Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-02

ship Manchester, also in tow was injured.
For The Enquirer.
"ORIGIN OF THE Wharf.-The MESSAGE
REVIEWED."
Messrs Editors: the words which head
this article, and the signature OF "B," wri-
ter in The "Richmond Wing" of the 25lh OF De-
cember last has INDUCED the "cacoctAes scy,6cnd"
in long TRADE against MIR. Polk and the Mexi.
can war; and really in such copious efusions
does the author pour ont the walls Of his mighty
wIalh upon Mr.. Folks devoted head, that think
he may safely congratulate himself that at least
one source Of yiluperalon and abuse has ex
hausted itself through the channel OF the "origin
oi The war-the message reviewed"
And, il the capacity 10 arrange "false facts"
into system, and 10 give Them point and enipha-
sis, by connecting them, in written communi-
cation, with epithets personally denuncialory Of
one whom they are evidently designed TO place in
false position before the American people, in
regard 10 The important matter really al issue,
constitute the potency Of tone OF the ablest pens
in Virginia" (as The Editor Of the Wing has
chosen to compliment The aforesaid reyewer,)
then the task Of demonstrating The truth Of
The reviewers premises, that "Nlr. Polk is re-
sponsble 10 the American people for the
existing war with Mexico, and ali its consequent
| ces" is reserved for an ADLER pen, than in the
Editors opinion can b. found within the limits Of
our good old State. And il would seem 10 be
fair TO presume, that so lar, al least, as Virginia
is concerned, this cirtl ara, fare against Mr.. Polk
and his Administration is al an end. But no, the
fight is not vel done, ior this distinguished cha
pion OF the cause OF weak and injured Mexico
| has sworn, in his wrath that whilst he has son
battling on the plains of Mexico, his father will
| be found "fghling al home against more dan.
eerous and formidable enemy" than Mexico,
| And this we suppose he designs as a sort vi
threa, against Mr.. Polk, and sorl OF earnest 10
Mexico, that she may expect good service a, his
1 hands, so long as our brave soldiers shall uphold
The "stars and stripes" upon her plains, and
hostile foot shall tread upon her soil. War! war
] 10 the knife, is the perilous threatening al This
Ajax lebanon OF the rights Of wronged and ont.
ragged Mexico! A nd while he is pleased 10 char
| aclerise The Message Of MIR. Polk As more "behl-
| ling his counsel in his defence under an impeach-
ment than the dignity oil Chief Magistrate, +"
his own dignity as an American citizen, Jea
lous Of his country's honor, sits SO loosely
upon him. that he takes no pains 10 avoid plac-
ing himself in the position OF an attorney en-
gagged in behalf of Mexico, 10 prosecute his own
Government for pretended wrongs and injuries,
and of really giving "aid and comfort to The enc.
4 my. 10 ~ uOt ouuHSCy SibSS, 'hS oPH'Oh
| Of MIR. Folks prosecutor, his own wicked acis
have so "sgnaly condemned him." that his ac-
cuser should cavi about the mode OF his defence,
and even deny him the poor privilege OF making
any defence al all? And imagine il is the first
time in the history Of our Government that the
question has been raised whether The President
might, in The spirit and contemplation Of the Con-
slitution of The United States, give 10 the Senate
| and House oil Representatives The reasons where
/ 6 H.. hat a x.ckt do ~
The administration OF the Government. And that
he had done so, should be made Craze mai
Ter of complaint, would under any circumsan-
ces, and in relation 10 any matter, al once
| strike the mind as ridiculous in the extreme.
But that such complain, should be made al ti,s
| time, and BY distinguished member n The Uh'g
| paytv against Mr. Polk about matter involving
| like that in Issue, such high responsibility, and
| for which he has been denounced by that same
| party in no measured terms, from one extremity
| Of This Union 10 the other, is indeed "passng
| strange" and must excite our special %onder."
