Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-01

vous Presidents Democratic as well Whg have done
this end, has been unconstitutional His views these points
are now proclaimed democratic doctrine, although they
condemn the course of of the first and best Presidents
the country has ever had. Surely the constitution
much within the reach OF and fully understood by JEFF
ierson and jackson as by James X. Polk.
The President denies the power of the General Government
to effect these beneficial changes but he lavish millions in
useless and bloody He can give the whole revenues
OF tho country and burden the people with immense debt
10 wrest from the hands of Mexico her possessions He has
no scrupes when blood aud money TO be avshed for the
ignobe purposes Of unconstitutional While we have
domain OF rich and virgin SOIL scarcely odden by the foot
OF man, and which is in the highest degree inviting 10 the
agrlcuurist and furnishing enterprise the ample
field OF exercise, the President employs the of the
nation to obtain possession Of rocky mountains and sandy
serts which will defy all the eots Of industry to render
full Such blind and fatal policy would exceed belief it
not continually in exercise before eyes II this the fruit
OF the boosted democracy that heraded the land I'll
none OF 1t What has il brought US War and death.
ask, Mr. Chairman did not predict this state of things
Did we not tell you that the election Of the present Executive
linked to such policy would produce all these fatal results
Did we not that and death would blight the land and
exhaust It's resources Did not predict that the blood Of
best should be spilled and the chace Of misery be
pressed to the anng lips Of this people till they should cry
II Is enough The gentleman from Indiana (Mr HEN
LETT told US short time since that the Wings like the Mil
ertes, were false prophets that they cried to the country
and lis constitutions but that their predictions had always been
filsfed Sir, ask is this so Have the words Of the
Wings been fearfuly realized Did they not with uneng
precision oree the result Of the election Of the present Pre-
sdential incumbent And have the verfcaons Of their
predictions been written characters Of blood upon the his
tory Of the nineteenth century
Sir had Henry Clay been elected to that station eyes
had not been greeted with sights OF anguish sau,ed
with and shrek of acon produced by the ravages
of the internal demono We should have had las
tened upon territory than worthless, to be
for slavery and bone of contention for the future Our
treasury had been involved in debt of hundred mil
lions of dollars day swelling its prodsous size Then
should have need stand in this hall for the purpose
CT voting the blood OF the nation the of
contest which all Of must depore the and comforts
Of civilization had been extended highways of
merce had been made safe and commodous Instead of
sctve vetoes upon harbor bills necessary this the
public interest," should have had lib raj and general policy
fostering and industry and the bright and happy
genius Of peace had spread her wings land and
showered the richest blessings within our borders.
When reflect upon what this country might have been
at the present n had abera and wise policy been
at home and abroad when view the losses has
tanned by the niquitous of the Administration upon the
wasieni expenditure of and the fearful enson of
bood-ihe blood OF the Modest and bes-how
train the feelings Of sorrow that struggling up for
have the great statesman the other end the
Capitol bowed down by grief the loss of his through
this rapacous war and have the tears fall from the
cheeks of the venerable and excellent Of Kentucky
he thought Of the loss Of his stbon through the same
destroyer And who has not mouned for this Look
into the hame the cities Of the country and alike stare
the the of nexpressbe How often must the
feeling adopt the touching words of inspiration that
mine head walers mine eyes fountain Of tears
that might day and night for the slain of my people
well know, Mr. Chairman, that these results
sary incident to Ruin ard desolation always follow
in its train to greater less degree Of aggravaon But
sir this fact does not those who reckesy set ope
ration its awful machinery The fact that such al
ways connected with war; makes still heavy the
demnation due 10 those who originate it, Sir the circum
stances connected with the origin and progress of the
clearly asen upon the Executive this vast responsibility No
a. e d..
like shadow before its accession the form Of power has
tened and consummsted the of Texas from which
the has arisen This the first link in the form
dable chain OF that brought the 1t well
known by the who urged that in such haste
alike disregard proprety and justice, that il would be
considered by Mexico cause Of war; II absolute
and direct insult TO that Power II considered by her
minister as be left this city, 1t declared such by the
listing Government Mexico and by the universal voice of
her people
Soon another act is added to The drama Pretending to
desire an amcabe settlement Of the difficulties between the
two countries, the President minister the Govern
Of Mexico. But the performed without the least
reference the expressed wishes OF the Mexican Government
the kind Of minister to be sent. The Mexican Govern
ment then directed by Herrera inclined to pacific
but the people stirred up state of intense
dignation against the United States The minister OF Mr..
Polk was sent IN the f1m not OF acommissi2ne to adjust the
difficulties between the republics and amcahe relations
but plenpoeniary. He forced upon Mexico when
contrary her dignity and her ceares rights TO receive
him IN that character In the Mexican Government
urged his recall although his reception by them would have
been signal FOR the prosraon OF the existing powers he
presented and kept the Of Mexico the only minister
that should be by the United States Thus the negota
tons Of Mr. Polk before the outbreak Of the calcu-
lated to fan sill higher the fame Of wrath that had been kin
died in the midst Of Mexico by Overlooking
science characterized all his dealings with that Power and
acting under an apparent conviction Of the power he welded
and Of the weakness Of Mexico he seemed think that
exravagan demands and designs unmurmungy 10
he submitted BY the Mexican people. On the 3h Of jan
uary 1885, days before the receipt OF any communca
ton by Mr. Polk from Mr. Shde indicating the probability
OF bis rejection by the Mexican Government the President
oderedhe troops under the command Of Gen. Taylor march
the left bank OF the Rio GTande. By this forces
occupy territory that in dispute between
the countries and challenge given to Mexico for
Leaving out Of question the quality Of claims held
by the Governments the fact that the territory dis
pu,ed that the claim Of Mexico bad been satisfied nor
exiingushed, a sufficient why this march should
have been ordered and that another Of the long
train Of insults offered to the Mexican republic And there
is another, and think, very important consideration
connected with this matter Although Congress was at that
time in session. the order msdthe order which resulted
fierce and protaced advance the troops without
the least references the constitutional rights Of Congress-
the least consultation with that body in the affair
This conjoncd with the fact that was issued the time
minister on hts way to the capital Of Mexico settle
questions in dispute between the countries makes the act
OF the Executive appear most fagrsnt Yet The message
Of the President Congress the lih Of May, 1885,
places the necessity Of the war on part solely on the
ground that the Mexans had invaded territory aud there
on shed American blood Although intend enter into
argument prove the position, yet firmly believe that the
territory only capc but owned by Mexico. And