Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-08
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND. VA
Thursday Morning, January 7, 1877
MORE "AID AND COMFORT"

The Hacers;own News contains the following
article:
| Thompson Mason, ESQ late citizen Of this
place, and member Of the Hasersiown Bar, has,
as We learn from The papers, Joined The Virginia
| regiment of Volunteers. Alas! that talent such
| as his should he rros,itntcd 10 the wickedness Of
warl Even should he come back crowned with
| ,aurrls, mind so sensitive, cultivated and dis
eliminating as his, vii! mol fail in Old age, 10 re.
proach him with lie wrongs and mserieS he
| now hy example, is helping 10 iasIrn upon The
world, hy giving his sanction 10 issai-ed murdsr.
| How much more glorious would il be, were these
talents devoted 10 tie cause OF hue'any: 10 the
| putting of The human family npnI she railway Of
advanccment-inslea nj helping. 10 sink The
world in the darkness Of barba!ous hca'hcnism.
We wish him safe return and peace III mind
in the future"
II is because The Democratic press expose such
enormilics in oar public journals that they a e
| assajed by The Wings as trucking 10 Executive
mower, as aiming blow al The freedom otspecch
and OF The press, and as putting in practice The
odious doctrine, 'fhal The King can do no wrong"
Will the most rigid s'ickler for the liberty OF the
press fail 10 condemn such mischevous and fac
lous views as the ahovcl Every newspaper is
supposed 10 exert certain influence, though in a
limited sphere Is il moi, Then, plain 10 The tul-
lest intellect that such articles rs the above are
calculated 10 throw odnm upon The war in which
we are engaged, and which we are bound 10 fight
out il we desire 10 secure peace AMI an hnnora-
lie reparalion for the wrongs done Us BIZ Nexico2
The Editor Paws Just tribute Ia The talents and
al ina az fr
Mason, who has engaged in the glorious service
of his counry-and yet, in The same breath, in
lis party madness, presents him rs giving his
sanction 10 iegaf,zed mn,dcr" and rs "p,os.Intcd
Ia the wickedness Of war" DO rot such articles
tend 10 give "aid and comfort" 10 lie enemy, in
raising the impression on the Mexican Govern
mont. that large party in this country is bitterly
onposcd 10 The war. and would rejoice 10 sec cur
army Withdrawn, t. The dishonor and disgrace Of
The naiion1 And is not The Democratic press fully
justified in holding mp 10 public Indignation such
sentiments, whether they come from leading men
or public Journals Can any patriot observe,
with complacsncy, the extraordinary course Of
MIR. MrGeughey, a Wing member from lnti-
ana After characier;zins, as ian intruder in
This Hous-," Col. Baker the Whie member from
Illinois, whose Statements he did not regard
much" Mr.. MEG. denounced The war as ia Pre-
sidenial war altogether" and as lone only Of The
fruits of Texas annexation" and he "asked no
share in the glory Of such war;"
"Belicving, then, that the var was wholly
wrong. lie would not vote iog any additional ar-
pronriaions, except 10 settle up 'he tcbi> aleaty
incurred. Believing that the shortest va; 10 a
tain reace was 10 retire, he lr0HW rate 0sainSf
| Lic bill ,ciuh proposed 10 incrcos me arm. II
was not al all necessary or the Interests AMI
honor Of the country 10 prosecute The war II II
were a holy and jus; war, lis history would re-
! dound TO The national glory. Bnt u was pr
oiterisc in this case, and The rciro>pec'icn would
he snyih;Gc but honorable or gratifying. II waS
said tfa! there were Wigs vino were III favor 81
The war. lie did not belong 10 lhem AMI II na
was true. there mast h. more cassc> II Wings
than he knew Of, and WhcceEy mad come 10 be
as chameiiun-like as Democracy
Wha, is all This bnl rendering 'aid and comfort
10 The cnemy7 And yet, according 10 Whic doc
,rlne, it is crying uSnrfaion 10 expose such
factious and ueachcrous views uttered in 4 time
Of war.
