Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-10-06
A JUST REBUKE.
rRoMTHE PHILADELPHIA iNouIRER, SEPT. %.
THE Wharf.-The WITHSTAND THE
ADMINISTER ALTON


We perceive that prominent and influential
Locofoco. print charges the Wings as a body s'wth
having opposed and interrupted the war" The
Wings of the nation, generally speaking, regard
wal as great calamity, and avoid it whenevcrit
may be avoided with proprety and honor. Never
theless, purer patriots never breathed than may be
found among the Wings; while the fact that the
blood of some OF their best and most cherished
avorites have been freely shed upon the battlefield
OF Mexico, should call blush to thecheek of every
Locofoco who has the remotest sense of shame.
whenever attempting to uuderrae or depreciate the
galantry, the patriotism, the heroism of his ,pol-
cal opponents. Such unmanly intimatons 'const-
tute an outrage upon the manned and mangled a.
mong the Giving, as well as to the memories of the
gallant dead. Ii is indeed infamous to find the or
gan OF the Government asSaiDg and libelling the
wings by charges OF a want of patriotism, while
thousands of Wing citizens are serving as officers
or soldiers IN our army in MeXco-at the very
moment, 1t is possible, in which some of them may
be pouring out their blood or yielding up their lives
In national quarrel. The Government that is
guilty OF such conduct deserves the severest con-
domination, the keenest rebuke. That the war
might have been avoided with honor, and hence
should have been avoided, is the opinion not only
ot thousands at home. but of many of those who
nave participated in its perils and its triumphs.-
And upon this point there will be no evasion no e.
quivocation, when the matter comes up for discus
sion In Congress. The real authors and promoters
OF the war Will be there unmasked Their objects
selfish and ambitious, as we believe them To have
been, Will be exposed to the public eye and mind.
1hat the people have already pronounced against
ii' Ioh anu his Poiicy In this matter is quite APP
parent from the results of the recent elections r
When he provoked and commenced the war. he
had an overwhelming majority i'm the ponular
branch OF the National Legislature. But how
stands the case now? What is the verdict of b;S
own State2 The probability is that the next
House OF Representatives will be against him-a
galnst HIM too through the influence of the people
VINO nave been afforded an opportunity OF recording
'heir sentiments through the ballot-boXes But
we repeat an influential journal identified with tho
Administration, charges the Wings with havinp
interrupted the war" How interrupted it2s
Where and when? Mo- The error. from the
FIRST, has been at Washington The war was
heedlessly, recklessly brought on-and then it was
mserably mlsmanaged. Mr. Polk and his advisers
committed blunder after blunder and i'm some cases
''ie plumbers nave, II possible, been worse than
crimes. They started with the idea that the Mev.
leans would not fight When convinced of ,ha;r
error, they argued that their first battle woud
prove Their last, and that Il single defeat would
displrlt and overwhem them. Under this deusion
an army, altogether Inadequate to the emergency
was called into the field and MANY of the yolu1,
Ieers who rushed 10 the rescue were sent h,o,,
,'ei, honeS' Hiorililed and indignant. But another
Hi.lie look p.ace-and then the services that were
refused Were as earnestly courted And this has
been the history from the first The adminstr,0
'lon has been crying peace, Peaceu' while our
gallant little army has been compelled to fight bat
tie after battle, and in many cases against fearful
odds. Even now, if the negotiations which were
IN progress at the last dates should fail the cause
we verify believe, will be found in the fact that
zen SCOUTS army was not sufficiently powerful
In orief, the war was commenced unwisely-it has
been conducted in spirit at once niegardly and
cruel, and has has, been proracted wantonly and unne
cessafily. These are the sins and responsibilities
OF the Administration It's head and It's memherS
must ana VIII be held accountable, while their un
wortny' unmanly-nay, dastardy assaults upon
the higs-such assaults we have quoted above
VIII w only react upon themselves. The American
rGoPie VIII never permit the memories of the
wing heroes who have laid down their lives unon
me battlefield to be lbelled and insulted with i'm
punity.