The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-12-02
idozing truth, as I do, Inovcr, never could have
vOtad for that hill.

idolizing truth, as do, Inover, never could have
voted for that bill.
The eXceptionable conduct of the Federal party
during the last British War; has excited an influence
in the prosecution of the present War, and prevent
ed lust discrimination between the two wars
That was War of National Defence required 1oi
the vndication of the National rights and honor and
demanded by the indignant voice OF the people
President Madison himself, know, at hlst reluc-
family and with great doubt and hesltatlon brought
himself to the conviction that it ought to be declar,
cd. leading and perhaps the most lniiuentlal
member of his Cabinet, (Nr. Galatin,) was, up TO
the time of its declaration, opposed 10 H. but
nothing could withstand the irresistible force OF
public sentiment. 1t was just War, and It's great
object, as announced at the time was Free Trade
and Sailors Rights" against the lutoeraDle and
oppressive acts of British power on the ocean, nc
Justice of the War, far from being denied or contr0
verified, was admitted by the Federal party, winch
only questioned it on considerations OF policy Be
ing deliberately and constitutionaly declared, IT
was, l think their duty to have given to 1t Their
hearty cooperation. But the mass OF them dld not
They continued to oppose and thwart It, to dscour-
age loans and enstments, to deny the power OF the
General Government to march the militia beyond
our limits, and to hold Hartford Convention, which,
whatever were its real objects, bore the aspect Of
seeking dissolution of the Union ITSELF They lost
and Justly lost the public confidence But has not
an apprehension of similar fate, in state of case
widely different, repressed fearless expression OF
their real sentiments in some of our public men?
How totally variant is the present War! This is
no War Of Defence, but one unnecessary and OF Of
fcnsive aggression. 1t is Mexico that is defending
her firessdes her castles and her affairs, not we.-
And how different also is the conduct Of the Wing
party of the present day from that of the major part
of the Federal party during the War of 1872! Far
from nterposing any obstacles to the prosecution of
the War; if the Wings in office are reproachable Mt
ALL it is for having lent too ready facility to ii,
without careful examination into the objects of the
War. And, out of Office, who have rushed to the
prosecution ofthe War with more ardor and aacrity
than the Wings? Whose hearts have bed more
freely than those Of the Wings? Who have more
occasion to mourn tho loss of sons, husbands,
brothers, fathers, than Wing parents, Wing wives
and Wing brothers, in this deadly and Improbable
strife
But the havoc CT War is in progress, and the no
less deporable havoc of an nhospitable and pcsti-
lential climate. Without indulgng in an dnnecessa-
ry retrospect and useless reproaches the past all
hearts and heads should unite in the patriotic endea
vor to bring it to satisfactory close. Is there no
way that this can be done? Must we blindly con-
tnue the conflict without any visible object, Or any
prospect of a definite termination? This is the i'm
portant subject upon which desire to consult and
commune with YOU. Who, in this free government,
is to decide upon the objects of War, at its COM
or at ally time during its existence
Does the power belong to collective wisdom Of the
Nation in Congress assembled, or is it vested solely
in single functlonary of the Government?
A declaration of War is the highest and most aw-
full exercise of sovereignty. The Convention, which
framed our Federal Constitution, had learned from
the pages Of history that it had been often and great
ly abused. 1t had seen that War had often been
commenced upon the most trihing preexts that it
had been frequently waged to establish or exclude
a dynasty; to snatch crown from the head Of one
poentate and place it upon the head of another that
it had often been prosecuted to promote alien and
other interests than those of the nation whose chief
had proclaimed it, as in the of English wars for
Hanoverian interests; and, in short that such vast
and tremendous power ought not to DO contded to
the perilous exercise of one single man. The Con-
vcnton, therefore, resolved to guard the War max
ing power against those great abuses, of which, in
the hands of a monarch, it was susceptible. And
the security against those abuses which its wisdom
devised, was to vest the War-making power in the
Congress Of the United States, being the immediate
Representatives of the people and the States. So
apprchensive and Jealous was the Convention Of its
abuse in any other hands, that it nterdcted the
ercse of the power to any State in the Union, with
out the Consent of Congress Congress- then, in our
system of Government, is the sole depository Of that
tremendous power.
The Constitution provides that Congress shall
have power to declare War, and grant letters of
marque and reprisal to make rules concerning cap
lures land and water to raise and support armies,
and provide and maintain navy and to make rules
for the government of the land and naval forces.
Thus perceive that the principal power, i'll regard
to War; with all its auxiliary attendants, is granted
to Congress Whenever called upon to determine
upon the solemn question of Peace War, Congress
must consider aud deliberate and decide upon the
motives, objects and causes of the War. And, if q
War be commenced without any previous declara-
ton of its OBJECTS in the of the existing War
with Mexico, Congress must necessarily possess the
at any time, to declare for what purposes
it shall be farther prosecuted. If suppose Con-
gress does not possess the controlling authority at
tribued to it; if it be commended that War having
been once commenced, the President of the United
States may direct it to the accomplishment of any
objects he plcases, without consulting and without
any regard to the will of Congress- the Convention
will have utterly failed in guarding the Nation
against the abtscs and ambition of single individ
ua Either Congress, or tho President must have
the right of determining upon the objects for which
n War shall be prosecuted. There i5 no other alter
native. If the President possess it and may prose-
cute it for ecs against the will of Congress, where
is the difference between our Free Government and
that Of any other nation which may be governed by
an absolute Gar, Emperor, or King?
Congress muy omit, as it has omitted in the pres
ent War, to procailn the objects for which it was
or has since been prosecuted, and in
cases Of such omission the President, being charged
with the employment and direction Of the national
force 10, necessarily, left to his own judgment to de-
eide Upon the objects TO the attainment of which
that force shall be applied. But, whenever Congress
shall think proper TO declare, by authentic act,
for what purposes war shall be commenced or
tnued, it is the duty Of the Presidet TO apply the
national force to the attainment of those purposes.
the act of Congress by which it was declared was
proceeded by II message Of President Madison emu
merating the wrongs and injuries of which we com
planned against Great Britain, The message, there
fore, and without it the well known objects Of the
War, which was War purely of defence, rendered
Ii unnecessary that Congress should pacularizc, in
the act, tie specific objects for which it was pro-
claimed. The wiiolo world knew that it was a War
waged for Free Trade and Sailors Rights.
1t may be urged that the President and Senate
possess the treaty making power, without any eX-
press limitation to its exercises that the natural
and ordinary termination of n war is by treaty OF
peace and therefore that the President and Senate
must possess the power to decide what stipuations
and conditions shall enter into such treaty. But
it is not more true that the President and Senate
possess the treaty-making power, without linz
tation than that Congress possesses tho war-rnak-
ing power, without restriction. These two powers
then ought to be so interpreted reconcile the
one with the other; and, in expoundng tho Consti-
tution we ought to keep constantly in view the ma
of fraaC Gov md