Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-07-26
FROM THE RICHMOND WING.
"MR. POLK ON THE TREATY"

The Presidents message to Congress, announ
ing the peace made with Mexico, is surprisir
document do not now mean TO advert to I'll
hackniei and thrice reiuted statement, that "w
were involved in it for the necessary rindication
our rights and honor: statement which can gal
credit II at all only by dnt of audacous and perse
vering repetition. Nor shall dwell upon the ex
hortation to Cancellation, concession and compro
mise" and The solemn warning against "geogra
phica divisions and sectional parties coming will
such peculiar grace from the man, who, beyond
all others, has contributed, by the measures of h
administration, TO deepen those geographical lines
to ioment those sectional parties, and destroy all
those bonds by which the people of the u. States
have been attached TO their common government.
| design only TO point out few palpable ERRORS
OF fact, though, confess, have scarce charity
nough to believe them ERRORS. They are SO gla-
ring that they can hardly escape any man of ordi-
nary capacity and information and il is hard to i'm
aglne how they could get into a State paper like
tins, without deliberate intention to deceive.
l.. 1.-The extensive and valuable territories ceded
6oy Mexico to the United States constitutes an in
demnty for the past"
The Preslden, began by claiming all on the east
SIDE OF the Rio Grande-claiming the millions due
to American citizens from MISUNDERSTANDING the
| expenses OF the war we wero wagiug like the
costs oil suit In the CORTLAND claiming security
Tor the future. He has ended by getting tract Of
territory, which, from all accounts is utterly worth
less, except for the ports on the Pacific and the
right oil way thither; a territory not worth TWEEN
tleth part of the extent of country in our old
territories, which are still unseted-he has ended
ny assuming TO pay our own citizens the debts due
them from NlexlcO-he has ended by giving up all
claim against Mexico for the expenses Of the war
and has actually agreed to pay .Nfcrico ttcelcc
millions Of dollars for this treaty of peace! do
not mean to find fault with the acceptance of these
terms under existing circumstances. The Presi-
dent had involved the country in war that was
trutless expensive and terribly destructive of life,
from the fatal climate of Mexico and other causes.
Our enemy was poor and exhausted. We had no
thing TO gain by prolonging the war, and it was
well TO make peace, even these terms. But
with what face can the President thus stand up be-
fore the country and glorify himself for this war
and this peace!
<. "Ihe success of our arms is guarantee for
the future" believe that phrase, ''security for
the FUTURE" was always thought to be vague
one; but no one ever dreamed of this explanation
1t now seems that, when tho President employ
ed 1t, he meant he would establish our 'sna
tional character abroad' by whipping the Mexi-
cans Most people supposed our national character
was pretty well established by the war of the Re
volution, and the war of 1912. Perhaps MIR. Polk
thought it little ta,nished by the Oregon treaty.
and his retreat from 81 40, TO 40, and determined
to recover its lusre by thrashing Mexico, instead
OF England. So another man from Tennessee, that
once heard of, being charged with cowardice in
the street, went home and whipped his wife, to
prove his character for courage Itwill save us the
necessity ofengagng in anotherforeign war for long
series oil years" This war was then measure Of
prevention, TO keep us from getting into any others
hereafter Ours is something like the fate of tho
frogs, which St. Patrick drove out of Ireland
''The toads went hop-the frogs went plop,
Right slap into the sCather:
Och the poor basis committed suicide
To themselves from slquehther! :"
5. owe have come out of the war, with our re-
sources unerhdused," SO says the President in def
ance of the fact, confessed by himself in the next
page, that the public debt has been increased from
less than Is, to nearly 66 millions of dollars by
this war! Where are our 'nexhaustble resour-
ces ~ If we have them, why this debt? The
President clearly understands the difference be-
tween resources" and ''credit :" for he adds tina,
''the public credit is unimpaired." But even this
is not all for this debt of TO millions, when the ac-
crning expenses of the war shall be summed I'D.
Will amount TO not less than so millions according
to our best information. Yet our resources are an
eThauSted says the truthful Mr. Polk
f. MT. Polk congratulates Congress on the
great increase OF our commerce under the benign
operation of the present tariff"
No man, who is able to read newspaper ought
TO be ignorant Of the fact, that the great revenue Of
last year, arising frem imports was an accidental
and temporary thing; and that the receipts for cur
responding portions of the present year, show mel
anchoiy falling off, as was foretold by experienced
merchants long since. Mr.. Polk must kno,o these
things yet he wilfully, and before the world, as
serts the contrary
3. Mr. Polk says "the payment of the debt (the
debt of the war of lSl2-'I5) was postponed for
more than twenty yeaTs"-in consequence of Gun
necessary and eXtravagant expenditures authorized
by Congress" -and sit was only accomplished by
the storm will and unbendng 'poicy Of President
jackson, who made lis payment leading inca
sure Of his administration"
This is the climax OF reckless assertion and IN
blushiDg faseehoodl Such shameless untruths ne
yer before appeared, except in the most abandoned
OF the hellng presses that pander 10 the vices Of
party
Who does not know, that the American Con
gress, with the appreciation of the President, long
before General Jackson's time, and before that Of
John Quincy Adams, his predecessor, adopted a
regular system, of eXtnguiShing the public debt
by paying annual instalments of the principal be-
sides the annual INTEREST," Who does not know.
that this system was regularly pursued, and that,
during the years of John Quincy Adams admin
israton, several millions (twelve or thirteen, be
lIeve) were every year applied TO the reduction Of
the public. debt Who does not know that General
Jackson had nothing more TO do. Than 10 acquesce
in the action of Congress, as his predecessors had
done and that his only claim to the merit of pay
ing of the public debt, must rest on the fact that
he did not 0eto The bills for that p,gposc2
What becomes then Of Mr.. Polk S condemnation
Of Congress from 1915 to 1899, and his ascription
OF praise TO Gen. jackson
ii is slckenlng to behold a man, in the RESPONSE
bic and elevated position of an american President
STOPPING to vice so mean and paltry as deliberate
iaSehOOd and for objects sD vile "a tho s,,Drc,no ~.
of corrup: faction or the promotion Of his person
al alNanlnnnl Emt ic no ..Ll tl,,.-.