. :
1ucna sia, Couo GorJo, and the late BLOODY bat
les at tie city Of Mexico.
':as' year, before the long lists of the dead had
arred sorrow into every ncighborhood in the sui
nu eS'' lhe war drum beat as merrilv as n mar {
aye DciI, and thousands of our biuhspirte ,,,L I
lshed 10 me STANDARD, animated bv q love Of o,, e.
ny aho a spirit OF enterprise which they rnistool h
!, pau'onSn' ana seduced by the promised deliob, q
"a 'e'ei W ule Halls OF the Muntezunas . lc
' mere are they now Thousands have ner;sboJ m
battle and sickness other thousands ,y; ,; m
almod ~ war or ernacaed by disease arc soo,
rne 10 drag out :he remnant of their sorr,,,CI q,
YES ana yet other thousands, (wOuld they wore =,