The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-05-26
THE GALAXY.
MIDDLEBURY. VT.
Tuesday, May rs, 1916.
WHERE is THE BLAME!

We very well know the denunciations of
1.-The party" which await all those who
have the manliness and independence to lisp
word of APOLOGY for dOw1trodden Mexico.
But to be just to nation with whom we are
at war, is not enmity to our own country.
Indeed, since we have gotinto a war-wheth-
err right or wrong-'our country should be
the watchword. Every good citizen should
unite in every right effort TO bring it to
successful termination, We shall never re-
j6ice over victory of the common enemy.
The honor of our arms and of our country
must be preserved in every emergency. Our
noble troops, now SO unfortunately belea-
cured on the Del Norte, Eust be relieved.
They compose the flower of our army, and
their loss would be "A terrible disaster.
But let us never forget the account that is TO
be settled with James X. Polk and Others
for placing them in this perilous position.
If any one will look back to tho very
commencement Of the Texas iniq uiiy, and
nace The course which The government at
Washington have taken down to the present.
consummation Of it in war with a sister re-
public, he would be utterly astonished at the
proaigacy and dupIicity which have marked
every step of those who got US into it.
They first abetted Texas in robbng Mexico
ofa province as large as France or Germany.
They then induced the Texans to consign
the stolen property into our hands for the
avowed and infamous purpose of extending
and perpetuating the dominion of slavery in
our land; and they now threaten to carry
of the Montazuma's. under the pretence Of
there cOnquering peace which has been
disturbed only by our own violence and per-
fdy. This may be thought to be strong Ian
guage. But heaven forbid we should ever
adopt the slavish doctrine that the govern
ment can do no wrong. No man who will
suffer the laundice of prejudice to be swept
from his mind, and will follow the dictates
of an honest conscience, but must concede
ofthe administration for months past, apd
that it was begun by an usurpaIion OF power
by The President, Hhich is utterly forbidden
by the Constitution of the Union. He knew
very well that Mexico, weak and distracted
Mexico, awed by our power, would not
choose TO go to war with us unless abused |
and provoked beyond endurance. But
under the nimsy pretence of defending
Texas from invasion, which he must have |
been sensible Mexico was too feeble. to at
tempt, he orders Gen. Taylor to march to |
the Rio Grande, and take possession of a |
province which never belonged TO Texas
proper, and which she had never acquired |
either by settlement, possession. convention
or conquest,-over which she never exer-
cised dominion. for dsy,-which never uni
ted in the Texas rebellion, but which is
this moment it ever has been, represented
in the Mexican Congress,-been ruled by
Mexican laws and submissive to the domin-
ion of that republic. Even bad we any
claim up TO The Rio del Norte, our govern
neut have all along acknowledged it sub
ect of negotiation which was actually going
On and should have been resorted to IN
i'll this means of settling the controversy
had been exhausted. At all events the terri
ory between the Nueces and the Rio
irande was disputed territory. Texas prop
'r under Mexico was bounded by that River
IN the South. At the time of annexation
Texas held, it is true, Corpus Christi on
his territory, but Mexico held Santiago.
And although the Texas Congress legisla-
ed their possession down TO the Del Norte,
ind our Congress has established a custom
rouse at Corpus Christi, such acts could
:reate no better claims than before existed
without the assent Of Mexico. With this s
lew of the subject. the march Of our troops
Ipon Matamoras was an act Of aggression ,
rst made by our Government, and it be- I
omes unnecessary to enquire. who fred the y
rst gun on the banks OF the Rio del
Joue. {
But says the President in his Message. q
Mexico has passed our boundary, invaded Q
ur territory, and shed American blood upon e
American soi.' Such a distorted view Of this b