<* Chapter XXII.

Hence it was their pohcy to cast the utmost odium upon the administration, and to represent its measures as un- wise and dishonest, and injurious ahke to the interests and the morals of the country. Hence no denunciations of the course by which the administration had involved the nation in the calamaties of war, were too violent or too unmeasm'ed. The conduct of Mr. Polk, in particular, was all that was false, base, and wicked. The war was the President's loar ; and the assertion, that it was the act of Mexico, a palpable falsehood. But the multitude are ever fascinated with military glory, and ever ready to enjoy the spoils of war. It was, therefore, deemed most politic to make a distinction between the war and its au- thors. The latter were, if possible, to be hurled from office for commencing an iniquitous war ; but the patriot- ism of the Whig party was to be manifested in their vigorous prosecution of this same iniquitous war, for the glory of the nation. Had the Whigs voted against sup- plies after they were told that war existed, they might have been charged at the polls with dereliction to the cause of their country. It was, therefore, deemed more ex- pedient to concur