The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-27

The following production of vigorous pen presents
reflections which worthy of consideration;


reflections which are worthy OF consideration;
FOR the Union
Times change, and we change with them !" said
ancient many years ago. But the rule, like all Other
rules, has'its exceptions There seem 10 be wings in
our country who never change with the times, and who
never can adopt agreeable feelings towards the progress
sve democracy OF the world, which but other words
Tor the progressive sentiments OF the age
We do not question the talents OF wing leaders, or their
education or, party generally, their feeling OF anxiety
Tor the prosperity of the country But too many OF them
are behind the times in their political notions They are
IN fact the stand stl party of the daythe democrats
are the "go-ahead" party. This to judgment,
sutes the leading difference between the two parties
The wings forget that our government is IN itself an
innovation upon all other forms of government, and
that our practice must parlake OF the principles upon
which the government is formed. Imid and eau
tlous to a fault, the wings are full of wise see
saws upon the experience OF past ages, without re-
Aectng that experience is in itself progressive sent.
ment, pointing out the new roads which governments
may travel with safety and advantage. The notions of
the democratic party also founded upon experience
but II is the experience of more recent perodan expo
ence involving in its reasoning the improved condition
of man and his better knowledge of human capabilities
and of human nghts-an experience progressive in its
character and important in its consequences These
tons have taken strong hold of the American people,
and have therefore been generally sustained they
and have been successfully sustained by the practice of
our government from that day to the present hour They
are fact American tendencies and American sentiments
II matters not, therefore, who shall fill the executive
chair: if he counter to these tendencies the demo-
cratic tendencies OF the country and OF the age, he will
find himself embarrassed in his course and obliged either
10 change or TO do nothing.
These tendencies those OF the nation decidedly en-
tertaned by masses even of the opposition The opln-
ions of the nation will and should govern executive and
legislative action Executives and legislators are but
their opponents IN our country Therefore, no executive
legislature oppose these tendencies and last They
constitute the great principle upon which government
founded and one must either respect that principle or
abandon the government. They constitute the power to
which must submit--a power OF public opinion. These
tendencies may be checked for time-may be somewhat
limited by opposhonmay be enlightened and improved,
ay, and strengthened by discussions which opposition
shall provoke but they cannot be overthrown, because
they are built upon "rock"-the rock of progressive
improvement and ameloraton OF the condition OF the
but appeals to that very power which we have Indicated
the power of public opinion The very appeal acknowl
edges the supremacy OF that power and an effort to
gain the mantle of its strength.
But few. years since, the wings made their great
appeal to public opinion under the banner OF their popu-
ar saderIhmseli great man Wig ase seer WAS
travelling through much OF the north and west; and to
our judgment, it appeared at one time that the wings
would succeed. Just at that time, the acquisition of
Texas thrown into the yielding scale of the demOc-
acy. We all recollect the change. 1t was apparent,
lecided overwhelmingly progressive and in the end the
opposing wing scale FLEW up and kicked the beam"
The nation then determined upon thus acquisition. 1t
determined to carry out the great principle of progressive
Improvement and extended empire of freedom. The ma
lion decided upon annexation and Congress, in consum-
mating the measure, but obeyed the directions of the
nation. Look into the discussion of this question in
Congress many votes of the House in the negative
because of the manner only, not OF the matter And in
The Senate, the manner was great cause OF the close
vote The manner offended the selove OF the Senate,
by invoking the aid OF the House upon measure which
several of the Senate considered exclusively executive
Since then, however, how many OF our public
have before the people apologize of their oppo
sition claiming the merit of hearty concur
than was then rendered These things show the
strength of public opinion and the necessity Of yielding
to its directions That opinion was then onward and
and has rather since that day. increased than
abated in its energy.
The present war Ostensibly, it seems so but, In reality
it adequate cause and, alone, it would never have
produced the war Admitting, however, for moment,
Texas: what then will folow' That in carrying out
he decided wishes OF the nation, war has been crea-
eda of continued successes to our arms, without
single disaster or defeat Victorious everywhere, the
peoples war has sustained the peoples opinions with
of glory and proofs of energy and success hitherto
without parallel Now does any one believe that the
people will back out from such war; or that the next
Congress, however wing may be by accident 1--WE here
allude to certain remarks in some wing journals Will
venture to insult the Just pride and elevated character OF
The nation, by Withholding the supplies which the war
requires will venture to coerce the Executive INTO
-etrograde and disgaceful movement; Will Congress
,ndeavor to make our nation laughing stock to the
world and give to feeble, beaten, and faithess
envy, triumph us Will venture to strike the
flag of the stars and stripes before the banner OF
a people whose folly and ignorance have provoked
lust chastisement and who incapable OF apprecia-
ling the magnanimous and concatory offers which have
been SO frequently made to theml We do not believe it
possible and shall not believe it possible until the proof
be before our eyes. IT, them Congress do not withhold
supplies coerce the Executive to retrograde move
nent offensive to the just pride of the nation, what
they do that the Executive need fear! The people would
neither forgive endure measures OF the kind which
have been threatened Wing leaders must study other
han English precedents. Wars with that nation are
often wars Of minister and the people Opposed 70 the
with us the of the people, not OF ministers and
we have vet TO attempt OF coercive action OF Con.
sress upon the people These questions not beyond
he apprehension OF man generally and the common sense
Of the nation is adequate to master them and we rely
lpon that common sense with confidence that it will most
,gnaly rebuke the man. whoever he may be- who shall
advocate measures derogatory of our national fame.
But the wing party desires peace SO does the demo-
cratic party as earnestly the wing, and has been far
more active in its efforts bring it about 1t has beaten
the enemy wherever he has shown himself 1t has done
more than enough to convince any one not beyond the
pale of human reasoning, that Mexican opposition to our
hopeless and that the proracton of the war but
ldds to our conquests and goy and IN the ful tide OF
Ill these successes, it has frequently offered the olive
,ranch But the whigs-ay the .whigs-what have they
lone Can any one resist the idea that the reasoning
and course of many Of the journals of that party have
lone much to foster the false impressions OF Mexico
1nder which the has been proracted? And are not
hese impressions still further osered by the threats OF
he desire the protracon OF war so disastrous to her,
Without the hope of aid from some quarter 10 what
Iuarer can these hopes be drectedl Not to Europe
We have sufficient assurances that aid will not be ex-
ended from that direction To what quarter, then not
o Europe but to ourselves The ignorance OF Mexico
makes her Judge badly of our people,, and the folly OF
many OF our people has given to that bad judgment It's
Let us examine dispassionatey the course of the ad
nnisation in reference to this point We DO not mean