The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-01-26
From the Nat. Intelligencer.
THE CRISIS.

When the present Administration came
into power, the country was ~eminently
prosperous. We had a Tariff which
protected our own labor against the pau
per labor of Europe. All the great en-
terprises of the country were IN success
full operation. Real estate was gradually
advancing in value, and the products of
labor met with a ready sale. The mo-
newmarket was steady, and credit rested
on a solid basis. There was a general
confidence felt and expressed in the state
of things which existed. All this was
attributable to the wise measures adopted
by tho Wing party, which came into
power with the Harrison Administration.
But this fair scene, which cheered the
hearts and cnliyened the hopes of this
great people. was doomed 10 a sudden re-
verse. The Baltimore Convention, with
Its baleful influence, met, and, assuming
to act for the people, without their in
structions and against their interests, vir-
tually elected the present Chief Magis-
trate: a citizen who did not himself as
pire to the Office, and who, without the
influence of the nomination. could scarce
ly have received the vote Of any county
in the Union. But this usurpation of the
popular rights by the Convention did not
stop here. The same body dccreed that
the whole Of Oregon was ours; that Tex
as should be annexed; that the Tariff of
1912 should be overthrown; and that the
Subtreasury should be established.
Never did a body of men in SO short a
time entail upon their country a system
of measures so calamitous. And, when
we consider the elements of which that
Convention was composed-some of Its
members being irresponsible, others self
appointed, and many Of those who had a
show of authority receiving it in disre-
gard of popular rights and of the princi-
pies which they protested to hold sacred
1t is amazing with what tame submis-
sion-a submission that augured unfayor-
ably for the cause OF free government
the DEGREES of this body were received.
The rights of the People were not on
ly usurped by imposing upon them a
Chief Magistrate, but the Convention
bound in party letters this instrument OF
its creation, and the National Legislature.
True to the behests OF that body, Mr..
Polk, in assuming his duties, expressed a
determination to carry out TO the letter
lis DEGREES. The Oregon controversy
brought us to the verge of a war with
E.Io.J 49, ,-hTob, ,,ro ,rara covnI h-
the wisdom and lirmness of the Senate.
But Texas was annexed, the Tariff was
overthrown, and the Subtreasary enacted.
And we are now realizing the fatal conse-
q~uenccs Of these measures.
We have had a wal Of about eight
months with Mexico. Two brilliant vic
tories in the field against superior num-
bers, and the capture of a city, strongly
fortified and defended by a force much
greater than ours. have added TO the re-
nown of our arms. We claim a nominal
possession over a great extent Of country,
through which General KEARNEY has
marched, and which Captain STOCKTON
has surveyed from his quarterback; but
we only hold by a iorclble tenure that
which has been subjugaied by General
TAYLOR. And, to maintain this posses
sion, our little army Is necessarily divided
and placed in garrisons remote from each
other, liable to the attack Of the enemy,
and difficult to be defended. This is the
bright side Of the picture. Lei us turn to
that OF a darker shade.
The people with whom we are at war
: arc greatly exaspcrated, and their discor'