Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-19

Why, by the presence oil ncAiean a -. ~. Jec;ds
the United States army. Does nc no. wv, NV - Il,
The question OF boundary ~. ~. ..horr
how that possession was acquired, ana ~
II was nv The march of The United STATES army
into the territory. II concedlns lhat II was
disnuIed territory. The right OF Mexico was equai
win that Of The Uniled States 10 enler me lei
lorv II our possession was derived NOM mar
inc our army there. cannot Mexico exercise .Ae
same rsh7 Does priority III an ac' % nos'',,y
vesi national rieh,2 The argument on 'Hc &C e.
major is that the march Of the Mexican army
was an &C, Of hostility. $50, have denonsfa-
led tina, The march OF lie United S'a'es army
was an equal act of hostility. war uoes ho'
then exist by any act oil the cohs'tuieu du'no'
ties. in whose hands alone is me power - otea.e
war In every aspect OF The suDIec', 'ne ploPoai-
ton of the Senator is unsnsla.neu, CIV - ~
rot subject 10 The imputalion OF maintaining me
r;d;cnlons nos;iion that we are not competent TO
stop al The Rio Grande, and refrain from rePei-
ling invasion. The question, wheiner Inc hosu-
lties committed BY the Mexican army against
our army are 10 be repealed, IS announcer anu ulnel'
enr question hold that there IS no'hihS cieaie g
Than tba, such invasion may be repealed by Inc
most powerful means, by the pursuit OF The lnVa'
ders and by All possible and necessary means 10
make the rcpusion ,lIeclual, and Tor purposes oil
chas,semeni. A declaration OF war Is hoI ne
cessary for the purpose OF %rElins Us win al NJ
cessary power 10 Icrel the INVASION ana punish
the aggression. II recognised by me eroEc'u-
ment OF Mexico. then war does exist-li not. the
hostli,v will have b en- committed by an officer
of the Mexican army, and no war will exist be.
tween The Two CONFINES Now ask what will
be The consequences Of a recognition OF state
nj war; The Senator has alluded 10 the with
drawal OF The Mexican minister, and The reJec-
linn of ours Bnt has rot our commerce with
MEXICO been undisturbed2 The presumption OF
the Senator then is re.uted by the continuance oil
the discharge OF the functions oil our consuls.-
The rejection or withdrawal oil minister IS no
Evidence Of the existence Of any War--h aIlo'os
M nresumplion Of such a state OF wal but
was about 10 allcde 10 The consequences OF a re-
cognition OF the existence OF war. Al once an
end would be put 10 the su5sistins t!oatles.-
Mos, conveniently Tor Mexico The accumulated
claims OF our citizens would hc ooillcraleu; inc
properly and lives Of our citizens IN Mexico
would be al her mercy. II is said mat Mexican
privaleers may be already on the seas. mat
c.nnot he unless the hostilites have been re-
copnized by the Government. The evidence
lhns far is otherwise. The Mexican Govern
ment will be answerable for every aggression
mon onr commerce if made before declaration
III war. And for what are all these consequen-
ces 10 be incurred? Why that we may chasIse
The Mexican army, and Mexico in all her parts
and por,icns il she avows the act. But III The
abscnce ct all evidence that this is the act OF
Nexico-wiih evidence looking The other way
i il proper. is il wise, is it Juslihabe in US 10
make premature declaration that war does
exist
Mr. Wes;co,t said that had he been called
uoon 10 vote on this bill on yesterday, ne believed
he should have voted against IT. But calm ana
cool reflection since then had convinced nm IL
was his duty 10 vote for it. He did not entirely
approve OF the phraseology OF the bill. This
was. however, no time Tor verbal Criticism I'M
mediate, prompt, decisive acIlon was demanded;
Ills objection 10 the bill was not tlsat which had
been urged 1t was entirely different. lie was
no, DISPOSED, Gas this bill seemed TO do,) TO throw
unon Mexico The commencement oil this war. lie
pfc,rrred that this government, instead OF The de-
rlaraiion in this bill that "War existed, and ny
The ar, Of Mexico" should make an independ,
cnt affirmative, positive, and unequvocal de-
claration ot war against that Government lie
fr.t assured that the past conduct OF Mexico
towards the United States ever since Mexico
had claimed 10 be distinc, nation, il fairly
exhibited 10 the civilized world. wouid fully
Justify such declaration. Yes, MIR. President,
(said Mr.. W. il The soldiers Of Mexico
had not invaded Texas during the last month
il they had not murdered Colonel CroSs-ii they
had mol killed Lieutenant Porter-if they had not
attacked Hardee and Thornton; nay, if her pre-
sent rulers were now to apologize and atone for
these acts, there is ample cause Tor our declaring
war aaains her, 10 he found in her past courses
towards as Sir, We have been most torbearin.
