Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-04-15
For THE SPECTATOR.
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

In view OF the preceding facts relating to it, no
rational, unprejudiced man can doubt that the Pre-
sldent desired and sought this war, nor that the
fact OF marching our army to the Rio Grande in a
country always held and governed by the Mexi-
cans, was Itself an act of war which fully justified
the Mexicans in attacking it. No one can believe
Tor moment that these people, who had been SO
frequently driven from the country by so feeble A
power as that OF Texas, would have dared to attack
Gen. Taylor had he been permitted To remain at
corpus Christi. AS war is 0ne OF the greatest
evils that can be inflicted upon mankind, and. con-
sequently, engaging in it unnecessarily one of the
highest offences against morality that can be com
iiiitled, IL may not be amss 10 enquire what could
have been the motives of the President in perpe,ra-
ting it-when, too, he could only effect his object
by The additional crime of violating his oath to sup
port the Constitution Of the United States for he
wei knew that Congress-, the only power that
could legitmately authorize offensive war. could
never be induced TO commit an act of such erre-
glous Jolly as TO make war upon the Mexcans, at
an expense OF fifty, or perhaps one hundred millions
OF dollars, In order to compel that poor feeble and
distracted nation. not then circumstances to dis
charge any debt, to pay the paltry sum Of two mil
lions, which, in all probability, they would have
! paid voluntarily so as they were able: nor
have compromised its dignity. and moral character
by taking such serious notice of the poutinp and
scoldng OF such people, mortified and smartng,
as they were, under injuries and insults which at
least, they may be allowed to have believed. that
the United States had inflicted upon them What
then could have been the motives of our chief ma
glstrate for conduct 80 flagitious? May they not
be traced to considerations deeply involving the in
terest OF himself and his party Is not this war
great political game, in which the President has
dared TO stake not only the treasure but even the
best blood OF the nation, with view to preserve
The ascendancy of the Democratic party with him
self at its head
by means OF stupendous and widespread sys-
tenn OF fraud and corruption, variety Of interest
and parties, such as the world had never seen be-
lore to act Ill concert was brought in an evil hour
to unite Tor the dire purpose of elevatg Mr. Por X
| to the Presidency. The advocates of free trade
strict constructionists State rights men, and those
who regard slavery blessing in the South.
were brought to combine, for this purpose. with
nigh tariff men, atltudlnarians, and abcionists in
the North and West and to this strange and hete-
rogeneous conglomeraton may be added a hume
rous band OF mercenarlcs, whose sole object was the
national treasure--more active and efficient in
bringing about the fatal result than ali the rest to-
getheI 30 soon as the dupes were undeceived
| Nlr. FOLK could not but perceive that the DANGER
That this dIScordant mass would crumble to pitces
became iminent How shall such catastrophe he
avoided? How shall these Earring materials be
confined together as by wall of adamant become
vuCSuOu vi TIE deepest S0llcltude with tic preSI
dent WAR-thls war with the Mexicansl-pte-
scented Itself as the most promising expedent in
such an emergency. The Presiden. had but too
much reason TO believe that we coveted our neigh
OoT'S land, nc understood the martial spirit of the
nation, aud above all, he counted largely upon the
vast extension of Executive patronage that wal
would enable him to avail himself Of lie mirht
too, have been influenced by ambition TO be handed
down TO fame as the great robbcr chief, who had
wrested from the Mexicans, and added TO our al
ready ample and not half occupied domain. a vast
territory. The prominent part (witness his doUb,
tntendre letters 10 Kane.) which Mr. Polk took in
the frauds attended to make him President. as
well as some ofshis acts since the commencement oil
the war; go far 10 prove that he is not man likely
10 be at all scrupuous about the means Of obtaining
much. desired end. Let us advert to some Of
these acts. He urged Gen Scott to take the com
maud of tho Southern army and advance upon the
Mexcans, when there were not nor could be fol
many months the force and munitions necessary 70
do so with any probability of success, peTnaciousll
insisting upon a compliance with his wishes not
outstanding the strong remonsrances Of that adj,
and experienced commander, and his plain demon
STATIONS Of the Improperly Of such course How
Is this conduct to be accounted for 2 Are we 4
suppose that the President. laboring under that v
norance which sometimes induces presurnuE
conceived himself better Judge Of snch
than Gen. Scott, OF that he wished to cYus(