Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-06-25

! n D
with Mexico, aud obtaining the country I'D to the
great desert by the offer of money. although the
public correspondence between the two North
American republics" says he, "has become angry
am happy to be authorized to assure the House.
that those best acquainted with the true state of
things, apprehend litIle or no danger of Wharf.-The
main snew OF war. mOnsy lriH heal The breach and
III controversy 0mic0biy." Here is a frank COATES
sion that the contemplated boundary was the great
desert and even that could be obtained only be the
payment Of money. And what has been the policy
of our Government since The adoption of that Joint
resolution Why, the President informed Us in
his annual message, that he had appointed distin.
guished citizen of Louisiana, aud sent him to Mex.
leo ito adjust and deinitiycy settle all pending dif-
ierences between the two countries, including those
OF boundary befoeeH Nerico and The State Of Ts1-
as" And in his recent message he says, that Mr.
Slidell "was intrusted with full powers 10 adjust
both the questions oflhe Teias boundary and Of
ndemnlhcation Of our citizens"
The gentleman has said that one member Of the
Texan Congress had resided west Of the Nueces,
and hence he inferred that all that country to the
Rio Grande belonged TO Texas But admitting
the fact to be as he has stated the conclusion does
notioow. The distance from the Nueces to the
Rio Grande is some hundred and sixty miles, and
even if It should be admitted that a few men resid-
ing in the immediate valley Of the Nueces should
call themselves Texans, and consent to be governed
BY Texan laws, this does not Justify the inference
that the Texans possess the whOie country up 10 The
Rio Grdnde ], is also true that men residing east
OF the Rio Grande are represented in the Mexican
Congress, and that fact is as good for them as the
other is for US.
Again, the gentleman has told US tina, this whole
country is included in one Of the congressional dis.
trcts in Texas. The State is, | believe, divided
into two districts but II is manifest that whatever
may be the language of their law it can include
no territory but what is righ,fully theirs Again,
the gentleman says, that this country IS included
within one Of our collection districts and is subiec,
to our revenue laws. This statement borrowed
from the message ofthe President requires great
qualification. 1t is true that a collection district
has been established at Corpus Christi, which hap
pens to be on the west side Of the Nueces at its
mouth Bot that our revenue system is extended
ives, to the Rio Grande, is not true And though
the message seems designed to give that impress
sion, the documents submitted with the message
expressly contradict IT. General Taylor, in IN
despatch dated Corpus Christi Feb. % 1916, his
forms the President that he had taken every op-
portuniy Of giving the impression 10 the Mexicans
that the NericGRs, lining this side (of the Rio
Grandel will not be disturbed in any way by our
troops that they will be protected in all their rights
may need will be purchased from them at fair pri-
ces. also stated that until the matter should be
hnaily adjusted between the two Governments, the
harbor Of Brazos Santiago would he open TO the
Tree use OF the Mexlcans as heretofore. The same
views were impressed upon the HrTicG custom
house officer at Brd=Os Santiago by Captain Har.
dee, who commanded the escort which covered the
reconnaissance of Padre island"
But we are charged with Withholding succor from
our gallant little army in the hour Of its peril
with being Indifferent TO their present alarming
condition This charge, sir, is founded upon an
e7fire Misrepresentation of the facts in the case
Does any person believe that any Of the troops,
raised by virtue of our act Of war, can reach the
RIO Grande before the fate Of our army will be de-
clded for good or for evil The collision between
our forces and those of Mexico took place on the
oath of April and the subject was brought before
US on the llth Of May seventeen days after the
event We could not expect that the subject would
be disposed Of here under two or three days, and
the intelligence Of our action could not reach Gen
eral Taylor before the last of May some thirty
five days after the first collision. 1t is also mani.
fest that volunteers could not be raised, organized
and sent to the scene of action before the middle
ofJune. Some six or eight weeks must elapss be-
fore the troops, raised by act, could reach Gen.
eral Taylors camp. How, then, can it be pre-.
tended that our action could have any reference to
the immediate condition of our armyl From the
facts, submitted by General Taylor, it appears to
be certain that the fate Of his army must be deci-
ded for veal or for woe within a short time The
Commanding General also informs us that he had
in virtue of authority reposed in him. called upon
the States Of Texas aud Louisiana for 900 men;
and he had authority TO call upon several other
States. The call for these troops was made on the
10Th Of April and would reach the authorities Of
those States ten or twelve days before the inteli-
gence Of the collision reached us. These troops
would be sent irrespective Of any action by this
body, and il is upon them and others, which he was
authorized to call for that General TAYLOR must
depend. 1t is not true therefore, that the fate of
our army depended upon any action ofours. Our
action had reference not TO the Immediate fate Of
the army, but to the future operation of that army
II was question not Of immediate succor to our
own troops, but Of the conquest of Mexico. This
was IN fact the question which the majority pressed
upon the House; aud if our army should have SUI.
ered 10y the defeat of that bill, the respo' sibiIity
would have rested upon those who, TO gain party
ENDS, were pleased 10 connect the question Of sup
plies with gross ialsehoods, and war of conquest
and aggrandzement
But we are told, by gentlemen on this floor,
that II IS treason TO oppose the Government in time
oil war Sir, have no sympathy with that das-
tardly sentiment. What has it come to this that
a weak or wicked Executive may usurp power, aud
involve the nation in an unjust war, and an I'M
scrupulous majority may press through the House,
without debate, bill sanctoning that iniquiious
procedure, and then all mouths must be closed on
the subIectl Is this the liberty aud the only liberty
granted to the representatives of free people -
Is treason to point out the faults Of corrupt Adj
mnslration Are we TO submit in all thin to
the will Of the PRESIDENT If So we have n ng
len OF liberty but the name We are already under
a despotism Snch doctrines may answer for cor
rupt sycophanls, who bow to the Executive for