The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-08
'EDNEsDAY AFTERNOON, deer 8, Is47
For President
GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.
PREsIDENT,s MESSAGE.
ubect to the decision Of the Wing National Conven

| FhEblDENV"S mHSSAGEs
We said yesterday that the Presidents
message was the weakest document that we
have ever seen from his hands as they
generally are. To-day we reiterate that
opinion.
| As specimen of composition it does the
writer or writers no credit whatever Its
style is feeble and unfinished The structure
of the sentences is offensive to correct taste,
and frequently in violation of the most ordi-
nary rules Of good writing. The author or
authors do not appear to have clear per-
ception Oft the things about which he or they
are writing, and consequent obscurity per-
vades whole passages. It is disjonted- and
bears the ear-marks Of different weak minds
\ too plainly to be mistaken. There is no at
tempt at harmonizing conflicting opinions
Discrepancies occur throughout the whole,
and contradictions abound
1t is State paper worthy of the President
and his advisers!
| Passing from the form to the substance,
there is very little more to satisfy the craving
OF honest expectancy upon the Mexican and
other great questions. 1t abounds in common
place views on the subject of Mexican war.
There is not newspaper in the land that
has not handled and cannot handle the sub
ect with more skill and accumen There is
one thing, however, in which the treatment
of this important question is, on the present
occasion, happily free from, and that is, there
is no hectoring Of the Wing party for their
anti-war opinions. The castigations of the
Wing press. since the last ebulition Of the
Presidential rage on this topic, have been
useful in bringing the Executive to know
that his duties are not to arraign the motives
of his fellow-citizens who may differ from
him. May we not hope that the Democrat
ic press will hereafter follow the example Of
their Presidunt in this particular
But, though the discussion of Mexican al
fairs occupies three-fourths Of the whole doc
pment, very little light whatever is thrown
upon them. The country is gravely told
what it knew before about the progress Of
our arms and of the grand pacifcator Trist.
We could, however, excuse this episode, if
the President had vouchsafed to ask Con-
gress for their assistance in pacificating the
whole of conquered and beaten down Mexi-
CO without further efusion of blood. But,
no; " his voice is still for war-dire war -
and he calls upon Congress to respond in
men and money, and to leave him to wage
the conflict in the character OF the mighty
conqueror under the laws Of nations In this
particular the message is mere transcript
of the ideas which have been daily put forth
in the columns Of the Union for the last few
months. Is this the course of statesman
anxious to rescue his country from the DESC
lating effects of war,
The whole sum and substance of this COM
munication of the President upon the state
Of Mexican affairs, is expressed by the idea
OF so popuhrizing them as to make them
suhserve the objects of party" Hence it is,
that the passions are addressed throughout
every line in relation to the war; Glaring
falsehoods are maintained for truth and plau-
slble differences drawn from their statement.
10 read this story, one who knew nothing
beforehand of the war, would conclude that
our country was overrun by the Mexican
barbarians, and that the United States were
the most ill-used country on the face of the
Globe.
But there are two distinct avowals of po-
Icy in the midst of this farrago, and they
are: |. The declaration by Congress that
the CALIFORNIA; and New Mexico are Anne
rican territory by right Of conquest and the
erection of them into distinct territorial go
vernments as speedily as possible, with all
the machinery of American civil govern
ment. 2. The retention Of our conquests in
the other parts Of Mexico by military force,
and their extension until the whole country
has been subdued, unless peace shall inter
vene and put an end to our military pro-
gress, and if peace shall not intervene,
the final absorption Of the whole of Mex
leo into our Union as territory thereof
l we do not think we have overstated the DO
sltions of the President. We believe that
the country will regard them as correctly
stated. There is some obscurity in his
views-purposed, no doubt-upon the last
point, but we think we have expressed them
Understandings.
Now, the first proposition is a tangible
one, and Congress can act upon it without
difficulty. For our own part, we regard the
recommendation as feasible. 1t will pacf-
cate most elfectually those three old Mexi-
can States, and Congress may legslate in
the premises, without, we think, being in.
commoded by the peculiar dogmas Of the
negro-slavery or anti-negro-slavery men,
In our view, it is the only thoroughly prac-
teal and sensible scheme of policy recon-
mended in the message. Its adoption is
another matter 1t puts an end to war against
the people of these old States. In regard to
the second proposition, there is great difficulty
about it. The President has abandoned his
old ground of " conquest of peaceo as the
object Of the war, though he denies it, and
unconsciously asks Congress to keep up the
war for the sake of getting indemnify out of
Mexico. This changes the face of things.
Whether Congress will consent to make in
demnity the object Of the conflict remains to
be seen. lift does, it will be equivalent to
adopting the ABSORPTION policy, for, as Mr..
Polk remarks, indemnity is territory. So
that Mr.. Polk has cunningly or ignorantly,
xr,a hardlt, Ey,ax,, 4