Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-25
COUNTY.

Al a large and respectable meeting oil Inc CT
zens OF Mercer, held a, their Court House 0
Monday, the 18th day of February, 1913, III be
ing Court day,) on motion, James Henderso
was called to The Chair, and Charles l. Pear
and Charles w. Calfu, were appointed Secreta
ries. -.
The object Of the meeting having been brieh
explained by G. w. Pearls, Esq, on mohoI
David Hail, James Caliu, ST., Hugh Holstin'
Philip Peters, and George w. Pearls, were az
pointed a committee 10 report resolutions expires
siye OF the sense Of the meeting; who, having re
Tired for a short time, returned, and through lhei
Chairman, David Hall, reported the tollowin
preamble and resolutions, which, having bee
read, were unanimously adopted:
The policy of the United States towards o,he
countries has ever been essentially pacifc-ye
have the people thrice been called 10 repel inva
sion and avenge The insHlls offered 10 their coun
Try. Once, when but infant colonies, Great BIi
tain sought 10 crush the first germ OF the Tree 0
Liberty that put forth lis tender shoots from Anne
sican soil-she invaded our territory, and was re
pulsed, after a seven years war had wrung iron
her The unwilling acknowledgement Of cur inde
pendence.
Again, after The lapse OF lhirty years, our right
were lrampled upon, and humilialing conditions
and restraints sought TO be imposed, BY our an
cient foe. She was again met, by that firm an,
undaun.ed spirit which had carried US so irium
phanlly through the "War OF Independence" an,
the British lion was driven back 10 his den, shorl
OF his strength, and crouchins beneath The pierc
ing eye oil the sacred bird olliberty.
Another thirty years OF general peace and tran
guilty, and our happy land is again startled from
her peaceful repose by the harsh war cry, and III,
din Of battle within our borders! The blood 0
our slaughtered counirymen, she'd upon our Owl
soil, cries aloud for The sword Of justice once
more 10 be unshealhed 10 avenge the wanloD aDC
unprosoked asgressions OF an invading Zoe. BuI
moi against the giant power Of British tyranny
are e now called on 10 arm for the contest--lhe
blow is stricken by the unsiaielul hand Of a SIS
ter Republic, on The American continent.
On The 18th day Of May, 1916. the Congress Of
The United States, with an almost unanimous
voice, proclaimed 10 The nation that war existed
by the acts OF Mexicol The existence OF The
wal, being thus recognized and made known,
followed by the simultaneous announcement OF
the brilliant victories achieved by our gallant lit
lie band Of patriots al Palo Alto, Resaca de Ia
Palma, and Ma!amoras, a blaz. Of patriotic en-
thusiasm burst forth throughout The United States,
which for a time threw all The dark horrors OF
war into deep shade. The irue-hearled and brave,
OF all political parties, volunteered with a~lacri,y
and zeal 10 bear alotl the standard OF our insulted
country over the mountains, the valleys, and the
slrong-holds OF Mexico.
Prompted by a desire 10 vindicate our nation
al rights, and preserve uniafDlshed our national
honor, our army OF citizen. soldiers have won tor
themselves u~niading laurels on every battlefield
from the Rio Grande to The city Of Mexico. Both
officers and men have given evidence, in their
teals OF yalor, their undaunted courage, and their
unliring perseverance, thai they were fighting in a
just cause, Tor The honor and glory OF their coun-
Try, and The rights OF lis citizens. Such devotion
10 country ought 10 call forth from every Amer.
can heart the fullest expression of gratitude and
thanks. Our brethren in arms should have not
only their own self-approving consciences TO en-
courage them in their onward march, but the cor
dial appreciation and cheering plaudits OF those
whose rights and Interests they are SO nobly sus.
tanning. :
Entertaining these views, We deem il not only
a privilege, but a duty, 10 send forth, from our
monn,ain.homes, this just tribute OF respect TO
the bravery, the skill, and the chivalric conduct
OF our officers and men, who have, in every con.
