Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-23


there is "sick man" on this continent for
whom he proposes to become a wet nurse -
aud the pretext for this is, that there is no pow
er in the Mexican government TO strain its law
less citizens from depredating on the rights Of
others. What has this government to do with
ProtectorateS and nursing of sick men2 Let
us be careful how we set bad examples. l have
Just shown that there was either no power or no
disposition in this government to prevent our
own lawless citizens from depredatihg on the
rights of others; ;-and why ny not other pow
ers, with equal prOpriety, undertake PiOtec-
torate for our, Southern border, until the gov
ernment of the United States furnishes some
evidences of its ability to restrain the lawleSS
mObs of fibusters from bidding defiance to all
lawful authority at h0me3
And to enable the President to thus carry
out his designs, which amount in themselves to
actual war, and will be so regarded, not only
by Mexico but by all the world, it is proposed
by the Union newspaper, the home organ Of
the President, published under his eye. ard
subject to his control, that an appropriation of
S2O, 100000 shall be made by Congress and
placed ut the disposal of the President. II
there be occasion for n war with Mexico or any
other power, let war be declared hy the only
legitimate mOde, by the war making power Of
the United State; for when wc have once got
ten into it-whether by the indscretiOn Of the
President or by design, in order to divert pub
lie attention from the misdeeds Of democracy, or
for the purpose of introducing new issue into
the next Presidential campaign, we shall have
nothing left US I" do but to fight it out.
War is ut all times sad calamity TO beial
any people, but, in the name of humanity If We
arc to have it, let US have just grounds for it,
so that we can stand justified before Heaven,
and in the face OF the world; and, ut all events,
let US not break down all our constitutional
palisades and restrictions in order to seek it.
Nor is this the only Infringement Of the con-
stitution proposed by our democratic President
He seeks TO acquire Cuba-by fair means If
he can, 10y foul means il he muSt-for he first
says-"We would not il we could, acquire
Cuba in any other manner thanby honorable
negtiation." This, he says, is due TO our
national character, and yet he does not finish
the paragraph before lie TeaSSeIts the doc
trines of the O.tend Manifesto, and thinks a
case may arise which wOuld render n departure
from honorable negotiation clearly justifable,
under the imperative and Overruling law Of self
preservation, when, as u matter of course, we
would stedL land, from tile next succeeding
paragraph, we might naturally conclude that the
case that would justify stealing had about this
time arrived.
But have spoken of another proposition to
break down the Constitution, and transfer the
treaty making power from the Senate of the
United States to the President, for he mOdestly
asks at the hands of Congress appropriation
to enable him To make au advance to the Span
ish Government (Or it may be to the Spanish
ministry Immediately after the signing Of the
treaty, without awaiting its ratification by the
Senate, and his political and confidential friend
in the Senate, has proposed that the sum Of
3O,OOOO0O shall be placed at his disposal for
this purpose, and his party followers in both
Houses have reported bills to this effect.
Then the Presid,nt is 10 be authorized to ne
g0tiatc n treuty, at a cost of S30000,000, after
which, the Senate may exercise the high pre-
rogatlve of ratifying the treaty or Of throwing
$30. 100000 Of the peoples money TO the dogs.
Now, then, here is the proposition, first to
place the army and navy of the United States
at the disposal of the President, with authority
to make war, then transfer to him the treaty
making power; and last Of all, to put the purse
strings of the nation in his hands. by the appro-
priation of the enormous of $50,000,000,
10 accomplish all the ends he has in view; and
now, ask the people Of this country, what will
be left of their Constitution worth preserving?
Yet this is DelnOcracyl This is the only ma
tionul pnrtyl This is the only party that can
be safely trusted to save the Union and preserve
the Constitution? This is the National, COnsti.
tuliOnal, States rights party, which has apPro-
priated to ITSELF exclusively, all the Offices hon
ors and emoluments of Office for the last thirty
years. with rare intervals of exception, and ex-
ercised the most ntolerant prescription against
the purest wisest and most experienced men Of
the opposite party, that have at any time adorn.
ed the country.
1t is time that such party was crushed out,
and its organization Dispersed; for, as hope TO
be able to prove, il has operated as blight and
mildew on the prosperity, happiness and peace
of the country, where ever its hOrrid deformi-
ties have been seen and felt, whether in the Ma
tional or State governments.
Half century cannot put my own State in
the condition she ought now to occupy, and
would have occupied, but for its perniciOus cOun-
ellis, and its injurious influences.
1t it not in opposition TO the acquisition of
Cuba that speak. but to the manner in which
it is proposed to be acquired; the man has not
been born with whom would entrust the power
asked to be lodged in the hands OF Alr. Buchan-
an; the case cannot arise, for the accomplish
ment Of which would do such violence to the
Constitution. If the Father OF his country
were alive would not confer such powers upon
him. Not from any apprehension that his in
tcgrity would be too weak to resist the tcmpta.
ton, nor that his ambition would be so strong
as to lead him into an abuse Of the power, but
that would not set such an example, or estab-
Iish such n precedent for all the Island of Cuba
could ever be worth 20 US. Fifty millions of
dollars, and the army and navy, all subject to
the control of the President with the express
grant of power TO make war and purchase terri
tory during the recess Of Congress at his own
discretion I What President have we had, be-
fore this, who could have presented so startling
and 50 nonstrous proposition, without eXcit-
inc tho alarm and indignation OF every man in