toward, Mexico. We have allowed Our feelings,
fora ncishloIin. sister Republic, 10 restrain Us
from Demanding and enforcing long ago rcrara.
lien for her insults an outrages. The American
people would no, have submitted 10 The niisni!ics
they have patiently endured from Mexico, ron
any other Government on Gods earth. They
would have risen rs one man 10 icpel them years
since. This iorbearancc has emboldened Mexi.
CO 10 farther wrong. Her rulers have mistaken
our sympathy for her difficulties and misiof-
tunes, and our consideration OF her weakness for
puslanimity 1t is time they should be unde
ceived. The world has been imposed upon with
resrect 10 The true causes OF difference between
Mexico and The United States. The recent oc-
currcnces are but drop in the bucket. Mexico
has arttully sought TO create the impression that
wbal she calls the "spoiaion" OF Texas is the
ORIGIN and cause Of these difficulties. Sir, (said
Mr. w \ before the Texas Revolution, She had
outraged our hag in her own ports, and on the
hiob ,.as in The Gulf. She had robbed and i'm
prisoncd our citizens; and even our diplomatic
and consular agents in herJurlsdlcllon, were out
RACED and insuled in manner which, by the ac-
knowledced laws Of nations, afforded 10 US Just
cause for declaring war aSalns, her. but we
forbore 10 resort 10 this mode OF redress. We
negotiated Treaty with her, by which she en-
gaoed 10 indemnify our citizens. She plshed
her faith as a nation TO do them Iusiice-te pay
for her spoiations OF their property, and ourases
of their rights. Has she done sol No, Sir No,
Sir! She has ANONYMOUSLY violated her
pliehted faith 10 them and 10 this Government.
She has dishonnrably withheld from us the debt
She enoaoed 10 nav for their heneiit. The Presi-
dent. in his Message, states that these spolialien
claims amount 10 upwards II b,oOU,OUO oil
dollars. believe, SiT, that several millions
OF dollars would not indemnify those Amen
can citizens who have suffered from me wrongs
and oulraces ui that Government enc ouSh'
in Justice 10 pay that amount, ana lhis govern
men, should compel her 10 pay il. Without re-
terrino 10 her insults to our flag-the insults 10
our diolomacic consular agents, or even The i'm
pr;sonmen, of some OF them and ether American
cilzens we can find in her course with respect
the indemnity OF these spoilalions and in the gross
indioni,v cast in The teeth Of the American peo-
nj. in The treatment Of its accredited minister
mir Slideln This winter after her invitation TO
send him as all christendom will say, Just cause
for an affirmative declaration oil war against her
Sir. said mir. W. am moi Tor lemporIzing, Tor
anv ha way measure am in favor OF such tecla-
ration: and, without reference 10 recent occur
rencc.. should be in favor ii. | care not if The
military chief who has usnrped The reins OF pow;
er in Mexico care not if lis Congress should
disavow The acts OF Gen. Ampudia and Arista- if
i, should disgrace and punish these officers ortheir
recent acts in the State Of Texas-s,ill, causes
which would weigh with me as sufficient tojus-
tify thi. declaration, were not removed. Doubt
less her rulers are instigated By The emissaries
OF other governments inimcal TO us. Their in
fiuences cannot be concealed. They are mani
fest. They will not deter me in the least degree
from pursuing the Path that believe the honor
of my country requires me 10 follow
Mr. President, coincide fully in the dislnc-
ton maintained on yesterday by the honorable
Senator from South Carolina Mr. Calhoun be-
tween mere Institutes and irar, according 10 the
meaning Of The Fedora Constitution. No hosii-
lities can be recognised as war by this govern
ment unless they have been declared By Congress
10 constitute war. hold, loo that il is impor
tant this distinction should be maintained; as
otherwise the acts of The Executive may create
war, and the wise constitutional provision placing