The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-11-06
The Cause Of the War.

We copy the following from an az.
ticle in the Baltimore Sun, one OF the
ablest of the neutral press, in answer
to an article in the National lntelligen-
Ger. 1t will commend itself 10 the good
sense Of the reader:
"The Intelligencer says, 'when (the
wary first commenced, we were told
that it was waged toredress wrongs
&c, We don't know who told the In
telligencer all this, but certainly we
did not. When the war first commen-
ced it was declared by Mexico, and
when hostilities first commenced it was
in consequence Of armed resistance to
the peaceable march Of our troops
the Mexican enemy, in battle array,
disputing the return OF Gen. Taylor
from Point Isabel to Fort Brown. II
is true that we had wrongs TO redress,
territory to secure, and indemnities to
recover from the Mexican government;
and for these purposes, in the event OF
the failure Of negotiation and Mexican
aggression, our troops were thrown
upon our frontier. But when the war
commenced, being by the act of Mexi.
CO, and in the manner in which it did,
the United States went into 1t per
force, of absolute necessity, and Of
course with one single definite object
in view-to whip the enemy. That
this objecth has been rather dextrously
achieved, we presume that nobody will
have the hardihood 10 deny; though it
may be urged with some plausibiity,
that he wont stay whipped.
"But now,' says the lntelligencer,
according to the Sun, we are TO con-
quer Mexico for her own good &c.;
and as it is to be with this design, we
have right to call on this Baltimore
philanthropist to furnish US with some
light as to the authority Of our govern.
ment TO wage war Tor any such pur-
pose.' If the lntelligencer will only
admit the possibility Of our conquering
Mexico for her own good, which hap
pens to be an item in our creed, the
Of our government will be
derived we fear from the conduct of|
Mexico. We say I'VE fear,' because
as we have before expressed ourselves,
at present we, should prefer to avoid
50 great task. We think il might be
successfully accomplished, and that
oosterity, American 5 and Mexican,
would reap uncomfortable benefits
herefrom, but we cannot be insensible
o the fact that the labor, the expense,
he Inconvenience would be great,
ind that sacrifices and risk might be to
ONE extent involved. But owlet
Is refer the reader to the very first sem
ence quoted from us by the Petersburg
editor. in the paragraph at the head;
We there speak directly of the present
apparent necessities. Of the case;' we
llso speak Immediately thereafter Of
these necessities as auspices for good
o Mexico.,a Why then should we be
lsked for the authority. of our govern
nent 10 wage war for the purpose ofI
any people into the blessings
If a good government? No, though
war has been wuged in modern times,
ind by civilized nations, so called, fora
much less holy purpose than this, far
% it from US to attempt justification
if our government in any aggression
Ipon the rights and territory Of anoth.
.r nation, though il were 70 impart mil
enial Joys. aiid tspHisgi slqniai1n5dH /
l"But there are differences. look ye.'
Mexico has plunged into war and con-
lict with US, and we have become by |,
uccess the invaders other soil, and the
ofhef capital. She has chal-