Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-05-16

people would be attacked with but, the
mean while, might be necessary repe of hostility
and take the initiative regard the invaders by rolling
back upon them the guilt of disturbing the peace Of the
world that Mexico would submit any hostile act
med by the people Government of the United States
but that every such wou be and repused by all the
'power OF the Republic" Mr. b. had repeated this pas
sage from proclamation from the present President Of Mexico
with view TO show that the door open for an adjustment
OF difficulties and he thought could see
guage Of this officer that peaceabe adjustment Of them
might be effected 30 lar as he could this decaa-
ton the Government of Mexico seemed TO be willing and
ready for such result it seemed consider the hosries
proceeding from troops only and there appeared
opinion that Mexico ought adopt other preliminary
measures before she drew the sword.
Mr. j. M. CLAYTON said that he drew the same infer
from this paper with the gentleman from Missouri that
hostties did necessarily imply In fact
there the law Of nations which did not def
ntivey declare that the might exist without the other
that letters of and reprsa might be issued and acted
upon and yet state Of exist unless they issued
generally Military measures Of mere defence aid not cons
ute a war. But Mr. C. purposey absained from entering
into the question whether did did not exist perhapst
did, but he willing to say in this bill before the
Senate knew the fact He would say that there not
state Of he assumed such position. All he wanted
opportunity look the documents to how far
could be justified solemnly declaring that did exist
With view test the of the Senate, he would
amend the bill by striking out in the third line of the
first secton the words 'sprosecute said speedy and
successful termination" and inserting the words "repe inva-
sion II this motion should succeed he should then foowt
with corresponding amendments in the subsequent parts
| of the bill
| The question being striking and inserting above
| Mr.. BREESE demanded the yeas and nays which were
| ordered by the Senate.
Mr. CALHOUN said he would appeal to the Senate
and ask If there there who could believe the
ground the only document the Senate had it,
there did at this time exist the proper and
tona Of that term Before such existed,
be made by the proper authority, which, in this case the
Mexican Congress side, and the American Congress
the other Even If the Presidents Of the Repub
lies should issue solemn declarations of war; that would
constitute state Of because the Presidents had such
authority and the nations, respectively, might disavow their
acts. would be extraordinary step part
decaraono after the dsavowal which the Senate
had just heard the part of the President of the Mexican
Republic Mr. G. said he had much rather that the Senator
from Delaware had divided his notion and had at first moved
only strike He put the conscience and to the regard
truth in the breast every Senator whether he could make
the public declaration before the world that state of did
now actually exist.
Mr.. HOUSTON said it was not his purpose to occupy
much of the honorable body be merely for the
purpose Of declaring what the position of this country,
according to his apprehension, in relation to Mex
His conviction that they actually in state of
War had existed for ten years between Mexico and
Texas and been declared advance part of
Mexico when the question Of the annexation of Texas the
United States agated that if that annexation took place
the would only be continued against Texas, but
would be proclaimed also against the United States The
had continued be prosecuted against Texas and Texas
having in the time become portion Of the United
| States, the Government of the United States was now
placed in the situation occupied heretofore by Texas in rea
ton to Mexico War; therefore, in his judgment, unques-
tonably existed between Mexico and the United States
had extended the United States by the declaration of
the Mexican Government, and had been continued and
newed by the acts Of that Govenmentacts of out
rage and violence committed upon the United States troops
within that territory from which they had declared they would
expel the Of Texas inrudes and rebels Texas
having been United States the face Of these
declarations the part Of Mexico and in the face Of the
isng war; he would what bad occurred
sice the annexation which had all changed the nature Of
those relations and rendered them peaceful He apprehend
ed that those relations had changed; and they bad not
changed the United States and Mexico unquesonaby
Of war, Mexico being yet engaged aggressive
upon the State Of Texas Of the States Of this Union.
The United was therefore, placed precisely the stu
in which Texas had been for the last years. subject
the aggessens ncursons nroads attacks and ouiages
Of the Mexican forces acting in obedience to the commands
Of the constituted authorities Of the Mexican Government
Gould any doubt exist that they in fact and truth in
state of war In his conscience he could resist the
vicion that they virtually efectualy in state Of
war; Mexico had six weeks declared expressly
against the United States Ten years ago Mexico
ed hosties against Texas there temporary suspen-
ons of hostiles but the renewed from time to
time those cessaions of from time time inter-
uped by renewed declarations Of and determination
against the inhabitants Of Texas How long
then pause and consider whether there
not How long the Congress Of the United States
ponder Were they regard the declarations of Mexico
pronounced by the chief officer usuper Of her Govern
men having force the ground that he had auho
y declare THAT it belonged only Congress
declare So long they held that the rule of
ton long would they find themselves deceived So long
he could delude them with professions of peace long
would he continue those professions, while his acts would
continue to be acts of hostility and violence.
He had not risen for the purpose Of occupying the time of
the Senate in any heightened speech He would be glad
the bill put in such form would meet the wishes of
every honorable Senator He would be entirely willing to
crafty them by first taking up, they pleased the subject Of
appropriation of furnishing the adequate for resistance,
he assured that the declaration Of would promptly
follow but If they supplies Of munitions Of
and for the purpose of marching 10 the Rio del
Norte and there hang he could not subscribe any
kind He could TO it. because he thought
would be utterly useless II they intended ALL they
ought though they intended to redress the wrongs
they had suffered The policy Of declaring might be dis
cusscd for months and in the time troops would be
left away and be destroyed until only the skeleton
army would be e while debts sccumulated upon the
nation and the Mericans remained unchassed. Inundated
might regard her, mbecc her people, ought
nevertheless consider her and her nation,
long she capable Of ouagng the rights Of America.
Her degradation should not be allowed excite breasts
feeling Of pity so long she manifested disposition to
commit ourages upon country should entertain
other feeling than feeling Of resentment should not
through mistaken pity withhold hands from inficting
chastisement Having received wrongs her hands,
duty to redress those Injury having been inc
ed by Mexico she ought be punished Her insolence
ought be tolerated. She ought be made that
| we could not only repel insult but also punish it.
He prepared TO vote for declaration that IN
of and the necessarily consequent upon
such declaration could be immediately adopted and carried in
execution Perhaps the next intelligence received would
be that advantage had been taken Of inactivity, and
outrage pcrpcated seriously involving the national
honor and dignity than any which had yet reached
i