Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-06-17

minated the contest is silent upon that object. it
| /. forever abandoned. Thus the Government
have at least yielded the very point fer the main
fensnoe Of which they progressed to go To war, at
Ter having expended nearly two hundred millions
| of dollars.
| We have not only not obtained by the any
thing which taught 10 expect, but have
| lost many valuable privileges. All the numrr-
Gus rights and advantages guaranteed To US by
Jays treaty have been renqushed. Nay, We
have not only been compelled to conclude a irea-
| iy which does not contain solitary stipulation
in favor, except that there shall be pence;
! bot which unsetics the boundaries of our conn.
Try. and leaves TO the decision of commissioners.
| whether we shall longer retain part ct our own
territory, which we held in quiet possession for
| more than twenty years
But notwith standing our immense national
debt. which, if the war had continued. would
soon have resulted in bankruptcy; notwithstand-
ing all our property, even the very necessaries OF
| life have been taxed heavily; Notwithstanding
we have not obtained single object which we
/ had in view at the commencement ut the contest,
but have lost many valuable privileges; n"twh-
standing our country has been Invaded in every
quarter, and the Capitol o. the United States has
been laid in ashes by a marauding party oil the
| enemy-THIs HAS BEEN CALLED GLORIOUS WAR,
Glorious it has been. in the highest degree, to
the American character, BUT DIsGRACEFUL IN
| THE EXTREME TO The ADMINISTRATIONS. When
the individual States discovered that they were
abandoned by the General Government, whose
duty it was to protect them, the forttude of their
citizens arose with their msfortunes. The mo-
ment invaded, the genius of freedom in
| sp red their souls. They rushed upon their en-
emies with haowed fury, which the hreling
soldiers Of Britain could never feel. They taught
our foe that tho soil If freedom would always be
the grave of its invaders.
THE COUNTRY RUINED BY DEMOCRATIC RULE.
But do tho administration, WHO INVOLVED US
IN THE LATE UNNECESSARY wAR,derive any cred
it from their exertions? Certainly not. They
were the spontaneous efforts of the country, un
directed by the government. The militia who
were chiefly engaged in these glorious conflicts,
were often without pay and without comfortable
clothing. The dreadful situation of the country
compelled them to abandon their families and the
sweets of domestic life, without any previous
warning, to defend places which were left utter
ly unprotected by their proper guardans-pla.
ces which ought to have been ready for siege
at the commencement ofthe contest. AS well
might Ferdinand tho 9TH of Spain, who was not
in his kingdom. but who was nomnaly king.
claim the glory of rescuing his country from tine
armies of France, our government takes to IL
self the credit of expelIing invaders.
When we turn our attention to the regular ar
my. which peculiarly under the direction of
the national government. what do we discover!
During the first year of the war, that year in
which it was to have closed with glory, that year
within which our triumphant banners to
have t1oated upon the walls of Quebec, and all
Canada WIS to have been ours. the year in which
ihet province was left unprotected. and the for
ces of our enemy employed in Europe, il
experienced nothing but continuation of degra-
daiion and defeat Is there an American the
tioor OF this house, who has not blushed for his
country thousand times, during that disgrace
ful year! Until all the general officers, who had
been appointed for political purposes, and entrus
ted with the command at the commencement of
the contest. were di-graced; and until others
had fought themselves into credit and into no.
tice. all our battles ended in defeat.
During the last year of the the regular
army, under their commanders, retrieved their
lost character and performed prodigies Of valor
but unfortunately. on account of the impotence
OF the government, they fought against such
fearful odds that they were hardly able even to
defend our northern frontier. Indeed, SO dread
ful was the situation of our country for some
time previous to the close of the contest, that
the occasional splendid exploits of our heroes
like the CLEANS of lighting in dark and temp
estuous night. only added new horrors TO the
surrounding gloom. They only served to show
Us what brilliant exertions our country might
have made. had we been governed by men who
were capable ofproperly collecting and directing
its resources.
But peace has again returned to bless our shores
Again Commerce, which has for years been weep.
ing over the misfortunes of our country, begins
to smile. Again stand central to all the Eu-
ropean powers What then should been the po-
litcal conduct in futurel Precisely to pursue the
political maxims adopted by Washington. We
ought to cultivate peace with all nations, by
adopting strict neutrality not only of conduct
but of sentiment.
We ought to make our neutrality respected by
placing ourselves in an attitude of defense. We
ought forever to abandon the wild project of .
visionary scheme of letting commerce protect
itself. In its protection we ought to increase
our navy. We ought never to think of embar-
goes and non -ntercourse laws without abhor.
renee. We ought to use every honest exertiou
to turn out of power those weak and wicked men
who have abandoned the political path marked
out for this country by Washington, aud whose
wild and visionary theories have been at length
tested by experience and found wanting.
WHAT MUST BE DONE WITH FoREIGNIsMl
ABOVE ALL WE OUGHT TO DRIVE
FROM OUR SHORES FOREIGN INFLU-
ENGLAND CHERISH EXCLUSIVE AMER.
ICAN FEELINGS. FOREIGN INFLUENCE
HAS BEEN IN EVERY AGE THE CURSE
OF REPUBLICS. HER JAUNDlCED EYE
SEES ALL THINGS IN FALSE COLORS -
The thick atmosphere of prejudice, by which she
lsforever surrounded EXCLUDES FROM HER
SIGHT THE LIGHT OF REASON.
Whilst she worships the nation which she ia
vors for their very crimes. she curses the enemy
of that nation for their virtues. In every
age she has marched before the enemies of her
country, proclamng peace when there was no
peace and luling its defenders into fatal securi.
ty.wlilst the iron hand of despo.ism had been aim.
ing death-blow at their liberties. Already has
our infant republic felt her whitening influence
Already has she involved us in war which had
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