Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-09-03
RICHMOND,v VA.
Friday Morning, September 3, ls47.
THE RICHMOND WING AND THE wAE

THE RICHMOND WIG AND THE WAR.
We stated yesterday our intention TO transfer
10 our columns the editorial of The Whiso oil Wed
nesday relative TO the war: making such COM
men,s thereon as might suggest themselves 10 our
mind. On reflection, we think ii unnecessary 10
trouble our readers 10 that extent. twill suffice
10 call attention TO the prominent features OF that
remarkable production, that the public may be
informed of the grounds on which the cause Of
the country is assailed, and that Of the enemy
sustained, in time Of war. We acknowledge Inc
right Of every man to discuss every subject con-
nected with The foreign or domestic operations OF
our governmen!;-but when the nation IS engaged
in actual h~oslililies with a foreign power, and we
see our citizens, or any olthem. clamorous against
our own government, we naturally question their
LOYALTY. II is human nature 10 do SO. SO uni
versal is this sentiment, that all nations mat nave
a criminal code have made il reasonable 10
support the enemies OF the county, without
any reference whatever 10 the Justice " -.ss:."5
m;obr he engaged. Il is mn justification 10 say
tha, the enemy was right, and therefore I
sided with him. We have yet to hear OF The
court which would listen for one moment TO
such a plea. II there be such an one, we are ig-
norant OF its existence. We are not disposed,
however, to go as far as The law would in such
a case. We are willing TO hear the reasons on
which our antagonists proceed in this, as in every
other matter; and by those reasons we will
Judge them. If we find that they are good and
sufficient, they would compel us TO forgive even
the high crime of opposing the Government!
when engaged in actual hoslililies. On the con-
trary, If we see men advocating the cause Of The
public enemy, without s%uficieu, justification,
and, at such a %juncture as the present, a~ssailins
thsir Government with frivolous and groundless
complaints, it becomes our duty, as journalists,
to expose their want of patriotism, and ask the
people 10 visit them with that condemnation which
they so richly merit.
Blu, to return TO the remarks of the Whig.-
That paper, under the head IA War of Con.
Quest" makes a most violent attack upon the
Government The most prominent point, in
deed The whole pi,h OF the article, may be gath.
cred from the following extract:
"By such a system has Mr.. Polk succeeded
in erecting, out of the shattered Constitution, a
stupendons despotism, while he is d~eluding the
ears of his followers with the syren cries OF De-
mocracy' and 'equalityr He has stolen alike
lege 10 which they were entitled, either as a birth
right or by the grant Of the Constitution. He
may make war when he pleases, and no man
dare say nay! When he is at war, none dare
question his authority. He is as absolute, accord
ing 10 Mr.. Ingersoll, as Mahmoud or Napoleon,
and he may push his lust of conquest TO any ex.
IRENE, without either let or hindrance on the part
of Congress or people"
The whole oflhis TRADE is aimed at the justice
of the war in which we are engaged, and is bas-
ed upon the message Of The President informing
Congress that war existed by the act Of Mexico.
We have before asked our Wing friends TO poin,
out The injury done to the constitution by tina,
message, admitting that every word it contained
was untrue; granting that no hostililies even ex-
listed, that there had been no collision between
our troops and those Of The enemy-we again
ask how the message violated the rights OF
Congress or the privilege OF the people2 We
have confessed, and again confess our utter in
ability 10 answer these questions without assist
ance. Looking 10 the origin OF the wal, we find
s~uficien, causes TO justify the United States be-
fore the world for taking up arms; The manner in
which that necessity was recognized al Wash
inslon, is a matter with which Mexico has nc
thing TO do. That is not a matter 10 be discussed
by That nation. |, has ncihing 10 do with her
quarrel. She claims Texas as one Of her pro-
vinces. We claim Texas as a State OF our con-
federacy. This controversy has led TO war, and
the war can be justified by that party, and that
parry alone, whose claim 10 Texas is BEST
That our claim is the best, no one out of Mexi-
CO denies, that we know of.
AS to the manner in which the war was
brought about, that is a question between The peo-
pie of the United States and the Government OF
the U. States, and has nothing 10 do with the jas-
tice of the war. But we are compelled to postpone
the discussion Of this point until TO morrow,
when we shall continue this subject and say
something more OF The Wings editorial.