Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-16
RICHMOND DAILY WHIG
The War Proclamation.

We were not surprised, Of course, when we
received the Proclamation Of the President, an.
nouncing the existence of War between the Uni
ted States and Mexico; because that document
is the legitimate and necessary consequence OF
the affirmation Of that fact by Congress. And it
is precisely for this reason. and not because we
are not in favor OF the adoption of the most vigo
rous and efficient measures for the repulse Of the
MeIicans, and if need be, for their summary and
severe chasiisement, that we regret the failure Of
the efforts Of Messrs Calhoun, Berrien and others
TO procure a modification Of the phraseology of
that statute. We are entirely persuaded, TINT,
Independent altogether Of the controversy between
Mexico and the United States, growing out OF
the annexation of Texas, we have causes OF
complaint against the government Of that coun-
Try sufficient Of themselves to Justify resort 10
arms for redress. And were il not for those con-
siderations which address themselves to our mag
l,animity as by far the more powerful nation, and
10 our sympathies as the older sister of the family
of Republics upon this continent (how little soever
some of the old Spanish colonies may deserve
this appellation,) we should have deemed 1t alto
gether justifable, years ago, had our Govern
ment resoHed TO the ultima ratio, as the only
means apparently left them, to obtain indemnify
for the past and security for the future. But
what we regret and condemn is, the assumption
that "by the act Of the Republic Of Mexico, War
exists" when we do not know that to be the fact,
and when il may turn out that the act complained
of was unauthorized by the Government Of that
country, and may be disavowed; which would
render a resort to war, solely on thai account
al. = a. only
unwise, but unjustiiable. Had the law of Con-
gress been so modified, as to authorize the en-
ployment of our forces in repelling the hostile
acts of the Mexican Commander and in guard
ing against their repetition, until time had been
afforded TO the Mexican Government either 10
avow or TO dsavow its responsibility for his con-
duct-or until other facts had occurred, leaving
no doubt Of its intention, without previous de-
claration of its purpose, to make war upon us-it
would have been all. sufficient for the emergency,
and would have averted obstacles to a restoration
OF pacific relations, which may now prove insu-
perable. In other words, it might have prevent
ed War, the existence Of which is now official
ly proclaimed, and the end of which the man
does not live who has the prescience to foretell ;
for il is a trite remark that a straw may light a
blaze which may result in the confiagration Of
city. We do not, of course, mean to intimate
that in a contest with the imbecile MeIicans, we
shall sustain any material injury from their assaults;
but if other nations should stand aloof from IT al
together. we may be tempted into of
quest and annexation, which in the end may be
far disastrous than even defeat Itself
But we will not attempt to lit the curtain which
hangs over the future. Sufficient for the day
will be The evil thereof" We have now to do
with the present and whatever may be our OPT
Mon in regard to the impoicy Of the declaration,
there can be now no longer any doubt that ''wAR
EXISTS" nor any hesitation in giving to il a vigo.
rous and jealous support to the end, that it may
be both brief in its DURATION and brilliant in It's
results