Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-12-11
THE CoSsrrrUTIoN-srA RIGHTS.
RICHMOND DAILY WING
FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER u. islo.
The Prcsidcnt's Message.
ny TOLER. ELLIOTT a 90

somewhat critical review. That the President Is himself
fully oi the decacy OF his position in re.
gard both 70 the origin aud the management OF the existing
war obvious, well from the space devoted to the con
rJeraion OF this topic, from the lawyer like ingenuity
with which he discusses Il. This part ct his elaborate
Message indeed, wears less the appearance OF Execu
i've communication than the address OF advocate la
boring make the appear the better roason-
1t rather attempt vindcste the policy ut the Ad
ninsraton than rccapiIulaon OF its measures and in
deed, parts ct its evidently intended rTy the
speech recently delivered by Mir Webster in Phadelphia
But without psusing comment upon the novel cha
Tacer OF this part OF the Message proceed to examine
rome OF its prOmnen, positions. We must premise how
that We have nothing relation the long emu
meraon OF unedresscd wrongs and outtagcs imputed 10
during the last years and which concur
" with the President in saying constituted ample cause for
with that Republic, and which would doubtless have
led that result had Congress the wamakng branch
the Government. been restrained from its declaration
by considerations, which, however weghy m themselves
TO have been less influential with the FrcsidsHi-
who either sensitive the OF national honor
more eager to secure aonement Tor these outroEcs
thought proper anticipate the that body bv 50
exercising his authority commander chief of the Ar
my, to render inevitable. And tits for lis assump
OF power will; which the Constitution has not clothed
that officer, that have deemed duty. while urging
the vigorous prosecution OF the which we are
engaged to successful nnd honor able termination and cor
daily uniting the adoption OF all measures necessary 10
that result arraRn and condemn his conduct
Its because the War has been brought by the unauhor
lied Of tho Executive and because 1t has been unnc
cessary provoked that denounce It's authors All the
legitimate objects be accomplished by might wi,hou,
difficulty have been effected by negotiation had the ENecu
i've been less inclined to what think more pro-
ba5c had he acted under the deusve idea that the
ieebenes aud internal discussions Mexico gave every
reasonable that she would by force any
step which he might think it expden direct and CON
sequcnty that he might settle disputed boundary cues
non, by occupying territory far beyond that over which
The Texan flag had oated, and which was at the time
ns 1t had always been, in the Of Mexican cit
zens, aud under the Jurisdiction Of Mexican laws.
What the action Of the Executive to which we rs.
cribe the origin OF the war In anticipation Of the
annexation OF Texas, as precautionary measure Gen.
eral Taylor ordered enter that State for the
purpose OF resisting any attempt the part Of Mex
leo TO invade It's territory. OF this do not complain
When this order gwen Texas had become member
OF our Coniedsracy by the joint action Of the two Govern
mensor at least ii was ceran that that measure would
very be contaminated, was the duty Of tho
American Government consequently 10 adopt such pre-
canionary might be deemed necessary 10 70
pei an aggression the part OF Mexico, which, ii not
openly threatened might nevertheless have been reasonably
anticipated from the exasperaed tone the Organs O. @
lie sentiment in that country. General Taylor in pursu.
