Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-12-24

We give below, to the exclusion OF almost
every thing else, the calm, dignitied, powerful,
exposition from the National IateAigcncer OF the
sophistries and perversions of the last Message
of Mr.. Polk. If the circulation and perusal OF
this an,idote could be co.extensive with the cir
culation and p%crusal Of the Message, it would
almost persuade us, in this instance at leas''"
,ho ,r,,h If that maxim of a false philosophy
,.h;,h .ssor,s that " Error may be sGsIy trusted
.h...l ,vh.-e Reason is left free to combat it,
-. .urolv. can rise from the reading of
this mastery rcfutation' w''ho"t iee''hg now
o;,,sy are the pretences OH which this war is at
GOD 10 be justified and sustained, and how
unworthy the seat once occupied by a WAsr-
...r,x is the small partisan who now sits in it
It is absolutely humiIiating to every true Amer
lean to see the President of the United States
thus stripped of the robe of dignity and respect
that ought to be inseparable from his Office
And it comes from the unworthy attempt of that
fnnctionary to make the wrong appear the BET
ter reason. Presidents Messages are becom-
ing more and more, what the Constitution never
contemplated that they should be, mere argu-
menus in support and advocacy of partisan
schemes and measures. We look upon the
practice as mol one of the least dangerous of the
innovations because it is one of the most insid-
ious) that are making on the spirit and letter of
our admirable Constitution. That instrument,
in prescribing the duties of the President, says
explicitly, ale shall, from time to time, give to
the Congress of the State of the
Union, and RECOMMEND mot argue such
measures as he shall Judge necessary and expo.
dent" Congress is left to argue and deter
mine the necessity and expediency Of the meas
ures the President 50 recommends" They come
together from every section of this widespread
Union, and are supposed, and with truth, to
know better than the President what the Pro
PIE, whose REPRESENTATIVES they are, demand
and require. In these latter days, however, it
is common for the President to encroach upon
the iau-making power; while the Constitution
directs, only, that " he shall take care that the
laws be faithfully EXECUTED" not made.
lii when such things take place-when Pres.
idents argue and debate the measures" they
are only authorized to " recommend and thus.
and in other more direct ways, interfere with
the making of the Laws they are only aulhoriz.
ed to cause TO be faithfully erecuted,"-tbat
they are justly exposed to such %scathing rebukes
as the following, and dishonor the country by
creating the necessity which requires truth and
Justice to prove that they have dishonorcd their
high station.
We trust no reader of this paper will pass by
n -.
Message, Qhe mar part on account of its length.
II is not so long, certainly, though il is a shade
more able, than the text upon which it COM
ments.
The War with Mexico.
When, on the 18th day OF May Of last year, the pas
saee of the Act OF Congress, recognizing the existence
. Of War with Mexico, was announced to the readers of
the National Intelligencer, it was accompanied by the
expression Of a belief that by the largest portion Of its
readers the information would be received with alarm
alarm justly excited by the wiliulness and reckless