Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-06-03

berry is no sin," while we learn just the reverse.
REvRESBO.
THE PRESIDENT RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE WAR.
| That Mr.. Polk is responsible for bringing on
| the war with Mexico, is the belief not merely
Of the men who opposed his election TO the
Presidency, but is insisted upon by many OF
those who supported him for that high office.
! We do not see, indeed, how il can be doubted.
| The opinion OF Mr., Calhoun was declared up
on the point at the last session Of Congress,
and the reasons given for that opinion left no
doubt on the mind of any on that i, was cor
rect. TWAS in the power oil MIR. Polk to have
prevented the war. We need net say that, as
the head Of great nation, whose mission is
peace and whose policy is opposed 10 hostile
slrifes, it was his duty TO have prevented it,
He failed in his du,y---he invited attack by the
show of bravado--he precipitaed contest by
ordering our army TO the Rio Grande, where
the Mexican troops were reduced 10 the alter
native OF relreatng or fighting thus hay
ing brough, ON hostiiities, which he must have
foreseen would follow from his orders, and
having placed our gallant little army under
Gen. Taylor, in imminent, danger OF being
overwhelmed by superior force, and having
obtained from Congress declaration that
"war existed by the act of Mexico" i, become
necessary that we should fight it out. This
show OF brayado in the array OF troops. this
movement of the army from Corpus Christi TO
the Rio Grande, this involving Of Gen. TAYLOR
and his little army in imminent danger, this
Obtaining Of a declaration from Congress that
"the war existed by the act of MeXico"-all
. h.,co tho u,crE of Mr. DILL
net; and all these things he could have CON
troled and prevented all these il was his du g.
" to have prevented-and in failing in this,
his duty. he allowed them 10 go on, to bring
on the war and 10 make it necessary TO con
tiuue it when i, was brought on. The res
possibility Of it, therefore, is on Mr.. Polk, and
the people will hold him TO it. All the evils
Of which il may be the consequence rest upon
him. The prong Of it his own; the evidences
Of valor, OF patriotism and Of skiliull general
ship, OF which this war has been SO iuil and
winch nave SO much excited the admiration OF
the word, all these belong 10 the American
soldiers who achieved or performed them.
And il is gratifying TO see that the people
make the clear distinction between the war it,
self and the "deeds OF noble daring" of which
il has been the occasion. Hence the prompt
ness with which supplies Were voted by Con
gress TO succor and sustain cur armes-hence
the alacrity with which the citizehs volunteer
ed TO take part in UNFOLDING the flag Of the
Union on the field of 6atlle--hence the reloic-
ing which is every where seen at the success
OF our arms-and hence the almost universal
condemnation with which Mr.. Polk is visited
whenever the causes OF war are brought into
notice. The efforts which have been made to
I ,It Dc,llr H.. -.
victories that our armies have achieved IN
Mexico. have therefore failed. The grea,
deeds which Gen. Taylor and Gen Scott and
their soldiers have accomplished, have made
every man Of US rejoice in his country, and in
his countrymen who have done these things
but they have not made any one forget thai
MIR. Polk unnecessarily produced this war or
made any one indifferent 10 the evils which II
has brought or our own country, as well as
thai of unhappy, distracted Mexico; or less
anxious for the restoration ofpeace.
! We have expressed these views before
We have thought that i, was rot unbecomng
a great nation, like this, 10 lament over the
war; and that II was not unmanly in US TO
grleye that so many OF our gallant citizens had
been Killed IN lis prosecution. We have not
hesltated TO say that we desired peace. and we
have insisted that a word from Mr.. Polk coun-
selling peace, would have prevented the war
that word from him. asking peace, would
end il. We hold 10 that belief ifIienry Clay
were now President, instead Of James X Polk,
who IS there that doubts that the war would at
once stop? II he had been President at the
time the war commenced, who believes it
would not have been avoided, honorably avoi-
ded2 What Mr.. Clay would do were he
now our Chief Maglsrate--would that he
were Mr. Polk may do. We have whip
ped Mexico, if that is what he desires, TO our
fullest satisfaction. We have driven her sol
dlers from the sea shore and from the noun
,alns. We have taken her forts, her cities,
and her castles. We have driven them from
every field where they have opposed our
march, no matter how superior her numbers
were TO ours, and she is PROSTATE at our feet
| We may overrun the whole counlry-there
is nothing now wanting but men and money,
and we can take and hold all her cities. The
war, so far as successful defence can be
made by Mexico, may be said 10 be at an end.
Ii is for us--for Mr.. Polk as the Chief Magis-
,rate-but 10 say there shall be no more fight
ing, and there will be no more fighting
what he WAITS from Mexico, he may take
If he wants TO rob her churches, he NAV do il.
III ne wants 10 take hef capital, he may do II.
If he wants a strip of her land as an lndemn
iicauon for the expenses OF the war and the
claims OF our citizens, he may take il; He has
but TO do what Gen. TAI or advised SO long
ago as last November, and of which MIR. Cal
houn SO warmly approved in the Senate las,
winter, and the war is at an end. He NAV
declare on what terms peace shall exist, what
lines shall be the boundary, what privileges
we may exercise, for Mexico is in no situation
to dispute, much less 10 interfere with our
claim. This done. Mr.. Polk stops the war
and gives US virtua. peace-and this is what,
we mean when we say that he has but 10 ask
for peace and the war is al an end And he
viii have 10 come to this yet, if all the signs
be not misunderstood, though fol- saying so we
have incurred the ceDsure of the official or
gan, and given to the Philadelphia Pennsyl-
vanlan an opportunity OF showing that II has
so much confidence in its own views, that il
cannot regard with patient respect those enter
tanned by others who differ from it.--BGlaimore
Pot.
RENesED.-We understand that Capt John