Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-01-21
From the Petersburg Republican, l7,n in.,...
THE RETURN OF SANTA ANNA NJ
MEXICO

The Wings, having small maori,v - :.
present House of Representatives, seem 5 A. me
sed to make the most of their nnmar; pO,
strength and, indeed, are playing with ,S.;t
authority much in the manner of men ,rIa
seldom taste the sweets of power. But IN ~" ,IO
flush OF their unexpected victory, thew baro
been lnstigated to commit acts for Which,
after times, when excitement has subsidnS aI ~
sober reason rules the mind, thew will r' anu
probably be made to blush in shame and , noS
fusion. They have, apparently, been ena sO,''
orIng with too much earnestness TO tie m n.
hands of the President, and, if possible NC ,e
strike him down. Their legislation has b.oU
directed at him, not for public good. hpt t in'
mere party purposes, and they have passed
resolutions which, in themselves, are Of NJ
Importance except in so far as they NAV he
calculated to work injury TO the country-
What, for instance, is the public utility nj
this time, of the vote declaring that this war
was unnecessarily and unconstitutional
brought on by the Presidentr' Will such
declaration by the Representatives of tie men.
pie have the slightest Favorable effect in brine.
ing this war 10 a close? What sane man n
the land can, for one moment, entertain sucb
an opinion? On the contrary, its only legii.
mate effect will be to prolong the war. Who
can imagine the deep mine Of hope which such
a resolution as that, coming from such source,
will discover TO the whole Mexican nation?
Ii will be calculated to have almost as hapbv
and gratifying an influence upon the minds Of
that stubborn and deluded people, as if Scott
and his gallant army were now prisoners Of
war in their capital. Wait until this resOlu.
| ton is published in all the principal Mexican
journals, and it will not be long before we
hear OF its effect in adding to the peril OF our
army now in Mexico, and of restoring to an
extraordinary degree that spirit of stubborn
and suilen resistance in the Mexicans which
was almost dead. Should such, unfortunate
ly, be the case, and the war be prolonged in
definitely, at the end of another twelve months,
probably, these same wings would resolve that
the President had done this also
But this is not the only uncivil act which
the present whie majority il lie House OF
Representatives nave dv.> evidently with the
design OF inflcting wound upon the Press
dent, and for no other purpose Some DAYS
since, they adopted resolution calling upon
him to communicate to the House, the instruc
tons of the President in reference to the re-
turn of Santa Anna to Mexico. Well, while
there was no particular necessity for the act
there was no particular objection to such
call, prouided 1T 1cdS made IN the usual ,rQp
But these whigs-seme OF whom, doubtless
believe that the whole country belongs to them
and that the democrats are but tenants at will,
Thought proper to disregard all the coure.
GUS usages OF their more courteous predeCeS
sors, and refused to append to their resolution
OF enquiry the customary proviso, that the
President should not communicate the instruc.
tons, if in his opinion such disclosure .ro,dd
be incompatible Nth The public Interests. No,
although Mr.. Venable, of N. c., called their
attention to this important omission, one which
never had been made before, and which could
be construed into nothing but discourte
Gus design and an arrogant spirit, they refu.
sed to follow all the precedents of the past
and sent the isolated Resolution to the Presi.
dent as an Imperative command Well, the
President has replied to that call, in spirit
becoming his high office and himself His
communication is just such as it would have
been had the resolution of the House been
cOuched in the usual terms, and the call based
upon the usual proviso He declines TO fur.
nlsh the instructions, because in his opinion
such an act, at this time, wGald be incompat
Bile with the public interest He cites the high
example of Washington as a precedent, and
states that the communication of these instruc
tons might prevent the consummation OF ne
gotiations for peace. OF course the wings
were completely astounded at the {" bold usur-
patton of power" by man whom they deS-
red to trample under foot, and we know not
what the conclusion will be- Right glad are
we, however, at this exhibition of frmnesS on
the part of the President, and we trust thatthe
result will prove that the " battle is not always
to the strong, nor the race to the swif"