The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-03-13
The Great War Nieeting---its
Aspect and Importance.

Il The New York Herald of the 2otb
ult., says;--" If there had been doubt
in the mind of any person that the
masses Of the people were divided in
opinion on the propriety of supporting
the administration, and furnishing them
with men and means to bring the war
with Mexico to an honorable and vic.
torious conclusion, and as speedily as
possible, the enthusiasm that was mani
tested at the great war meeting in this
city, on Thursday evening last, was
calculated to dissipate it. We have
attended many popular meetings in our
time, but we never saw at any, a more
decided, determined and unanimous ex-
preston of popular will. There was,
covert attempt made by certain
parties, to throw frebrand into the
assembly, but the moment it was dis
covered, it was quenched.
"The next question is, what effect will
this meeting, and the pointed and pun
gent resolutions that were unanimously
carried with three times three cheers,
have on the factious disorganizers IN
and out of Congress? Those men,
whose sole aim, since the commence.
ment of this war, has been directed to
the embarrassment of the administration
lnits prosecution-t those men who have.
by tackling on provisos and exceptions
TO bills introduced for the prosecution
OF the war; and occupied weeks and
months in debating extraneous subjects,
while cur army were suffering from
want Of achievements those men
who were the first hypocrilically TO cry
out that they were willing 10 furnish
the administration with due and sut-
tcient means to carry on the war v 2
orously, and hold the administration &C.
countable for its origin, after peace
would have been concluded; but after
wards, on the most flimsy and rldicu.
lous pretexts, refuse to vote those
means--the men who have given 'aId
and comfort to the enemies of their
country, virtually as much as if they
had voted men and money 10 them
the men, who by their actions, since
Congress commenced, seemed deter
mined tQ..wipe out the glorious vIcto-
res at Itffo Alto, Resaca de la Palma,
and Monterey, the glory and fame OF
which are without a parallel in the his
tory Of modern warfare? " hat effect.
we say, will this meeting have on hose
men? Will this severe and well.merit-
ed rebuke, administered to them by the
people-the mighty opIe-assembied
IN their majesty, on great and lmpor-
tant occasion, have the effect OF max.
ing them pause in their iactious and
headlong career, and induce them to
make reparation to their injured coun-
try for the wrongs they have wiliuiIy
inflicted on her, and the stigma they
have cast on our fag3
d "We hope, for he honor Of our coun-
Try, it will. We hope, for our repula-
,ion as republican people, that it viii.
But if it do not, we pity the man or set
of men, who will dare 10 beard the peu.
pie, and defy the solemnIy and deter
minedly expressed will oltheir contitu
ents. If they do not, the contract THAI
they entered into with their constitu-
ents is at an end. The relation they
assumed when they accepted their no.
relation Of agent to carry
out the will Of their constltuents-viIl
be at an end, and then resignation
should follow.
"The people insist that this war shall
be prosecuted with vigor--they have
given their unworthy representatives to
understand that they were elected to
carry out the views Of their constltu-
ents, and not occupy their time, which
is so precious, in the present emergen-
cy, in debating whether slavery shall
have foothold in the moon; for ,hev
might as well discuss its existence there,
as in the new territory that we may
acquire. They have spoken in thunder
tones to those who use their brief pow
er tor the furtherance OF their own fac
tious and selfish views.
"We hope that similar meetings to
that held here, will be held all over the
country; and if other cities and towns
utter such sentiments as those express.
ed at the meeting in New York, the
death knell of political pettiiogging will $
be rung, and the glory and honor of the
country be sustained and viudicated."
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