hict with The Mt1cans in arms, avenged the
wrongs and injuries done by that misguided PEG.
pie 10 our common country.
sour Country: May she always be right;
bn, our country, RICH. or wrong" IS a sentiment
that ought 10 find a response in The bosom OF
every true patriot in The land, when The tocsin OF
war has been sounded, and The hostile foot OF =
foreign enemy has dared 10 touch our soil, and
his hand 10 spill the blood Of our citizens. We
most sincerely regfet, however, that there should
be those found in our midst so an.i.American in
their feelings, as not only 10 repudiale this senti-
menl, but ~ denouncc the war as unjust in lis
origin and imbecile in its prcgfess-to condemn
our own Government and people for their support
OF The war, and become apologies for Mexico.
We regard this trGio'0us spirit, which seeks 10
place our own Government in the wrong, and
Mexico in Inc right-in The present straggle-as
The unhallowed offspring Of Ioryism in our FIRST,
and Hartford COarenti0nism in our second war
with EnelanG-at any rate, the likeness seems
striking, and the mark Of Cain is visible on The
young founding.
Ii is matter of surprise and regret, that the
Hhig majority in Congress should have passed
a resolution declaring that the present war with
Mexico was Unnecessarily and unconstitutional
" begun BY The President of The United STATES"
This is, indeed, a grave declaration, made under
the solemnity OF an official oath. II stands d-
rectly opposed 10 the joint act of both Houses Of
Congress, passed on the 18th Of May, lSi6-and
every feeling Of honor will prompt the American
heart 10 enquire, Is uhue? Uit6s tue, then has
the President been guilty OF high crime, which
his accusers ought 10 make manifest by an i'm
mediate Impeachment. If ii be untrue, then lis
authors have a fearful responsibility 10 meet.
They must stand convicted Of having, from mere
parry prejudice, taken sides with our public
enemies-and, whilst aiming a blow al the Pre-
sident, and through him al the Democratic party,
the Wings have done an act, The effect OF which
stops not at 'the White House" but will extend
10 Mexico. This precious resolution will there
take its place by The side Of those Wing speeches
which were found in Inc archives OF the Mexican
Government, 50 carefully preserved by our enc
mics as crumbs OF Tad and c~om/Ori," 10 be duly
distributed among their guerrilla chiefs.
We believe that the time has come when the
friends OF The Country, through their primary as
semblies, should speak Out freely ard iearIessly
their sentiments touching the war aud The mea
sures of The administration generally. As the
sense Of lhi, meeting, therefore, we recon-.
mend The adoption OF the following resolutions !:
/. Resolved, That we cherish the principles Of
free tIade-and deem it the true policy OF this
Government in laying a tariff of duties on ion.
ports, SO TO regulate il, as 10 produce The greatest
amountot revenue, with The least possible tax;
adopting adj valorem duties, as lar as practical
bic, discriminating only for Revenue.
2. Resolved. That we are opposed 10 a tariff
based on principles OF protection merely. We
are opposed 10 The distribution Of The proceeds Of
the public lands amongst the States. And oppo-
sed 10 a National Bank.
3. Resolved, That we are opposed 10 the eXer-
else by Congress, Of any powers not clearly au.
thorised by the Constitution. We believe that
The regulation Of slavery, apd the appropriation
of money 10 make internal Improvements in the
States, by Congress, hnd no warrant in the Con-
stitution.
4. Resolved, That We regard the veto power as
highly conservative in its character, and are op-
posed 10 any modification OF it.
5. Resolved, That the constitutional TIeasu-
ry, under Democratic rule, has operated in a
time OF war 10 collect and disburse heavy amounts
without detriment or loss, either 10 the public or
individuals thus fulfilling the just expectation,
Of lis friends in this respect, and also in keeping
The currency of the country in a sound and heal.
thy condition, preventing over-issues OF Bank pa.
per, restraining The gambling spiri, Of speculation,
AID rendering easy and safe all The fiscal opera.
tons of The Government.
6. Resolved, That We deeply regret the e1is.