Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-09-04
War with Mexico---Thc Responsibility.


warike appearance than usual. 1t is now beey-
ed that Mexico will commence the war her part
without any formal declaration, considering the U.
States the aggressor, if not having actually de-
clared wat by the joint resolutions of Congress, by
which portion Of what she regards as her own ter
rtory is annexed to foreign and hitherto friendly
Republic, and as having sent armed troops into her
domnions to consummste the annexation project,
at the point Of the bayonet il necessary. That we
shall hear the Of War, Of battle and Of blood
shed before many weeks, we sincerely believe
Mexico has delayed, and the United States have
attributed the delay, not 10 any Of injustice
which Mexico might feel in making war upon US,
but to sense Of her own weakness. Many Of the
leading Journals friendly to the Administration
have frequently and openly attributed this delay of
hostilties on the part of Mexico to cowardice.-
Whilethe Mexcans heard the shouts oftrumph from
Texian Locofocos over an act which despoiled
them of portion of their territory, they at the
time were Knocked and laughed at, and tainted with
being a stupid set Of knaves and towards Who
can be surprised then, at hearing of hostlities hav
ing commenced against Country by Mexico
But it should be constantly borne in mind by the
American people that the acts which have given
rise 10 the war are not the acts Of the country but
of party President Tyler and a few Southern
Nul6ers gave birth to the the annexation project
tho Baltimore Convention sanctioned and adopt
ed it-and the triumph of the democratic or Loco
foco party last fall secured for 1t passage through
Congress over a broken Constitution and violated
Treaties. But the niquity Of the Polk-adminisra-
tion does not stop here. Refusing to follow in the
srootetaref Of
Mr. Polk deemed it best not to be troubled with an
extra Session of Congress in the emergency which
he and his party had created but taking the re-
sponsibility upon HIMSELF la jackson, he calls into
requsition the Army and Navy, and sends them off
into sickly climate, in a sickly season, to secure
the annexed territory. Let it be understood that
we do not complain of the act of sending troops
and ships 10 Texas. We are for supporting the
laws of the land, however unfairly and unusty they
may have been created, and we are for defending
our country against all kinds of assaults Let party
madness go 10 any ength-et our limits be unjust
ly extended-our laws and our land must be de-
Tended. This is pure Whigism. But we do COM
plain OF President Polk for not taking the more
constitutional method OF acting through Congress
which he ought to have called together. We also
Oohpiuiu vi th' administration fOr SendInO
mics not only TO defend Texas after has been un-
justly made, de tacto, aportion of the land, but to
claim and defend territory which Texas herself
never laid claim to- and which Texas or this coun-
try has no more right TO claim, than we have to
possess ourselves of the Canadas. We refer to the
attempts now making to extend the limits of Texas
from the Neuces to the Rio del Notwithstanding
territory which, previous to the annexation move
ment, had neither been claimed or occupied by any
other nation but Mexico If Mr. Polk and his Tex
ian friends have discovered that it will greatly add
to the future security and prosperity of the country
'toihaye our borders extend to the Rio Grande or
Rio del Norte, let them first secure, by war if they
must, the territory within the limits which bounded
Texas as Province of Mexico, and which have
bounded her both during the revolt, and since she
has claimed to be independent. But let not our
Government aid Texas in procuring by force any
limits she may all at once think it policy to claim
because she has our powerful cooperation to back
her.
The country will have TO bear the odium of this
whole movement abroad, but among ourselves, let
the responsibility rest where it belongs 1t has
been conducted by party men for party purposes
and by party intrigue and corruption from the be-
ginning. Though the wing party have opposed the
scheme from its hrstincepon as unwarranted by
the Constitution, and violating our treaty obliga-
tons with Mexco-still they will show their re-
gard for law and ORDER and their attachment to the
country in war as well as in peace-and none the
less, because our country suffers abroad as well as
at home by the proaigacy of a wicked and lawless
administration.
The WAR, whenever it may come, will be no
party, but national affair. Our army and navy
belong not to the locofocos, nor to any party but
to the country; and the ills or disgrace that may
beial our arms will be felt equally by the whole
United States
When war Is once begun, we hope ii will be pros
ecuted with rigor and success. A struggle be-
tween this country and Mexico cannot be very
doubtfnl-and ifshe is 10 be conquered, the sooner
1T is done the better.