The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-08-26
Vol.V.

:
rejected. In the moment Of peril and
danger, while in the arduous service Of
lmy country, my mind wandered back
to my far distant native land, and min
gled with the cheering recollections Of
a Wing, | held on to the faith. But !
Learned that while the army of the re-
public was engaged in its defence, my
own Wing party, influenced by expe-
diency, had engaged in encouraging
those who were destroying the army
which had been sent abroad to repre-
sent them in the field Of battle. l saw
party in the United States busily en-.
gagged in condemning the war, when |
knew and ielt it to be just. ] knew
that bIood-good, true, red American
blood-had been shed upon American
soil, and it was that feeling that induced
me TO take up my musket. | have new
er doubted the business of this war.
| (Cheers.) And yielding TO the in1u-
ence and force Of motives, ] could not
resist; ! gave in my adhesion to the
Democratic party, with my heart and
soul. (Cheers.) can trace back to
the Wing party, most Of the carnage
that redeemed the plains Of Mexico!
can point to them as the cause Of the
guerrilla system, with all its enormity
and blood-thirstiness. heard the ar
guments the Wing orators addressed to
the populace, and | know their influ-
ence in melting the Mexicans to an OBJ.
s,inate and desperate resistance.
knew, too, their Influence uponmy poor
men, some Of whose bones are now
bleaching upon the plains OF Mexico.
| point 10 the Mexican party in the
United States with Henry Clay at their
head, as the cause of all this evil
Taking the hint from him and his par
! ty, Salas, the originatorofthe guerrilla
system. urged that they should "hunt
them down, worry them out and pro-
long the war. "You can't overcome
them," he said "when you meet them
face to face, and thousand to thousand"
"The Democratic party" he said,
"would insist upon prosecution Of the
war, and weuld have an indemnify
but if the Wing party comes into pow
er we will have peace without any
sacrifice Of territory" How this plan
Of Salas, suggested by the Wing party
in the United States succeeded let the
bones Of The Americans now in -Mexi.
CO testify; le! the gallant spirits who
were manned and are now lying in the
hospitals speak out; and let the dead
officers who fell along the National
Road utter their voices. And these
men were .here struggling for their
country's honor, not for one State, but
the whole Union. And what was their
position? Surrounded by an enemy,
numerous enough1to crush them, and
eat them-they found party at home
where they should look for succor,
moulding the ball, preparing the pow
der, and sharpening the knife to assas-
sinate them. What was the reward for
which they looked! The approval Of
their countrymen-nothing ese--they
earnestly gazed three thousand miles
back to their native land for that ap-
proval. Where they should have found
assistance, and indeed appreciation, they
found nothing flom the Whig party but
hostility. They turned back to the
work with broken hearts-they felt
that there were black.hearted, smooth
skinned politicians at home encourag-
ing the Mexican blood hounds TO seek
after their blood. But the crowning
act of all, and that which drove out Of
my heart the last vestige OF whig affec-
ton, was Henry Clay's speech and
resolutions at Lexington. tell you,
and speak i. in honesty, that tears
rolled down my cheeks when Tread
them; and that too published in good
Spanish. | found them circulating in
every street and corner Of Puebla.-
Where then were my whig principles!
In the dust, and so hel Up me God, ihope
forever. (Great cheering.) Another
circumstance | must allude TO, a few
weeks after, received the Monitor
American. 1t contained the proceed
ings Of the Philanthropic Society, COM
posed ofmen high in Mexico, in which
were resolutions complimentary Of
Messrs. Clay, Corwin, Giddings, Bolts
&c. land announcing that "these illustri-
GUS friends Of humanity, have been
elected honorary members Of the Phi
lanthropic Society," and fellow citizens,
themremain there forever. (Cheers.)
Now, / am not here for the purpose
Of making a political speech--I have
been spending my time in the camp, az
tending TO the duties Of the soldier.
cannot take time to discuss the princi-
piles which were invogue when ! left,
and which the change in our circum-
stances may require TO be able to dis.