Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-20
w HIG OPINION.
raoM rnE BALTIMORE AMERICAN.

not refuse acquiescence in the recommendations oil
the President, but should wait for him to mark out
the policy to be pursued with regard to the war,
and unite IN the support of such policy,'in order
that upon the President and his administration all
responsibility for results might fall
This looks too much like an abandonment OF
duty. 1t is true that the Administration is greatly
embarrassed by the consequences of its rash mea-
sures, precipitatng war; and, if left to its own
counsels and It's own responsibilities, it would no
! doubt plunge itself still deeper into difficulties.
But, unfortunately, it is The country which must
pay the penalty of the Administration s weaknesses
il is the country which must suffer from persis-
lance in erroneous and hurtful courses. The Adj
ministraon may be condemned-nay, it is con-
demned already. 1t has lost its overwhelming ma
jory of fifty or sixty in the last House of Repre-
sentatives, and is now in minority in that body.
The Wings, then, are, by the act of the people,
placed in position of responsibility. The Ad-
ministraon has lost the public confidence. Its dis
creton must, therefore, not be longer recognised
responsible thing, under which the Wings may
expect to escape from their direct obligations to the
country. Too much has been trusted to Ex-
scutive discretion. There is now no such thing so
far as the Mexican war policy is concerned, as Elk
ecutlve discretion; in the place of it we see only
Executive indiscretion. Congressional responsible
lily is now prominently raised to the public view
|
aves which must present themselves to the sonsid-
Grafton Of Congress. 1t says:
"Ye it is obvious that one of be pur-
sued. We must withdraw eur army to such line as we
may think proper select and defend it if assaled
must go the attempt conquest and subugaton with
view the future union of the two Republics. We
favor OF the former pa because we believe the latter to be
mpraccabe if practicable, only to be achieved at sac
flee of life and money infinitely beyond the value Of the acqu
sition, that value million of times multiplied
and because, could it be effected without the loss
another life the expenditure of another dollar, should
regard the humiliation of the Mexican Republic and
nexation to the Union great crime and still greater
And if such be, believe it is, the judgment Of
majority of the American people, it will be the duty of their
Representatives in Congress SO to say
The issue here presented is, we believe, clearly
and definitely formed. The Presidents message
may speak of vigorous prosecution of the war as
necessary to compel Mexico TO sue for peace he
may not say word about the contemplated absorp-
ton of all Mexico but further prosecution of the
war to compel Mexico to sue for peace and to accept
our terms, means nothing less than the future abb
sorption of Mexico. 1t is quite likely that effort
will be made to cast odum upon all who may re-
fuse to adopt the Presidents views and recommen-
dations they may be charged with giving to the
enemy " aid and comfort
If denuncation of this kind, from Administra-
ton which has become notorious for imbeclity
could deter of sense and courage from the per-
Torrance of their duty to the country, the Republic
might be in bad way. But we believe that the
people of the United States desire ardently just now
two things-frst termination of hostites with
Mexico, which may be had by the assumption of a
defensive line; secondly, to be rid of Mr.. Polk
and his Administration, which can be accomplished
at the baot-box next November.
FROM THE PHILADELPHIA NORTH AMERICAN.
We learn from the Western papers that rev.
erend gentleman, well-known and celebrated pull
pit orator, has given occasion to some controversy
in Cincinnati by sermon, In which he advocated
the Mexican war and the conquest Of that country
as the fufment of design of Providence for re-
forming the religion and morals of the Mexcans.
contemporary journal, commenting on the affair,
says there is one thing can be said in the reverend
gentlemen's praise: I" whether the ground he occu-
pies in his sermons be tenabe or not, he is on the
side of his country, as every patriot should be-"
We have heretofore animadverted on what APP
pears to us the impious presumption of advocating
any war of conquest on the ground of its being in
execution of the will of God, and it is not necessa-
ry to repeat our remarks. Our present business is
with the editorial comment, involving another as
sumption, Extremely prevalent in certain quarters,)
not at all verging irreligion, but full of error and
injustice. 1t is sad in praise Of the preacher that
whether the ground he occupies be tenabe or not,
he is on the side of has country, every patriot
should be- the converse of the proposition being
necessarily impled-namely, that those who think
or preach otherwise not on the side of their
country as patriots should be. TO advocate the
conquest and annexation Of Mexico, then, is to be
on the side of the country to be opposed to con-
quest and annexation is TO be against the country
II is in the same way that we have the general as
sumption IN regard to the war ITSELF that those who
approve of it are on the side of their country or true
patriots, while those who disapprove are opposed
to their country, and enemies and traitors Mexi-
cans " and allies of the Mexicans
Now all this is absurd and unjust, and betrays a
rancor of intolerance unworthy Of the freedom and
intelligence of America and would be just as fair
and wise for those who think otherwise to retaliae
the charge of dsloyalty and treason on their accu-
sers. The rights of opinion and Of conscience are
the corner-stones of our liberties; and Americans
may be in favor of wars, or against wars, as they
are against or in favor of any public measures or
policy-protection or free-trade internal improve
ments, or any thing else-without any one having
the right to assume that he is more faithful and
patriotic.
The true way is to believe that all Americans are
on the side Of their country, they all undoubtedly
are whether in favor of Mexican conquest or opposed
to tall equally faithful, and loyal, and patriotic.
There may be errors of opinion there can be no
infdelity Of heart and the man who thinks his
country wrong and endeavors To set her right NAV