Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-06-29
EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF
II N. RIG HA RID w. PSoN,
al ae Baltimore Ratification .Ieetiag


This Baltimore PLATFORM was not. how
ever MIR. THOMPSON said. strong platform as tia,
which he then stood unon-has under lis opera,ion
upon The President wifo elected by the men who
made u and their followers got as into war, which
will cost twenty Eve thousand precious lives and
an hundred and fifty millions oiueasure That IS one
/ Of Us practical results. First, we had the annexation
olTexas- which. under the pardon Of the meeting for
mentioning, he would declare il was not his intention
10 re7ew the discussion of--Texas annexation which
had been commenced under accidental President
was made the cause for involving Us III a war with
Mexico--a war Unnecessarily and unconstiiuuonally
commenced by the President, and without the knowl
edge, much less me sanction Of Congress, g'sfhat's
not so.o cried man III the crowd Turn him cut y
turn him out responded an hundred voices. "No.
don't turn him OUT said Mr.. Thomson. "lor," said
he 81 have question ask Of that good democratic
ffiend' ''WseB did MIR. Polk inform Congress OF The
warp asked Mr.. T. The voice replied, 'sfIe told
them when safted hint" Eyes responded MIR T
"that is true; he told Congress, when it suited him.
that the country was involved in warl The Presi-
dent OF the United States in all the majesty ofthe right
DIVINE OF Kings, goI the county into war, and then,
when II suited him. he informed Congsess ofitl You
are right. my friend; you right When II sated
biiu he did II. That is progressive democracyl
thank you for your frankness and commend you hon
esiy TO Mf. Polk himself" This sally brought down
peals Of laughter, and cheers upon cheers followed
| In the selection Of the man TO command our army in
ith is on Mexico, Mr. Polk was Fortunate though
not he intended He could not send Gen'l Scott
there. That distinguished officer had already achev-
ed SO much glory, that dangerous 10 give him
chance 10 win more. MIR. Polk looks around. He
had heard or read that there was old man. who,
when but raw lieutenant, bad, a long time ago, de-
Tended agaus, fearful odds, a little fort in Indiana
The then lieutenant had but seventeen men ia
the For, and there we're three women besides.
! The Indians led on by Teeumseh, had attacked the
fort 10 immense numbers, and demanded il surren-
der and It's soldiers and be given up 10 the
q Sa ne
was. as more recent occasion, '.Come and take
ms ~ They tried 10 take him. and after long con
test, during which the red fell '.hks leaves in
November before the well directed guns OF the small
but gallant band the sun went down and the sun
arose. and there the stars and stripes still waving
over the little forl Here there was an outbreak Of
cheers and cries of "Ihat was young Zacki" which
was like the shout OF an earthquake. MIR. Polk had
heard or read OF this perchance. Mr. Thompson said
he must digress here TO remark that that little fort
called Fort Harrison, in the Congressional dis
trct which he (Mr T. represented and is within
three miles Of hs own door, There IS to be great
gathering OF the people IN short time and you may be
sure that the shouts which will then go up from the
man who there fought his first battle will be louder
than the loud oceans will be worth life time
10 be present that occasion.
Mr.. Polk has also heard OF this same war lieutenant,
then Become plain captain, who had fought out and,
conquered peace in the Black Hawk war. He had
heard also of his deeds in the Florida war where the
same lvincble spirit, which never knew defeat car
ried him through the trying Of that prolonged
conflict, and gave him the victory whenever he en-
countered the foe.
This raw lieutenant, then plain captain had now
become 10 be an old man. though still in the vigor Of
health, and rich IN all the resources Of originally
strong and well maiured mind. He was without am
bton. Iie was retiring as he was brave. He did his
duty he fought and conquered, whenever there
an enemy 10 hight or conquer and then set himself
down content with the consciousness of having done
his duty and of having done il well.
This old man Mr.. Polk selected 10 lead our bands
into Mexicol See how he doomed upoa our South
ern horizon! He crossed into Texas plain soldier,
badly known beyond his own camp, though beloved
by all who did know him. He reached Point Isa-
BEL and in his first despatch 10 the department
he wrote his own character in one line. The depart
meht ordered aim 10 march at once. lie had been de-
ayed by want Of provisions and means Of rranspor
aIlon Atlengh he had gathered up what he thought
might do, aud he prepared TO set out Tor Fort Brown.
He advised the department, and OF the appearance
Of Aris.a and bis Mexcans along on the Rio Grande,
aud added. II the enemy oppose my march, IA ,chatcrcr
numbers, is'aA fight him" Here there burst out
again the most enthusiastic cheering, and the same
voice that had said il Young lack" at Fort Har
rison. cried out This is OH Zack here" There
was some hesitation, in council Of war, about his
marching 10 For; Brown but he SAID after the court
lad given its advice against the march, II promised
the boys they should 80 to Fort Brown, and they must
gop
Ard thence what followed ?-pao Alto, Reseca de
Ia Palma. and Monterey. Hard fighting every where,
aud great odds against him in all combas, but victory
always on his sde He never surrenders, and he ne
yer loses batlle Invincible old man, how they
hope, those who, oppose You now 10 beat you in this
contest. WHEN with the prestige OF your graat NAME
you haze the people all ranged on your side
And then came that crowning victory Of al--Bue-
ma VISTA fhsy were twenty thousand and we were
bat five thousand They had their chosen soldiers,
led on hy their fayorile General. Santa Anna, whom
Mr.. Polk had gracDusy sent Them We had only
raw troops few regulars, and the rest volunteers.
The veterans OF Toe previous battles had been drawn
of. The most Distinguished oiiicegs in lhose fights
had been called to nohercoHImand Those THAI were
there, however, wero az nea. every one OF taeiD-
They felt themselves Be soldiers, and they de-
iermined 10 be heroes. They Were, however, only "a
handful, 10 the mighty host which was opposed to
them. Bot tdea old Zach ,cas there That name was
worth ten thousand Mexicans (''Yes, twenty thou
sandn "Three cheers for old Zach, ~ and they were
given with will) 1t was fearful Gghtto make
Old Zach fell l. % be so. He prepared Tor the
lie wrote what letters he deemed necessary explain
his private affairs Of the worst coming for il
was 10 be a contest for 'yictory 81 deaihn A council
81 war was summoned The Wemhets composing ii
differed among themselves, as 70 aai should be done
--s'co oEn 81 .sgo baga The Old man Heard nll lhai
was said and without asIitg a gcneye decision. an
uounced that .stte eotcRis adjourned snta atsr The
battle ~
| We all renembet what fearful forehoiings OF the
unequal conlesl--uneq1al n all that rehIss % nsBn-
hers on the one Maes ara Gehefashlp ana truuitahe
courage on The oihes -we all remember what ieafil
rumurs wehsd otghe balde We knew Santa Anna's
stfenglh--Ne ieagei or gne remnant oil our army ell
TO encouptef hiia Ehe administration s0ught y re-
ieve itself Of the responsibility OF the defeat er such
they supposed il must BE-. Il was for Gen Taylor 10
avoid il, ii he chose The Iespons bIlliy ell his.
teger was all his, and glorious did he meet ii. The
sun rose and sci twice Inc conending armies, and
when Il went down on the second day. The victory
was no longer duubilal Nhen il rose again, Santa
Anna and his host were no where % be seen, whilst
The dead slre,p ed eunru RAlhN