The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-10-13
Let History Speak.

Aet History epenA.
In our last Issue, We traced abe wbig party
own 70 the administration Of Gen Harrison
I'd gave some few facts touching the course Of
,e adrninis ration and the party and a certain
which was forced upon the country and
,eighed like an incubus up,n its prosperity =
\ better commentary OF the eff ct Of whg pol
| cy upon the country, perhaps canno, be given,
| ian summary description of the results of the
.ankrupt law upon the country, such as we at
| .mpted to illustrate in las, No. Out OF
anc.ied by the operation Of that law, only
bout forty millions Of dollars in property was
| ,-livered up. But that day has passed and with
may its example aud the frauds which it su-
,er,nduced forever rest with it.
The lamsn,ed Polk succeeded Ge-. Harrison.
lis administration was a most difficult and en-
arrassing one and proved, as it was we'll calcu-
tied to test, the ability, decision and hrmness
fhin, who was called to guide the reignss sof
government. During the administration of Mr..
Tyler, the policy Of annexing Texls was ag'-
ated. While these negotiations were pending
the government of Mexico was constantly
.hr,a ening war u,on Texas, if the United
States listened to the entreates Of her citizens.
setwecn the threats Of Mexico, the secrete d-
,lpma,ic efforts Of England and France to ne
sotiate treaty with Texas, and the exceedingly
recarious situation of Texas at that trying and
ven,ful period in her history, the government
,ssfr tim
| f Nj. Tyler, thought it cxpedicn, to favor the
olicy of ANNEXATION. Two days before MIR.
ryler vacated the chair of state, messenger
vas despatched 10 Texas bearing the glad III
ings that this crippled and afflicted Republic
:puld enter the Union. Texas accepted the terms
md was made one Of the states Of the Union.
\ declaration Of war BY Mexico followed. MIR
Polk having entered the office of President
with war upon his hands, determined to up
hold the dignity, the honor and the jnstse of the
nation and therefore to prevent descent upon
Texas, ordered Gen. Taylor on to the frontier
# that state. War ensucd by the invasion OF
large army o: Mcxcsns into Texas, which was
net and rrpulsed by the gallant Taylor. twas
that there was democratic Congress to sustain
him, for it will be remembered by oil who were
familiar with the passing events Of that day,
that the whig party uniformly and bitterly OPP
posed the war The leaders Of this party in
Congress denounced the war and threw every
obstacle in the way Of its successful and glorious
termination and the press was constantly en-
gagged in manufacturing public sentiment against
the war and derogatory to the administrations =
The Mexican army would receive the speeches
Of why's in Congress and the articles-o Of lead
ing whg journals, abusive OF the administration
aud the American army, and glorify themselves
and their cause over them. This war was pro-
longed to much greater length than it would
have been, had the course Of the whlg party
been patriotic and an American one. But the
country has nothing to expect from this party IN
time of war. is history is one Of opposition to
the government in all such emergencies 1t
osposcc the war Of 1912 and the Florida war,
with the same bitterness, that it opposed the
Mexican war; and we verify believe, were the
country forced into war to .morrowno matter
how JUS, necessary and patriotic, it would OPP
pose it. But fortunately fr the country, Mr.
Polk possessed the independence, the decision
and frmn ness, to carry the war to glorious ter
,nination and to the negotiation of Treaty,
securing to tae United States an Immense terri
tory, surpassed by none on earth for its mineral
and agricultural wealth and commercia, impor-
lance and such commercial relations with Mex
leo, as to protect cur citizens embarked in trade
with that country from insult and outrage 1t
is impossible to estimate the great advantages
which the government acquired by thlt treaty.
The commercial Importance ofthe Pacific coast
and the immense gold productions Of Caitorni'
are just beginning to make their benign infiu.
cnce felt upon the prosperity of our country.
Yet was Mr.. Polk hunted while living and
scandalized when dead, one OF the most de.
based characters that ever disgraced the coun-
try.
But his friends have one consolation. Whril
impartial history speaks Of him and his admin
ist-ation, it must select for him proud seat in
the temple offame and pronounce his admins.
tration one Of the most difficult, responsible and
perpIexing, that has ever fallen to the lo'
OF any American statesman to direct.