Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-07-16

Pertecuy understood, without forming To my
SELF any Illusion, that the disappointment of all
mere parties and their fear Of the downfall Of their
sad domination would turn them into the foes of a
Government, which, bent on giving high and Sc
we're lessons of morality, bound to repress all
wrong pretensions or compel them to identify them
selves with The general good. The strife with
such was obvious, foreseen but that strife was
necessity, as the only purpose now to be justified
was that OF respecting nothing but the will Of the
nation In conJunctures like the present, other
countries have resorted to discretionary magistra-
cy; and in Mexico, when times were less difficult,
these same means were thought of, and were pre-
sen''y turned into peremptory experiment. For
this reason. in the additions to the plan of San Luis
Potosl, which promoted i'm the capital. fastened
to limit the powers conferred and to restore that of
the laws, without any enlargement but that which
was needed for preparing for war, to which neigh
boring nation, as unjust as it is enterprisng was
provoking MS. Not institutions-for these were re-
duced to little more than the elements OF society,"
but the good sense of our people and the morality
which they maintain. gave me confidence that it
was still possible TO make our way across our diff
cu,es, without stumbling and falling over our own
social ruins
The President goes On to mention the necessity
he found himself under of restraining the seditious
tendencies of the press, which was attempting to
stir up new connections. He then relates briefly
what has been done to put down certain insrlrrec
tionary movements. which occurred the more I'M
seasonaby from the impending danger of foreign
contest. The document then proceeds:
have insensbly come TO where am to sneak of
the gravest circumstance in our present position
When this Administration came into mower il Empd
i'seli lace to face with an engagement entered into
ny the preceding one TO receive Minister from the
y. states to treat on the Texas question The
government firm in its just cause and resolved
never to yield to the spoliation of that part Of its
territory, was preparing for war, yet anxious to
spare, If 1t might. the ctfusion of blood deermin
ed to hear what this Plenipotentary had to propose
But as was TO be feared from the falacious policy
OF the United States, their ill faith became appa
rent as soon as their Commissioner presented him
SELF they had sent Mr.. John Slidel. not as Minis
ter al hoe. to treat of special matter, but rs n
resident Minister, such could only be admitted
between nations whose intercourse has no impedi-
ments. The Government, therefore. rave him
clearly to understand that it could only receive him
In special character: upon which he asked and
forthwith received his passports. This has been
seiZed by MS Government as pretence for charp-
ing us with the first hostlties and provoking a
contest: as If the refusing to meet fraudulent ne
gotiation were act of hostility and when that
government is already using arms, not only for the
defence of Texas, but for the usurpaton of a fresh
part of our territory.
The American Minister was not received. he
cause national dignity forbade it, when an Ameri
can army was already marching on the Rio Bravo
our ports on both seas threatened by squadrons
and troops of the United States trod our soil i'm Cal
ltornia. | was, therefore, obliged, on the Dist of
March, solemnly to declare that peace and national
hOnor being incompatible with such aogressions our
soil should be defended from their encroachments
until this Congress, with whom it lay to declare
war, should assemble. Their army for some time
siatloned ut Corpus Christi. advanced to Point Isa
Del, and thence TO position in front Of Natamoras
After assembling above five thousand men in that
quarter, directed the General of division there to
ACT against the enemy; and he, deciding on cross
ing the river, took up position between the coast
and the fortified point of Paso Real
On the 9Th of May sharp engagement was
brought on in which troops gave proofs of their
Valor, and, though with some loss. held the field
and maintained the honor OF our arms On the
next day general in chief fell back to new no
sition, where the combat was renewed. but with
al unfortunate issue on our part. The division
crossed the river; and the commander, who still
preserved, according to his return, four thousand
troops of the line, besides auxaries, suddenly e.
vacuated the city of N1atamoras, against the ex-
press orders of his Government; which looked To
the Importance OF maintaining that place for fur
'her Operations and as the point to which supplies
and relnforcements were on their way. Such I'M
rApected cohduct on the part of the generaln chief
has obliged me to recall him and to summon him
10 account Tor his disobedience before a military
court OF inquiry. The Government meantime is
actively at work to repair these reverses, and looks
to the nation and to you FOR cooperation.
The squadron of the United States has begun to
blockade the ports of Vera Cruz, of Tampco, and
OF Iamaulipas and its guns will probably soon
carry havoc into those fair cities. The day has
come, then, when the country calls TO its defence
all It's chldren-the day when this Congress must
proclaim war against that nation which Gatters
itself so falsely that single misfortune can over
throw the courage and the constancy, of which our
iellow-clilzens have given SO many signal proofs
As citizen and as soldier am ready for any sacri-
lice; and the brave men of our army aided by this
Ina9nanlInous people, will defend with me to the
last the sacred rights of our country.