Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-07-26
JOHN GILMER.
LATEST FROM TEXAS.


BY the polteness of one Of our citizens
who left Hous'on on tine 9Th inst, we
have received copy Of the Civilian"
containing the President Houston's Mes
sage to Congress which assembled on the
2Cth ult. The Message after reviewing
the principal occurrences relative TO the
late attempt or Mcxc1 to invade Texas
aud informing them Of the state OF the
NAVY, ARM, finances SC, leaves the
question ofinvdsion of Mexico to the Rep
rescnlatiyos ofthe people.
We lean from the same gentleman
that the question had been referred to a
committee, who reported IN its favor, but
Judging from the following remarks of the
"Civllan" a strong Houston paper, we
think the project vii be abandoned
"But the President has no right to de-
clare or prosecute war oflnvasiOn. The
Constitution has given that power TO Con
gress, and that body has Low met TO con.
slider the propriety of using it. 1t is ne
cessary for the public tranquil y that the
question should be promptly Sc tied by the
tribunal having contro' of 1t. The PEG.
ple desire to know what they have to de-
pend upon, in order that they may act &C
cordiagy, and that the feveriSh uncertain
ty which has for some time prevailed may
be removed.
To invade Mexico successfully, at least
one half of our forces must be drawn
from the United States. Unless some ex-
traordlnary and unexpected means can be
devised for raising funds 10 equip and
br nc them to this country, and to support
them until they can sustain themselves Gil
the enemy's country, or the people OF the
United States extend a liberalily for that
object which we can reasonably neither ask
or hore. these forces cannot be Obtained.
Men so drawn together must have dlsap'
pointments or causes of dissatisfaction, OF
their efficiency, subordination and good
conduct cannot be depended upon. Ma
ny Of them must necessarily be those who
, are DISCONTINUED, unfortunate, and useless
at home-men who love the Incidence
and license Of the camp better than the tot
, and quiet of the workshop or the farm
! Such men are impatient Of control-ex
acting i'll their demands-and by no means
I steady in their purposes The experience
! which this city has lately had in this res
, pect has satisfied not few that. in the
. present condition of tho country, as many
evils as benefits may be expected from ar
:. attempt TO carry Oh the war with thI;
kind Of troops, and that the expectation:
that an invasion of Mexico can be made
r without the sacrifice of the private proper
S ty of the people there by our troops IS IN
v founded, since these troops canaOt ever
S be supported here without the appropria
d ton OF the property of the citizens, not al
r ways with their own consent.
Even if we should prove successful il
the work ofinvasion, one ofthe condition
IT ola treaty OF peace would be the with
a drawal Of our forces; and for them to re
) turn and be disbanded here, would be
= circumstance less to be dreaded by th
,r people, than the march Of hostile Mex
: can force into the country of equal mum
h bers. The effect which an army has IN dc
moralizing and rendering reckless, thos
} engaged in it, where the men are hastil
e drawn together, and there is not an oppo
= tunity for enforcing. strict order, cannc
y be imagineds by those who never Wi
e messed it. The noh payment of the me
Y by the Government employing them
IS want, suffering, or fancied wrongs, al
, made pretexts for the grossest irregular
> ties and frequently for the commission {
the worst of crimes. Should this govern
"a ment be compelled to disband, within OF
IS borders an ny from abroad sufficient
= large to have invaded Mexico with effec
e their track out of the country would |
!. marked with desolalion scarcely equaile
q by the rayages of the locuAts of Egyp
) Necessity would force them to forage u
on the country, and the love of mischi
and cupidity would impel many to carr
= away and destroy what they could NJ
= consume. Collisions might thus arii
{ between the citizens and soldiers, ar
scenes might be enacted both painful al
disgracelul.
t, Col. ]. F. II. Claiborne has retire