Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-10-31

tion OF the Instrument constituting the compact
and are no further valid than they are author
lied by the grants therein enumerated"
, This is the true, safe and sound doctrine
: and should never be yielded. The powers
q Congress are specified, and il transcribed, lhi
: Department should be restrained equally with tn
: Executive or the Judiciary, wnen they ranscen,
J; their powers. Such was the determination O
r our ancestors 10 restrain Congress, that they no
only invested The President with authority 10 in
lerpose his objections by the qualified veto, bu
gave the Judiciary the right 10 declare any &C
= OF Congress unconstitutional. This new doctrine
4 on the contrary, makes Congress supreme. W.
contend that Congress has no power 10 charter ,
Bank, 10 pass Protective TaIiff, or great over
]. shaduwing system OF Internal Improvements
: much less that odious "American System" con
ssling OF combination of all these measures
which we hold 10 DC injurious TO The rights, de
moralizing 10 the character and destructive O
I the interests of large masses of our citizens
Whenever such violations of the Constitution ar.
attempted, u Is right that The curb and CHECK
rein imposed by the Constitution itself, should be
placed upon their reckless course.
Sd Resoiced, Therefore, That The third position
assumed by Gen Taylcr, in his eller TO Capt
Allison, IS surrender to one Department of The
government oil The powers granted TO another
and destructive OF the checks and balances iplen
ded 10 restrain bolh;-incites TO corrupt combi-
nations 10 carry measures which upon their me-
rits could never pass, and must result either in
The oppression OF the minority, or The sacrifice Of
the rights and interests of one section of The coun-
try Tor The benefit Of another.
The fourth aud last principle assumed BY Gen,
Taylor is this:
VI look upon war al all times and under all
circumstances as a national calamity, to lie
" avoided, II compatible with national honor
The principles OF our Government as well as
" its true policy are opposed 10 The subjugation
got other nations and the dismemberment of 9TH
:" er countries by conquest. In the language u
the great Washington, Why should IRE quit or
oaon to Stand on foreign g,ound7 In the Mexi-
"can War our national honor has been vindica-
led, amply vindcaled and in die atng lerms
" OF prace we may we'll afford TO be iorbearing
" and even magnanimous 10 our fallen foe"
All will assent 10 the position that war is a
national calamity. But the qualifying Ian
guage destroys the position itself. 'sWar," he
says, ''should be avoided" and then he quail
6es and limits it by the expression, ''if COM
patible with national honor" Who is to decide
whether it be compatible with national honor or
not7 If the President, then what restraint is
imposed upon him.
This position is assumed 10 impugn The action
Of the Government 10 reference to the Mexican
War. And yet there is one expression which
surrenders the whole ground Of opposition. 1t
| is affirmed that "our national honor has been
indicated, amply indicated" If vindicated,
ii must have been assaed. And il assaled the
war is justified. Yet the Wing party deny tina:
the United States had just cause for The war.
Its justice, we think, is sustained by reason and
| TACT. Our merchant vessels had been seized;
the property Of cur citizens confiscated our Of
fcers imprisoned, and forced 10 labor as con-
yicts upon the public works and highways; our
right 10 redress acknowledged, but that redress
refused; the annexation Of Texas had been, by
the accredited Minister Of Mexico, pronounced
to be itself declaration Of war BY the United
States; her own Minister near our Government,
had ,hereupon demanded his passports, and put
an end 10 peaceful intercourse between the ma
tions; Mexico had subsequently refused TO re-
| ceive our Minister. and thus terminated all pos
sibity of adjusting amicably the difficulties be-
tween US; Mexican troops had been concentra
ted at neishboring points, for The invasion OF
our territory; portion Of the domain of Texas,
! which had been solemny proclaimed in her
| idaaSSuiU9n Rose '1roui,s; an American omceF
and his command fouly murdered by enlisted
| Mexican troops upon American soil, IN the pre-
| sance Of the American army; and lastly that
| army itself attacked by Mexican General,
under the express orders oil lis Government
General Taylor avais himself Of an isolated
1 expression Of General Washington, TO sanction
the ,imid and narrow policyo the party which
| has pcrseveringly opposed every extension OF
our territory, from the formation of the Go
vernment 10 the present day. Had the United
States followed the policy and advice of this
party, instead Of the more liberal and expan-
sye policy 10y which we have been governed,
the number Of States would have been but
Il ~. r MT. ~ hair hnt,r
dares would have been circumscfibcd, instead
| OF reaching from the q lanlic TO the Pacific.
| The principle so far as i! refers 10 the con-
quest OF foreign territory, is worthless, because II
cannot be restrained in It's application. II war be
| "iusiiable" to sustain our national honor, must
| it be defsnsine alone7 Must we permit our coun-
| try to be devastated our towns 10 be burnt, our
public buildings and records 10 be destroyed, and
our citizens subjected to rapine, 10 ruin, TO all the
horrors OF a ruthless war, al their own hresides,
without resortlng 10 The snrest and swiilest me.
thod oil making our foe feel The same pans, ana OF
| DESTROYING The des,royer2 We have right 10
march into our enemies country, to beat down
his forces, and 10 overpower him wherever we
find him. II nature, and reason. and common
sense and The great principle OF sefpreserya'ion,
and the practices of all nations in all time Jusli-
| fy offensive war,-and yon are victorious,-Wbat
must follow, but conquest? II your Toe continues
10 assai you after he is beaten, aud strikes al The
hand that tenders him peace, what must you
do, what can you do, but follow up VICTORY with
CONQUEST, by which you bind his limbs and
make him hearken TO reason and 10 justice by
power and by mighl4
4. Resolved, therefore, That The fourth position
assumed by Gen. Taylor in his letter 10 Capt
Allison is one that imposes no restraint upon Inc
disposition 10 embroil the country in war, is re-
pressing 10 the liberal spirit which would extend
| to other nations the blessings we enjoy, and IS
not demanded by the situation or The honor OF Inc
nation.
Piles therein SET iorb and believing the principles
| proclaimed by the Democratic Convention Wnich
| assembled in Baltimore, in May last, 10 BE- IN
accordance with the genius of our Institutions TO
be those maintain by our fathers and worthy oil
our support; and looking TO our candidates as
true representatives Of Democracy Ne 40 Iatr'he'
Resolpe, That we recognize in Lewis Cass
man of noble heart, superior mind, liiustrious
life and spo,ess reputation, who IS every way
worthy to fill The seat which Washington, Jener-
son and Jackson have occupied; and that Tue as
saints upon his name and fame have only ele'
valed him still higher in our estimation oY or'ng'
inp 10 our consideration his brilliant and honor
able career. In his determination especially 10
support our rights against foreign encroachment
he represents The American people. de has oeen
an American on the field OF battle and he has
been an American 10 The Senate; be has been an
American in his youth and he is an Ame.icau
in The maturity OF his age; he has been an Anne
ricau at home and he has been an American
abroad and this distinguishing trait OF all MS
conduct and in all his character VIII sam 70.
him an American support in The close-comins
struggle. .,o nu,,o, ~,
candidate tor ,hr Vice Presidency by his pair
otto service, by his high moral character hI'
ability, his position, his principles aud his eonss
iency, stands p!e-eminent in our choice io1 M
second highest office under our government, AMI
!, that 10 eecting him, we feel that we shall CIV
additional stability TO our noble Constitution 10
(which, with all lis prsended detects ana an "
alleged VIOLATIONS has conferred more beneh
e'. han ever vel flowed from any olhe