Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-13

.neh possesS'on m nnon which comments OF New
VI, d,o had been read? because it appeared 10 MN
to be much more important p'g Tor M1 Oaoer
'Por ~ Ienc stated that lie had not asked LOT inc
ME- cr,, n,ner and had only alluded to 1t to show
tbn by the intelligence from Ee o VI u JG,o
ha ,I,eady in Texas, that it was necessary 10 have
,rnng force upon our frontier because the people OF
must eventually be driven to tue frontier and un
Lee there was force there to protect that frontier, II
| migkt De invaded by a'bose army.
Me- Adams said there another question which he
wished ask, which was whether the chairman Of the
Comutce OF Ways and Means could inform the House
of the part performed by The Mexican Minister IN inc
important conference with him by the Secretary Vi
State which had been laid before the House alone: ana
what the which had prevented the o.he part
Of the conference from being presented To thc
He wished to know whether the Mexican ihis'e' '
stood mute, and said nothing, when the secretary "
State announced to him what had been READ 70 liie
He wished to know if there was any communicative
from the Mexican minister to be gwen 'eefalci Al M
ton to this very important conference. re aSNea In.
The more readily because 1t seemed 10 MIN that
there was a most extraordinary power given py !ne
Executive to the commanding General TO cross tie line
between The United States and hcxco That was to COM
nit an act Of hostility to make upon her This was
virtually Giving the commanding General the power 10
make war, and this information was given U the ae"'c'
minister by the Secretary OF stale:
Did the Mexican munster submit 10 TINS! III lie nnu
submitted 10 il; il he had said nothing when he rccelV'
ed this communication, there was another consideration
involved relating TO the constitutional power as 10 e
authority given to the commanding General to commit
acts Of hostility without communication oeihs aoe
to Congress by the Executive 49,,
They had then said MIR. A, the first intimntIon OF this
state Of things, excepting some mysterious words from
the chairman of the CunmttGc OF Ways and Means,
Se,nc DAYS since when he had told them in very myS.
.erious manner that they in all probability OH the
eve of war with Mexico; and that gentleman, at that
time had told them very truly that they would have lit
tie trouble in disPosng OF their surplus funds, II THIS war
| to break out.
They might dispose of all their surplus funds, if they
were 10 enter into with Nlcxcn and that bill gave
| indications of being war proposition tie ana not,
however to say that it was not proper and ne dld
not mean to say that he would not be disposed to 60 into
war with Mexico, or any other country, when the
rphts the interests and the honor OF the nation requr
ed it, But he saw something more tan Inc de'ehce o!
the frontier in this. He the authority granted TO
invade another territory and he wished TO know whc-
ter the Mexican minister assentcd to this, and acqu
csced in it, lie did desire this for the purpose Of
delaying the appropriation; for if the frontier was in dam
ger, lie would make the appropriation, let it be what It
might hut if there more complete and perfect COM
they ough, to be transmitted to the Execu
tive. lie said that that day. and in the communica-
ton thea read, the commanding General on that from
tier was authorized to invade foreign nation; which
the first utmaton given to the House OF the difficult
ties existing between the United States and the Republic
or sovereign State Of Mexico II seemed to him that
more communications necessary upon this subject.
What were The difficulties existing in that quarter? They
had seen citizens uf the u States go into the territory Of
Mexico, establishing themselves there, and making war
there That very war; upon which they had heard such
lanentabc appeals made, carried on by ci
tizens and late member of that house at the head
OF The military power and had not the House been call
cd upon acknowledge the independence of that State,
which at war with country with whom the United
States were at peace, and in the very act Of making
treaty with There~was another consideration which
made it necessary 10 look into this war; before
gagged in it, II he had been rightly informed, and he
protested to have no information except from the public
IL.
Republic Of Texas, which had been banshed by the
United Mexican States that it resistance against
the abolition Of slavery by Mexico, and that Texas
making 10 establish that slavery which had been
abolished Now, if this the case, and if the acknow
ledgncnt Of Tie independence Of Texas to be fol-
lowed by an application to admit her 10 become Of
the States Of this Union, he brgged leave 10 declare off
from that rccrptiun He would be for receiving such
addition 10 the United States. 1t important that
Congress should have all the information which could be
procured. The paper which had been read New York
Courier ard Euqurer] was a journal which had been
stimulating the people Of the United States TO embark in
tle cause of Texas and they had seen that great
meeting had been held al New York this subject and
Of the leading men in that meeting was conhdrn.
tia officer Of the Government Of the United States
This TO be sure contrary 10 the orders given by the
President of tho United States and he wasigraied to
see in the instructions this order for the preservation Of
the neutrality than repeated and he should
have been glad if the other parts Of the instructions 10
Cen Gaines had been little consistent, and par
,iculary the order allowing him TO invade the territory
Of another Government. He hoped that whatever might
be done this subject, Congress would take that
the neutrality should be preserved.
Mr. Pcyton had heard the remarks Of the gentleman
from Massachusetts, with less establishment thun deep
modification. That that gentleman had deemed it
pcent to introduce the subject of the abolition Of slave
ry upon this question IL him extraordinary. How
ever that subject might have pressed upon that gentle
mans mind surely, when they asked for the consdera
ton of question Which involved the lives the property,
and the security from savage butcery of the driececss
IL
held his abolition reflections for uumcnt. The gentle
had seen, too: in the conduct Of the President and
commanding Grneral great cause Of alarm. he had
entrusted in the hands of the commanding Gene
raj the power of making peace war. The gentleman
might have been silent this subject, for the power
conferred upon ehe cosonunding General was not 10
make war, Bat to preserve peace. The gentleman
from Massachusetts, living remote from such scenes
as were enacted the frontier, and knowing them
but 10y hearing had not before his mind that vivid
picture which Western gentlemen had, who hud seen
some Of the scenes OF savage warfare enacted. lie
hoped the gentleman would not find in an imaginary
line in time OF war, any thing 10 make it necessary tor
army TO pause upon the boundary while the enemy
imbodyng and calling in the aid Of savage allies.
Relsublic indcrd! II was misnotner 10 call Mexico
Republic. 1t governed by military despo who
had under foot the liberties Of the people The
gen,etuaa lien Massachusetts, seemed TO be dspleased
because, tersoolh, some gentlemen who had once been
gle for liberty in Texas. Notwithstanding that the
Mexican General was pursuing and numbering those
people, and carrying unparalleled savage warfare,
the gentleman seemed 10 think that it was improper to
have force opon the frontier sufficient to compel our
neutrality TO be respected When the savages should be
burning the houses of The citizens of the frontier and
numbering deirncrless aud children the gentle.
man would stop u hear what the Mexican Minister
would think Of General Gaines crossing the line, be-
fore he would make an appropriations MIR. Z. would
neither ask the Mexican nor any other Minister what
they should do, when American citizens were in
danger from Santa Anna and his Indian allies
He would say TO General Gaines take your position in
spite Of the Mexican Minister On this side of the i'm
agiuary line there might not be suitable position, TO
Toxic, while the othcr nigh, be important and strong
hold; yet the gentleman ir'm Massachusetts says, if
you go to take that position, you make upon
reign Republic. W th regard 10 the subject Of sboon,