The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-16
From the Portland (N1ane) Argus.
The Purposes OF the War md the Whixs.


Much has been said and written relative to The OBJ
ecs for which the has been prosecuted, and among
its opponents scarcely anytw OF them now agree One
man says got up with TO increase slavery,
and but for this object difficulties with Mexico
would have been terminated without the loss of single
drop OF blood or the expenditure OF single dollar IN
money Another asserts, with equal confidence, that
the undertaken for the purpose OF self-ag-
gandsenent to increase the glory and perpeuate the
power OF the present administration Still another con
tends that love of indscrimnate conquest which
induced the President to carry the war into the enemys
country There those ALSO who say that the Execu
tive ad no definite object in view, IN the commence
ment of the and that now, it is impossible to
ascertain his motives and purposes.
1t obvious that these several positions cannot all be
true Indeed the very fact that there is such diversity
of sentiment among the opposition, affords strong pre-
sumption that they all mistaken The truth is they
So and with all the charity which is due to the zeal
and blindness of partisanshp compelled to believe
that the wings guilty of something more than mis-
take. is Illuminating and painful to think meanly of
any portion OF the American people as to believe that
for party purposes they will trie with question
raught with such momenous interests as are involved
in the Mexican But every candid mind must per-
ceve that the wings in Congress are tlling with this
subject most wick edy and shameuly. Instead of com
mlnlstraton in carrying out that vigorous policy which
adopted in the outset not only by the assent OF its
friends, but by the almost unanimous Uotce of 1Chig
members themselves, they are now found arraying
themselves at the instigation of the proud and die
atora spirit OF Clay in battle array against that policy
and resorting TO all sorts OF attacks upon him whose
constitutional duty has in part, al least, been i'm
posed by themselves Let it be admitted in all candor
that the present of affairs is attended with difficult
teshat the occasion requires the exercise of delibca
ton and sound Judgment from all quarters-what then
Has there not been ample time tor all this since the rs
Monday of December The administration has recon-
mended It's policy in conformity with that adopted at the
outset The country had right to presume that those
wings who sustained at the last session would do so
but instead of that, and instead of making any
effort is directed lay out the groundwork for the
suing eechoneerng campaign. They now charge the
President with commencing the war in violation OF the
constitution, when, in 1916, they voted men and money
Tor prosecuting the which existed "by the act OF
Mexico" They make calls on the Executive for nfor-
nation relative to plans of campaigns. when they know
and which, if he did, would convict him Of stupidi-
ty and rebound to the advantage OF the enemy
But when the President refuses to dlvuge informa-
ton which cannot be communicated with consistency
safety, these political bloodhounds down upon him
for his secrecy and abuse OF power They demand OF the
administration distinct and unequivoca avowa OF It's
objects in prosecuting the war further when the coun-
try has been told time and again what they are, and what
prior TO the pronuncdmento OF the Lexington declamer
many OF the wings, in and out of Congress SANCTIONED
as honorable, just and necessary They now assert that
the President commenced the without the authority
of Congressthat in that body alone rests the max
ing Power-tha it is, therefore, the duty of Congress 10
take the matter in its own hands; and yet, not soul
OF them lifts finger in that direction, desires to
any movement of hat character made. The whole story
Is, IN short they do not Udnf peace on any terms until
utter the Presidential election If they can only waste
away the entire session, without voting for the war
measures and yet continue to dives themselves OF all
responsibility, that they may return to their conshu
ents and abuse the administration for not obtaining
peace which, but for their sympathy for Mexicoand their
desire for power, might have been accomplished, their
highest hopes will have been attained.
But these things not done IN corner Think not,
We partisan spoil hunters that you can deceive the intel
igence of patriotic people The Mexicans We and
hare mised But your countrymen will not fall to see
through your policy, nor VII they permit themselves or
the destiny Of the republic pass into the hands of those
who thus trng with its honor and its interests Give
us but Henry Clay the champion of your war policy,
and the democracy the rue-hearted and faithful friends
of the country will consign him and to the shades of
everlasting forgetfulness Give any man who truly
embodies the sentiment of the Universal Wing Party
and he and his troops shall surely find free pass to
the fountain head of g Salt river"