The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-15
WING CONSISTENCY.

or Congress the 18th instant, growing out OF the
message of the President the state Of our relations
with Mexico is Of great interest Every American
will hear with enthusiastic pride of the result of the
deliberations of the House. The Mexicans have
commenced war; and the House of Representatives
have promptly made provision for its vigorous pros.
ecution This is certainly due to the national
honor, and the wisest expedent TO restore peace.
But our country is cursed with party spirit
which no circumstances Of public danger can quell,
and no wisdom or patriotism in those conducting
public affairs can subdue 1t is humiliating TO wit
ness its influence on the occasion referred to- One
member, representing Kentucky, asked to be ex-
cused from voting; and in support Of his application,
made speech against the bill stgmatizng it as alse
in It's assertions of fact; then withdrew his request
and voted for the bill This appears very strange
From the frequency Of this members appearance
on the floor on all kinds of questions, we had sup
posed that he was always ready 70 vote, as he is
surely ready to discuss any question which may
arise. But it is really very odd that after urging
such grave objections to the BILL he should vote for
IT, Doubtless, however, it was perfectly consistent
and parliamentary!
This member made an objection To the Presidents
conduct which involves most important conse-
quences. With others of ks political brethren, he
prefers negotiation about the western boundary of
Texas and by way Of aiding his own country in
that negotiation, he declares with a soemnity and
confidence which seem TO defy contradiction that
the Nuecss was the boundary Of that State and, by
consequence, all military approaches west OF that
river were awless acts of usurpation on the part OF
the administration. If our negotators only agree
in thus granting all the debatabe territory to Mex
leo, it is more than probable that Mr. Sdell may
yet be received. We have sho IN in columns
that public men of the highest distinction, and Of
every hue in politics, have entertained or have ex-
pressed different opnon-that Texas has asserted
and maintained her rights to the Rio Grande since
1886; that her people between the two rivers are,
and havebeen, governed by her laws and represent
ed in her councils, and have aided in the choice of
her senator's and representatives IN the Congress of
the United States. All this may be so; and
yet the Nueces may be the true boundary But
as the purpose of the honorable member seems
not to have been to be excused from voting,
for he withdrew the request, nor yet to defeat
the bill, for he voted for its passage what could
have been his purpose His apparent desire was
mainly to attack the President This, too, seems
on his view, strange and superfuous, for he says
with confident sef-complacency, that everybody BY
hi, time is cOnpineed that Mr. Polk is wholly incom-
petent for the grave duties of his high Office
Surely, assuming such to be the fact the honorable
member ought not 10 have taken such an indirect
course to get the floor, and have wasted his mighty
strength attacking so feeble a man.-One inquiry
however, we cannot forbear to make.
The President in his annual message informed
Congress that he had ordered large portion of the
army Of the United States to take position in the
country between the Nueces and the Del Norte."
Mr. Carrot Davis was doubtless in his seat when
that message read. On the 18th OF January,
the troops were ordered to advance to more
favorable military position, with strict injunctons
to abstain from aggressive acts On the llth Of
May, the President informs Congress that the Mex
leans have commenced actual hostilties, by killing
American officers and soldiers in battle on the left
bank of the Rio Grande, the country between the
Neuces and Rio Grande Mr. Davis denounces
the conduct of the administration for ordering the
troops uCrOss tne L>uoees, "ui pciiiS aCCoruinS W
him, the western boundary of Texas. Now the
inquiry plainly arising all this is, where have
been Mr.. Davs's vigilance and patriotism since the
message was delivered to Congress- Where were
they when Congress passed the, bill authorizing the
appointment Of officer west of the Nueces
We are sure Mr.. Davis would not say with "honest
John Davis" that he misapprehendsd that bill, ()l
and thought that Corpus Christi the east
side of the Nueces () on "undebatable ground"
No Mr. Garret Davis is too vigant for that. He
exercises too much Of guardian care over the
business of Congress, to allow anything to pass
without his compromising it in all its bearings.
The brave and patriotic people of this country will
believe, that this honorable member has made a
seeming show of opposition to bill, which pa
trotsm and duty forbade his voting against, and
that he was ready to treat the Rio Grande the |
boundary of Texas, until it was necessary to COZ
cede it to Mexico, to give point to an impoent at
tack on the Presdent--an attack for official con-
duct rendered necessary by the Legislation of Con-
gress, and marked in every step by prudence, pa
trotism, and frmness and yet tempered by the most
concilatory forbearance towards Mexico.