Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-06-20

that the Mexcans crossed the simply cut off General
/ Taylors supplies
I will not hgge with the gentleman from Georgia about
terms suppose that General Arista had sent his troops
across the river oppose General Taylor, by throwing them
selves between him and his supplies. regard Arsta's
movement hostile one, brought on by the hostile move
Of troops Our forces had blockaded Maa-
moros and off the supplies from the Mexican army and
the Mexcans return, attempted to intercept our supplies
Both were acts of hostility. know difference between
attacking the army ITSELF and cutting of their provisions and
munitions Of 1t much act OF hostility to cut oil
am army by famine by the sword. Or, if gentlemen re-
gard nothing but actual collision OF forces we have
evidence that the Mexicas made the first attack General
Taylor in his despatch does not pretend it.
From the have taken OF this whole subject appears
that have been the aggresso We annexed Texas
to this Union but the Texas annexed was limited in her
territory to the Nueces that immediate vicinity Though
she had made several attempts to extend her territory by
to the Rio Grande, she had always been unsuccess-
full The whole country east of the Rio Grande to the
Nueces certainly the DESERT remained IN the hands OF
the Mexicans. They had settlements in the territory they
had military posts there and customhouses, which have
always acknowledged belonging Mexico by paying duties
there to the Mexican Government Though Texas had laid
claim to the territory Mexico in possession, and
had always acknowledged it, And yet the President Of the
United States, without authority of law, sends army to
dspossess the Mexcans by taking possession of the territory
and planting standard the banks of the Rio Grande
the very point which the most sangunc laid
claim Gen. Taylor had, also, by the direction of the Exc
cutive erected battery opposite Matamoro with his guns
pointing into the town. if to them into subm sslon
This be regarded in other light than of agrees
sion. So inpatient the Executive TO dspossess the
Mexcans and take possession of the whole country between
the Nueces and the Rio Gande that early June S45
before annexation had been consummated Mr. Bancroft the
acting Secretary of War, his instructions to Gen. Taylor
informed him that his :" ultimate destination" the Rio
Gande This is followed up by order Of August 23,
lS45, in which find the following Should Mexico
scmbe large body of troops the Rio Grande and
it with considerable force, such movement must be
gaded invasion of the United States, and the
men of hostles In order of August 80 ls45 the Sc
cretary of War goes further, and says
can attempt the with large force will be
considered by the President the of HOSTILE
ties There be other the part OF Mexico, which
would put end the relations OF peace between that Re-
public and the United States In of either declared
made manifest by hostile acts your main object will be the
protection of Texas but the pursuit OF this object will
necessarily eonne your action within the territory OF Texas
Mexico having thus commenced hostes, you may your
discretion, should you have sufficient force and be in con
don do so, the Rio Grand bSberse capture the
forces assembling nVade Ieras, deat the junction Of
troops uniting for that PURPOSE, dfpe them from their positions
either side fhariuer, and deemed practicable and rpe
dent take and hold Possession Of .HatamoroS and other places
IN He country scarcely need say that enterprises OF this
kind only to be venured under circumstances present.
| ing tar prospect OF success"
Mr. Chairman, to that read these
orders and the whole Of the President without
percevng that the Executive seeking occasion against
Mexco-using every in his power, and which,
by the constitution he did possess bring with
that Republic And, after these acts OF agrees
sion the President has the erontery to tell his late
message, that g exists, notwithstanding all efforts
to avoid il, and exists by the acts OF Mexico herself
Sir regard this declaration utterly untrue and, as II
Incorporated into the bill and preamble could not vote
for it. believe the preamble TO be false, and satisfied
that connected with the bill for the purpose of shielding
the President believe that this recognition of existing
connected with the supplies for the army fer the purpose
of committing many possible TO this base OF
quest and TO this gross encoachmen upon the constitution
Regarding the preamble false, and the war inexpeden
and got up for the purpose of conquest could not
believe should have been false to TRUTH to justice and to
the best interests OF my county, if had given my sanction
to such
The gentleman from Illinois (Mr DoueLAss) has pro.
nounced every bypocte traitor, and coward, who
voted against the BILL and who charged the Executive the
aggressor this But shall not be deferred from
what consider to be my duty by any such intimidation
here bow Executive dctation register
the edict of James X. Polk, any other President have
ambitious ends to answer patronage TO geek, no high
political aspirations crafty, and hence shall not be very
socous of counting Executive favor aterng the morbid
sensbiy Of noisy and restless demagogues But, although
that gentleman may brand towards, will him
that neither the strength Of his voice. the violence Of his
geculaons, the spasmodc emotions of his patriotism
will in the slightest degree alarm The gentleman may
s'Shske his ambrosial locks and give the nod
and gentlemen may, perhaps tremble in his presence
but shall remain unawed. Yes, he may
"Assume the god,
Affect to nod
And seem to shake the Spheres"
nation to obey them.
The gentleman from Ohio, Mr. THURMAN, who address
ed the committee yesterday read numerous extracts from the
Federal papers published during the late with England
He has produced these extracts with air of triumph if
he had demolished his colleague blow because that gen
teman had applied the present of the ejhe
which had been applied TO the of 1912. But, granting
all that the gentleman has said, what does prove His
colleague had denounced the present and its authors and
he meets it by saying that the of 1912 denounced
He does attempt show that the present just,
that the Executive has not transcribed his powers but
tents himself with low attempt popular prejudice
against his colleague IL he felt competent meet the argu
ments of his colleague why did he not do it Why depend
upon the old cry Of Federalism do know the source
whence the gentleman obtained his elegant extracts but
is suggested by gentlemen around that he might have
obtained them from his Democratic friend the head Of
Of the Departments, who formerly jealous Pc
deast that he is said TO have remarked that if be thought he
had drop of democratic blood in his veins he would apply
the lancet and let il out.
While the gentleman denouncng the immortal four
een" and representing them Of their country he
ought TO have recoected that Of them from his State
had proved their courage and their patriotism by fighting the
battles of their country, and of the rest Of that number
have Of the ened6eld presume, than that gen.
teman himself
As to his attack upon the Federal party, in 1912, have
nothing to say. They need defence from They
numbered in their ranks Of the wses statesmen and
mest patriots Of the country II they erred am not rcspon
sbIe for their errors having belonged to that party
Though young that period my feelings enlisted on the
other side in politics.
mr. SIMS, of South Carolina, made inquiry about
the conduct Of the Federalists at that period
should be pleased hear the gentleman, but my time will
permit II rare that upon this side OF the House
obtain the floor and have time to be caechsed by
al haya