Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-11-30
DAILY WHIG.
south Carolina.
ny TOLER, ELLIOTT a 90.


south Carolina.
The Legislature of South Carolina assembled at Co
lumbia on the 23d inst. and was organized by the election
Of Angus Patterson as Speaker OF the Senate, and William
Colcock as Speaker Of the House.
The Message OF Governor Aiken Is commercially brief,
and h confined almost exclusively to subjects of State
policy. Hs allusion to the Mexican war constitutes the
only exception to this rcmark-"a war (ho ssys) forced
upon us by the utter disregard by Mexico Of her national
obligations. and commenced by herself most unncccsssri-
y" In this opinion We do not altogether concur for,
although IL is undeniable that Mexico failed in moro than
one instance to comply with her solemn treaty sipplations,
themselves rendered necessary by her repeated outrages
upon our citizens-and although it is equally unquestiona-
bic that these outrages, thus unatoned for. might have jusu-
fed a declaration Of war agains, her, and probably would
have led TO the adoption Of that measure, but for the re-
luetanee Of the American people TO disturb the peace of the
world, by enforcing its just claims and indicating its out
ragged rights nj the lannon's mouih-yet we cannot assent
10 the proposition that the eristing pdr grew even re-
moioly out of the unfulhned obligations referred to by Gov.
Aiken, or thati was "commenced" by Mexico. IL is true that
she made the first assault upon our army; but it is also true
thst that army was upon her soil, il uninterrupted
and undisputed possession and occupation of the territory
invaded by Gen. Taylor constitute any evidence of title.
That Mexico had held uninterrupted possession of the
country between the Neuces and the Rio Grande, from
time immemorial, is not denied. Indeed, il is expressly
conceded by Secretary Marcy himself, who. in his in
sirucions 10 Gen. Taylor to take position on the Rio
Grande, prohibited all interference even with the forts gar
rsoned by Mexican troops cas-, Of that river, except to
repel assault. That her right So to occupy and garrison
ithad been undi,pHted also, is not less susceptible OF de-
monstranon, it we except the mere paper claim Of Tex
ms, which, II it conferred any title, would have been as
good against the whole of Mexico rs against n part, had
the trainers Of her Constitution, in defining the bounda-
ries OF the new Republic, thought proper, instead OF claim.
ing a mere slice OF the State OF Tamaulipas. TO ex-
lend its Limits In tho two Oreana which ur,sbt tho sb,,o. e
Mexico. Indeed, If the war in which we are now engs-
Red, was, rs Gov. Aiken asserts, forced upon us by the
failure OF Mexico TO fulfil her national Obligations, IL fol-
lows, as a necessary consequence, that it could not have
been. us he adds, m the same breath, commenced" nv
Mexico. Aud, on the other hand, It it was ''com-
menced" by Mexico, it must have been provoked
by us. One Of hs assumptions is in direct con.
nict with the other. The truth Is. the first blow was
struck by Mexico, and her reason for il was that her soil
had been invaded and occupied by a foreign force, with
the obvious design Of wrestling il from her. We are aware
that it is commended, and plausibly so, that the Rio Grande
IS the tTus boundary OF Texas, and that the territory be.
tween the Neuoes and the Rio Grande therefore became
~Tighuully our own by the annexation OF that State to the
American Confsderacy. But opposed to this assumption
Is the " fixed fact" that the territory IN question, though
claimed by Texas, and declared To be hers by her organic
law, was neve: Tor q moment in the possession of its ciu-
zens or under the Jurisdiction OF its laws-while il nas
IN the occupancy OF the antagonist claimant, to whom the
people, with one voice, acknowledged their allegiance 10
be due. In the most favorable aspect of the question,
therefore, the territory was IN dispute; and indeed it was
so acknowledged to be, in substance, by the first resolu-
tion Of our own Congress. by which the annexation Of
Texas was contaminated. Under these circumstances, it
ought not TO have been occupied by our troops until the
boundary line, provided for by that resolution, between
Mexico and the United States had been defniiyely set.
tied, and the title clearly ascertained. Mr.. Polk was man.
iiestly OF this opinion himself, when he 4 rst ordered Gen.
Taylor TO move his forces to the Texas frontier for its de-
fence, and directed him TO encamp on the Neuces instead
Of the Rio Grande nor, as the instructions to Gen. Tay-
Tor show. did be lose sight OF the relative rights Of the
parties even when he instructed him to advance To a point
opposite Mhismoros. This movement was regarded by
the Mexican government as an act of aggression; rs al
Invasion of her soil as, in one word, the commencement
of the war-nnd this led to the attack upon our troops
II Mexico commenced" the war, therefore, with such
fearful odds against her, il must have been, not because
she had failed TO fulfil her obligations, as Gov. Aiken says
for that could never have induced her TO take up arms
OF courss-but because she felt under an imperative neces
siy to resist what she deemed an invasion Of her SOIL
Mr.. Polk brought on the war, therefore, If he did no,
commence it, By that act, al best of doubtful propriety.
the consequences of which, had he i0reseen them, We
are persuaded, would have deferred him from its perpetra-
lion.
il, however, we dissent from Gov. Aikea's views in re-
gard to the origin Of the war, We entirely concur in his
expressions of regret that it has been rendered necessary
for, as he correctly remarks, leaving out OF Wow entirely
the calamides which it compels us to inlict upon the peo-
pie OF Mexico, its very uiumphs q" will infuse new and
dangerous tendencies into our own people, and perhaps
new and dangerous elements into the administration Of our
Govommcnt-lcading US to wars and conquests, away
from that peaceful policy by which our Constitution Is to
BIO preserved, and the permanen. prosperity and greatness
Of our county most edectually secured"