The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-14
OUR CAUSE.

IL summoned 10 meet ullA emergency.
We cannot suppose that any one, familiar with
the history of country, has been surprised al
the bursting Of the storm. The occurrences OF
twenty consecutive years have pointed, clearly and
, plainly, TO this result During this long period
Mexico has been heapiag upon our country and liz
national flag, upon our citizens and their rights
rights not resting upon abstract principles OF justice
and the speculations of jurists, but soemny de-
fined and cautiously guarded by the most distinct
and sacred obligations Of treaties-lnsult and in
dignity.
| The faith Of the government and ofthe nation has
been plghted in the face of heaven and before the
eye Of the world, that these lndgniues should be
atoned for-these wrongs redressed. So far as the
national honor was outraged, we should have been
satisfied with disavowal and apology. We deman-
ded no counter sacrifice Of Mexican dignity-noth-
ing Illuminating degrading nothing which a
brave and honorable community ought not sponta
neously to have rendered. As to the outrages in
acted upon our citizens, we asked but the losses
which had been suffered should be repaired; that
our citizens should subject their causes OF complaint
to an impartial Judicial tribunal and the actual pecu
MARY loss, which should be fully substanua,ed to
be paid to them No yielding of rghts-no degrad
| ing concessions desired or demanded.
| The very moderation Of our requsitlons-the sim
pie justice which declared would be satisfactory
seemed to be regarded manifestations of weakness
and mbecility. A government readily satisfied,
and easily appeased, could not, it was imagined,
be serious in exacting this small measure of atone
ment.
The consequence was, that while Mexico was &C
knowedging her responsibilities, and promising
amends she persisted in her system of outrage and
| Of wrong Insults the most aggravated-njuries of
the deepest atrocity, perpetrated at the very
moment that she was promising reparauon for the
past, and pedging herself to afford US security for
| the future. As long since as February, 1887, Pres
dent Jackson, in his message TO Congress, declared
that "the length Of time since some of the injuries
have been committed-the repeated and unavailing
applications for rsdress-the wanton character of
some ofthe outrages upon the persons and property
Of our ctzens-upon, the officers and flag of the
United States, independent Of recent insults this
government and people, would justify, in the eyes
ofall nations, immediate war"
Such was the deliberate opinion of that eminent
1
he alone in this view of the subject. The Commit
tee of Foreign Affairs Of the House of Representa-
tlves, responding to this language Of the Executive
in the same month, say, that they perceive with
profound regret that on the part OF Mexico there
has been long train of injuries to the property Of
American citizens and insults to the national flag
for which redress, though often promised, has sell
dom been obtained" Looking through the cata
| logue of complaints which the United States have
to make upon Mexico, on their own account as the
party whose honor and dignity are assaed, the
committee are unable to perceive any proof of de-
sire on the part Of the Mexican government to re-
pair injury or satisfy honor" In conclusion, the
committee proposed resolution in the following
words: Resolved, That the indignes offered to
the American flag, and injuries committed upon the
persons and property of American citizens by Off
GERS Of the Mexican government and the refusal or
neglect of that government to make suitable atone
ment wsuld justify the Congress Of the United
States in taking measures to obtain immediate re-
dress by the exercise of its own power"
From that date to the present hour not only has
Mexico persisted this refusal and neglect, but has
continued, without ntermssion, to augment the cata
logueof her Crimes and to aggravate, both in num-
Der and degree, the insults upon our government and
nation Every effort to adjust these sources of dis
cord has been contemptuously rejected or fraudu-
lently evaded. Prevaricaton the most contempt
blc falsehood the most papable, have been unblush
| ingly resorted to and systematically pursued
| The faith of the United States has been repeatedly
pledged to her citizens that these wrongs should be
redressed. She was bound to redeem this pledge
She could not, without initiating and equalling the
bad faith Of Mexico, leave them much longer unre-
dressed. She must either assume and pay herself
this onerous weight Of obligation, compel Mexico
to pay it, or leave her innocent and injured citizens
without relief. Such crisis was approaching At
this juncture the Texan controversy arose. The
government of the United States, exercising I'M
questionable right, adopted measures, which, with
the full and entire consent Of the people Of Texas,
finally terminated in the annexation of that State to
this Union. Mexico, in anticipation Of this meas
ure refused to perform her treaty engagements de-
nounced this country in the most opprobrious, and
offensive terms, exhausted the vocabulary of vulgar
abuse in finding epithets which should indicate her
adherence and hatred, and proclaimed through all
her functionaries that this alleged wrong should be
atoned by war.
The United States calmly pursued her career de-
spite this coarse ribaldry and mpotent menace The
union between her and Texas was consummated.
The abuse was continued and the threatenlngs sub
sided No movement was made towards their full
flment. To guard against the hostilities which were
thus announced and as a simple and proper measure
of precaution squadron was stationed in the Vclnl-
" Of her principal port, and detachment Of the
army was despatched to protect Texas against the
threatened invasion. The most positive orders
were, however, transmitted to both arms to avoid
every act of hostility, and every proceeding which
could Justly increase the existing feeling of irrta
ton Mexico had suspended every species Of di.
plomatic intercourse; she would enter into nego
tation she would listen to no justification. She
occupied herself-and she placed us in the same
= predicament--a position neither Of war nor peace