Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-05-24
Gen. j 0rfIl.

ltinguished ttaensel YES inahe war with Mex
Iico were wings, and until since the diff.
culties broke out between Gen. Scott. and
other officers fthe army,s they have in
sisted that Gen. Worth was of their party;
and whether they now think Otherwise or
not we are unable tojudge except from the
lfact.that they claim sthat the adminis ton.
has, been partial to him in respect to the
difficulties bstween him and Gen. Scott,
and they were never known to admit that
the administration had ever extended a IA
vor, or even common justice, to one OF its
political opponents.
The Washington, Union,of he l4th inst,
contains three letters from this distinguish
ed officer, giving his opinions on the yari,
political questions which agitate thes coun-
try, which not only show that he is sound
and consistent Democrat, but that he has
not been an idle observer of the great po-
litical struggle which has been going on be-
tween his countrymen, and that he has
professional service to form his opinions of
The questions at issue between the two great
political parties, and upon which depend
the welfare and prosperity of the country.
| These letters are in answer to letters ad-
dressed 10 him, propounding certain ques-
tions, and from which we publish below a
synopsis, embodying the questions and his
answers thereto:
| lst. "Graduntion and reduction Of the
price of the public lands"
| would vote any reduction necessary to
place farms within tho reach of industri
Gus bona fde settlers or emigrants, regard
4 ing the early occupation and cultivation of
the public domain as the richest public
treasure; hoping still to see an annual sur
plus over and above the expenses of admin
istratien=as surveys, sales, &c.-carried
to the public treasury, to be appropriated
among other national objects, to the inn
provement of our great lakes and rivers, TO
the extent of constitutional permission. 1t
| is my settled convfction, that within twen-
| ty years the commerce Of the great lakes
and western rivers will reach magnitude
far exceeding, and ever thereafter taking
the lead of, and flowing to and from the
Atlantic; and when our lines Of communi-
cation with the points now attained on the
Pacific are at ence established and opened
to the enterprise Of our people, there will
hardly be found term of comparison. We
shall exhibit the ordinary spectacle, under
our free and glorious Institutions, of clutch
ing and controlling the commerce of Eu-
rope with one hand, and the riches Of Chi
ma with the other. speak Of riches; but
the fulflmen: Of our high political and So
cial destimyis the prominent and grand
consideration.
Cd. "The veto power.'
This regard as the tribunitial power,
essentially democratic, popular and conser-
vative; placed by the constitution in the
hands Of the Chief Magistrate, to represent,
in his person, the absolute sovereignty of
the people; and it must be an extraordina-
ry abuse, of which we have had no exam
pie, that would induce me to vote any
change or alteration. have supposed
that the constitution only looked to its ex-
ercise in the case of hasty or unconstitu-
tional legislation, OF an insupposable case)
! fraudulent or reasonable legislation.
Sd. sThe right of the people OF the diff
ferent sections Of our Union to carry their
property" of whatever kind or complex
ion "to, and participate in, the territory a.
bout to be acquired from Mexico" Tor ac=
qusred from a,sy other posUer on this con-
tane'Hl | cannot suppose to be seriously
questioned. When the acquired territory
shall be admitted into the sisterhood OF
'f States, it will be for the admitted States to
determine all things relating to their own
social condition. Congress, in its recogni-
ton Of these views, will doubtless ever re-
cur 10 the principles Of that great landmark
-the Missouri coaopremise 10 guide its de-
cision. =" " ss -l
i n y h
lst "What are your views of the Mexi.
can war, and do you believe it an unjust
one?n
i War, ever to be deplored, should be a.
voided so long as may be consistent with
national honor and national rights. In my
opinion, there has been no waf in our his
tory, (always excepting that for indepe
dence, which stands out, and will through
all time, a case by ITSELF nor in that of any
other people, commenced under greater
provecation, or waged with higher humani.
ty; Regarding then, this war rs eminent
ly just, l sincerely hope it may be the
pleasure Of government, sustained by the
people, to prosecute it with vigor, until am
pie satisfaction for indighities, and full in
demnity for sacrifices, be received.
I'd. care you in favor of, or opposed t5,
the cbartering of a United States Banks"
When the question was agitated as a
measure of financial and political expdien.
cy, looked no further into the subject than
to keep myself informed generally OH mat,
ters of public interest During its strug.
gle for recharter, and when wri,hing and
feeling under the blows of the patriot Pres
! ident Jackson, my judgment was instructed
: that such an institution, however wisely
, restricted Or cautiously guarded. must, OF
necessity, have within itself elements dan:
, gerous to public and private virtue, if not
to the appropriate and healthful action oi
government. So the people seem TO have
Regarded and decided the question; and it is