The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-26


places beyond, are thrown over regularly on
day, and are liable to be thrown over two /
it not shameful!
The mail routes need complete revision
the mail contractors constant supervision, an'
the mail agents thorough Oyerhauling. w
hope the Post Office Department will turn 1t
attention to these matters. Much is to b.
hoped from the energy and fidelity of the Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster General, who ha
special charge of the routes.
ARE WE APOLOGIsTs FOR THE MEXICAN WAR
The Independent Democrat, Concord, N. II.
says that we have made I" u very long and la
bored apology for Mr.. Corwin's whole course
in accepting and holding place in Fillmore
Cabinet This is wholly untrue. Every reader
of the National Era knows that we have never
directly or indirectly excused, but have disap
proved and Iamented, the acceptance, by Mr.
| Corwin, Of Cabine. appointment.
We are pleased to zee that tho Independent
| Democratic Press of Ohio, generally, seems dir
posed to render Justice to Mr.. Corwin. 1t rec
ognises the fact that his position undor MIR. Fill
more's Administration was antagonistlc to the
cause of Freedom, and it has maniully censured
Mr. Corwin for occupying it-but it is too ust
to countenance groundlcss accusations against
him. and too cOnsiderate 10 run down man
who has never intended to stand in the way of
our cause.
We have n word now to say to those Free
Soil papers that have given currency to Mr..
CIay's Letter and especially to the two papers
that have cen5ured uS for correcting in it what
we knew to be erroneous statements. Are you
aware that Mr. Clay, in that letter, indirectly
justifes his participation in a war which he
denounced as atrocious? that he gives endorse-
ment to the clamor of the war press about the
phrase "bloody hands and hospitable graves .
and that no stigmatizes one of the noblcst
speeches ever made by Mr.. Corwin in the Sen
ate! He does all this, and yet you give it cur
rency and sanction. For example, speaking Of
Mr. Corwin, he says
I" His now slaveholding friends will gather
some idea of his abated ire, when they review
his celebrated speech in the Senate, 1chere he
awarded me and other volunteers IN Merico, has
aspirations Of bloody hands and hospitabie
graDesD -"
Mr. Clay made rs great a mistake in volun-
teering in that war, 10 MIR. Corwin did in en-
tering Mr.. Filmore's Cabinet but Mr.. Corwn
did not arard him any such aspirations. He
said, that If he were Merican, he would well
come the invaders of his country with bloody
hands to hospitable graves" And would not
Mr.. Clay have done the same thing, if he had
been Mexican! The sentiment embodied in
this burning phrase Of Mr.. Corwin, is sane
toned rs sacred by every American citizen VIII
believes IN the right of selEdefencc. VIVA
sort of n welcome would ire give to the invader
of our soil The Slang of selfish partisanshi
should receive no cOuntenance from Mr. Cha,
or the Anti-Savory press.
Again, he says
lie aspircd to lead the liberal party in thes
States, by steady efforts which eliminated il
his notorious Mexican war speech-whicl
sealed his career in that direction for it out
ragged his opponents, and disguised the tru
friends of freedom in these States-proved hin
Il mere partisan and politician, and not
statesman of enlarged and practical views, " In
only can embody into action the aspiration
and dicta of the dovotees of liberty-who, b.
their lanatcism and martyrdom, break dowi
old forms and barriers to progress J"
The contrast here suggested between hi
course, in cnlsting in foreign war, and Nh
Corwin's, in denouncing it. may crafty til
War Party in this country, but We see not VIII
it should be regarded with particular compla
cency by the opponents of the war. And ar
they prepared to say that that wonderful
speech of Corwin, in which he plead for justic
and forbearnnce to u feeble foe and appcalc
with thrilling vehemence to the magnanimit
of this great country, disguised the trrl
friends of freedom" Let rs beware, lest d,
votion to our Party blind us to the Principle
on which it is organized.
Mr. Clay has many noble traits Of cha
acter, and is daring advocate of Emanc
patton in a slave State But these facts q
ford no justification of his enlistment in a
unjust war, and cannot blind us to the imprc
prety of his referring, at this late date, to h
action then, AZ praiseworthy. Despite all thi
wo welcome him ~ a co-worker in the eau.
of Freedom, just AZ we recognised Mr.. Corwin
services to the Same cause before he became
member of Mr. Flllmorc's Administration, an
as We shall again recognise them, notwthstan'
ing this unfortunate step, whenever he sha
again speak for Justice and Liberty.
A few words specially to the Boston Commo,
,cedhh.
Man is greater than Party-hs obligation
are rot to DO determined by Party relation
He owes good will to all is bound to rospc,
} the rights of all and TO doiond tho rights
all, 80 far a. this may be in his power. n
political associate he may Sustain, from mere
political motives his political opponent
has no right to defame, from any motive
whatsoeyer Nav more--whcn he sees hi