The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-12-29
POLK AND HIS MESSAGE,

/ -
alton for a man whose very name al first
excited disgusting odur that to question
his Instability is regarded as sort of sac
rlige which deserves ghostly admoniion.
| We do not assert that the President has
been guilty of absolute falsehood. But Ger
tain it is that 10 Justify the war he has most
previously distorted many Of the facts upon
which he relies for that purpose or so art
| fully interviewer them as 10 make the worse
appear the better cause. That Mexico in
attempting 10 throw off the yoke OF Spain
and during her various revolutionary strug-
giles since with government too feeble to
control her citizens ei;her at home or upon
the ocean has been guilty ofaggrcssions up
on the rights and even upon the lives ofour-
citizens is certain. But neither Mr.. Adams.
Gen. Jackson or Mr.. Van Buren, regarded
them so aggravated as 10 demand resort TO
arms, but as good grounds for making repri-
sails until Mexico should submit 10 our Just
claims OF indemnify. Indeed in 1910 con-
vention was agreed upon and commissioners
were appointed Io-adjust the claims of our
citizens against Mexico for the spoiIations
which she had made upon Them This COM
mittee has already adjusted more than two
millions Of these claims Two instaIlments upon
which had been paid by Mexico. In 1913
another convention TO adjust farther claims
was entered intc.But torn by internal dissen-
ti)ns and one military cheiiain succeeding
another in rapid succession all fixed govern
ment has been long at an end. Mexico con-
sequenily failed 10 pay the further Install
mcntS. But with u christian and civilized
natlon was this failure 10 pay her dcbtsa de-
cent pretcxt for wageng murderous and
devastating war with weak impoverished
and almost nonrcsistant people.
But let Us reflect upon one more most a
farming cause Of war assigned by this same
magnanimous President
II is indeed supremacy Iudicrous to hear
VIZ. Polk in his message gravely charging
Mexico with invading our territory and
thence claiming the right TO overrun that
country with our conquering armies on the
ground that when Gen. Taylor had marched
to the Rio Grande and pointed his guns at
Matamoros, the Mexicans presumed 10 cross
The river and attempted TO repel The invasion
Now we should like 10 be informed by any
man acquainted with the facts, when and
how we acquired The right OF territory on the
Rio Grande. We claimed il, it is true as
part of Louisania. But this claim we reln-
pushed in 1919 by the treaty OF Florida by
which we rclnquished all the territory west
of The Sabine. We have also claimed it rs
IA part of Texas. But is there the least rea-
son in the world TO believe that the boun1a-
res OF Texas when she revoled from Mexi-
CO comprised the territories on the Rio
Grandc. The maps, charts and records Of
Mexico show distinctly the boundaries of
Texas al this period were fixed TO the Neuces.
Nor had the standard of Texas ever been
unfurled on the banks Of the Rio Grande bul
a in single instance when il became the tro-
ply Of a Mexican victory over the captured
h'h Wills" DNt q ASt''I "AAA u
prisoner of war in whom no treaty making
power was vested by the laws olMexico even
were he al liberty, is urged by the President
10 authorize him TO claim four departments
ofihc Mexican republic making two thou
sand miles Of territory on this side of the
Rio Grandc, This treaty which was utterly
null and Instantly repudialed by theMcxican
congress, says Mr.. Benton loco SIS an act
Of unparalleled outrage on Werico Of lchich
he declared he crashed his hGndsn Nor did
congress in the act oil annexation regard ii
rs of any binding force, but specially provid
ed. ''Ihat such state (meaning ItraSj thus
TO be formed 10 be subject tothe adjustment by
this gOreynnoe ut of all questions Of boundary
lrhich may arise NTH other governments.
The fact urged by the Prcsidet that
Texas congress passed an act extending her
boundaries 10 the Rio Grande. thence up
that stream 10 lis source including provinces
under the exclusive government of Mexico
with pure Mexican population and rep
resented in the Mexican congress is equally
uule TO establish these boundaries.
But even had we any claim up to the Rio
Grande, it has been repeatedly conceded
even by our own government to be Disputed
territory, subject 10 negotiation which was
then actually in progress, and should have
been continued unit this manner Of settling
the controversy had been exhausted.
With these views Of the subject The march
OF our troops upon Matamoros was clearly
an aggression of our government upon Mex
leo. And yet Mr.. Polk declares that in al
tempting TO repel our troops from their pos
sition in front of Matamoros the Mexcans
''had passed oar boundaries and shed blood
on american SOIL Yes Mexico poor Mexi-
CO crushed with civil war without iroops or
military skill without recources adequate 10
carry on war of self defence, has invaded the
territory Of a nation which could swallow
her I'M af a 1rulp