Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-24

cumstances not materially different =
MIR. Van Buren, did not deem himself
authorized by these considerations, in the
existing state Of things in Mexico, TO
TO Congress TO declare
war against her nor did Mr.. Polk think
at the beginning Of the last session, that
the injuries which hs now enumerated .
authorized that extreme measure, or he
would have sent in such a "recoInmeD-
dation" himself
Being convinced that war was a "ne-
cessary and expedient measure" II was
his constitutional duty TO "recommend II
to Congress )" and, failing to do 30, he
would have been culpably derelict. IL,
in the course Of the session, any thing
occurred to bring him to different con-
clusion, Mr.. Van Buren, had instructed
him that il was his duty 10 lay the whole
subject before Congress, "to whom II
belonged to decide upon the time, the
mode, and the measure Of redress" to be
had from Mexico. Nay, Mr.. Polk him
self was, al the opening OF the last ses
sion Of Congress, fully sensible Of what
his duty was, when he informed the two
Houses, in his annual Message, that he
lorbore at that time "to recommend 10
Congress such ulierior measures OF Ie-
Dress" SC. in consequence Of the pen
dency OF the mission of Mr.. Slidell.
Let it be admitted that the United
States have suffered mnch wrong from
Mexico-enough, without swelling It by
the elaborate exaggeration in which the
President INDUCES himself in his Mes
sage. But who have been the imme'
diate cause and instruments Of these
wrongs : Usurpers, men who have
disreg garded and tramped upon her Con
stitution and forms OF law who have pu,
down all order and legal accountability
and in their stead have introduced uni
versal confusion and military 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 dlsor'
ganization. This sad destiny has beer
brought upon them by the delinquency
the violence, and the crimes Of thei
rulers. Admit that the injuries which
we have received at the hands Of Mexico
have been sufficient TO excite desire
for redress, or, if you will. even for ven
geance yet, when we look at things al
they exist in that unhappy country, ane
re fleet that her downtroddeo masses
upon whom chiefly the calamilies Of wa
fall, are innocent OF our wrongs, snt
have not the power to right them, pity
and humanity arrest the purpose iha
would inflct upon them the direiu
scourge Of war. Our arms might carry
desolation and mourning into all the
novels of the miserable masses Of Mexi
co, whilst the real delinquents would be
well nigh as secure from harm as the
true author Of this war, almost enthron'
ed as he is in the palace in this Metropo'
lis. But had the President recommend
ed war instead OF declaring that he for
bore to do so, Congress nigh, or might
not have declared II. Probably not as
the President admitted that an existing
Government in Mexico was disposed to
receive Minister from US to settle ex-
isling difficulties, and also that the coun-
try was on the verge Of one OF its ire
quent revolutions. If disposed to take
a remedy into our own hands, Congress
might have authorized reprisals upon
Mexico a measure short Of war, which
President JACKSON had recomme nde d
and which was then and at all times
amply sufficient for redress, and for every
purpose except to despoil Mexico Of a
portion Of her territory.
But, to return to the material question
between President Polk and the AMER
IcAN PEopLE: How and by phom was
this par begun IL by Mexico,he stands
absolved if by himself he has far sur
passed all his predecessors in bold abuse
Of power.
Il No threats on the part Of Mexico a
mounted to War. In August, l845
the American army, by orders Of tn,
President, took post at Corpus Christi
on the west bank Of the Nueces, apo
within the line of the Texan settlements
Ii remained in that position, unmolsst.
ed by tho Mexicans, until March 1916
when, under orders Of the War Depart.
ment, it moved forward to occupy po
sition on the Rio Grande. In the execu
ton ofthe orders OF the President, Oh,
Commanding General overihrew by mil
itary force and expelled the Mexican
I authorities from Santiago, took post OF
the Rio Grande, fortified his camp
mounted his cannon so as to comman'
the town Of Maiamoros, and cut off al
communication with it by blockadinl
the mouth OF the river on which it stands
\ Up to that time Mexico had sent no for
ces across the Rio Grande. The Tex
aus bad no settlements or posts (nor ev
er have had any on the Rio Grande
upon any Of its tributaries, or within II
long valley, from its sources to il
mouth. Texan officers, laws, or juris
diclion had never been seen or exisic,
any where on the borders Of the Ri
Grande, from the Green Mountains 4
the Gulf: On the contrary, the who'll
length Of the country had been discov
cred by the Mesicnns, and their unin
terrup,ed possession had continued U
to that day. Beginning with the city o
Taos, more than one thousand miles y