Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-08-16
From The Richmond Times

The leading article in the "JJnon' Of Thursday
evening exhibits he Executive again in the very unbe
coming mol 10 dsrepuiable attitude Of endeavorng
stfe every hing Ike inquiry and expression oopinon
ny the People and Press concerning his acts and espe
clslly fsc RELAXING 10 the origin, the object and the
duct Of the war with Mexico 1t would readily be I'M
agned ny stranger 10 institutions. reading that
ce that in country freedom Of opinion and of speech
were nterdcted To the People, instead of being the rights
most carefully enumerated and most sacredy guaranteed
by the Constitution. II is hardly matter of surprise,
however, that In an atmosphere IN which the painest
mandatory provisions Of the Constitution as much dis
regarded they had existence the Administration
should lose sight of those which declaraory rather
than preeeptiYe.
We hai some thought Of replying to the argument
however absurd, Of the government paper that the Peo-
pie OF tho United States have no right to scunize the
merits II his lest the Mexicans should oyerhear
them but CHANGING at column or two further on we
found IN an Editorial announcement Of forthcoming
publication reply satisfactory 10 all that the Uuon"
now says has heretofore had u say against the
most unreserved freed I'M in tie discussion Of this very
matter OF the Mexican war that we feel ourselves re-
cved from any further trouble that head The work
which the Union" az being in the course
OF preparation Ia, "a complete and comprehensive His
tory Oh The War between this Country and the Republic
of Mexco;" a work which, the government Editor
informs us, Is ''designed to mpat clear and correct
views to the public mind in relation to the origin of
THIS war, It's prosecution, its tendencies and its results"
These the reader will observe, the themes which il
has been represented "moral treason" in us and in
others to have endeavored 10 upa our readers intel
lghle and true views concerning The proposed discus
sion oil IN M IN the forthcoming book is highly approy
ed by the Executive organ So that what is not law
io IN u.s. according to the government paper is actual
" andabe In the author of the proposed work. because
we presume he is their side. BE that as it NAV The
arguments by which this writer is cheered on to his task
correspond 40 entirely with those by which we have
constantly indicated free and unreserved nyes
lgaion OF the history and conduct of the existing war
that we adopt them every word and letter. in reply TO the
'leadef IN The government paper of the same date
Ertract from The Union" Of Thursday Might
IN rs proper that ALL Governments and Nations
should be seen IN their t7e light bu he people ,cho Ia,
under their respective iars ana Constitutions ,oen en-
gage" "a enterprises so important that rhich has call
ed oo brare and patriotic soldiers TO the battle fields of
'.Her'eo and the people Of the United States have
peculiar night 10 their Government in its true and
undisgnsed position towards country with which it is
e"gaged In sangunary war or rather ii /. the pecu-
lar duty IF The people 'oho ipc ,n,der Government
the oms to inquire ewejuiy, PATIENTLY and ,ninatel
INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES, MOTIVES and PRINCIPLES
toieh coafrdt Their government IN the prosecution Of
WAR AGAINST FOREIGN COUNTRY. The incongeniai-
'ty q o,Tnstdttions ,cM mtaryeapioits and The i'm
mediate relation Of The american People nth The ma
'chanery q Htir GoroTment, make it peculiarly their
right and Their duty to become cquain,ed-fanilarly
'acquained-wth The history Of THE AND EVENTS
phich BRING their country INTO begere,a contact Nth
other P0,ueys'
Most true. and excelleEtly well sad!