Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-07-16
WHAT HARM DOES the WAR DOi-A
QUESTION AND ANSWER.

Mr.. c. ]. Ingersoll, wiring a letter to the edi.
tors Of the Nasional lniellgencer, 20 correct
their Misrepresentation Of his meaning, in saying
''the war had created an admirable system ol
finance, worth more than all its charges" which
they understood to refer TO ''the free-lrade sys-
TEN of finance and low imposI duties" )" but which
he explains referred to the Sub-Treasury, con-
cludes by putting a question in the following
terms:
"But, in future articles, laying aside the senti-
mental, peRlical, and common idle denuncia-
lions Of war, tell US rhat harm this one doesl-
You will perceive that | regard it as a national,
not party consideration. In that view. and so.
Der earnest, please to tell US what harm il does to
either of the two countries"
To which the editors Of the Inielligencer re-
turn the following bsterng answer, made the
more caustic by the just ausion to the utter cal
lousness and insensbilny which could ask such
aqueslion with such hppant levity. But such
insenate fipPancy is itself one of The most de-
plorable results ofthe state Of war.
"lt is difficult (responds the lntelligencer) TO
frame an answer to question the mere statement
Of which is a mockery Of all humanity, morality
and religion. Perhaps it will DO better answered
by other questions. What harm is there in
wholesale murder, in remorseless cruelty, and in
full deslrurtvenessl What harm is there in fat
tenng the soil of Mexico with the blood and the
bodies of our brave feow-cilzens, as well oflhe
army proper as Of those enticed to volunteer in
the war by the falsest OF pretencesl What harm
in the decentralization of The public sentiment Of
our own country, of which il were difficult TO
give more striking evidence than the shocking
levty with which gentleman of Mr.. lngersoll's
birth, education and station, speaks Of the hor-
rors which cannot fail TO attend war, even when
necessary, and much more such needless, wan.
ton, wiIlul war as that in which we are now en-.
gogedl
I'VE have too much regard for the common
sense of our readers, and Of the great body Of the
American people, to doubt what would be their
reply to these questions. Nav, we would not
doubt Mr.. lngersoll's own, were his natural sem
sibilities not bIunted and hardened by his long
land we dare say painfully service in the locofoco
school Of politics. And even yet, we should
think, there is one argument against this war,
which, though steeled by bad and bitter prejudice
against considerations addressed to his reason,
even he could be made to feel the force of. His
gallant son, who is equally an honor 10 his sire
and an ornament to The public service-had he,
the pride Of that fathers heart, laid down his life
we will not say in battle, and in a necessary
war, for in that case pride would to some extent
offset grief-but operating on the land in Mexico,
had he sunk victim to disease in its most hope.
less form, as thousands of equally beloved sons
have done, and in such war as this, would the
thought Of the blessing of the war, and The ,eorld
q good 1t is doing, or Of the share which he has
himself had in producing it, reconcile him to his
oss, or assauge for moment his real grief of
leaul We know that il would not"