Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-12-09
The War.
Ertract from Mr.. Webster's late speech
at Boston,

at Boston.
"The Mexican war is universally odous
Throughout the United States, and we have
yet TO find any Sempronius who raises his
voice for il.
Here some one in the gallery asked
Mr.. Webster who voted for the wari Ne
replied nobody at all. The President
made it without any vote whatever Ire
mendous applause.
E'And that leads me to say that the war,
in its origin, was presidential war. But
the constitution declares that Congress
alone shall have the power of declaring
war; and beg to know where, when, and
how they so declared it. Every one does
know that our amy was ordered by the
President to advance from the Neuces to
Rio Grande, thereby invading foreign
country. And because the Mexicans re-
sisted this encroachment on their soil, we
have next the proclamation of the Presi.
dent, that war exists between Mexico and
the United States. The proclamation Of
the President stated that explicitly.
"But, gentlemen, there is another ques-
ton here. Texas had become a part of
this Union. We had received her as a
Safe, and had assumed her boundary
the Nueces. Why should we not treat
with Mexico for thatY Why, when all
new territory of the United States was
bounded by the Nueces, and every thing
beyond that claimed bv Mexico, and in the
actual possession of Mexico-why, them,
say, should the President of the United
States have ordered the army south of the
Nueces, to take possession of the Mexican
land? That was the origin of the war,
and that was against the spirit OF the con-
stitution OF the United States. Vehe-
ment applause.l Congress 5lone has
power to declare war, and yet l, Is obvious
under the present construction, that if the
President is resolved to involve the coun
Try in a war, he may do it, This, say
is a great misjudgment on the of part o
the President; 1t is clear violation of his
duty; in my judgement it is an impeach
able offence. Great cheering
"'The great objection of the war Is, tina
it is illegal in its character. There ha:
been great violation of duty on the par
OF the President. He has plunged the coun
try into war, whereas, unless in case o
invasion of our actual limits, he has NJ
right so to do. In case of such lnva
sion, the power does exist in the Presiden
10 take measures TO repel aggression
But to 90 out of our limits and declar
war for foreign occupation of what doe
not belong 10 us, is no part of the powe
invested in our President by our constitu
tion.
$50 much for the origin of the war;"
As spoken by Mr. Webster, and a. RI
ceived by the fedcralists OF Massachusett
the above extract deserves an attentIV
persuaI Il will be recollectsd that TIL
Mexican is not the first war in our conr
try history, which Mr. Webster has !e
bImself called upon, 10y his lCeas OF pair
otic duty, to denounce, aud embarras
and oppose. Il IS not the first time, more
over, that his party in Massachusetts hav
vehementIy applaIded-and, we thlnl
even in Faneuil Hall-the speeches
which IN his performance of such par
Mr. Webster has seen fit TO make, and tn
reports and resolutions which he has see
fit 10 present 1t will be remembered, tot
that in those same years, the war with En-!
land was denounced--Prodaby enough b
Mr. Webster himsef-even as the w;
with Mexico is now denounced, as beIr
presidential war, ("Mr. Madson's wal
we believe was then the phrase,) and II
inference then drawn by the federallsts
Mr.. Webster's State was. that ''as NJ
Madison had made the war, he should
left to fight 1t through"
These facts should be borne in mind
II fh11 r.,
they throw strong light upon the spi
in which it was manifestly conceived al
spoken. Yet is The passage in other r
snects a remarkable one. That at Il
time OF day, Mr.. Webster should perm
himself TO say that the advance OF our