The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-01-28
From the Union of Saturday
EFFORTS TO pRoTRAcT THE

III OP - ~ ThOl RACl The WAR.
| Two movements were made yesterday in Con-
gress. from The two eXtrpmities of the IJnIon-ibe
"ne by Mr.. Ciey, OF New Hampsbire in the
Senate. and the other by Mr. Stephens. Of Georgia.
IN the House-painly adapted if no, DESIGNED. tn
disavow the war. and discourage its prosecution.
| MI Cilley asked The Senate of the United States
TO resolve that our army should now be ordered by
The President to skulk away from the enemy in
humliating and shameful retreat! Mr.. Stenbeps
coniented himself with asking the House To repu-
dae all idea o! an decentralization for the expenses
OF the war, and fur our claims against Mexico, by
The acquisition of any portion of her territory %
ana 10 again proffer negotiation for The purpose of
settling the " rightful boundary of Texas and SO
obtaining peace without such indemnity'
lhese movements evidently hetoken az unwil-
Iingness Ia vindicate the rights of The nation in a
Just and necessary war. They plant themselves
directly in the path Of manifest patriotic duty and
II Is not too much 10 say that the present moment
tney outrage The almost unanimous patriotic feel
Ing "f the conntry 1t is difficult 10 imagine anv
preteXt TOR bringing forward such resolutions in our
national councils in the present crisis Unoues
humanity they will find no favor. nor ha rdly any
liberation within the ona legislature or in the
country. AS measures of Legislation. or L,nkina
TO le9isaiion they are utterly void and pro6,less.
because mo- minority, even at all respectable in
point OF numbers or influence. can he found TO sus
'aih 'hem. Al the same time, and beyond all
doubt, they tend necessarily and strongly to en-
courage The public enemy, and in SO far as thew
nave any practical effect, 10 lpone and defeat
mat very peace for which they profess to seek
Beyond all question. any such discontinuance Of
hosliiiIes. and withdrawal of our arms from Mexi
co. would present the inioerable spectacle of the
United States at peace with Mexico and of Mexi-
CO at war against The United States! Bv the
adoption of such resolutions, Congress would
show ITSELF wIlIIng-afler having CHARGED by its
al nfnot a ii Il
Try with the high constitutional responsibility of
conducting foreign war-to abandon him in the
very midst OF his discharge Of that dutv and IN
impose upon him the necessity of issuinu orders
ana adapting measures which all other civilized
ma lions would unite with nineteen tw entieths of
our %" n people in prononncng to be- on our part,
permanent and fragrant national dishunor-
Congress, by its act of The 18Th Of Nav last an
ih"r'zed and commanded the President of the
United States 10 prosecute the Mexican war tu
- speedy and successful lerminalion'' I'm en-
aching that law, Congress ordered the Presiden,
directly, and substantially if not in Terms 10
march our armirs into Mexico These two gen
ilemen now call upon Congress 10 saw virtually
That that order was issued 10 The President to the
single end that it might be followed M by an
other mandate ordering him to march them back
again and to take up the negotiation at the yety
r"int where Mexico sc0rned it and tramplpd
| upon II at the commencement of hOsiilitiPs To
what Taional--io what cOnceivabIe-en is il ,
MAJ Legislators rise IN their places To- make pro.
! positions which must fail, which must Tend TO
cast ndIDm up"n their advocates " hich must tend
to postpone peace, To encourage the enemy TO
dampea the PalrIo tlsm of the country and finally
IN stultfy the almost unanimous past action of
Congress itsefE II the last accounts from Mexi
co he true, the government Of that country has
now taken a stand absolutely without precedent
in the history Of nations. After long series Of
outrages-after assailing in terms both our own
sovereignty and the sovereignty Of Texas by pro
claiming Annexation tO be an art of war-after
refusing to make or to hear any propositions hat
ever luuking To peace between the two countries
and commencing hostilities by the war order Of
Paroles issued 10 April sst--the Mexican govern
mPnt has now compelled its chief magistrate To
take solemn oath that he will listen to no terms
Of peace and enter upon negotiation ill orr mr..
mics shall have evacuated every inch Of the
Mexican territory Mexico has thus presented to
us one solitary and stern alternative--eithPr 10
subdne this spirit, and gain peace by victory, or
else 10 submit 10 the burning and branding shame
uf entire and unrelieved defeat, and discontinue
in our effort 10 redress our wrongs And at the
very moment when these tidings of Mexican 40.
tun are ringing in our ears, American Legislators
are found willing to rise in their places, and pro.
Pose that This alternative shall be embraced. and
this disgrace endured
We call the attention Of our cOUntrymen 10 the
fact that these resolution, both virtually pointino
to the same backing ont movement, are presented
on the same day in both Houses Of Congress by
two members Of the Opposition. 10 there a sym