The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-17
THE UNION

his side and unbuck his sword that he had CALAMITY
welded in vindieation OF his conntrys rights handed
stars and stripes, the dying words upon ms lips were,
take this; ] can use ii no longer Press on! Our
cause is JUST and victory ong will perch upon
counuy's standard" And then he sank 10 rise
What striking contrast this and in what a short
time his predictions lulhlledl
Conviction forces itself my mind, that this war was
Just. could have been crowned with such un'
paralleed success Our country must have been IN the
right the God of battles would sometimes have been
doomed nation. The right red of angry God has
been suspended her and the Anglo Saxon has
been selected as the rod of her retribution.
In the present position, what aspect does the wing
party present to the American people, well the
rounding natonss Denounclng war as unjust and
damnable and now In this contest they have selected
for their leader who has been instrumental and
cessful in the prosecution OF tins unjust aud damnable
leader or as their candidate Tor the presi-
dency who has no claim for that station, save his sue
cess in the prosecution of this nhoiy and unjust
But | am met and told by sope that he was bound TO
obey ORDERS and is not responsible for the murder and
blood that has been committed and shed in this unholy
war What striking contrast there is between General
Taylor and Lord Efhngham, who was soldier by pro-
iession, well as education When in ITS he was
required to unsheah his sword in unjust war, and
stain it in innocent blood, he resigned his commission
and returned his sword to the King of Great Britain; and
speech delivered upon resigning his commission he
SAID
my highest has been to serve my county IN military ca
pacy fthere was on earth an event dreaded was 10
compatible with my duty as a citizen.
"That period has, in my opinion. arrived and have
by resignation which appeared TO me the only method
OF avoiding the guilt oenslaving country, and mbrung
my hands in the blood of her sons
'sWhen the duties of soldier and citizen become ncon-
sistenl shall always think myself obliged to sink the char
of the soldier in that of the cilizen."
If General Taylor believed this to be such one
the gentleman from Indiana Mr.. SMITH says he
did, and prosecuted the war upon other grounds than
merely to obey orders, it is no excuse for him. There
was mySelf
stood, will read short paragraph from MIR. SMITHS
letter, published in the National ntelgencer of Thurs
day, July Goth
.As whig," says Mr. Smith, "who believed the war
with Mexico unnecessary and UNCONSTITUTIONAL and who
has opposed it from It's commencement believe entirely
against General Cas- The former. ac,ns under the or
ders Of the President his superior officer has but done that
prosecuting the which he could refuse to do
without surrender OF his commission in the army.
Besides, is well known that Gen. Taylor has OPP
posed the war from its commencement 1t Is also mat
ter of history that shortly after the OF the
war; he drew upon himself the everest censnre OF the adj
mnisatlon, rs well as the denunciaons OF locoiocos
throughout the country, for expressing in letter TO friend
hostile to the prosecution OF The war into the heart
1t will be perceived from this paragraph that General
Taylor is supported by the gentleman from Indiana Mr.
SMTH,] because he believes that General Taylor enter
lans the opinions respecting the that he does
How is possible TO reconcile this position with the oath
that General Taylor has taken and the conscience of
Christian man, is matter of extreme difficulty TO me. II
Gen Taylor entertained the opinions here attributed to
him. there but alternative left, and that was to
follow the example OF Lord Efingham When he found
dy Of the Sos Ss with the
Gen. Taylor. The very act that violated the consu
ton as assumed by the opposition, and began the war
to- e Ro ne en
received his commission, the first oath he took, which
paramount to his oath of office, to support
the constitution of the United States Over this violated
OATH and through the fragments of broken cOnstu
ton, he marched his invading army. And Tor fighting
battles and winning victories in career of this kind he
is now TO be made President of the United States
Sometimes, in public speeches and in the newspapers
we see General Taylor compared to General Washington
do not wish to be nvdous, but there is not the slight
est parallel between the two men, Washington was
made President for his civil well as his military quail
ties. Washington made President by the people OF
the nation, because he had defended his country holy
to discharge any and all duties pertaining to exalted
civil station Under what circumstances does the oppo-
ston propose to make General Taylor President of the
United States! He has been soldier for forty wears he
has his vote for President; forming no
opinions upon any of the great political questions thai
have agtaled the country during that period of time.
orous battle field; still in the service, holding his com
mission, wearing his military costume is now to be
marched from the head OF conquering army into the
presidential chair and that too, while his sword is vel
reekng with blood shed in the prosecution OF an /" I'M
holy, unjust" unconstitutional" and damnablt
war" This Is the man compared with Washington
and thus, too is to be done by party whO few shor
years ago, would rather their country visited with
war, pesence, and famine, than to pass into the hands
OF mere military cheftan
There is one other view propose to take of this sub
Ject. While the wings responsible for the causes
the war, they are equally responsible for Its protracon
After the war commenced, the OF the wings
in the United States had direct tendency lengthen the
war, by inspiring the Mexican nation with the hope tina
the peace party of this country would ultimately come
into power and that treaty of peace could be concluded
on more favorable terms with them By reference to ht
passage of the loan bill, will be at the infu
ence il had on the Mexican people. The fact of Con
gress refusing the OF treasury notes. and nego
aton of the bonds below their par value, induced thu
MeXlcans to believe that il move to favor them
that the bonds could be sold for their par value ant
credit IN the shape OF treasury notes. thereby defeating
in procuring money, the snews of war; and that on
troops, in consequence, would have to be withdrawn
And evidence of what am saying, will read ar
extract from the principal Mexican newspaper the Pro
greso:
"Alcr having written these reflections, news has beer
received that the House OF Representatives of the United
States had authorized Mr.. Polk raise loan OF sxtcer
millions OF dollars, condition of paying than
per per annum, and that the bonds should not be is
sued at less than par Such authority, should
be agreed TO by he Senate, which doubtful, amounts L
nothing; for such is the scarcity OF money the United
States and Europe that will not be possible to sell the
bonds oil this new loan at par The members OF the party
IN the House opposed Mr. Polk, ioresaw this, and 10
this consented the loan As the ten regiments
the Arco Iris, OF Vera Cruz, says The ten regiment bill
has been passed by the democratic majority OF Senate
Of the United States but it is generally believed will be de
eated in the House This has tended make ridiculous
the vain ostenation of the American democracy in the
Senate in passing the bill which had other object thar
to frighten Mexico"
Will read other extracts from the same article to show
their reliance upon the wing party in this country;
eve must be very ignorant of politics, very much
by the spirit OF party not TO see the sad conse
quences which would result from the ratification oil Thu
treaty. by which, of the Chinese the last
with the English. high functionaries are inmidaec