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

think that the Congress oil Mexico, e!tuei -,
or since The annexation OF Iexas h"'. oee 20 y,
that il was a declaration oil ~af- nc J" as 49,
thai immersion. He would like TO have an oP
nortunity 10 examine The documents. III ln
mean time he would be happy 10 learn nom ln
Chairman of Tie Committee on Foreign heia
lions whether he was right in his OPINION.
any rate, he did consider war existed &C j"eto
and Government was bound 10 ADOPT ~. He,es
sary measures, not only 10 rrrel inVasioh' ~
/ 10 carry on that war. II was mol necessary u
I his opinion. 10 declare war; but II u wa ~
would vote for declaration nhdcf INC cA'S'i";
+ stale OF things. coo,.
long nor 10 enter into any pro!racted discussion
III The subject now under consideration. have
but little 10 say, and shall say that speedily. II
The first place sir, desire 10 answer The appea
which has been made 10 this side OF The chambe
by The honorable senator from Delaware, Nlr. j
Nj. Claytonl He desires that portion OF lne on
which asserts The existence oil war between ths
United States and Mexico, brought on by The ag
erosion OF the latter, should be passed by Tor The
present. and that we should now confne ourselves
10 consideration oil Tie measures necessary ioi
the defence of the country FOR my own par,
should be happy 10 take The course indlca'eo Oy
the senator from Delaware, ana whicn ne ASKS u
10 adopt. were not prevented from dong 50 ny
and raise men for the mcle purpose OF repeliins
an invasion. we place ourselves III TIE veiy posi-
lion which The honorable Senator IRON South
Carolina, mir. Calhonn,l deemed yesterday
The proper one, and to which then expressed, and
vel lee J. psuperabIc objections A Mexican ar
INV is upon our soil. Are we 10 confne our e.
for.s 10 repeIing them2 Are we 10 drive Them 10
The border, and then stop our pursuit, and allow
them 10 find refuge in their own territory
And what then 2 TO collect again, 10 cross our
frontier al some other point and again 10 rene"
The same scenes, 10 be followed by me similar
immunity? What sort OF a condition OF ihinSs
would this be, sir? The advantage would be
altogether On The side Of the Mcxicans, while the
loss wou!l be altogether ours. Their army i
maintained al any rate, and il would cost them
litlle more 70 renew and continue these DofoeE
contests than 10 keep their troops in their canton
nrn,s. while we must spread troops along our
border, and hold them in readiness 10 meet these
invasions at whatever point they may be al
tempted. Now, sir, no vote Of mine snail place
nv country in this situation And besides,
these Mexican hostities will not be confined
to operations BY land. Are we 10 suffer their
privaieers 10 spread themselves over The ocean,
10 capture our sailors and vessels, and 10 Iu-
in our commerce. This state OF things. !,
for one, am disposed 10 meet with prompt
Jude and energy Mexico has attacked The Unied
Siaies-has placed herself in belliserent altl-
,ude And now lei her take the consequences Of
her own aggression. For these reasons, sir,
while We provide for the defence Of The country, J
am fDl making The defence e,iecual - moi ont"
driving OH The enemy, bu, b. following them into
their own territory, and hy debating peace even
in the capital il il be necessary. Bul, sir, Why
does the honorable Senalorllom Delaware askti
separation and request us 10 postpone ourdecislon
upon The relative condition Of This country and
Mexico, while We provide only for driving the
invaders from our soil2 He says sir. that he
desires time 10 examine the documents which The
President has submitted - Us, before ne can de-
eide wheher there is a slate OF war between the
United STATES and Mexico. | cannot conceive,
SIR, that any delay can be necessary for This puf-
poSc The main facts are indispnab!e. they
are before The Senate, before the country and tc-
tore The word. A Mexican army has passed our
bounCalg, ana is ROW upon The sr oi the fenub-
io Our troops have been attacked, captured and
killed. Our arEv i surrounded, and efforts are
maxim. 10 suoIpe Them. Now, sir 70 tocu-
mems are necessary 10 establish these facts; and
these facts il seems 10 me, are all that can be ne
cessary 10 justify HE statement Of The Presi-
dent OF The existence ot war, and our concurrence
in his recommendation. H., indeed, The object he
10 examine the conduct OF The Executive, 10 ascer-
tain whether This condition OF things is 10 be at
,rihu,ed 10 him. then, undoubtedly careful ex
animation Of the documents would be necessary.
