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

! ccs. A Mexican army lnvactS cur icllhoi9
The President calls upon Congress ior the neces-
sary means 10 repel and punish This act Of az
gresson. And We are met iorSoolh at Inc very
threshold OF; our proceedings that u does nor ap'
pear that this invasion has been committed Dy ,ne
authority Of he Mexican Government. why,
Sir, wha, evidence is required under such ciIcuH-
s,ances2 Do Won want such as is required l'y a
County Court in investigating claim Tor my
toIla,s2 Must we have a certificate from JUS
Ice III The pcace ui Mexico, lhatihc President oi
tha, Republic has directed This attack upon our
territory? And whatever evidence may be
re0ri;cd how long ale We 10 Walt lor II! 10"
far NAV The invaders arch before We are saliS-
fed thai We arc IL war with Mexico! ny
Sir. such state Of things must be judged oY
moral evidence, by The circumstances attending Il.
Ii might be enough 10 say, that Inc invasion
iseli throws the responsibility upon The Mexican
Government and is a sufficient justification Tor
us in holding that Government accountable. Inc
negative proof is not upon US. The moral pre-
sumption is sufficient for our acuon. bul, SIT,
| there is much more than the bare 1act OF inFa-
| sion 10 Justify the conclusion that we ale al war
with Mexico The government oil that country
has protested ever since the first PROJECT OF The an
! neSalion of Texas, and has announced rs com
| pleion as a cGSHS hAi. hey nave "i,nGid"h
ileir minister from ihe Unite, States, and broken
oil all diplomatic relations with Us. They have
refused 10 recognise and have treated with con-
,uney our minister charged with full powers 10
adjust all matters in dispute, and whom they So
lelnuly promised 10 receive. They have collect
ed an army upon our frontier aud have sent 10
assume its command one Of The first military Of
ficers in the republic. He summoned Gen. Tay-
lor 10 retire, OF that war would Immediately COM
mence. His summons being disregarded, he
commenced the war by crossing in force into our
territory, by attacking our troops, and by sur
rounding our army. Now, sir, ! appeal 10 every
Senator on the other side OF the chamber, il he
does not believe that all this has been done by or
der Of The Mexican government. | presume there
is not a man within The sound OF my voice, who
will mol say that, in his opinion, The Mexican &C.
neral has acted under The direct instructions Of
Inc Mexican government. And are we now 10
be told sir that We must sill still ill we ascertain
whether his acts have been avowed or disclaim-
ed No, sir. A hostile armyS in our country;
our frontier has been penetrated; foreign ban
ner floats over the soil OF The republic; our citizens
have been killed, while defending their country; a
great blow has been aimed at us and while we
are talking and asking for evidence, it may have
been struck, and our army been anDihilaled. And
whatlhen1 The triumphant MeYicans will march
EDWARDS ill they reach the frontiers OF Louisiana,
or ill we receive such formal certificate OF the in
tcn,iuns OF the Mexican Government as will unite
us in determination 10 recognise the existence
OF the war, and TO take the necessary measures
10 prosecute it with vicor II las indeed been
suggested that acts Of hostility 10 constitute
state al war must he directed by the Legitimate
authority OF the country; and II not constitution
al al home they cannot be operative abroad
| This is not the least strange among The strange
principles we have heard advanced to-day
What have we TO do with the constitution OF
Nhat ha,ya m do Mi ho
of her President or Of her Congress? II is not
for us 10 stop in the midst OF our deliberations 10
Turn over the pages of the last so-called constitu
lion OF Mexico, and 10 seek how the powers OF
government are divided among its various func
lionarics, nor to inquire what is The last pronun
tiaglcaio, or who is the present dictator Of thai
unhappy country. The changes, both Of autho-
rily and auhcrliics, are 50 rapid, that il is diff
Gull to keep pace with them. Whoever directs
The military power OF the Mexican Government
against us Is, Ter our purposes, the representa-
tive OF The Mexican nation Whether be has al
taincI that power by usurpaion, by false con-
>tiuction, or by an exercise OF legitimate aniho-
rily, The responsibility OF his country is The same
II feet OF the United States should, by order OF
