Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-01-07
POLITIC A l..
FROM THE RICHMOND wnio.
o r I q N OF y H z w A r
THE MESSAGE REVIEWED.


terest several able reviews (among others your
OWN Of the Presidents DEFENcE-for Message it
can hardly be called in the constitutional sense in
which we understand that term.
by the Constitution he is required 'togive Ia Con-
gross information of the state Of the Union and re-
commend to their consideration such measures as
he shall Judge necessary and eXpedient - bu,
whether il was ever contemplated. that, in giving
information of the state of the Union and recon-
niendng measures necessary and expedcnt. he
to hold forth in deliberate set speech Of defence of
what he had done, and for what he had been over
whelmingly condemned in all those States where
the opportunity had been presented, Of expressing
an opnion-a speech, which was far more befting
one of his partZans the floor, of his
sci in his defence under an impeachment, than the
dignity of n Chief Magistrate, conscious of faith
full discharge of his public dutys question about
which there might be some difference Of opinion,
and concerning which am not disposed to handy
words. | will only say that, to my mind, ii betray
ed the workings of guilty conscience, and the
conviction of desperate cause.
| But, in other respects, it must strike ali consd-
crate and well informed men, as most remarkable
production will not deny that it is written with
reasonable degree OF ability and ingenuity but
to say that is hollow hearted deceptive, hypocrit
ical and false, is, in my Judgment, but tcebly
pressing its character 1t deserves TO be plac-
ed, and will sooner later find its level along side
of its predecessor of sod 40" ''clear and ungues
tionable tile,'' ''the whole or none'' document.
that, just twelve months ago. was ushercd to the
world, with about many tlourshes of the pen,
from the democratic press, has accompanied this
miserable, abortivo progeny.
Mr. Polk evidently feels that great issue has
been made between himself and the country, upon
which, as before said, he has been sgnally con
demned; and 1t appears TO me that the whole tenor
and drift of his late annual communication TO The
people, through Congress, has been to mysify and
mislcad the judgment Of those not well informed
upon that particular subject, and TO present new is
sues, and Off may use the expression sometimes
INDUCED in) rely upon false facts
In the first place he takes occasion 10 say that
Mexico forced this war upon us, by her act,
(Which is repeated some twenty times, in different
forms that she had invaded our territory, attacked
forces, and shed the blood of American citizens,
on our soil whilst all honorable means were
reSorted TO by him to avoid war. We shall see in
the sequel whether this be true or false And yet,
strange as it may be- instead of undertaking t. show
why it was that Mexico, the weaker power of the
two, influenced by no hope of conquest, with
sonable expectation OF success torn TO pieces by her
civil connections, crippled in her resources, desti-
tue of credit and the means of carrying on the war,
with everything 10 lose and nothing to gain, in
stead. say, OF showing why Mexico thus madly
and blindly forced us into war, by invading the
territory of the United States, (Which if Mr. Polk
knows anything, he knows not so, as will pre-
sently show )and attacking forces launches forth
into most eXtravagan eXaggeration of the many in
suits, wrongs and depredations coGG' y had sus-
tanned and submitted to, for years and years past,
and reflects upon the character of our government,
and his predecessors, for not having long ago
forced Merico into ,car, by an inrasion Of her ter
rito1y and an attack upon her forces.
Let us see what all this (Which will undertake
to show, from Mr.. Polk IS own pen, is unfoundcd,)
has to do with the war-now existing, and made
by MIR. Polk and not by Mexico-for which he
should be held to proper accountability, and about
which no man who Is free, or deserves to be free,
will have his mouth muzzled by the clap-trap words
''of aiding and comforting the enemy" | am no
Mexican, and akin to no Mexican | am Tex
Mexican land holder or ck-iobber; but an
American citizen, devoted to my country, my country
men and the Constiiuton:-Truth is truth and right
is right; and when | know it, | will speak it out,
fearless of the denunciaton of hireling press
say then, what has all this to do with the existing
war? Suppose Mexico to have commenced it =
Does Mr. Polk mean to say that Mexico undertook
! TO make war upon us because she had committed
depredatlons on our commerce, (for which she had
already agreed to pay cquivalent,) or that she
wanted to fight us, because would neither whip
her. nor make her pay for it? If not, then this had
no influence with Mexico in making war, if she
did make it, and is therefore gcyn,ane TO the
matter. Or suppose Mr.. Polk made the war
! Does he mean to say that, l. = marched the United
States Army to the Rio Grande, not even then Ia
absolute and undisputed possession of the Mexican
authorities, to force the payment of the ndemnities
agreed to be paid by Mexico for the wrongs and in
jures ne has plteously related to punish her
for her former ransgressons, for which she had al
ready been held responsible, and for which she
agreed to make rcparation Gas will be shown y If
| so, then ask by what authority he undertook, at
the point Of the sword, with Congress sitting at his
own door, to make for any such purpose
And if it not for this purpose that he ordered
! Gen. Taylor to march his army from Corpus Chris
ii to the Rio Grande, then ask, why it is intro
duced in this communication, except TO mislead and
entangle, 10 hoodwnk and blind, to mystify and
deceive? You yourselves, Messrs. Editors, have
already too clearly shown Gas well as many others,
the fallacy Of MIR. Folks pretenslons to clear
and unquestlonable title to this territory, on the
! East bank of the Rio Grande. to require any con-
frmaon. But will here ask the question Sup
pose it had properly belonged TO the United States,
as part of Texas: Congress, by its joint resolution
admitting Texas, had done so upon the cypress con-
dition '',at the State should be formed, subject 10
the adjustment. by this government, Of all questions
ofbo,WdnyUot may arise nth other governments"
And now | ask, by what authority, from what
source or from whom derived, did Mr.. Polk under
take (and Congress i'll session too,) to settle this
unsettled boundary question: left open by Congress
for adjustment BY this government, and not seizure
by the President by taking military possession and
pointing his guns upon Mexican town on the op-
posite banl-from which this wicked Unnecessary,
uncalled for unchristan, unconstitutional, expcn-
sive and bloody war has ensued He has not I'm
detiaken TO show any such authority, which was
his first duty, and until he does, he should be held
to Just and strict accountability for all the money
that shall be expended, and all the American blood
that has been, may be spilled, upon the plains
Mexico, Is it not nonstrous; TO see this govern
mont Of ours, borrowing money, issuing treasury
notes, strainng its credit. creating great national
I. IL 80 i.