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nave been sacrificed in its streets than were requisite to ensure the most brilliant triumphs in Mexico. Nineteen days investment, siege, and capture of Vera Cruz, with its supposed impregnable fortress, defended by 5,000 troops and 400 pieces of ordnance, cost the lives of eleven Americans; one hour's conflict in the streets of New-York,

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ASSUREDLY the great boast of our form of government, and that which constitutes its chief excellence over those of the nations of the old world, is that its laws emanate from the people themselves, are based upon public opinion, and are supported by a universal respect for their operation. There are no privileges or prerogatives vested in any order of nobles which would enable them to make laws not congenial to the people to whom they are applied, and to administer them by bloody means unknown to the statutes. An intelligent respect which the American people everywhere pay to the laws enacted by their sanction, to the rights of property and of individuals, forms almost the sole safeguard between republicanism and anarchy, and no more impregnable barrier could be devised. It follows, however, that the laws emanating from the people should be faithfully administered by the persons elected by the public voice to do so; and by the means provided and placed at the disposal of the chief magistrate. It is not enough that the majesty of the law should be jealously guarded, and its behests rigidly enforced; but it must be done by legal means. The object of law is to preserve life and liberty; to ensure safety in person and property to every peaceful citizen. When it answers these ends it is good; but when its enforcement is undertaken by illegal means, which are productive of more mischief to the peaceful many, than could possibly have grown out of the infringement sought to be suppressed, the responsibility of substituting illegal for legal means becomes fearful.

Deeply impressed as we are with the awful responsibility of preserving the integrity of the laws, it is with deep humiliation we have to record a most appalling deed of blood, alike disgraceful to the American name and injurious to the character of our institutions. Without a question at issue, or a principle at stake, New-York city has presented the appearance of a stormed fortress; and more American lives have been sacrificed in its streets than were requisite to ensure the most brilliant triumphs in Mexico. Nineteen days investment, siege, and capture of Vera Cruz, with its supposed impregnable fortress, defended by 5,000 troops and 400 pieces of ordnance, cost the lives of eleven Americans; one hour's conflict in the streets of New-York,

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