The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-18

A
Chairman, there are two classes Of professors and
cavaliers whom 1t becomes my duty to notice be
fore | close my remarks The first class deny the
truth of the proposition which asserts that war ac-
tuaily exists between the government Of the United
States and Mexico; and the other admit that either
formal or informal war may exist but deny that II
has been commenced by Mexico and attribute IL TO
me unconstitutional and aggressive action of the
President In ordering army 10 the Rio Grande.
shall nouce each position briefly, IN the few re-
naming remarks that propose TO offer for the con-
sderatlon OF the committee. That any official in
formation has been received that Mexico has for
mally made declaration Of war against the United
States has not been asserted by the President in his
late communication, nor have any OF his friends ON
this floor cOntended that such the fact But the
existence Of the war is asserted They contend that
It does exist whether any declaration has been made
or not; aud this Is shown most cOncluslvely from
the dispatches accompanying his message. IL the
early periods Of the world II customary to pro-
claim state of war by heraIds and war was ALWAYS
preceded by open formal, and Official declaration
But such has not been the custom IN modern times;
and even as far back as l17S the withdrawal of a
British minister from PARIS was considered and
acted on as declaration Of war by France. And
IN 1872 although we, by solemn act Of Congress,
declared war TO exist between the United States and
Great Britain, yet we did not wait to communicate
that fact TO the British government, but commenced
hOstltles at once and without a single day 5 delay.
The ablest and most approved modern authors IN
ernatlOna law all agree IN the same thing that war
may exist wlthon! any previous formal declaration,
and the facts connected with the present difficulties
with Mexico only confirm and establish the great
fundamental truths that they have asserted and
maintained. What is war 1t is the exercise Of
violence on the part OF the supreme executive of
one nation the soil, the citizens or the property
OF another nauoni and this is manifested not
by the declaration Of the sovereign power for
Ill. a.
sutton and officially communicated TO those against
whom the war has been made, but by any direct and
positive testimony that will satisfactorily prove that
hosultes have been commenced with the consent or
appreciation Of the sovereign aothorlty Of a State.
And what IL the evidence afforded to us that state
OF war existed anterior 10 the passage Of the act Of
Congress TO which reference has been madel In
1874, while Congress was session, and consider
ing the propnety Of giving their consent TO the adj
mission of Texas into the Union, General AmOnte
then the minister Of Mexico at the city of Wash.
lngton IN advance Of our action, protested in the
name Of hls government against the adoption 10y this
government OF any such measure, and solemnly de.
cared that # II should be consummated it would be
considered by Mexico as declaration of war by
the United States. And Congress not regarding this
protest, and having given It's sanction the act Of
annexation, the minister demanded his passports and
Immediately returned 10 his own country; and from
that day TO this Mexico has been without any d.
VI Icsucnt IN tnlA CITY. but
all this, with certain opponents Of the administra-
non, amounts to nothing. Again they have, under
authority Of the government, issued proclamation
after proclamation denouncIng the government and
people of the United States as robbers and plumber.
ers of their territory, and have, by all means their
power, attempted to heap reproach and nfamy on
our character nation. They have long been in
debted to people several millions Of dollars; and
although they gave to our government reluctant
admission Of the fact, and entered into solemn trea
~ STIMULATING and promising To make payment hon
estly and in good faith in violation of their faith
honor and reputation, they have refused to pay
their Just obligations, and repudated the stIpuaons
Of solemn treaty. And still, sir all is peace With
assurances from their ruling authority for the time
being, of that unhappy country, which had just been
invested with the administration Of It's affairs Of
sincere disposition on their part amlcably and by
negotiation to settle all the questions of difference
and dispute between US, plenipotentary sent
to the city of Mexico. Him they with treachery
and perhdy refused to accredit receive, and
him from the country with lndignty and insult
Add to this the fact, now well known to the
whole country, that Mexico, under the lead of her
ablest generals, commenced the concentration of a
large force at Matamoras, on the Rio Grande avow-
eddy for the purpose Of invading Texas, and max
ing war upon the United States, and you will have
some satisfactory testimony IN regard to the inten-
lions OF the Mexican government towards Texas
and the other States Of this Union. But this with
gentlemen is nothing, and furnishes no evidence Of
the existence of war on the part of Mexico against
the United States. But again: the general in CON-
mand of the Mexican troops at Matamoras orders
the commanding general of the United States army
stationed on the left bank of the Rio Grande, to re-
move from his post to point the left of the Nue.
ces in twenty four hours, hostilities would be
commenced Immediately after that time Shortly
thereafter, two thousand troops detachment of the
Mexican force, cross the Rio Grande, invade the
,of To 49,
troops under command Of Captains Hardee and
Thornton, who are killed, wounded, and taken
prisoners, and our little army of occupation and OBJ
servatlon in danger Of being cut off entirely from
their supplies, and with hope of relief but in an
increase Of the military force that point; and still
statesmen, and patriots, and well-informed men are
contendng that no war exists with Mexico and are
even refusing to vote the supplies of means
and money Tor the defence of the country, be-
couse they assert that they have no satisfactory
information of It's existence. Is it necessary that
the enemies on our southwestern frontier shall march
TO the very gates Of the Capitol, and direct the fire Of
their artillery against the walls Of this building in
whichlwe celebrating, to satisfy these gentle
men that war has commenced The admission of
Texas into the Union, or the passage Of the resou-
ton by Congress gtng its consent to her admission
as a new State iTf0The Union, not only imposed an
obligation upon Congress to guard and protect and
defend the rights of the people Of Texas; but the
constitution imposed the same obligation upon the
President of the United States to defend and pro-
tect them against any invasion from foreign enemies,
as well as from domestic instruction. But the
political opponents Of the President charge him with
making an aggressive war against the republic of
Mexico In violation of the constitution of the coun-
try deny that such is the fact; and few words
will enable me to satisfy the committee that this
accusation has no foundation in truth and Justice,
and savors of chagrin and of the dsappoint-
ment OF high political hopes and aspirations.
The President of the United States commence
a war with Mexico Where, and under what cir
cumstances' Was it when he signed and approved
the act of Congress of the present admitting
Texas into the Unloni Was it in approving the
act extending over Texas the laws, and jurisdiction
of the United States courts Or it when he APP
proved that other act making ports of entry and
tabshlng collection districts within the State Of
Texas one of which we made at Corpus Christi,
within the limits of the disputed territory between
the Nueces and the Rio Grandc' This no one in
debate has yet pretended, Was it in sending troops
to Texas upon representations made by the Con-
gress and convention of Texas that an invasion
from Mexico was unprecedented, and in stationing