The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-07-24
Col. DOniphan.

On the return of the Missouri Regiment of Vol
%unteers, under the command of Col. Doniphan,
Col. Benton was appointed to address them. In
the course of his reply to the interesting details of
Col. Benton, Col. Doniphan used this language:
alt is not for me, fellow-citizens, to
discuss the merits OF the war;. But, it
is natural that |, for one, should say
something in relation TO it. 1t is a
strange war: when first commenced,
it was denounced by a large party in
our countryside party to which | be-
long-as a wa for political purposes.
But when soldiers are TO be raised for
its prosecution, you find that men of all
partiss--the opposers and the advo-
cates-the accussrs and the accused
we're ready to engage in the war, to
rally under the same standard, to fight
in the same tented field. What a spec
tacle for the people of the old world 10
gaze upon!
.sMen who were e%ngrossed in the
strife of political ~prejudices were will
ling, like Rhoderick Dhu and Fitz
James, to lay aside those prejudices, for
the time, when a common enemy was
to be engaged--to renew their dlssen-
sions, if ever, when peace should be re.
stored. Fellow-citizens, | wish the
same patriotic feelings had existed in
the councils Of this nation. | wish that
Mexico could have seen the same unan-
unity in our people in the prosecution
of this war, that they have seen in our
forces in the field. | recollect well,
the impressions made on my mind, on
one occasion, when an express sent by
TO Gen. Wool, brought me such
stray papers as had found their way TO
the Generals camp-the latest dates
were of the Goth Novembsr--conse-
quently, We had nothing OF the last ses-
sion of Congress, or Of the Presidents
message. The first thing | cast my
eyes upon was speech Of Mr.. Corwin,
Senator from Ohio, denouncing the
war, and those engaged in it, as little
than a band OF robbers. Cen
tlemsn, a winter shower-bath would
have been pleasant compared with my
sensations on reading it! Freezing
chilling! Such speeches might have
been deemed patriotic in the United
States; but, place yourselves where
we have been, and endure what we
have undergone, and thon imagine our
sensation. We were in a city number
ing in population at least twenty times
our force, and surrounded by enemies
on all sides. We had crossed the Ser
ra Madre, and found, when we had ar
rived at Chihuahua, that we were look
ed upon as little better than'a band of
robbers! FELLowC CITIZENS, THE SPEECH.
Es WHICH II MADE IN OPPOSITION TO
THIS WAR, R SAID TO EMANATE FIR ON
THE PEACE PARTY; BUT | SAY THEY ARE
BY THOSE WHO RI %PosTpoNING THE
PEACE E~TERNALLY."
We hope every reviler of the present admins
trationI and the war, will read the above remarks
Of Col. Doniphan. whom the wings claim as one
of their number. 1t is true, as Col. Doniphan as
serts, and as every friend of our common country
has asserted since the commencement OF the war,
those who are so actively engaged, as they
'ay, to bring about a peace, by proclaiming that
war is '%'unjust, unrighteous, and damnable,"
are only giving ''aid and comfort" to the enemy,
md "postponing the peace sternally." Wbatpeo.
pie would yield to any peace propositions that
night be made, when some of their foes friends
we should say) were constantly telling them that
he war waged against them or their rulers, wa
Unjust and unrighteous! Is it for one moment to
,e supposed that Mexico will yield to terms of
,eace, SO Icing as she is able to maintain a respec-
army in the field, while a portion Of the peo-
Die of the United States, are rendering her "aid,"
~ telling her that this war is u%njusti
For the Spirit of Denaocrdeu. |