the President lombard an English town, or COM
init anv other act Of aggression, certainly we
should be held responsible; and such acts Of az
erosion would he considered acts OF war Ho-
norablc Senators have said that this act OF inva-
sion BY the Mexican army may be Unauthorized;
and they demand OF Us, wha, would he the condi-
lion ot the Two counties il such should uln cut
10 he the iac} Why, Sir, The answer Is equally
clear and easy II lhc Mexican Government
should disavow the act Of invasion Withdraw
their army, punish their General, and make pro-
per satisfaction Tor The injury done, icacc would
he Immediately restored Put, until his is done,
we have only 10 accept The state al war which is
offered 10 US, and act accordingly. have no
doubt bu, the boundary Of Texas gees 10 The Rio
del Norie. Eut | do no. place The justification Of
our government upon any question OF tile
| Granting ,ha; the Mexicans have claim 10
that country, as well as We, still The nature e
The aggression is mol changed. We were in the
possession OF The country. A possession obtained
without conflict And we could not be divested Of
! this possession but by our own consent or by an
| act of war. The ultimate claim 10 the country
was question for diplomatic adjustment, TIL
| that took place the po>>cssive right was in us
| and any attempt 10 dis!ud.e us was clear act of
war. ltappear> IL me, sir, that The pieScn, Isl
| most important cti>s in the history OF our coun-
iry-a crisis which is, perhaps, 10 affect our char
acter ana our DESTINY for long series oil years.
II we meet this act OF aggression promptly, v;eor-
ously, energelicay, as becomes the representa-
,ives ui great and spirited people; we shall fur
nish lesson TO the world which will be profit
| ably remembered hereafter But il We spend our
| time in useless discussun-if We adop, limid
hall way measures-it we delay action, seeking
| for further evidence we shall exhibit counsels
and Conduct whose effects will impress lhemselve.
! upon many chapter Of our future history. Our
institutions have no admirers among the monar-
chlcal and arslocraical governments OF the old
world. Our condition and progress are stand
ing reprcach 10 many OF The political principles
,rht t,ara H., ..l
| doctrine OF a balance Of power on the American
continent is an unerfng Indication Of what they
design We have but one safe course before Us.
| Let US put forth our whole strength. Lei us or
| game force which will leave no doubt as 10 The
| result. Let MS enter the Mexican territory and
conquer peace al the point OF The bayonei.-
Let US move on till we meet reasonable proposals
from The Mexican government; and if these are
not met this side OF the capital, lei us take pos
session ol the city Of Mon,ezuma, and dictate
our own conditions. And Trust those conditions
will be honorable and reasonable. If all this is
done soon, it will be we'll done. But il delayed
there will be other parties than Mexico who
will soon mingle themselves in this affair
| And the consequences may be felt through
out The civilized world. | am not afraid 10
trust the President with the necessary power 10
vindicate the country and defend lis honor ] be-
lieve he will execute his dnles ably and patriot
| Cal " before 1 conCluuc l peg leave 10 len
der my thanks TO the distinguished Senator from
Texas, Mr.. Houston, for the patriotic senii-
ments he has this day uttered. He has shown Us
that he is as able 10 advocate the rights of his
country in counsel, as 10 maintain them in arms.
| His name is connected with one of those impe-
riShabe deeds which connect themselves with the
fats OF nations. He led the forces OF his adopted
country upon that day which secured their indie
pendence, and broke he power ofMeIicc He had
the rare good fortune 10 overthrow hostile army,
and 10 capture the chief magistrate OF hostile
nation. The Romans would have given him an
ovation. We will give him what is better than
that for a rcpublican-a hearty reception among
us, and The tribute of our thanks for his worth
and services.
Mr.. Be;sen replied: II it were true, as had
been stated BY the Senator, that the destiny of
this country Tor century depended on this ques
ton, surely that was no! any argument against
due deliberalion. Ii is 100 untruly presented To-
day, 10 Justify me in recording my vote in silence
/ II The hill nrovided for declaration nj war Tho