Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-06-13


American Union by the mere signature Of
the treaty and to remain SO until the !Tea-
iy is rejected, ifrejected at all; and, 10 the
mean time, the President is to use the
army and the navy TO project the acquir-
ed country from invasion, like any part OF
the existing Union, and to treat as hostile
all adverse possessJrs or intruders. Ac-
coFdiug to this, besides what may happen
at Vera Cruz, lamp co, Matamoras, and
other ports, and besides what may happen
on the frontiers Of Texas proper, the Mex
lean population in New Mexico, and Gov.
ernor ArmiJo, or in his absence the gov.
ernor ad interim, Don Mariana Chayes,
may find themselves pursued IS rebeis
and traitors to tho United States! But let
us read tne m sssge: 1.-THE extr ct which
! have taken speak for Itself:
"a. the same time, II IS due 10 myseH,
that should declare my opinion, that,
the United States having by the treaty Of
annexation acquired tItle to Texas, which
requires only the action of the Senate, to
perfect il, no other power could be per-
mited to invade, and, by force of arms, to
possess itself Of any portion oil the terrific.
~ Of Texas pending your deliberations
upon the treaty, without placing itself in
n hostile attitude to the United States, and
iustilying the employment of any military
means at our disposal to drive back the
INVASION"
Nothing remains to be said on this preg.
nant document. 1t goes beyond any
thing that my imagination had conceived
had drawn a resolution, the second OF
the three now before the Senate, declaring
it beyond the power OF tho President and
Senate, together 10 make war: | deDed
their JOINT right 10 do this by treaty rat.
flied; bu, here it is to be done--in fact is
done--by a treaty only sgned--aDd not
even communicated TO the Senate!--and
this war to continue until The Senate re-
iects the irraty. To add 10 all this mad.
ness, if there can be any ad III IN to II,
the treaty was withheld from the Senate
fof week afltrI! was concluded, and
then promise Was sought and obtained
BY our Secretary of State from our chair
man OF foreign relations, Mr.. Archer, not
TO let this treaty he taken up in the Sen.
ate until forty days after ii vas communi.
Gated 70 the Senate. The chairman gave
the promise; the Serete refused to con-
firm IL; and thus we have got at knowl.
edge of the ex sting state oil things
Without taking up The treaty we should
have known nothing of this army and ma
Wy Of observatIon-Do nothing OF these SAIL
ing and marehlRg Understanding OF this
mo g Oh
dent Housten--nolhng Of the Presidents
assumption That the Republic Of Texas was
already in the Union, and would be de.
Tended and protected as part Of the Uni
on until the treaty should be rejected by
the Senate. If the forty days promise
had been kept, nothing of all this would
have been known; Cor II was only by TAX
ing up the treaty, aud going to work up
on it, that we began to find out what was
done; and then, by special cal! obtained
a knowledge Of all these extraordinary
things. Another call Of great momt nj
has been made, aud not yet answered;
and that is, to know what amount, and by
virtue of what law, the money is taken
from the treasury which has set these war
movements on foot.
Ny second resolution relors to the con.
situtionaity Of this war, thus adopted by
the treaty making power. lideclares the
President and Senate for had no idea
that the President was going TO 60 it alone
cannot make war, either by declaration or
adoption: this proposition is so obvious,
that its denial, or discussion, would seem
to be equally impossible. The war max
ing power is given to Congress, the trea.
ty .making power must act within lis own
limits, and cannot usurp tho legislative
power. Under popular governments, the
question OF war goes TO the representa-.
tives of the peopl9-to the immediate rep.
resentatiyes Of those who are to pay the
taxes, and fight the battles, aud bear the
brunt of the contest. Under monarchical
governments, the king declares war.
Our form of government is popular: the
representatives Of the people have the war
making power in their hands, and cannot
suf. it to be usuFped by the President
aud Senate. But argument on such a
question is impossible. leave the reso-
luton to stand upon It's statement; and
shall be willing to take the vote upon il
without tho addition of another word.
The President has already made the war;
if we ratiry the treaty We jain him in it,
and take the responsibility off his hands!
Ratification will be war by the Presi-
dent and Senate; and unless the Senate is
ripe for this war, it must reject the trea-
ty. And what a war! unjust in itself
upon a peaceable neighbor-in violation
of the armistc to the instant and sud-
den ruin of commerce-unconstitu
made-and, as shall show, upon week
and groundless pretext.
iknow that some persons look upon
this act in a more mtigated sense--as be.
ing only cause of war, and that Mexico,
being feeble power, will not venture to
declare it. This would be bad enough, it
is true. 1t would DO bad enough, both IN
morals aud in policy, 10 give Cause twar
TO on unofieuding neighbor with whom
we have great commerce, and to rely
upon her weakness 10 enable US to do this
wrong with impunity; but it is not so; IT is
not correct. The ratification OF the irea
~ would be actual war-not cause OF
war--it would be war itself and there
could he M npace between tho countries