Spirit Of The Age

For the Age.
CAPT. KIMBALL:—I am not in the
habit of writing for the press, but my mind is filled to overflowing with gloomy fore-
bodings of what this once happy, free
and prosperous Republic is destined to become if party spirit is allowed by our people to sweep onward and be predominant over everything else: I have been led to these re-
flections, by the "signs of the times"
Being one of those who are opposed to war, as long as it can be honorably avoid-
ed; and believing too that the present war
with Mexico might have been avoided
with honor to both nations—by a
longer forbearance, with that unhappy
and unfortunate people who have had fac-
after faction pretend to ride over their
heads and govern them—to-day in power, to-morrow
gone down to obscurity and insignifi-
cance; yet, circumstances over which we
have no control has involved both nations in the deadly strife of war. Whether the war was brought about by the march
of our Army from the Nueces to the
Grande—in consequence of the inex-
cusable outrages committed from time to
time for the last fifteen years, on our coun-
try—persons and property of our citizens
in consequence of the annexation of the
independent Republic of Texas to our
federacy; is immaterial to me. We
are at war with a foreign power. Congress
has declared that war exists, in con-
sequence of the acts of Mexico—if
it has been by the bare majority of one vote I should feel bound to recognise it as
such when declared by our overwhelming ma-
jority of both branches of Congress,
14 in the house and 2 in the senate
When ten and ten millions of Dollars are put at the disposal of the executive to prosecute a war with vigor, and then, for these same men, many of whom, I have heretofore honored as statesmen, turn round, and in my opinion, solely for party effect, and pronounce this war, that they a short time before, declared existed, in consequence of the acts of Mexico, "unjust"—"made and carried on by the President of the United States;" I can no longer vote with, or in any way belong to such a party. With pain and regret, did I perceive the course taken by the Whigs in the Legislature of this state, on this subject: and more recently by the Legislature of Massachusetts. The speeches made in Boston, Philadelphia and in Congress; during the winter, in opposition to war, that has been declared by those very men who are now speaking against it, is enough to make any honest man, sick at heart, and to exclaim in agony of mind, "Oh! poor human nature! What will men do to obtain office and power."

"POOR, WEAK, DISTRACTED MEXICO," has been the burden of their song. When men and money were called for, week after week, and month after month was consumed in debating on what we should do with certain territory which the fortune of war had temporarily placed in possession of our military and naval officers—whether it should be free or slave territory or states. The very ten regiments, if they were concluded upon some of the last days of the session, to be raised, might have, had the whig members of Congress acted as the exigency required, been on their way up the Rio Grande, to relieve brave old Rough and Ready from his present perilous situation; while, by their opposition and delay scarcely a company is yet raised: and Gen. Taylor, if volunteers do not get to his relief in season, will be to surrender his army, and government stores to the amount of two Million dollars worth, to that poor weak and inoffensive Nation. Oh! consistency, thou art a jewel. When I see a majority of the party that I have belonged to, whenever they open their mouth on the subject, blame and censure the President, for everything that may not prove favorable,—and hold him responsible for the plans, management and execution of the campaign; yet, when fortune favors our arms—when the stars and stripes wave triumphantly over every City and Fortress that brave men have been led against—when the Eagle, our National emblem,—proud bird,—sets perched on the standard of victory, in an equal combat,—even then there is no need of praise to the head of a great nation. Ah! all is opposition to the powers that be. Such has been the course of a portion of our people, in times past; but as for me, my motto is, and ever will be, my country, right or wrong, or wherever bounded. I will defend her institutions and her rights, at home and abroad. I have been a Whig from my earliest recollection, but I can no longer be one.

ONCE A WHIG.

Windsor, Vt., March 29th '47.