Mr.. Owen OF Indiana followed in mastery
eloquent and fal-scarchirg vindication Of The Jus
lice Of the war. We have no room for his con
elusive argument which gees 10 Tie very marrow
Of the question. We cannot, however, iofhea
from LAYING before our readers his thrilling pcio
ration. II is full o! patriotic sentiment, sonh'
advice, and burning sarcasm upon these who, fol
miserable party capital openly encourage ou
lreacherous foes:
"And now, in conclusion, will gentlemen oil
rho u,hrr side Of the House suffer nc ~ addres
~ ,hem few not unirieniy words. That which
is snoIxep in This hall remains not here. II !
unfinished 10 The world II goes 10 our enemies
- well az 10 our friends. When members Of al
American c. nsrrss assert Ina! The war in whiri
their county is engaged is unhclg, u"fighieou'
dannabIe: lie Presidents war; who ought 10 h
arraignrd as a usurper Tor making II; every
wmd Ihev speak may be Iead-n all human pro
liability is read, anc with avldiiy-in me nation
al paiace of Mexico. When members OF Al
American Congress declare max MeSicahS, 70
their manly resistance IN such war, aie 10 "
honor.d and appla uded, they speak, as il were
IN Nh. very men they praise and encourage; ever
in lha eais OF Santa Anna and his ad:iscrs.-
Words lha, are IL Strengthen the hands and chez
The hearts oil the pubic enemy should he wei
| WEIGHED before they are uttered. cnnaemn TX
man who speaks iIom line depth. of his near
his honrs 81 thought II is his lish; and not IN
lpss his rinht. because oil the consequence, b
thai VIVA, ii will. II those VINO put hlcSico !;
The right and heir country and her PRESIDENT u
The wrong, speak as they arc prompted ~ ta'
love Of truth and Justice alone, their language n
malrer whom il NAV and and cumiuri, shall pas
unrcprovsd BY me. But il, with l''s i"dlSnah
zeal Tor Justice 10 Mexico lnele ming'e one mo
live less pure than uu;h, onr lurking lhoush' Q
party profit in An approaching contest ID nome
how stands The matter linen! Ios NATION
al treasure and natoal honor only, human
lives are al stake III inns war. lhey WV
drao il as an element OF advantage, lnlo W.
areea Of parly strife, play with human lives !
any man with even elancng thought 10 II"
mind towards The Presidential succession, U.s.
words nut forth arguments, Of which lhr tehie''
cy is 10 nerve The aim ol lie enemy, and mus pro
rract The war. he sacrifices on The prostitute,
altar Of narly his country's treasure, honor, wei
beino-ves, and the blood o her bravesl sons
And such man, thus placing Obstacles IN IN
way oil negotiation, thus IeadinS an hunorao'
peacc. is The enemy alike o! his country anu Y
civilization. The spirit oil waf IS last departing
| from the earth. One feels, IN these mocefh udys
when engaged even in the mos Jns'illaDle wal, a
may some participant in a dlsfepnsaoe ula"i
reluctantly dragged mo II 0y chdh.e ""a oas
neiehborhood. The necessity OF the thing canno
/ blind ones eyes 20 lis barharisun. man, or a
nation, meriling 10 b. called civilized, seeks Inc
| frs, pause in the combat 10 hasten lis 'efmna
tim. But wha, chance Of terminating The wal
while the enemy is daily ted win hopes, lha' az
/ yided in feeling and distracted in council ~'
annol for any length OF time, conduit military
opera,ions with vigor, or prosecute Them WIZ
success? To dispose Mexico to peace, she mus
see US united, harmonious, conscious OF Inc JUS
lice Of our cause, ready 10 put iorh all on
strength Then, and thus, may she be hrongnl Z
terms. Then, and thus, may this appeal 10 arms
The last. trust, 10 which America shall ever Of
forced 10 engage come 10 close, and The peiio,
al lasr arrive, when we may urn our swords INK
ploushshares, and study war no more"
Blu, 10 return 10 Mr.. Mason, who is now II
This city, member Of Capt, Alburlis' fine com
pany OF Berkeley Volunteers. The Hasers'
town News speaks in just and proper terms Q
MIR. MS excellent personal qualilies-but, al IN
same time, does him great injustice, in reeFFin;
IN The causes which should affect his peace Q
mind. We can assure The News that MIR. NJ