And from indications already given, presume that
such IN investigation will be entered upon. For
one am prepared 10 enter into il, and | will
venture 10 predict that The more severe i! is, the
moTe triumpani ior the administration will be the
result. Hul that saheci may well e;"e way 10
ins. Lei postpone THAI inquiry III
wc are provided ior the defence oi the coun
Try and the vindication 81 our hoaor.-
Tha; course seems 10 he 10 be equally
indicated by duty b. policy, and by patriotism.
And now, sir, permit me 10 advert 10 another
branch ui tins subject Strange doctrines have
been heard yesterday and to-day, such a have
been presented, neither by The history oil our own
country, mol that of any other. Among those
who oppose the course Of The Executive, there
seems to be an important difference Of opinion on
some Of the principles which should regulate OUT
conduct. By some it is commended that the inva
sion OF the Mexican army is not an act OF war
because we have no proof that il was committee
By The order ofthe Mexican Government. While
others and among them the distinguished Soma
tor from South Carolina, maintain that 70 act 81
another country can crealc a state OF war win
this unless such war be declared by Congress
Now sir il seems 10 me that This pTttenslon IS
equally dangerous in It's conclusions, and IN
sound in The reasoning By which il is supported
II understood the honorable Senator yesterday,
he considers there are three conditions in which
our country may be placed with relation 10 an
other. A state OF peace, OF war, and Of hostili
ties. This 10 me, sir is a new division OF The
principle Of INSTRUMENTATION between dirfe.
rent countries War | understand and peace
understand, and The rights and duties which they
bring with them But state OF hostilles, as
conlradistinguished from these relations is a new
chapter in the law of nations 10 me- Our Con
sti,ution is equally silent upon the subject
supposed, heretofore, thatit We were no. al peace
Wilha counlry we were atwar with H. bad 10 learn
that there was an Intermediate stale creatlns new
rights and duties which | am acknowledgement
10 find unless new Grotus starts up upon me occa
sion. The Senator from Missouri Mr. Benton
has correctly stated tina, there may be war without
hus,ilies, and hosilities without war. Bellise-
rent operations may te temporarily suspended
and there may be acts OF aggression, which may
be called hostililies, which may be committed
without the authority ofa government Rencon-
Tres, for instance, between ships-of-war, or pre-.
datory incursons across the boundary oil coun.
try. But there can be no hosiliiilies undertaken
by a government which do not constitute state
OF war. War is fact, Sir, created by an eiior
made By one nation 10 inJure another. one par
~ may make war, though il requires TWO par
lies 10 make peace. he senator rom Suuth
Carolina contends, that, as Congress alone have
right, by ihr Constitution 10 declare war, there.
fore, there can be no war till it is thus declared
There is here very obvious error Il is certain
that Congress alone has the right 10 declare war
That is, there is no other authority in the United
States, which, on our pau, can change The rea
tons Of peace with another country into those o.
war No authority but Congress can commences
an aggressive war. But another country car
commence war against US without the co-ope
ration of Congress. Another country can, al lis
pleasure, terminate the relations Of peace with
US, and substitute for these The relations of wal
with their legitimate consequences. War may
be commenced with or without previous decla
ration. |, may be commenced BY a manifesto
announcing the fact 10 The world, or BY hostile
attacks by land or sea. The honorable Senator
from Virginia Mr. ennybackerl has well sia
lc,! The modern practice Of nations upon this sub
ject, He has referred both 10 facts and author
lies showing that acts Of hostility with or wihcu
public declaration constitute state OF war;
| /, was thus the war of 1856 was commenced
II was thus, believe, was commenced The wal
| between ENGLAND and France during our re-