Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-09
The Afghanistan War.

Il
the hastings at I he recent election, of i'm
properly bringing on the Affghanistan war,
entered into the following explanation and
defence of that sanguinary contest. II IS
interesting fsays the Georgetown Advocate)
as showing from an authentic source, the
cause and the motives of the English con-
Duct
But Mr.. Harvey says, too, that we be-
hayed very i'll in Affghanistan. We are
charged with being the authors of great
and deplorabe calamity in the country 1t
i nerfec,lv true that most affecting catas-
trophe happened in the mountains OF All
ohanistan. and that several thousands %
brave men-some of whom were British
horn subjects of this country, and others
British born subjects Of india-pcrlshed IN
the most melancholy and barbaro,ls manner.
But why was IL we went originally mo An
ghanstans Ii was because The hiDS OF
Persia was threatening an inroad INTO An
ghanistan, and, in conjunction win persons
in authority there, was evidently, ana with
out the slightest disguise, contemplating the
invasion. and. if possible, the subiugation,
of our Eastern Empire. Though Mr.. Har-
ney objects to the phrase our Indian Em-
pire., and saws there are many men in this
country who have not foot of land there,
and to whom it is therefore a mockery TO
talk of sour Indian Empire should like
him 10 show me the country in which there
are not some men who do not possess any
land: for his argument IS applicable 10 every
country on the earth under every form OF
society. England, however, does indeed
possess extensive territories IN india, ana
ihey are of great importance to us, with re-
gard 10 the commerce, the resources, and
the prosperity of tho empire. They are
worth defending: and the mode of defend
inc Them NJ the time of which speak was
NV going into Ahghanistan, by deposing
sovereign who was our enemy, and by pla-
cling upon the throne in his stead sovereign
upon whose friendship we considered we
could rely. Well, the calamity TO which
MIR. Harvey has alluded occurred; but how
did il happeni Mr.. Harvey has, ms think
with somewhat bad taste, launched into most
wounding, and MS ! sincerely believe, UNI
founded charges against the officers OF the
British army. believe he Is totally ~ error
in surprising that there Is any foundation Tor
such charges. British officers are men of
honor; they behave calamity IN the field and
honorably in quarters; and entirely disbe-
leve the statements upon which Mr.. Harney
founded his sweeping charge against the
officers of our army in Ailghanistun. do
not blame the Aflghans for wishing to get rid
of our troops. Ii was natural they should
do SO. They told us, You must CO. We
replied, we are willing 10 go; only give
us a safeguard through your mountain pass
es, and we will go as YOU wish Was that
agreement kept? No; the traitorous chief
with whom il was made, under the pretence
of escorting our confiding troops, only led
them 10 destruction. When they had fairly
got into the mountain passes, they were
treacherously attacked, and were barbar-
ously and inhumanly murdered. That was
an net of treachery which, think, might
have elected some expression of indgna-
ton from man who Processes himself TO
lie so much imbucd with sympathy for hui
manity, and tn be so much the friend of all
classes of mankind. Hear. Those who
sent that army into Ailghanistan were as
much the cause of the calamity have al
luded 10 MS a man who builds house is the
cause Of It's being burnt down, or man who
builds ship is the cause of It's being wreck
ed IN a storm. The calamity had nothing TO
do with the original expeditions; and be-
lieve If any of those Generals who alter
wards distinguished themselves in India had
been then in command instead of the brave
man who did commando man who was
suffering nj the time from illness, which had
then almost brought him to the grave--that
calamity in all probability would not have
taken place. IL was. 'ian, in defence of our
domnions that Tie original expedition took
place, and we were no more bameable than
Mr. Harvey himself for the most affecting
calamity which, two years afterwards, bctell
the remnant of tne conquering army. MIR.
Harvey also finds fault with the measures
which were taken--not by us, but by our
successors-to vindicatc our national honor
and avcnge this net of base and pcrfidious
ireachery. Those measures were taken by
the Conservative Government which sue
ceeded US, aud ! applaud them. think
they were right and proper; but, whether
right or wrong, they were taken by others,
and not hy US; and, though ! am willing TO
share all the responsibility which attaches
to approving them, my present colleagues
and myself had no voice in their adop-
ton"
to Gen. Scott, after the hattie of Chur-
,,l,tsra o, riding nnuntr fhp fronn& Nxas