Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-06-26
Mr.. C. ]. INGERsoLL's LETTER.

We have pleasure in placing before our readers
to-day Mr.. INGERsoLLs Letter defining his position
in regard to the Free Trade Tariff, &c. We have
not, nor ever had, the least disposition to do njus-
tce to that gentleman, as he knows by many evil
dences. AS to differing from him in our political
course, since he went off on the Jackson track, and
left us, his former associates, the old Madsoni-
an Republican course, which, come fair weather or
come foul, we have ever kept was certainly una
voidable. We have no quarrel with him on that
account and, for difference of opinion, GER
tainly never shall have any. As an old personal
friend, it always greves us when we find him very
much in the wrong; but, when we introduce his
name to our readers, is never with injurious in
tent but because he happens from his position, to
represent certain principles which it becomes our
duty to discuss.
Thus, lately, among other arguments of his in
favor of the Mexican War, lin his Report to the
House Of Representatives. of which it would be
difficult to decide which was the most exceptona-
BILE, we considered what he said of the " admira-
BILE system of finance" created by the war as re-
ferring to the reduction of the Tariff which took
place some months after the war was begun-be-
gun, not, as Mr.. INGERsoLL should very well know,
by Mexico, but (now avowedly) by the Executive
of the United States, in the deliberate prosecution
of what it calls "a Continental American policy
in which said policy these United States of Amer-
ca have no proper interest or concern whatever.
1t seems, however, that in this we did more than
Justice to Mr.. INGERsoLL, and that instead Of
system of low duties on imports, in support Of
which quite plausible reasons might be advanced,
Mr.. /. referred to the Subtreasury, a system al
ways dreaded by the intelligence of the People,
and now SO odious to the very persons who nursed
it to maturity, that we doubt whether Mr.. NIGER
SOIL be not its only surviving friend among those
who are capable of forming judgment of its merits
from its operation. The character of these mea-
sures is so well described in late number of an
intelligent Democratic Commercial Journal that it
is enough for us to quote the passage:
THE New York Journal of Commerce says :
The Government have now large sums to pay in
New Orleans, but their money is here. The dsburs-
ing officers, therefore, give drafts the Treasury
at Washington, which drafts are sold in large
sums at one per cent. discount. This is so much
loss to the citizen claimants, and much injustice
on the part of the Government; and all from the
WltSeTuUtc /TtuUCtcI-
ing, THE SUBTREAsuRY If the old, safe, and
cheap system had been continued, the money
would have been paid any where and every where,
just as the convenience of Government might have
required. Now we have got expensive and
dangerous machine JUST TO DO MISCHIEF"
So much for that admirable system of finance"
the Subtreasury, which Mr.. |. informs US the war
has created Another blessing, this, for which we
are indebted to the present Administration and its
chimerical notion of Continental American in
terest!
We could here be content to leave Mr. NIGER
SOILS Letter to the sober judgment of our readers.
But there is appeal to us which we cannot
pass by in silence; and that is, to tell him "what
harm this war does.'' II is difficult to frame an
answer to question the mere statement Of which
is mockery Of all humanity, morality, and reli-
gon. Perhaps it will be better answered by other
questions. What harm is there in wholesale muir
DER in remorseless cruelty, and in fell destructive
ness What harm in peopling the territories Of
two Republics with desolate widows and orphan
children? What harm is there in fattening the
soil of Mexico with the blood and the bodies OF
our brave fellowctizens, as well of the army pro-
per DIS VI tlOSe W VOLUNTEER III war Ny
the (alsest Of pretences !! What harm in the de-
morazation Of the public sentiment of our own
country OF which it were difficult TO give more
striking evidence than the shocking levty with
which gentleman of Mr.. INGERsoLL's BIRTH edu-
cation, and station speaks Of the horrors which
cannot fail TO attend war, even when necessary, and
much more such needless, wanton, wilful war as
that in which we are now enUaUed
We have too much regard for the common sense
of readers, and of the great body Of the Ameri-
can people, TO doubt what would be their reply to
these questions. Nay, we would not doubt Mr..
INGERsoLL's own, his natural sensibilities not
bunted and hardened by his long land we dare say
painfully service in the Locofoco school Of politics.
And even yet, we should think, there is one argu-
ment against this war, which, though steeled by bad
and bitter prejudice against considerations address,
ed TO his reason even he could be made feel the
force Of. His gallant son, who is equally an honor
TO his sire and an ornament to the public service
had he, the pride Of that fathers heart, laid down
his llfe-we will not say in battle, and in neces-
sary war, for in that case pride would to ex-
tent offset grief-bu operating on the land in
Mexico, had he sunk victim to disease in its most
hopeless form, as thousands Of equally beloved
sons have done, and in such war as this would
the thought of the blessings of this war, and the
lCorH of good il is doing or of the share which he