The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-14

tself--it must, it ought to make itself mani
fest--in the future deliberations Of Congress
upon this question. 1t is, not party theory
that is to sit in judgment upon this question.
Parties and party doctrines will shrink into
nsigni6cance before it. The eternal query
will be, Hoic shall ioe pacifcafe su6jugat-
ed people If Congress will not do it d.
rectly, it Wilde il Indirectly. If action be
not had in favor Of solving the question, in
action will solve it. 1t win be solved as
surely as it exists, There is no escape from
it. 1t is not for Congress to decide whether
our armies shall be withdrawn from Mexico
to the east Of the Nueces. 1t is not for
it to decide whether we shall appropriate so
much of Mexican territory and withdraw our
armies within the limits Of that appropriation
and defend it from Mexican encroachments.
1t is not for it to decide whether we shall
continue to kill, shoot, and put to the sword
Mexcans in more pitched battles, until we
shall compel the survivors to cry out, hold,
enough These are not questions for Con-
gress to decide They are included in
more comprehensive one II is, Hoio shall
we pacifcate subdued people? All the
other questions resolve themselves into this
one grand question. We are persuaded il
will be met and settled by the existing Con-
gress, if not at its present session, certainly
at its next. II it is not settled by the present
Congress, It will be that il is not yet ripe for
settlement, and not because of any neglect
of the public interests. It is too absorbing a
question to be- passed by without calling into
action all the resources Of the Legislative
mind, let the decision Of that mind be what
it may.
There is no journal in the country that
holds in more abect scorn the motives Of the
President and his Cabinet in plunging the
country into this Mexican war, than the
National Wing 1t pointed out the i'm
purity Of those motives in a series Of articles
last spring, which, while they received the
Appreciation of the Wing press generally,
were considered by some as doing injustice
to the Administration. We have over and
again proved it to be political war, begun
and carried on, and still waged, for the ex-
press purpose Of continuing in power the
Polkidae or Polk Dynasty. But, notwith-
standing such was and is the fact, the duty
Of Congress now is, not to spend its time in
disputing about the origin and objects Of the
war. It is far higher duty. II finds the
country in possession Of an immense con-
quest it finds conquered empire at the
feet Of our country; it finds subjugated
people in our midst. What is to be done I
tmust dispose Of the subject as it becomes
patriots and statesmen-not as partsans and
politicians. And that such will be the course
Of Congress, we have no fears. We have
not done with this question. Our views in
regard to it were given somewhat in detail
a month or six weeks ago. 1t may be deem
ed necessary to republish those articles
] Events have only served to strengthen the
correctness Of those views. Merico must
and tciH be pacifcated; and we believe it
will be done by resort to the policy which
this journal short time since predicted
would be adopted.
i After the Mexican question, is the Tariff
question. This latter question presents itself
f in an entirely new aspect. The predictions
of the opponeHts OF the tariff of 1876 have
been completely overturned by results
| Whether those results are the consequence
of its inherent force to produce them, re-
mains to be seen, when II can be brought to
operate independently Of the presence Of a
famine in Europe. The retardation by this
circumstance Of fair trial for the 1916 ta-
kriff, makes it necessary for Congress to APP
proach the subject with great caution. And
them. there is the question, as to the supe-
riority Of the ad ralorem system over the
specific and marimG and minima duties sys-
tenn, to be considered. But riding over all
these incidental questions raising out Of the
tariff act, there is the question of the power
Of protection as primary power which the
4 Government cannot omit to exercise without
abandoning one of its highest attributes.
1t is for the House Of Representatives to
consider whether It will reassert this power
under the circumstances of the country In
/ deed, the consideration Of the whole tariff
question is a new one, and full of difficulties.
/ The proposition to extend the taxes to the arti-
cles ofcofee, tea, &c., will necessarily modify
the action Of the House uponit. But whetf-
er it willabe wise to attempt to change the
principle upon which it is established, is. a
question for Congress to decide. We hard
lly think it will be done, because it is desira-
bic to test the efficiency OF low duties, un-
der the circumstances Of ordinary trade.
There are great many other matters con-
nected with the tariff, which will'require the
utmost attention Of Congress--such as the
accuracy Of the tables submitted by the
Treasury Department-the correctness Of the
differences drawn, &c. As to the military
tariff in the ports and towns of Mexico, this
subject is SO intimately connected with the
action of Congress in relation to the dispo-
sition Of Mexico herself, that it must in a
great measure depend upon what is done
with our conquests. But every question
springing out Of the tariff policy is exceed
ngly interesting under the present aspect Of
things, both at home and abroad The pub
lie sentiment upon this subject too, will act
upon Congress and react upon the country.
Nor will it be uninAuenced by the condition
Of commercial affairs in England and France
and Germany.