New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-03-22
VOL. tts. No. 391.

events Inc President eagerly stiAcu INC ulht OPP
Portuuity OF cNricatug himself dissrsceially from
the dtsgraceiul position INTO which he had placed
himself aud len his confidential friends the a i07s
% shin Tor themselves
Sail war might have been nearer 70 as than Mr.
GmpNos thought The British Ministry were E
good deal exsspcrated al the hectorIng insulting
tone OF Nj Polk's message The pride Of the ne
ton itself was aroused and needed bat little addi.
tona incentive 10 manifest itself in hostile action
Twenty years before when negotiation on the
same subject was carried on between Messrs Can.
ning.-then Prime Minister Of Great Britain, and
Husb.-U. S Minister at the Court Of ST James
aud IN a far more amicabe spirit than under Mr.
Polk. the temper OF the English nation was such
that Lord Castleresgh told Mr. Rash thst war could
be produced by holding up finger.
This country neither fears nor has reason TO fear
war with England. We have fought two not
without honor Bat csuseiess superauous
war-policy and humanity alike forbid.
Yet such a war so unnecessary so insulting to
the spirit of the age and Christianity, threatened
aud might have came upon Us 10 all its horror but
for the interposition Of one man. Impartial history
will accord to Mr.. W ebster-though contemporaries
Gus opinion refuse-the merit Of accommodating
difficulties upon this subject with Great Britain. BY
the influence which his great name aud persona!
acquaintance exercised over members Of the British
Cabinet, their minds were turned to peace. And
terms Of amicabe arrangement were proposed to
this country which but for his unofficial mediation
would never have been made. Twice within six
years-the limit of Senatorial term-has Mr.
Webster averted war with the most powerful
nation Of the earth from his country-not only with
honor but with advantage.
The Session Of As will be ever memorable IN
our annals from the declaration on the part OF Con-
gress of war with Mexico The act was no sooner
performed than repentedo Of And those most ciamor-
Gus for declaration Of bOstties at the time, have
been the most eager since to transfer from their
own shoulders 20 others the iniquty ofthe measure
1t is an excuse for the Wing members who voted
or war atthey were obliged to adopt that course
or seem to leave Gen. Taylor and his gallant little
army at the mercy of an exasperated and unior-
giving enemy Had they known how able he was
to maintain his ground against almost desperate
odds they undoubtedly would have refused to pre-
cipitste the country into war where the greatest
success might be the greatest calamity.
No time, however, vas allowed them by their
unscrupulous opponents for refec,ion-none for the
ascertsinment Of correct information or comparing
of opinions No Wing was permitted to occupy
the floor while the resolution was pending. All
debate was stihed, and expression Of views tyran-
nically put down
Many Wings yielded to the seeming necessity,
not only adopting the war, but its dsingenuous
preamble. They took leap emphaticaLy in the
dark.
Fourteen, however refused, and each day throws
a brighter lustre over their names. They did not
hesitate to do right through fear OF seeming to do
wrong. Their act Of moral courage has been aP
preciated by the country-was recognized aud ap-
pauded even at the moment OF It's performance
before its whole merit was revealed to the worlds
aud will be forever gratefully remembered. Their
names-JoHS QUINCY ADAMS, Ashmun, CranstoD,
Culver Delauo GIDDISDs Grinnell, Hudson ID. f.
King. Root. Severance, Strobm, Tilden, Vance
will be fresh to coming ages.
On the day following the declaration Of war bill
for raising company OF Sappers and Miners was
taken up and introduced into the Committee OF the
Whole House and Mr.. GIDDINGs obtained the floor
He boldly advocated the policy OF Immediately
withdrawing our troops from Mexico, where they
were no longer needed all danger OF invasion m
ever any existed was over. For one, he said, he
would not vote dollar for the farther prosecution
OF the war. He assumed thus, a; that early mo
ment, the ground since taken, after slower con-
viction Of its truth by the greater portion oil the
Wbig party With a sagacty (which, from It's
singular character, might be distinguished as sec
ood sight he foresaw and predicted the inevitable
consequences of the war, and led of IN opposition
to 1t, Fourteen voted with him against the bill
During this same session of Congress the Sena-
tors and Representatives from Texas took their
seats. BY their votes the dominant party struck
down the Tariff of 1912 and in return for such OPP
portune and eflectual aid on the part OF Texans
plunged the country, for their benefit into ruin
GUS and iniquitous War. By two acts,-charsc-
terized alike by folly and criminaty-they at the
same time cut down the revenue of the country
and increased to fearful extent its expenditures
| Mfr. GIpDISGs held the admission of Texas into
! The Union. in the manner and under the crcum-
stances by which il was produced, violation Of
all that is essential in the Constitution and SO de-
| clared in a letter to his constituents He contend
/ ed that the Government had acted therein without
regard 70 Constitutional limitations and that the
Union was theoretically dissolved, and practically
dsregarded."
For this he was denounced as a disunionist
by portion of his constituents and an attempt
was made at the Congressional Convention to pre-
vent his denomination. 1t failed, and he was re-
elected by his customary majority.
On the reassembling of Congress in Dec. 1916
Mr.. Polk in his annual message submitted long
aud elaborate argument in favor of the warts
origin and prosecution on the 18th OF the same
month, Mr. GIDDINGs, on smotion to refer the mes
sage, made a speech in reply to the President
which for clear statement offacts, logical acumen
and forensic ability was perhaps the best he ever
delivered in Congress.
At the commencement of the present session o.
Congress, the Wings had majority in the House
of Representatives. ROBERT c. WINTHROP o
Mass was nominated in caucus as the candidate
the party for Speaker, and was elected on the thlrC
ballot. Mr.. GIDDISGs declined to vote for him, moi
Durinp tho Fall prcceeding he laG