Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-28

Co. to this = We should thank them for an answer
Why here it is already, and very well stated too,
in the manifesto before u.s.
AT the rery time Mr.. SlideR presented himself the
troops of the United States OCCUPIED OUR TERRITORY.
Now, at what time did Mr. Slidell present himself!
Why the documents recently LAID before Congress by
the President show that he arrived at Vera Cruz on
| the 2yth of November Where, then, was General
Taylor at that time 7 Why, the same documents
prove that he at Corpus Christi, and that the
movement Of our troops towards the Rio Grande did
not commence until three months after.
| And what did the advocates of Mexico-as with all
due Difference we are obliged to call them-what do
they say after this Why, they must be very contu-
macious indeed. if they hesitate moment to rccog-
nize the legitimate authority Of the President of the
Mexican republic; and TO acknowledge that their
favorte distinction between the country east of the
Nueces and the country west Of the Nueces is all
moonshne. According to this doctrine, Mexico has
been invaded by our country from the moment that
troops crossed the Sabine or took up position
west or south of that stream.
Do they want any new evidence to satisfy them as
to their true line Of duty in this regard If So there
is no lack of it General Paredess manifesto is
backed by considerable force, in the shape of Just
fcaory Documents" occupying upwards OF two sides
of the official journal. OF these documents,
dated August TO- 1885, signed by General Arsta, and
addressed to his Excellency the Minister Of War; is
headed " Information respecting The inUdsion of the
territory Of The republic, By The troops Of the United
States" The first item of this information consists
in the fact that, on the 9th of July, three officers
sergeant. and eight priyates, were seen on the
Nueces, near Corpus Christi, in search of camping
ground The left bank Of the Nueces They were
about to disembark $50 men from steamer at Labor
Puente, and to encamp at Anacuitas, near San Patr
cio"
By this time, the apologists Of Mexico will be
persuaded of the necessity of abandoning, absurd
and untenable, all distinction between east and oes
far the Nueces is concerned and so far as
regards the fact which they bound to swear to,
and to swear by, that Mexico has been invaded by
the United States.
There is another point to which deem it
proper TO call the attention of these gentlemen. They
have been conending here, that Mexico has not
placed herself In the state of war with the United
Sates-at the preamble to our law is false IN stating
that war does not exist and that 1t is waged by
Mexico And yet here is the manifesto, calling upon
the Mexican General to carry the war, and avow-
ing that offensive operations have long since been
ordered. Some of politicians, however, venture
little farther, and declare that the assertion by the
Congress of the United States, that rdr has been
begun 6y Meico, is falsehood because no belllger-
ent act has proceeded from the Mericdn Congress,
and the Mexican Congress alone belongs the right
to declare war; General Paroles talks something in
the strain, for he tells us. that 1t has been So
lemny announced, that war has not been declared
America, because it belongs to the august Congress
of the nation and not to the Executive to determine
definitely what reparation is demanded by such null
tipied injuries"
Now, this would seem to chime in very well with what
his apologsts have been telling u.s. before the Gene
Ials manifesto made Its appearance And yet there Is
latent dscord here; and friends to peace we should
be wanting in our duty if failed to point it out.
Where did those gentlemen find grounds for their
assertion that +" to the Mexican Congress alone be-
longs the right to declare war !' Why, in the Next
can Constitution" to be sure. Ii is there very
plainly written down, so that any may read II.
Very true, gentlemen and yet do but consider for
moment and you cannot but become aware, that your
text spoils the whole sermon that is, in preaching
from the Mexican 1" Constitution you are guilty of
the grossest of all possible heresies. What do you
mean by the Mexican Congress !" You read these
words from the 9 Constitution" and you fancy that
the Congress which they speak of is and the same
thing with the august Congress of the nation"
spoken of by General Paredes. Why, do you not
recollect that the Mexican Constitution is among the
things that have been :! Know We not that 1t has
gone to take its place with More's Utopia and that
the one book exercises at this moment Just as much
influence as the other Mexican affairs, internal
or external Where is Herrera the constitutonally
elected President of Mexico! Where is the Mexican
Congress- which were sitting under the authority OF
the Constitution of the republic, at the advent of the
usurper in her capital Go and ask him, and he
will tell you what has become of them all, and of
every thing else provided for in the old Mexican
Constitution. He will tell you, that the Congress to
which he fit TO ascrbe the exclusive faculty of
declaring war lin order that If do happen, IN the
MEANWHILE 1t shall be perfectly manifest to the whole
world that it cannot be considered as having been
begun by Mexco) is totally different affair from the
thing called by the same name, which he saw tit to
disperse; that it is the - august" Congress, HIS
Congress, the Congress the election of which he has
taken his hands, the Congress by has como
catoria-not the Congress of the Constitution. He
will tell you this, and perchance he may add the
Injunction again to betite him and his great
ness, by resorting ptable exPedient as that
of quoting the - Mexican Constitution" in order TO
establish any point necessary be established with
respect to Mexican affairs, whether be for the pur-
pose of proving the United States to be in the wrong
for any other purpose never again to do any thing
so very little as this while the destnies of the Mexi-
can nation shall be swayed by the good sword of
Don MARINo Paroles Y ARILLAGA.
Upon the whole, the appearance OF this manifesto,
just as it is is matter of congratulations 1t
tains officially and beyond doubt the settled purpose
of Mexico to wage war upon US, making the annexa-
tion of Texas her preext for such satlshes
US that Mexico is noU determined to make tcar upon
us so long as we occupy Texas. But as we cannot,
will not abandon one inch of Legitimate SOIL to Mex
ico-as it is fairly ours, by the free consent OF
her own independent people, will fight Tor 1t until
Mexico relinquishes her own absurd Pretensions 10y
adjusting the boundary lines. Let then continue,
as Mexico will have it so. She has made the war,
and we must carry with all the energy and vgor
which free and patriotic people, rushing to the sup
port of their government, Will enable hrm actve'
determined administration to impart to our military
operations She has shed the blood of our own citizens
upon our own soil and it cries for justice if not for
vengeance We must strike with all our force, until
we conquer peace, and compel Mexico to abandon
the var with her idle pretentions. But we have 9th