Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-09
WAR, BY THE EXECUTIVE.


Texas has not settlement, and which embraces at
least forty-fve thousand Mexican souls, over whom
Texas never has exercised an nstants jurisdiction
is making nothing but voluntary offensive war;
unjustfed by any pretence of that necessity which
could alone warrant the temporary employment OF
the public arms by the President without the sane
ton of an act of Congress, the war-making power.
In a word, between that which he might do, and
that which the Administration paper OF the 7til IN
slant coniesses that he is doing the difference IS as
enormous as il is evident. Though, as we have
said it is OF choice that the Annexationsts have left
him, and of choice that he stands, in predicament
involving the resort to an Executive act which is
eminently repugnant to the Constitution Of this Go
yernment Tor Of any popular Governmept)-yet it
is monstrous wanton, and dangerous in the extreme
that he should exceed even the necessity thus pro-
duced, and plunge forward into measure not only
beyond all contemplation of any political expeca-
ton, but beyond any powers which the force Of a.
sudden contingency might excuse his assuming.
In the official reply Of the Union TO our article
Of the day before yesterday on this subject the
g accomplished men whom its editors have found
in this city. the considerable accession of talent
| which the Administration has brought with it."
/" the tried and distinguished members of the Demo-
cratic party who have accepted office under it."
may have afforded part Of the expected oquiya-
lent for the places they hold, but not very con-
vncing token of their impariialty between the Ex-
ecutive assumptions and the Laws or Constitution.
They defend at large the exercise of power by the
President which we condemned and they deliber-
aely contend that the real limits of Texas extend
west to the Rio del Norte! They thus admit, in
general and in particular. what we rharged-that
the Executive is acting as We supposed.
| Now, mark the consequence! The only ground
upon which this proceeding place itself is, that
Ieras has assumed, by lar, as hers, all the coaa-
try ,cifhin the Rio del Norfe, including Santa Fe
and other Merican possessions, within Uhich a
Isras man can, hardiy be said ever 10 hare set his
foot ercept as a prisoner. Certainly, the writers
for /" the Union" advert TO some alleged admis-
sion by us (the United Sates) that these were the
limits OF Texas But need we say that il is too
futile to merit any attention, thus to say that our
admission, if ever made, would give Texas any
right over what zoe have nothing to do with Mean
time, where is the admission! Not in any act,
law, authority OF the United States, certainly.
If so, let it be produced. OF course, we know
(beng somewhat familiar with Texas argumeats)
what the Union means. The =. admission" con-
ssts of an annexation map, or of the headlong as
sertiOps in Texas speeches in Congress-thngs
ridiculous from the first, and SO thoroughly and
merciessly. exposed in enc Of Mr.. BENToN's
speeches as to have been thenceforth dropped en-
trely by all who desired preserve for the annex
alton scheme any semblance of sense or decency
| II, then, the President can take armed possession
of every thing within these idly-claimed but false
because never exercised) limits af Texas, he is,
for the same reasons make il his duty TO defend
with our arms Texas proper, bound to drive every
Mexican beyond the Rio del Norte, or to reduce
him under the Jurisdiction of Texas. And thus, if
he can invade the eoastwise region as far as the
Rio del Norte, he is legally bound to invade and
take Santa Fe and its dependant countries. These
are the inevitable consequences Of the pleadings of
/" tbs distinguished members Of the Democratic
party" who occasionally take turn at " the organ"
| In favor of all this, nothing legal and nothing
that necessity could legalize exists; while directly
against it rise many things Of solemn authority,
i
Every body knows that precisely the contrary Of
these high-handed Executive proceedings was in
the contemplation of Congress and Of the Public,
on the Gpal passage of the Annexation Resolutions,
part Of which directly provided for peacefully
settling with Mexico the disputed limits Of Texas.
Is the President TO make war on Mexico for these
territoriesto make them by conquest legally part
of Texas-and then to give away to those from
whom he has wrested them that which will then be
the soil Of State, not that of the Government!
As empty all its other allegations in favor Of
these unlimited stretches Of Executive discretion,
is the Unton's answer TO our objection, when it
urges that the President could not resort for autho-
rity to Congress, because all its members are not
yet elected II 1T was not possible to call Congress
together noD in extra session, il was not possible
| in lS4I, nor on other occasions on which such
calls have been made. According to the " Unions
argument, a new Congress never could be called to-
gether earlier than in November because the last re-
guar elections take place only then But what is
more common than for writs to be issued for Spe-
cal Elections, either under existing authority Of
law, or under authority granted by State Legsla-
lures specially eoayoked for the purposes
As for Rump-C congress" in the elegant phrase
Of the government paper, why not a arpmp" OF
even " Barebones " Parliament, if we are thus to
allow the President to WELD the powers Of
CROMWELL?
That our readers may be aware what foundation