Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-12-12

anarchy. So far from having any regular and ac-
countable Government, the social system of the
Mexicans has for years exhibited continued series
OF almost entire dsorganization. This sad destiny
has been brought upon them by the delinquency,
the violence, and the crimes Of their rulers Admit
that the injuries which we have received at the
hands of Mexico have been sufficient to excite a
desire Tor redress, or, if you will, even for
geance yet when we look at things as they exist
in that unhappy country, and reflect that her down
trodden masses, upon whom chiefly the calamtes
OF war fall, are innocent of our wrongs, and have
not the power to right them, pity and humanity
arrest the purpose that would nAict upon them the
drefu scourge Of war. Our arms might carry
desolation and mourning into all the novels of the
miserable masses of Mexico, whilst the real delin-
quents wonld be well nigh as secure from harm as
the true author of this war; almost enthroned as he
is in the palace in this Metropolis But had the
President recommended war instead Of declaring
that he forbore to do so, Congress might or might
not have declared it. Probably not, as the Presi-
dent admitted that an existing Government in Mex
leo was disposed to receive Minister from us to
settle existing difficulties, and also that the country
was on the verge Of one of its frequent revolutions.
II disposed to take remedy into our own hands,
Congress might have authorized reprisals upon
Mexico; measure short Of war, which President
JACKSON had recommended, and which was then
and at all times amply sufficient for redress, and
for every purpose except TO despo Mexico of a
portion of her territory.
But, to return to the material question between
IL ~ u
and By 0hom acas thiawar begun? Ifby Mexico,
he stands absolved; if by himself he has far sur
passed all his predecessors in bold abuse of power
No threats on the part of Mexico amounted to
War. In August 1915, the American army, by
orders Of the President took post at Corpus Christi,
on the west bank of the Nueces, and within the
line OF the Texan settlements. II remained in that
position, unmolested by the Mexicans, until March
lS46, when, under orders Of the War Department,
it moved forward to occupy position on the Rio
Grande. In the execution of the orders of the
President, the Commanding General overthrow by
military force and expelled the Mexican authorities
from Santiago, took post on the Rio Grande, for
tilted his camp, mounted his cannon SO as to COM
mand the town of Matamoros, and cut off all CON-
muncation with it by blockading the mouth OF the
river on which it stands. Up to that time Mexico
had sent no forces across the Rio Grande. The
Texans had no settlements or posts (nor ever have
had any on the Rio Grande, upon any Of its trbu-
taries, or within its long valley, from its sources to
its mouth. Texan officers, laws, or jurisdiction had
never been seen or existed any where on the bor-
ders of the Rio Grande, from the Green Noun.
tains to the Gulf. On the contrary the whole
length of the country had been discovered by the
Mexicans, and their uninterrupted possession had
continued up to that day. Beginning with the city
Of Taos, more than one thousand miles up the Rio
Grande, the Mexcans had east of that river towns
and cities, Santa Cruz Santa Fe (the capital of New
Mexico0 San Miguel, San Domingo, Albuquerque
Torreon, Totillas, Tajiqua, Nutreas, Tabra, Val
verde, Fra Cristoba Old Preside, Dolores, Laredo
and Point Isabel, stretching the whole length of the
river, from its sources to the Gulf. From the time
that Mexico became Independent of old Spain, her
jurisdiction, her laws, and her officers had swayed
over all these cities and towns, and the entire rural
population of the country. Texas never had had a
foothod in the country of the Rio Grande. Such
was the state of things until it was first interrupted
and has since been subverted, by our army and
all this was as well known to the President as to
any other man. Both MEXICO and President Polk
have declared to the world that the United States
and Mexico were at peace before Gen. TAYLOR was
ordered TO march from the Nueces to the Rio
Grande Certainly Mexico had not made war upon
the United States. No person will deny that a
warlike act is war. Are not the marching of an
army Of one nation into territory that has ever been
IN the unbroken possession of another with which
tits at peace, and where the jurisdiction laws, and
authorities of the country thus assaulted have been
daily enforced, and the overthrow Of these laws and
authorities by the invading army, and the substu
ton Of its military rule, warke acts If these acts
necessarily lead 10 oar it is not competent for the
President to authorize them, because the Consttu.
ton vests the whole war-power of the Government
IN Congress. But such acts are War, and in
most offensive form. Our armies have taken pos
session Of good part Of New Mexico and Chihua
hua, without any actual conflict of arms and who
viii not say that we have not made war upon those
Mexican States No, the President has no more
rightor constitutional power Of himself to undertake
such acts than he has to appropriate money in tho
Treasury, or to decide causes in the Supreme
Court
But the Message assumes boldly that the Ric
Grande, from its mouth to its source, is the western
boundary Of Texas. 1t predicates this conclusion