Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-12-24
raoM THE BALTIMORE AMERICAN.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

large portion of the Message, and Of the much that
is said that point great deal bears direct re-
levancy to the question at issue. The following
paragraph forms the text Of an extended co,pmen,
tary;
s.The existing war with Mexico was neither de- |
sired nor provoked by the United States. On the
contrary, all honorable means were resorted 10 to
avert II. After years Ut endurance of aggravated
and unredressed wrongs ON our part Mexico, in
violation OF solemn treaty s,pulations and OF every
principle OF Justice recognized by civilized nations,
commenced hostili,ies, and thus. by her own act,
forced the war upon us.-Long before the advance
or our army to the left bank OF the Rio Grande we
had ample cause of war agaius, Mexico, and had
the United States resorted to this extremity we
might have appealed to the whole civilized world
Tor the justice of our cause"
Let us look into the Presidents specifications
1t Is not our purpose 10 investigate issue between
the United States and Mexico. We believe that
the MeNicanS richly deserve the chaStisement they
are receiving at our hands. The real issue is be-
tween Mr. Polk, President of the United States.
and the CONSTITUTION to which he owes obedi
encc.
l. The aggressions by the Mexicans on the per
sons and property or certain of citizens resident
IN Mexico, though dwclt upon at much length in
the Message, have nothing whatever to do with
the present war. They formed the subject of ne
gotiations which resulted by the agreement of both
parties in the Convention Of April, 1882 Under
this Convention the Commissioners of the two oo
u
gust, io4O, to adjudcate the claims of indemnity
AS the period To which the sittings of this Board
were limited did not allow of an examination into
all the cases presented, another Convention was
signed at the city Of Mexico in November, IS43,
by which provision made for ascertaininp and
paying the residue of the claims
1t so happened, however, that when this agree
ment came before the Senate of the United States
for ratification, two amendments were introduced
into 1t which rendered il necessary TO refer il back
t,lr he S1pc If III
and with the delays thus caused and the habtual
dilatoriness Of Mexico the matter was not conclu-
ded when the existing broke out
The sum of S2.u46, l39, awarded to American
claimants by the Commissioners under the first
Convention, was recognized by Mexico as due and
the periods were subsequently fixed for the paw
ment OF the several instalments These PAYMENTS
have not been punctually made since the termin,
lion OF diplomatic intercourse between the two Co
vernnents, consequent upon the annexation of Tex
as, and now matured into an open rupture my
rnents have been entirely suspended
Now we are not aware that any one prior in the
appearance oi the Presidents Message, ever sun
posed that our war with Mexico was caused direct
iy or indirectly either by the delay of Mexico in re-
ference ~ the Convention Of November ISAS mr.
by the non payment Of the nsiaments due under
the Convention of April, 1889. In the Messare.
however, we mud these two circumstances BROUGHT
prominently forth and not only so-the ininries in
Hicted years ago on individual citizens of the Uni
Ted States, for which indemnity was demanded and
which Mexico agreed to pay, are here recaptuated
IN the new connection of unaoned wrongs for which
PREPARATION by arms is now sought
HAD the unlawful seizures of American proper-
ty," says the Message, ''and the violation of per
sonal liberty of citizens TO say nothing of the
insults TO our flag which have occurred i'm the norris
OF MEXICO, taken place on the high seas thew
would themselves long since have constituted n
STATE OF actual war between the two countries In
so long suffering Mexico to violate her most solemn
treaty obligations, plumber citizens of their pro-
perry, and imprIson their persons without anoriing
tnein any redress, we have failed TO perform one of
the first and highest duties which every govern
ment owes to lis citizens: and the consequence has
been, mat many OF them have been reduced from a
State OF affiuence to bankruptcy. The proud name
or American citizen, which ought TO protect all who
ar 1t from insult and injury throughout the world
ms Afforded no such protection 10 cur citizens i'm
Mexico. We had ample cause of war arainst
Mexico long before the breaking out Of hosities.
But even then we fJrbore to take redress into our
own hands, until McXco herself became the ag-
greSsor by invading our soil in hostile array and
shedding the blood of our citizens.''
"Forbore to take redress into our own hands -
why, from the beginning there were two modes Of
redreSs-neyot,at!on and war. The Injuries com
planned OF were known to Gen Jackson. and were
regarded by him and by The whole country as de-
mahoing Tepara;ion. They We're quite outra-
geous as the spoiations upon our commerce by the
French prior TO 1StO-the indemnify for which.
long due from the government of the United States
which assumed the responsibility from France. and
would have been paid by Congress last winter but
for the veto of Mr.. Polk But Mexico. more dis
posed TO do justice than Mr.. Polk. acknowledged
though slowly, her obligation to pay for the spolia
tions committed by some of her people upon SINE
or ours. Hence the Convention already referred In
Having elected to take negotiation as our mode
OF redress, there could be ground of war, unless
1t should become necessary in order TO enforce the
tuITIncUt ,Lo
sent war begun for that purpose?
H. As to the capability of Texas proper TO enter
into the treaty of annexation and the right of the
United States TO form party 10 that treaty we do
not consider that any question exists. Upon that
part OF the Message, which might have been spared
we nave no remarks to offer. The only question is
--What tcas The Teras which noe anneTedS
ILL., ii is urged with much stress that Louisiana.
as coded to us by France, extended TO the Rio
Grande.-The declaration of Messrs Monroe and
PInckney to that effect in 1905 NAV have repre-
scented at that time the firm conviction of orr Gov
eminent; and the fact may have been So But bv
our treaty with Spain in 1919 all discussions on
that point were ended; for the Sabine was made
the boundary of Louisiana Way 90 back to claims
antecedent to that treaty and by that treoiv sci at
rest? ' ~
The country beyond the Sabine, adiudood n
opan, became soon afterwards part of the Re
public OF Mexico In defining the limits Of her
oates or departments, the river Nueces was made
The Western boundary Of Texas What have VOC
to do with any boundary ascribed to Texas beG,ro
that? No one can doubt the authority which fixed
the Nueces as the line Of separation between Texas
and TamauIipas.
Nv. We now come 10 more recent events and
approach the point at issue
Nt,,,r =.