Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-02
COMMUNICATION.
THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE WAR.

prizes there distributed the rewards OF b0odshed
and murder.
How much more may the wise and considerate
portion of mankind be now astonished to behold
the youthful Republic of the United States of Anne
RIGA so far forgeHul of her high and enlightened
mission to descend into the bloody arena of war,
and permit her bosom to be fired with the lust of
conquest, her countenance be distorted with the rage
of battle and her robe be spotted with its carnage
And should she accustom her eyes to look with
exutation on the dying agonies OF the vanqulshed,
to listen with pleasure to the goans Of her victims,
from an Angel of Mercy she will be quickly trans
formed in the semblance of the tabled Fures.
True the patriot must feel gratfed at the sur
prsing gallantry displayed by our small Army in
Mexico; but no reasonable man can fail to regret
the unhappy and mistaken counsels which have
urged il on to its present situation of toll and peril.
Peace nlau now come and prosperity return.
Another generation may supply the places of those
who have been slain in battle or died of disease
the anguish of friends may be soflened by time
industry may rebuild the cities and villages that have
been destroyed; economy and thrift may discharge
the debt which has been contracted and the en-
Uttered feelings of Mexico may be soothed by hon
orable treatment hereafter. But never let the peo-
pie of these United States forget the lessons of
eternal truth and wisdom which past occurrences
are so well calculated to enforce.
The History of the World does not afford an in
stance in which nation, that has begun by con-
quering other nations, has not ultimately been con-
quered itself. The poisoned chalice which it has
administered to others has invariably been COM
mended to its own lips. They that take the
sword shall perish by the sword,'' is mandate of
Omnpotence which admits of no exceptions. No
nation can be just to itself without first being just to
other nations The recklessness of human life, the
oyerweening confidence and the decentralization of
the vctors in war, scarcely less to be depre-
Gated than the misery, the privations, and despon-
dency of the vanquished. The evil consequences
arising from the rashness, the incompetence, the
vile and unworthy passions of Rulers invariably
visited upon the devoted heads of the People.
Who il is that is responsible for the present war,
whether the President himself or some overpower-
ing sinister influence about him, ii is now vain to
inquire; but at some future period the veil will
doubtless be raised and the evil prophet Mokannah,
with all his hideous features, be exposed to our
view.
1t is but few years since the true circumstances
which caused the war Of the American Revolution
have been made known to the world. 1t now APP
pears that George the Third himself, man GER
tanly not remarkable for his intelligence, but stub
born, selfish, and vindictive, the principal au-
thor of that contest so disastrous to the British
empire, but, provided conduct our public affairs
with prudence, moderation, and wisdom hereafter,
so happy for ours. He il was who, not knowing
how to rule, and too headstrong to be counsclled,
led on the nation in that deplorabe course--the
blind leading the blind-which finally resulted in
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the empire, prodigous in
of the national debt, and the loss of many
thousand lives, each of as much consequence ndi
yidually as his own.
Incapable of enlightened views, the feelings of the
King were concentrated in himself. The revenues
of the nation with him amount of money to
he q \ nen1ed AZ his own Measure The neonle ware
- his cattle,
Drawing in his gears and sweating in his service"
Even after he became convinced that the contest
was in vain, he persevered in his wretched career
because he found the people were still inclined 10
support him; and the nation ruined by devo-
ton to an unworthy King
How necessary, then, is it for every citizen of
free Republic to examine well the tendency of all
public measures and never trust blindly to the gu-
dance of rulers Had the British nation at that
important period elected Parliament firmly opposed
to the measures of the Crown, how much better
would it have been both for People and King
George the Third might have been saved from the
consequences of his own folly.
To institute parallel between the Admnistra-
ton OF President Polk and the reign of GEORGE
the Third would be superluous and unwelcome
task. II might excite the sensibility of Cabinet
so feelingly alive to all adverse comments and
which so earnestly deprecates all exposure of its
blunders, its rashness, and its crimes for, if crime
consists in the magnitude of its mschievous effects,
who shall set bounds to the cupability of this Adj
minisraion! A rash and unskilful hand, guiding
the machinery of Government, may in few short
moments set in motion train of events the conse-
quences of which no wisdom can avert and after
ages may depore. But if, in these United States
of America, we have no King TO lead us astray by
grasplng ambition imbecile folly, let US beware
that exclusive party feelings, implicit reliance
on party organization do not produce results equally
disastrous. Ii an assemblage of men unknown to
the laws, composed in many instances of volunteer
members, more distinguished for party zeal than
knowledge and prudence, not only to designate
beforehand those who shall fill public Offices, but
also construct programme of the course which
they shall pursue and the measures which they
shall adopt how is it possible that, in many in
stances at least, designing and unworthy men shall
not be elevated to office, and selfish ends assume
the form Of patriotic devotion to the public good
At least there will be great danger that many crude
and ill-considered measures will be adopted
A PRESIDENT may, during his term of office, be
as despotc KING. If governed by low and
improper motives, not Royalty itself can exceed
him in mischief and folly
Under Divine Providence, our only ehectua,
safeguard must be found in the enlightened pru-
dence, irmness, and wisdom Of the people.
AN OLD FARMER.