The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-28

country. We are glad that the President has
in his Message, pretaced his recommendation
as to the future with summary statement O.
the causes of complaint heretofore 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 it with some
particularly, we hear republish 1t:
sit Is sufficient on the present occasion tC
say, that the wanton violation of the rights Of
persons and property of our citizens committed
by Mexico, her repeated acts of bad faith
through long series of years, and her diSre-
gard OF solemn treaties STIMULATING for indem-
nifty TO our injured citizens, not only constitu-
| ted ample cause of war on our part, but were
OF such an aggravated character as would have
justified us before the whole world in resortine
to this extreme remedy. With an anxious de-
sire to avoid a rupture between the two coun-
tries, we torbore for years to assert our clear
rights by force, and continued to seek redress
for the wrongs we had suffered by amicable
negotiation, in the hope that Mexico might
yield TO pacific counsels and the demands OF
justice. In this hope we were disappointed.
Our minister of peace sent to Mexico was in
sultingly rejected. The Mexican Government
refused even to hear the terms of adjustment
which he was authorized to propose; and finally,
under wholly unjustifable pretexts, involved
the two countries in war, by invading the ter
ritory of the State of Texas, striking the first
blow, and shedding the blood of our citizens
ON our own soil"
In undertaking again to review these aver
ments by the Executive, now that they are A.
gain offered in his justification, and in support
Of that war al mteineciOnem against Mexico.
| which he recommends to Congress- VIC 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 ven
cradle, patriotic, and learned Albert Gallatin,
in relation to the Mexican War, which we
have lately had the satisfaction of spreading
before our readers. To his authority, upon
any question of public law or national obliga-
ton, we, at least, who have known him from
the days Of his great public services in the
Public Councils-hrst as a leader of the Re
publican party in Congress- next as a Member
of the Cabinet Of President jefferson, during
all his administration, and of that of Mr.. Mad
ison, until he was called to represent his coun-
try abroad, as the associate of Adams. CLAW,
and Bayard, III the great negotiation which
ended in the Peace Of Ghent-we, whose first
essay in our present vocation may be said to
have been guided by his hand, and by that OF
his ever-hOnored friend and official superior.
Mr. Madison, are bound, by every sentiment
of respect and gratitude, to pay Difference so
profound, that it would be the greatest distrust
Ofour own judgement, if 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 causes and
the character ofthis war, his views are in full
Il.
duty, from time to time, to present to our read
ers. Most fortunate for our 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 honestly the Press
may have done its duty; however ably and
fearlessly distinguished Statesman of the pres
ent day may have exposed and denounced the
new career upon which our country has enter
ed as the sole disturber of the peace Of the
world: however bright and hig the states
manship which the great Patriot of the West
has so recently brough. to bear upon this great
question, the Address of Mr.. GALLATIN has
shown that 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 foremost 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 unex-
hausted. and quilted high trusts whilst they
vet courted his acceptance: one Of the foremost
men. IN word, of that illustrious era of our
statesmanship which has now hardly survivor,
one. therefore. almost in the last extremity OF
| age, and vet so fortunate as to have preserved,
! equally undimmed, its abilities and It's honOrs.
| To the authority of such a name as that OF Al
| BERT GALLATIN. his recent Address adds a
strength of reasoning which nothing in the
present 'lay can meet, and that luminous COM
mand 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 superb
or The trusted coadiutor-and ii may even,
in Finance and in Diplomacy, be said TO have
been-the instructor of JEFFERSON, Of MAD
IsON, and of MONROE, we have here, as of one
rising from the dead, a voice, passionless as it
is wise and solemn, the judgement Of an antique
and genuine SAGE of Republicanism-yea Of
Democracy-upon the entire question Of this
Presidential War.
Armed and fortified with such document,
it is with unwonted confidence that we proceed
once more to expose those hollow pretences
and :insncere professions of the authors and
apologists for the War with Mexico, which have
been converted heretofore with no other appa-
rent effect than to induce more pertinacious
repetition of them.
Referring to his last annual communication
to Congress for particulars ofhis bill OF arraing-
ment; the President again recited wrongs by
Mexico, through along series ofyears,' &C.,
as being such as not only to constitute ample
causes Of war, but as would have justified the
United States before the whole world in re-
sorting TO this extreme remedy. This every
one, at all acquainted with history, knows to
be gross exaggeration. The long existence Of
claims for wrongs now alledged to have been
so enormous is ofitseh proof Of the fact that
they were not at any time deemed BY Cong
res; to constitute sufficient cause of war.
Most of them had besides, been actually adjus-
ted by treaty between the two countries,
which was in the course Of faithful execution
by Nexico, when the hostile demonstrations of
our Administration SUSPENDED the payment of