And | will only say, that 10 my mind il betfays
The "workinss" OF an hardened conscience, and
! the conviction OF a desperate cause"
| The issue which is sought To he made between
| Mr. Polk and the American people, is very i'm
! porlant issue, and so lar as Mr. Polk is concern
ed, very solemn one; for, il il be lIue, that from
any Unauthorized act of his has "ensued a war
wicked, unnecessary, uncalled Tor, unchIisian,
unconstitutional, expensive and bloody"-and
that he is responsible for "al the American blood
| that has BEEN or may be split upon The plains oil
| Mexico"-lhen with whatever degree Of ability
| and ingenuity he has defended himself" and
| however he may "mslify and misead" The pub
| Inc Judgment for time, his sins will eventually
end him out, and The indignation OF an offended
people will blast him with its ligh,nings.
But il is solemn issue, too, so far as MIR.
| Folks accusers are concerned; for, il Mr.. Polk
is not responsible for this war-if he has done
every thing which, as the representative Of
| proud and chvarous people, he might have done
10 avert it-it he has made every overture Of
| peaceful negotiations that he might have made
and If this war Gas We think will appear in the
sequen has been forced upon Us by the acts OF
| Mexico-then, these "scuryy politicians who
seem 10 see the things they do no" and who, in
volunteering TO avenge the wrongs Of Mexico,
| have literally exhausted the vocabulary OF Bill
lingsgate and scandal in denunciatons Of MIR.
Polk, as the author and perpetrator oil those
! wrongs, must at no very distant day feel the
weight OF a gnilly conscience upon Them; and
that terrible rebuke from the impartial historian
who shall hereafter write The history OF our coun-
| try's offended honor, awaits them. And il is OF
the highes, importance, therefore, that The issue
which the reviewer has made should be fully and
tairly tigd. and that we should nothing exlenu-
ale nor set down aught IN malice.
Now, the proposition is, that the existing war
with Mexico has been made by MIR. Polk, and
il is the affirmative of this proposition which il
is The object OF the Reviewer 10 prove Well, il
Mr. Polk might be allowed 10 speak for himself,
and to claim the same degree OF evidence for his
statements as the reviewer may be supposed To
claim for his own, then the mater is at an end,
and the accuser has not made good his charge
But il is said that Mr.. Folks statement is "hol.
low-hearied, deceptive, hypocI itcal and false"-
and this charge is made against man whom
the unbought surfaces oil The American people
who are as remarkable, perhaps, for their honor
and integrity as the aforesaid Reviewer have
elevated 10 the hishes' office OF trna and conf
dencc within their eff, merely because he has
thought proper, in the discharge of his official du-
lies, to Tell them, 10 connection with the imme-
diate causes of the war in which they are in
volved, OF the repeated wrongs and insults, 10
which they had sut med from the same foe.
Now, il il were not true that The American
| people had other causes Of complaint against
| Mexico. than that which led 10 n declaration of
! the existence of The war by the American Con-
sress, then, under that principle ofevidence. "fal-
| SUM IN una falsum III 0mnibns," Mr.. Polk would
sland convicted Of falsehood and his message
might be Justly characterized as "ho'low-hearied,
deceptive, hypocritcal and and false" But il is
an entirely new principle Of eyidence-nnknown
either in the municipal, political or International
law, and for the discovery VI which The legal pro-
fession will doubtless feel under obligations 10 The
reviewer-lhat a government or an individual is
to incur the guilt OF moral urpilude for atdncing
other matters, in justification or defence OF anacl
than that of which the act itself is The immediate
result And while The reviewer does maniiesly
proceed upon principle 50 ridicuously absurd,
vet we have TOO great respect Tor his intelli-
gence to believe that he will not al once see the
error in which hi, premises have involved him;
and that il will therefore, be unnecessary for US 10
answer the interrogaory which ne has PROFOUND
ed-Whe,her, according 10 MIR. Folks town
showing" Gen. Taylor was not ordered 10 march
his army from Corpus Christi to The Rio Grande,
for the purpose OF furnishing Mexico "tor her for
mer transsressions"2
And this brings us 10 consideration OF the on
" question really involved in this issue; which is,
by what authority MIR. Polk ordered The Ameri.
can forces 10 be marched from Corpus Christi TO