The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-06

a position which cannot be assaied with any hope of
success and that we must stand justified before all
Chrstehdoh go one step further, and maintain that
the laws OF nations would have fully justified us in
marching directly into the enemy's country and if the
PRESIDENT mad the means to do it, instantly to seize
lamptco ana vera Cruz. France had battered down the
case OF san iuan dtoa about their for povocaon
not one-tenth as great Had Great Britain or France
made one hall the menaces and we remained passive,
without demanding and taking redress, should have
been forever dsgraced in the eyes of mankind
is there any principle recognised by the laws of ma
TONS, or by the rules OF common which requires
nation 70 wait until the first blow is struck
In louisiana we did not stop to inquire who was in the
wrongs we only heard that army was in danger and
the SOL which the highest officer in this country had said
was, " not ours, at least as much il our
mys had been invaded The legislature placed every dol
lar IN The treasury at the disposition of the governor
DC used IN equpping and despatching troops and little
Stae only giving some twenty-odd thousand votes, had
enpted MS treasury, and furnished five thousand voun.
teersTho ucre IN the field they could be pro-
yded with munitions of and the of Transport
aton 1t gives pleasure to add, we knew no dis
nchon OF party there at least country goes before
our party; and the extract annexed from the "New Or
leans Bee the leading wing paper that city, will show
with what Indignation they repel the inslnuation con-
tanned article the "Union" that the wing party are
opposed TO the war.
What the editor of that paper will take when
he reads the mild and gentle expetives, and sees the
position taken by the leaders OF that party in Congress-
do not know; but he cannot be deceived by the
that those gentlemen this oor voting for the
supplies, have done their duty. There such thing
keeping a promise to the ear and breaking it to the
sense, and the prayers and good wishes of our fellow
citizens are as necessary to success and gratifying
than money; the kind regard, the "sl small voice"
of encouragement is sweeter to the broken spirit than all
your aims sneeringly and osenatiousy given and dis
played Ophelia says
Rich gifts poor, when givers prove unkind.'
| Mr.. Chairman, one more word in conclusion Gentle
men of the grand Jury you have arragn
ed, not James X Polk, the Chief Magistrate of
common country, but you have indicted the American
nation and brought her before the bar of public opinion
to answer for the highest crimes and msdemeanors ls
| OF wagng an unjust and an unhoy war war against
"A sister republic, and against the free principles
and the constitution of your country The President
for himself and the country, has entered the plea of not
guilty and demands an impartial trial OF the issue
We intend to put in no special plea If you make good
your charge, somebody is guilty. either the President,
the majority of that Congress which declared this war;
the nation at large. You gentlemen of the opposition
have saked your reputation on the issue.
II this war was what you say il is, and waged wan
tonly snuy, by the President, from personal van
ity petty ambition, for the sake of letting the world
know who James X. Polk was-f for an end like this
all the Of blood and millions upon millions Of its
y da all in violation Of the on
United States been guilty not of moral merely but OF ac
tual treason and that Of the deepest dye not through g
norance, but with malice aforethoug6t If all this be
true then has he damned HIMSELF indeed, TO depth Of
namy where the hand OF resurrection can never reach
him.
murdered Cross the gallant Watson the chivalric Ridge
" and all the friends and relatives of the noble Ring
gold and the other gallant spirits whose lives have been
given bloody sacrifice TO their counrys honor, that
all this done to glorfy this administration and prove
who James X Polk was, then, sir is your Chief Magis
trae guilty OF coaducf so bdsey mean IN public char
aoer, that rs withom precedent or pretencc
diary ,rar upon society that nothing excuse paHi
ate, oao'ating from a refinement Of beggariy uttany,
%e SsS IL ysS9% s sg 5s1 f All
in establishing the truth of these charges, the impartial
Judgment of all good men will fix upon your conduct the
anathemas which you hurl against your Chief Magis-
Won have stall ed everything that
honorable men hold dear upon the result and you must
look well to it. The supporters and defenders OF this
still have judgment here that but teach bloody in
strucons, which, being taught, return to plague the in
ventor' Let gentlemen beware; for be assured, his
even handed justice commends the ingredients OF our
poisoned chalice TO our own lips"
And now, as mere party man. LET me say to the gen;
lemen the opposite side OF the House, that if you will
but continue these denunciatons OF the war in the key
in which you have begun, and you can induce a few
Of your friends to take positions exactly similar,
you will confera greater benefit on the administration
and its friends than by anything else which you could
do But, American, in all sincerity let me beg you
for once to forget all party distinctions at least to Gas
sumo virtue il you have not" and stand by your
play the hypocrite ~
Twill leave the decision of this question to the Amer-
can people. Is your President guilty of the crime of
waging an unjust, an unhely and war of aggression
Is he guilty OF treason in endeavong to subvert the lib
critics of your country In word is his position SO bad
that he has been compelled to resort to fasehood and mis-
never!
If our friends the way desire whose material
shall be taken out of the party vocabulary select the best
subject you think proper We will give you fair field
the treasury the tariff the tax tea and coffee,
Oregon the parallel of 40, and, it be not almost
friendly passage at but in the of the coun
try and common sense, leave of all this mere party strife
Do not make object of contempt to all nations. In
the commencement and conduct OF this war, even Eng
land, our quondam mother, and now rival has not
found one scntlla of blame to cast upon US No, nor
even the party press itself until it had its cue from Wash
ingon. In the name of common country, lmplore
you desst desire TO witness party triumph at the
expense of that country. Let raise my voice in depre
cation-aye, even supplicaton-that gentlemen may
desst We began the in all unanimy would it not
now be disgraceful, without check, reverse 10
fall out with one another about its prosecution.
But the gentlemen opposite say they will vote the
but do you expect TO shelter yourselves from the public
censure by such courses You cannot deceive the peo
pie bv such specalities these. Better would it have
been to have voted with the twelve against the war.
You cannot make the people believe, from tmid vote OF
supplies that the denouncers of the not the
forters OF Mexico.
In conclusion let me express the hope that
this debate will not continue For the integrity of the
country. | hope it may cease. As partisan, | should
desire its proongation, for have abiding conviction
that gentlemen who indulge language such has been
used in this debate must follow losing game, and be
forever consigned to the deep oblivion which manes all
who dare to denounce their own government when
gagged in Just and necessary war.
| Appendix
| from the New York Courier and Enquirer1
Tur Presidents MHssAeEThis document reached us by
express bapast nine o'clock last evening,