Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-03-04
THE THREE MILLION BILL AND THE Will.
MOT PROVISO.

fculties. 1t is obvious that the President by his
uncandid double-dealing ON the Oregon question.
and by his want of sagacity and craftsmanship in
the negotiations with Mexico, has forfeited the CON
hdencc Of large majority of those who brought him
into power. A few days ago distinguished Sena-
tor, who had been warm supporter of Mr. Pork.
declared, in his place. that he did not believe the
President had thirty friends in Congress, and that
he could not get the vote Of single district in the
United States against respectable opponent. And
really 1t would seem from the proceedings in the
two Houses, that the Senator was warranted in
making the assertion. Whom the present Con
gress commenced its first session. MIR. Pork had +,
majority of about sixty in the lower House. and six
or eight in the Senate, and yet he has scarcely
been able TO secure their support for single mea-
sure that he has recommended.
On the Oregon question he met with most NOR
hfying rebuke from the Senate, and after all his
boasting that sour title to the whole of Oregon was
clear and unquestionable," and that we must have
call OF none," he was obliged to back out from his
lofty position, and negotiate Il treaty by which he
relinqushed one-half. Mr.. CALHOUN was a DOW
eriul agent in bringing about this result but if we
were called upon to name the individual who stood
over MIR. Polk, whip in hand, and literally dashed
him into tame submission, we would say it was
Thomas III. BENTON.
Upon the tea and coffee tax recommended by Mr.
Polk, he has been equally unfortunate The
House of Representatives., by vote of near two to
one, threw this favorite measure into his face with
every mark of scorn and contempt
Finding his weakness, and hoping to win back
BENTON, who had proved refractory he in the first
place made BENTON's son-in-law, Capt FRE-
MONT, Colonel, hosting him over the heads of
hundreds of senior officers. This however. proved
too small consideration to induce cold Bullion''
to give in his adhesion.-He still stood aloof. and
In very ominous manner, spoke of the infrequoncy
of his visits to the palace 1t was then found ne
cessary to raise the bid, and accordingly Mr.. Polk
proposed to make Benton Lieutenant General.
and en oticio commander inc chief and deputy Pre-
sidcnt iH present., with the succession in future
This broad blaze Of Executive sunshine melted the
old genteman's heart and he forthwith sworo eter
nal allegiance to the man who, he had previously
vowed, ought to be f'cut for the simplest"
The bargain having been struck, Mr. Polk tried
to perform his part of the contract by obtaining from
This was matter of deep interest TO MIR. Po,x
and he strained every nerve to effect it, But alas
In both Houses there were found rcbelious spirits
enough to defeat this darling project, and again Mr.
Polk was foiled by his friends!
We might refer also to the veto of the River and
Harbor bill, and Of the French Spolaton bill, as
furnishing additional evidence of the want of unity
OF purpose and sympathy of feeling between Mr..
Polk and ''the Democracy"
Finally, MIR. Polk comes before CONGRESS- with
an application for Three Millions Of Dollars to be
placed In his hands to be used in buying peace
with Mexico! AT first the war was to be mere
holiday affair.-A few weeks would suffice to brine
Mexico on her knees, and if she proved obstinate.
our troops to s'revel in the halls OF the
Montezumas." 1t being found, however. not quite
SO easy matter as Mr.. Polk and his friends sup
posed to conquer peace" the gallant little gen.
'ieh'ih proposes to buy one, and asks Congress TO
give MN S5'ooo,uoo % pay the price of it! What
are to be the terms of the compact I've do no, lno
1t may be that one object is to bride Santa Ann,
to play Benedict Arnold and betray his Country
The negotiations which took place between that
willy gentleman and Mr. Polk, while the former
was In Havana, and the permission which Mr..
POLK gave him TO pass through our fleet and return
to Mexico, would seem strongly to favor that idea.
But let that be as 1t may, Mr. Polk applies to Con-
gresS for S3,OOO,O0O to enable him to get peace
A bill was accordingly reported in the lower House.
but provlso was tackled to it by majority of some
thirty or forty votes to the effect that if Mr. Polk
bought any Mexican territory with the money. il
must be one of the terms of the bargain that slavery
was never TO exist in it. In this form the bill pass
ed the House of Representatives, and it is now
pending before the Senate. The Southern mem
bers will of course oppose it. and probably some
Northern Wings not having sufficient confidence
In MIR. Polk to trust him with such an amount of
money, VIII also vote against it, and the chances
are that it will be lost Thus it is that the ones
ton OF peace has become entangIed with that of
sncery and 1t IS difficult to how they can rea
any be separated. Mr. Polk says he cannot get
peace without the money The Northern Demo
Gratis say he shall not have the money ,oitioa the
inhibition OF slavery and the Southern men say he
snail not have 1t on any such terms 1t will Tins
De seen that matters are, Major DOWNING world
say, IN pretty considerable of snarl ~ Io the
meantime we are squanderng millions of money.
ana sacriicng the lives ofthousaDds of our country
men, In war which seems to have no definite Oh
ject.
We took occasion some weeks 400 TO express the
deep apprehensons which had been created in our
inlnd by blending the slavery question with the
war We then pointed out the difficulty of procu
ring the ratification Of any treaty of peace, which
contained stipulation for the cession of anv nor
ton of Mexican territory to the U. States. Il re-
qures f,coHrts OF the Senator's present to ratify
treaty If the treaty does not nibh slavery in the
coded territory, the Northern Senators, who con-
StItute majority of the whole number will yeoret
IT, II 1t does miibH it, the Southern Senators who
constitute more than third of that body, will lust
is certainly defeat it, Thus, by the folly and rash
less OF MIR. Pork, a frebrand IS thrown into orr
rational councils which is of q far moro fearful d. /