Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-01-27

this subject to speak in plain, blunt Ian
guage, that can neither be misunderstood
or perverted. know it will be replied,
that the ,whig party in Congress voted for
the war, and haye voted the necessary
means to carry it on. Very well, this is
admitted; but while they thus vote, what
do they speak2 WHAT'S the language they
hold to the country and to the civilized
world9 Why, that the war is unjust and
damnable,' and they openly declare their
sympathies to be with the enemy! This,
then is the position Of the whig party; they
vote for war, and for means to carry il
on, which they denounce as unjust and
damnable. Thus they show that they
have neither the patriotism to side with their
country, the courage to fight its battles, or
the integrity TO acrjustly. But the motive
which dictates this Janus faced policy is so
transpal ent, that the most needles observer
can see through it. They wish to escape
the penalty paid by their party for oppos-
ing the war of 1912, which penalty has
been the mourning such an odium as to re-
suit in change of name, and more than
thirty years exclusion from power. With
this view, they vote supplies for the prose-
cption of the war, while they hope, by
heaping obloquy upon the war itself, and
the democratic party that supports it, toI
render both odious before the country, and
thus secure that political ascendency which
is the object of their own 'vaulting ambi,
tion.' Can the whig party hope to sustain
itself in this position? And do they think
so meanly ofthe people Of this country as
to suppose, that they will give party
whose sinister motives are so obvious, any
. credit for sincerity? Hypocrisy has ever
been regarded as crime so deeply STAIN
ed with moral turpitude, so detestible in its
character, and mean in its motives, as to
incur the unmitgated scorn and contempt
of all honorable men. What measure of
scorn, then, is too large, what terms of in
dignant rebuke too severe, for the leaders
: CT a party who shamelessly evince their
; hypocrisy, while they lack the courage to
declare the real motives Of their conduct?
: Truly may we say, the way Of the trans
gressor is hard While, by their votes,
: they exclaim, in the pompous language Of
; the treacherous Sempronius, my voice is
, still for war; they industriously set to work
!. to render the war odious in the estimation
S of the country, and unjust in the opinion Of
] the world, and in the eyes Of the enemy
r we are fighting. What to such men is the
r national character? What to them is the
+ national glory? The display of American
] valor, the proud achievements of American
: arms, seem not even to quicken the pulsa.
= tions of such men. Why was the title o.
d a Roman citizen passport to respect
S throughout the known world! And why is
J. it that the rights ola British subject are &C
!, llnowledged and respected wherever the
$ changes Of fortune may place him? 1t j:
= because the national power in both coun
n Etries was, and is, always ready to vindlcate
! 1.-The rights, and avenge the wrongs of all
$ their people. Nor can we expect or hope
(. for similar results, unless we resort to like
ID means. Let ii be understood by all th'
IF world, that while the American Govern
y ment will TASK for nothing that is not clear
e ly right, she will submit to nothing that i
,r wrong, and the American name and char
d facter will rival in proud distinction the cit
ut izen Of Rome, or the subject of Britain.
t. There remains one subject, to which,
r | did not refer, should do injustice bot
D. to my own feelings and to the occasion.
id refer to the achievements which we are as
ID sembed to commemorate, and'to the Her
at of that achievement.
ie One of the chief glories Of nation cor
o. sists in the character of its great men.
n- is they who make up the bright page
10 its history, lend lusture to its arms, estal
t, lish the principles Of legislation and go
Id ernment, create its literature, and give pc
b. manence and duration to its renown. III
c. history of every nation is little eli
le but a record of the thoughts and actions
n. its great men. In the older nations OF II
D. earth, circumstances and succeeding cent
IT. ries of time have called into action al
he consequent observation, many distinguis
Is ed characters; but there has existed no n
er ton, ancient or modern, whose history
CO more rich in illustrious names than o.
er own. The nation itself sprang into ii
of from the wise councils Of great men, lii
the fabulous goddess Of wisdom from Il
It, head of Jove. But it required q union
his the most consummate skill in action, wi
in the proioundest wisdom, to conquer the Ii
le- critics and maintain the independence OF 7
is nation, after its existence had commence
But In the catalogue of achievments whi
his marks this era in our history, are to
ire found frequent instances Of a display
hat wisdom and valor which may justly sw
re- the pride and animate the patriotism OF
an- cry American heart; but there is-no one
ion vent in our whole history which IS mt
ich splendid in conception or more brilliant
'ow execution, than that. which we have I
% night met to celebrate. In vain has
on voice Of faction attempted to ssiae the pi