Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-12-31

IN mise 90 beycad the river, unless hosties
sjar,be comn,edced by the Mexcans themselves
! tbote 1er,c1ns living on his side, will not be
d,Sed in any way by the troops; that they Will
Neglected in all their rights and usages and
tltvery thing which the army may need will be
chased from them at fair prices. | also stated
N Iha unless the matter should be fairly adjusted
l.Lwten the two Governments, the hatbOr OF Brasos
Sp would be open to the free use OF the Mex
heretofore. The same views were i'm
II upon The nericdn custom house oUcer ut
Santiago by Captain Hendee, who comman-
escort which covered the reconnaissance OF
llsland.'
neral TAYLOR, in his subsequent letters, informs
Executive that, Oh his way from Corpus Chris
The Rio Grande, he met by the Mexican
rv whose commander Informed our officers
Our crossing the Arroyo Colorado would be
idered an act of Institutes; that lie was also
10y civil deputaton, protesting against occu-
- lg the country; that, in approaching / ONT Is
he found the place in flames; that the port
hin committed the act; that they " found tcO
lree ino6tnsiue .NericanS there, The rest hdUing
jor .MtGmOrGs."
hose dispatches from General Taylor leave no
lot as to the possession of the country in the
lev of the Rio Grande The Executive says
.uerico has military posts there, and General
vor says that he found Alericdn soldiers in The
iriry that there was Mexican custom-house
Brosos Santiago; that the Mexcans had free
of the port and harbor; that The port captain at
,rt Isabel had fired the town; that the Mexicans
ho were living ON the east side Of the Rio Grande
lould not be distUrbed and, finally, that they
ight understand his policy, bi issued his proclu-
~ ~ effect; aud as they wrre MericdnS,
. proclamatofr>n Their lam .'--e
All these facts show, beyotrol doubt as , seems
70 me, that our claim to the whole country, to the
Itlo Grandc, Is based on no solid foundation. All
these facts were Of course, Known 10 the EXecu-
Awe, for they are found in DOCUMENTS submitted by
himself to Congress- And yet the Presldent tram
ping upon the rights of coordinate branch of
the Government, and so Violating the Constitution
he had sworn to support, orders the army into the
country of nation with whom we are peace and
the commanding general, acting under his orders,
orects aiort and mounNs his cannon within reach ola
Mexican city; boofNades the Rio Grande, so as 10
cut of the supplies from the Mexican army at Mat
amoras: senyl4s' out force under Capt. Thornton,
which. Is oeeved to have commenced the attack;
and then 10 turn public attention from his own acts
'usurpatOu, the President comes before Congress,
message, appealing TO the sympathies of the pub
G. aud declares that Mexico has invaded the Unit
ID States, an shed American blood upon Amer-
bn soil!
Now, Mr.. Chairman. is it not huniiliating-d
bit every American blush for the honor of has
country, when he sees the Executive put forth d
document like the Message before us, not only un
sustained by facts, but ia direct opposition to facts
Vas Justification of the war in which we are now
engaged? "The Mexclns invaded the United
States" Let the President, or let the Presidents
friends have 1t under the most favorable crcum-
Fances the facts will admit Allow, if you please
hat the boundary was In dispute, and how stands
he case9 Why the boundary is in dispute, but
HeXlco is in possession; and while there is a con-
roversy, dispute possession furnishes good ii.
le Possession, In law, Is always good title a.
Eainst trespasser.
Now, with all these facts staring him in the face
What induced the President TO take this course
Nv friend from Tennessee Mr.. Gentry has poin-
ed out, unquestonably, the principal motive of ac
ion in this case. The President wished to dlstIn-
sulsh his administration, and he wished to dlstn-
gush it by further accession of territory; he
wished to acquire large portion of territory in that
Section of the Union, in order to give the South
perpetual preponderdnce In the councils Of the ma
lion. That was, unquestonaby, the motive which
led him to take that step; and the danger of that
policy has been also alluded to by my friend this
morning, and the danger is imminent. The vote
taken in this House, at the close of last session. is
Ia fair exponent of the feelings of the country. And
will tell gentlemen, North and South, that if these
Mexican PROVINCES are to be annexed :. ~. United
II - M grow out OF tnat annexation,
momentous in its character, and one which may lead
TO calamity greater than the war with Mexico, or
anv other which has befallen the country. ! here
is deep feeling IN the country against the exten-
sion of savery. There thousands upon thousands
| in the Northern section of the Union land aude
TO no fanatics but to SOBER deliberate and subsan-
tial men, men who have the good Of the country at
hearth who would resist, by every means in their
power the establishment of slavery in these Mexi-
can provinces, if they should be annexed TO the
United States. This feeling is both strong and
Deep and the prosecution of this war Of conquest
contributing daily to the increase oil that feeling.
Let this war 60 on let victory crown our arms, till
Mexico will yield up large portion Of her terrific
ry, and fear that our success would be more dan
gerous TO us than defeat we should have questions
Of internal re- ulaton, which would be more diff
cult to settle than the boundary between US and
Mexico
Speech of MIR. Gentry of Tennessee.
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH OF MIR.
GENTRY OF TENNESSEE, ON THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Delivered in The U. S. House Of Representatives., on
Wednesday Dec. 10Th, 1916.
He believed, HIMSELF that the present war ,cas
waged FOR CONQUEST. The proofs were a.
bundant, and perfectly conclusive, nor would the
people be at any loss to find them. Congress were
bound to examine into them, and every freeman
was bound to do the same.
NJ n homo ..I-o a, &