Of this order, August lS45 cucamped his army At
Corpus Christi which admit Jettge,H the Neuc,s
and the Rio GrlHd "a phrase by the way the use Of
which the President remarkably addcted) but which Is
imm'didfsy The bank and The mouth ui the orme,
river. Why Corpus Christ, selected cor Gen Tayor
encampment, instead Of the Rio Grandr opposite Msto
moros, in the first instance, IT, tle President now
contends he latter instead OF the former IL really the
frontier line OF Texas ii there was danger Of
Mexican INVASION at any period, certainly there were
stronger reasons To apprehend the time of the con-
summation Of the annexation scheme, than there was in
January 1916, when the advance movement TO the Rio
Grande ordered Why, if ue 10 the whole couu-
Try 1" between the Rio Grandc and the Ncuccs was un
doubted-if It clear and unqucstionable even
A. that 10 the "whue OF OTegon,"tyhich however th,
President did not attempt to establish and secure by ,
summary proceeding, why, ask, did the PfesJcp,
permit II to remain nearly months in the quiet and nm
disturbed possession Of Mexican citizens and gars,Ds
and allow Mexican custom-house officers To collect duties
upon imports Of BrazOs Santiago, under Mexican tariff
Either the claim up, in oder to vndcate lie
march at our the Rio Grande that the latter ryc,
the true boundary line Of Texas l. unlounded e.e m
President was cfininaly dereiic 90 his duty n pcrm
ing Que hundred and sixty miles n breadth of Texan
territory and rome two thousand miles in length q, b,
occupied for Elk mOnhs by people acknovy edging Ie
glance 10 the Mexican government and governed by m off
hcers, who IN pursuance Of ITS laws levied duties even
he
remarked here, lby way Of parenhcs) that 1t the cstab
lshmenl, by the American Congress OF custom hons. n,
Corpus Christi u.s. cpntcuded by the President
and othefs Just claim to the entire territory tefSecH fls
NcueSs and the Rio Gsandc," although that village 4 ir
stones throw Of the acknowledged frontier Of Texas the
existence, for much longer period Of Mexican custom
house at Brnzos Santiago the mouth of the Rio tande
land oi nnothor also, We believe, Point Isabel estaJ
fishes, by party OF reasoning aud with precisely the same
20 mel mai Inc ola. .,N a..
But why was Corpus Christi selected in August Isi5 for
the encampment Of the American army Mr. D,nn,l.op
then our Charge dee Aairos Tcyls gave the reason,
ln one Of his despaich's 10 the goycnmentamong them
hoit was the "tHF HgFr wFsrLEyr.Iyr o,.rru o.. Tt,
As,-an opinion In which bound 20 believe for ,
reasons already stated, that the Pfosdout al time m
ursy concuued-as Congress unquc.tonabIy did
when provided, IN t' joint resolution Tor the future I'D
Iu''ment 10y negotiation, Of the question Of boundary he,
tween Mexico aud ToHss. But We will ~ farther hack
aud sustain view of The subject by hc authority of ar
able aud distinguished DemOeyafe Senator whose opinions
ON boundary gn'sfoHs from he well known habits gf n
vesigut0n and the remarkable extent and accuracy 9 .
in"umnuon, entitled p more than ordinary respect So,
sholI appeal from Mr.. PorF to Mr.. Brvov-farn o. Io
'ooco frestenttoa LocoiOco Senator. When the quc.-
u"n OF The tcanneSauon" was fret broacicd he wrote
letter to the members Of the Texan Congress in which ~,
find the following paragraph.
VIII re'Iret To- Texas l.r s.r, BE- Gt.i ofeou,.s r
s',- d'f What 1000 about. a,y. -ls o I.,,. q. ,.r u,
uf hns of l ussy 0f 1919. and constituted %, f. rl
o. of Irrs a'uing ihc r1p aud forty au vr
&C. "i NJ" m'tC' ari aNafs furf ura tf. I m r
"i nf Republic NJ Memo ne Qtrhs and town. a H,
F's NJ tlua' nt' 90 s dominion Great HrfsIr. % . az
ihsI'psihr od Spanish feta ,pf Which aaay anI
FL" h al Hf dos 10Y ht'I Whatever may 20. tl, cato m
thf resent uYvsH hrr destination sf,fIr o. Uefu.tu,I
toHHt'. of rau of fi,s American uron.
Aud again While the Tyler treaty was pending boz rhe
Senate of the uoIted S1ies Mr Benton submitted 90 that
body resolution affirming hat the incorporation Of the
d.. A..
American Union, by virtue of a treaty with Texas coin
pretending, a. the said incorporation would d. part of
tho Mexican departments of New Mexico Chihualu,
" Coahu.ia aud TamauIipns, WOULD BE AN ACT or
"blRECT AGGRESSION on MEXICO. for all Nh,
'eo"f'garaess Of pLieh the United States would stand
"fespJn.tIs" Yet h1s precisely what President Polk
DID, without he authority Of Congress and indeed i1 OBJ
position Co The spirit not The language Of the annoSa-
tom esou'-u si1p'ed by tlt bodyand it be Tor s that
We bold him responsible" Co. ihc country which, by
that Unauthorized and unconstitutional aet no hos involved
in on expensive and bloody war.