Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-12-17
REMOVAL.


by the number and weight OF the authorities that ha been
Induced 10 show thst the Rio Grandc not at the time
Gen. Taylor was ordered 10 cncamp upon Its banks the
settled aud recognized boundary Of the Republic
II TeGahuhoes found in the archives Of the Govern
ITSELF under the sign manual Of Executive
That paper, it docs yield the points but
IL ovncos nevertheless willingness abandon, for
while. the defence Of position which it finds difficult
maintaining, and the vndeuuon Of the conduct
OF the Executive upon sil holder assumption Granting
the moment and for the sake OF the argument that the
territory occupied by Gen. Taylor belonged to Mexico
s says the Union) under the existing acts Of the Con-
grcs ofhc United States the President had no option ~
consider it. He found the law OF the L. States s1
tending certain territory. He found that terrific
~ threatened with invasion. These facts were con-
" elusive his constitutional right and duty in the pre-
misses His oath of office bound him repe the nva-
a sion and execute the law there"
Admitting IL. for the moment, be true that Congress
had extended the laws OF the United States the entire
territory, up the Rio Grando-which, however il not
only the but is expressly the OF the fact
how docs the Union for the Presidents failure to
his constitutional fright" aud 10 perform his
stiuona duty in the long interval thai, elapsed from
the arrival of Gen. Taylor Corpus Christi. in August
ls45, until January 1916, when he ordered TO ad-
vance to the RIO Grandcl Why did the President during
these FIVE months permit Mexican citizens occupy the
soil and Mexican troops garrison the OF Tcxas
after had become member OF the American confede-
racy1 Why did he submit 10 the collection, by
Mexican house officers, OF duties imposed BY
Mexican tariff, upon American products entering one OF
the ports Of Texas Nay farther than th-why, If the
territory be occupied by Gen. Taylor was in6is
rutaby American SOIL" which Congress had extend
ed the jurisdiction Of laws and which therefore, as tho
Union argues both the right and The duty Of the
Prcsden, promptly take possession o. in order that
these laws might be cIecutod-why did the Secretary OF
War, in o! his letters Gen. Taylor, expressly in
that officer abstain from al interference with the
Mexican citizens whom ne well knew would be found oc.
oupying IT, and OF Ne Eie7H troops in possession Of
fortified towns2 l. usual permit the citizens of
foreign power, avowinG their allegiance to that power,
and refusing subsection laws occupy exclusively
wide aud extensive portion Of soil Is it common
thing to cur fortified cities and towns rarriscnrd by
foreign troops In fact. Gen. Taylor far from being
the Rio Gando Tor the purpose enforcing the ere.
ZION of lars, a. is pretended expressly In
srueod interfere IN tic degree either " III
tho civil Institutions the military arrangements which be
SHOULD find in operation his arrival there Admitting
then, We say what Is, in Judgment wholly erroneous
that Congress had extended the territory m question
the jurisdiction Of laws, and the consequent right ana
duty OF the PRECEDENT those laws faithfully executed
lac strangely dereic for nearly months in falling
lake possession Of the territory and equally So when he die
order to be occupied, in failing those laws
And instead, therefore, OF deserving Communication for th,
order Of the 3h Of January 1896 conformity to whci
4
censurabe for having the moment tho annexa
tion OF Texas had been dccreed by Joint action Of the
Two Governments, accompanied by the necessary insuc
as 100 At least tho armed inruders from our soil
and the Mexican custom house officers from our port
From this dilemma, IN which the President involved b,
the line o defence resOrted by his friends there seem
to be possible escape
But defy the Union point to the facts Of Conpres,,
extending the territory in question the laws Of the
States Ii they exist let them be produced. We may pro
badly he referred to the law establishing custom house
Corpus Christi, which is Indeed oss Of the Neuces bu
Immediately It's bank. Beyond that port however
there Is according 10 understanding Of 'the c1sin.
acts Of Congress-" word from which the Presden
infer egtimatey MS "nghr his duty" 10 occur,
the territory. And that be did not himself 81, con
those acts when he ordered Gen Tay5r 10 ad
vance to the Rio Grande demonstrated both by the time
which elapsed between he annexation Of Texas and tn,
period when 1t issued, aud by the character Of ,hos,
orders themselves.
Nor Is the farther plea Of the Union that the ter5r,
threatened with INVASION" on the part of Mex s
tanned by the facts officially communicated the country
No indication Of hostility had been given Jy the Mexican
at the time the order 60 Cen Taylor given a. the cor
re'Pondencc Of that officer with the War Department con
cusiyey shows but the contrary the most pacific s1e
friendly deposition. he repeated assured the Government
manifested both by the Mexican citizens and soldier,
boh sides Of the Ri Grands 1t was no until the army
other side made indeed any hostile feeling eyncsd
But, soon nc commenced his march, 1t became at
parent that the Indignation Of the Mexican population
fled at his APPROACH aroused ncrca.ng .r
intensity and violence he progressed and which final,
led TO the attack upon l7 forces the 5h aud 9th Of
May, and to the skrn.shes by which the brilliant victories
then achieved preceded. Had Cen Taylor remained
OF Corpus Christi not gun would have Been fred anc
we should have been IN oil probability at peace with
Mexico and every question couuYgcr-y between Oh,
two Governments either adjusted process Of adjust
menl by negotiation.
II devovoF, therefore, upon those who assert tho, Con
Rfos had extended the territory referred to the urs-
doton Of our laws show the cnactments TO which
they refer il will do depend On broad assertions
which sbOndonty appear in every paragraph Of tn,
ffesdents Message, unsupported by the least shadow al
evidence and which couadetcd by the whole hsor,
Of the But, f the statute can DO found tbsr
we repeat that 30 not broad enough shield he Pres
dsn-ior that statute 1t teKs be ha. aiod 10 execute
For nearly months indeed, he permitted BE- TO femaini
deld-Ieuor-and when he ordered Gen Tay,- In c,
ongy The territory. was not 10 snJgres lavs bu,
hold % as o nero military position permitting Mercai
officers 10 execute Mexican laws and oven SLOWING Msr
lean troops 20 remain unmpeticd possession oil se
portions Of It Is might be found their hands! Gcners
Taylor, them the RIO Grardo Mother 10 "e,,c,
the aws," which be forbidden Co enforce nor TO or,
pei INVASION" winch bod neither been attempted %,
threatened. This aher.though,-a dcrurr resort
60 vndcaio an act Boz itself ind eusbc, end from vhie
has resulted the costly and bloody war in which We of
engaged with IoNco-a war commenced not b
the act Of Congress, but by the will of the Prrsdcn
who u'urped authority not given him by the oonsuu
ton, end who attempts 90 defend himself by the .t.
iugo that be- was bound TO be- did, boo order TO cor
into effect enactmcuu o Congress which mo- where a
snd which, II they do 30 not Dis intention To- onfof
ua.L
o. Several letters rom Wellington. boz Northern %
gn, refer 90 The opposition Of the Administration end
friends n Washington 60 the election Of r. VI r. Hunt
a. te successor ol Mr. Archer the senate. We don
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