Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-08-16
From the Washington Union.
Justice f. Oan :lA Enemy.

MIR. Prentlss, the celebrated wing ora
tor Of New Orleans, has confessed, in his
speech at the ratification meeting, that the
democratic machinery has been productive
Of the most successful results. He ad-
mitted that s.this nation had never been so
prosperous as at the press MT tine;" and
shat the wings, adherng to conservative
principles, were perfectly content to allow
the country to remain in the hourishing
condition in which it was found and ack-
nowledged to be at this very period" He
stated, further, that sail the old issues had
been laid aside, and become obsolete" No
higher compliment could have been paid
to the republican party and the present
administration, than what is couched in
these few sentences.
If the nation is prosperous, what party
has contributed to make itso? Ofcourse,
the party which has been in power
What! Has not their revenue unprotec-
tive tariff of 1916 ruined the nation, i'm
poverished the treasury, bankrupted the
manufactures, starved the operatives, and
ruined the nation? Not at all; the country
was never SO prosperous, says Mr.. Prem
tiss. Has not the constitutional treasury
thrown our money affairs into confusion?
Is not the currency ruined for want of a
national bank? Not at all; the country
was never SO prosper Gus, says Mr.. Prem
tiss. Has not the warehouse system
shackled our commerce, and destroyed
our manufactures? Not at all; the coun-
try was never so prosperous as at the
present time. The democratic principles,
then, have triumphed under the present
administration; and they have been run out
into the most successful reforms of our in
ternal policy. True, confesses the wing
orator Of New Orleans, the country was
never so prosperous!
And how is it abroad? Has not the
settlement Of the Oregon question, which
defied so many years negotiations of other
administrations which threatened to plung
lis into war with England, and which was
finally effected by giving notice, which was
itself predicted to lead to war;-has not this
measure, which was thus brought about
by the energy of the President, ruinedlhe
nation? Not at all; ''the country was new
er so prosperous" Has not the annexa-
ton Of Texas, wrought out by the wisdom
of this administration, ruined us all9 Far
from it; the country was never SO pros
porous.
Has not the war with Mexico, which
has produced more brilliant achievements
in two years than ever fell to the lot Of
any nation, and covered US with glory
that will never die, and which has termi-
mated in an honorable peace, bringing
with it an ample indemnity for the past,
and security for the iuture--a war, which
had SO long hung over past administrations
and peace which had extended con-
fines to the Pacific ocean and given us the
best port in the world for our seven hun
dred whalers, ruined the country? Not
at all; our nation was never so prosperous
as at the present time. Have not the ad-
mirable commercial treaties which we have
made with some Of the German States, and
are now extending toothers, as well as to
other powers, thus increasing the facilities
of our commerce in distant seas, ruined
The nation2 Not at all, says Mr. Prentiss;
Tor our glorious country was never SO
prosperous as at this time, under the pres
ent administration. Thanks, then, to the
rankness Of the orator! we might have
suspected that our too partial judgments
mad overrated the value of the present adj
ninistration: but here comes professed
political opponent, who offers the same tri.