Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-11


OF the shambles, that he is persuaded /" that the
best means of Vi7dicating the national honor
and interest, and of bringing the war to an honor
a0fe close, will be to prosecute it aciM increased
energy and po,cer IN THE VITAL PARTS Of The
enemy's couatryn' He knows that he and his
war stand condemned by his own counrymen. He
cannot, if he would, mistake the sentiment of the
People; and yet he Graves more conquest more
butchery he demands deeper penetration into
the vitals of our adversary, and yet further waste
| of the blood and treasure of his own country
| Before he take captive senses by the seduc-
tive indictments, in which his Message abounds, 10
a yet wider course of rash ambition and suicidal
aggrandizement let US stop for moment to con-
slider upon what grounds he places and justifes the
career of cruelty and conquest in which he has
already embarked our country. We are glad
that the President has, in his Message prefaced his
recommendations as to the future with sum-
mary statement of the causes of complaint hereto
fore alleged by him as being of prior date to the
war, together with his understanding Of how the
war began. single paragraph includes the whole
story and, as we propose to examine itwith some
particularly, we here republish it:
1t is sufficient the present occasion to say that the
wanton violation of the rights person and property of our
citizens committed by Mexico, her repeated of bad faith
through long series of years. and her disregard of solemn
treaties spulating for indemnity to injured citizens
only constituted ample cause OF part but of
such aggravated character would have justified before
the whole world in resortng this extreme remedy. With
anxious desire to avoid rupture between the countries
orboe for years clear rights by force
continued seek redress for the wrongs had suffered by
hIa hone
pacific counses and the demands justice. In this hope
disappointed Oar minister of peace sent to Mexico
insultngy rejected The Mexican Government refused
to hear the terms of adjustment which he authorized
to propose and finally, under wholly unusfabe pretexts,
involved the two countries in by invading the territory
of the staeof Texas striking the first blow and shedding the
blood Of our citizens on SOIL"
In undertaking again to review these averments
by the Executive, now that they are again offered
in his justification, and in support of that ad
internecionem against Mexico which he recon-
mends to Congress, are well aware that no force
can be added to the reasoning, nor any strength to
the conclusions of that admirable tract from the pen
Of the venerable, patriotic, and learned ALBERT
GALLATIN, in relation to the Mexican War, which
we have lately had the satisfaction of spreading be-
fore our readers. To his authority upon any ques-
ton of public law or national obligation, we, at
least, who have known him from the days of his
great public services in the Public Councils, first
as leader of the Republican party in Congress;
next Member of the Cabinet of President JET
FERsoN during all OF his Administration and of that
of Mr.. MADISON until he was called to represent
his country abroad as the associate of ADAMS,
CLAY, and BAYARD in the great Negotiation which
ended in of ,rhac
essays in our present vocation may be said to
have been guided by his hand and by that of mis- ever
honored friend and official superior Mr.. MADISON,
are bound by every sentiment of respect and graft
tude to pay Difference profound, that it would
be with tile greatest disrust of our own Judgment
we should entertain any opinion on public
question materially different from his Happy and
proud are we to find, that, on the subject of the
and the character of this war, his views are
in full accord with those which we have found it
our duty from time to time to present to readers.
Most fortunate for country do we consider it,
that he has been willing and able to come forward
in the present emergency, to instruct and counsel
his fellow-citizens However earnestly and hon
estly the Press may have done its duty; however
ably and fearessly distinguished Statesmen of the
present udy may HAVE cApoScu anu ueHOuHceu lne
new upon which our country has entered as
the sole disturber of the peace Of the world how
ever bright and high the craftsmanship which the great
Patriot of the West has recently brought to bear
upon this great question: the Address Of Mr.. GALA
TIN has shown it was yet possible for wise and able
man to add to the force of even our own convictions
however decided on the subject. Most fortunate, we
repeat, do we consider this opportune contribution
to the common stock of knowledge of one standing
in the foremos; rank of intellectual greatness, and
yet apart from the passions of the day and above
them one who, after most distinguished career
of public service, left popularity and reputation
exhausted, and quilted high trusts whilst they yet
courted his acceptance one of the foremost men,
in word, Of that iustrious era Of our statesman
ship which has now hardly survivor; one, there
FORE almost in the last extremity of age, and yet
fortunate as TO have preserved, equally undimmed,
its abilities and its honors. To the authority of
such name as that of ALBERT GALLATIN, his re-
cent Address adds strength OF reasoning which
nothing in the present day meet, and that lumi-
nous command of all the great principles Of Public
and of National Law, in which he had scarcely an
equal in his own times and has now no superior.