Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-10-29
Causes of the Mexican War.


The "annexa,ion Of Texas" assented to by
the American People, threatened war, but
after the Juggling of Mexico with France and
Eng land, and the disposition manifest to ac-
knowledge Texas as an independent State,
did not necessarily draw after It the inevlta'
BILE consequence Of war with Mexico. The
annexation" the American People assentcd
10 was the ancient boundery line Of Texas,
The river Nueces aud 80 careful were they
to avoid any pledge OF assent TO the lately al
tered claim Of Texas upon the Rio Grande'
that they decidedly refused TO take Texas
into the Union with any pledged lines OF
boundary. II was IN these points OF view
that the President of the United States, in
his annual message, at the opening OF the
lust session of Congress, the first Monday
in Decemher) took occasion TO announce to
us the final consummation Of the annexation
of Texas, With many high sounding phrase
Of gorification. Among other things, he
said -
"ThiS accession to our territory has been a
bloodleSS achievement. No arm OF force has
been raised to produce the result. The sword
has used no part in the victory. We have not
sought to extend our territorial possessions by
conquest, or our republican institutions over a
reluctant people"
And he added that it was "a bloodless
achievement, to which the world might be
challenged to furnish a parallel" Now that
the lives of our soldiers, and of our country
men, have been profusely sacrificed upon the
bloody fields Of the Rio Grande, and the yet
more bloody heights of Monterey, it is our
duty narrowly to watch the conduct of the
administration, and to see why and where
fore this "boodless achievement" has been
changed into mos. bloody war. The names
of Brown and Rlnggold,--of Watson, Nc
Clung Williams, nay, OF the thousands slain
by the sword, as well as the thousands slain
by disease, demand from their living country.
men stern inquiry, and rigid accountability
to their families and TO their God.
What might, perhaps, have been "bood.
less achievement" that Of annexlng Texas
east of the Rio Grande, was changed into this
bloody war by the armed occupation OF the
Rio Grande,-a territory the American Peo-
pie nerer annexed, but which, il necessary
to us, might have been theirs by peaceful
purchase. The territory, however, never
was necessary as a good boundary line to
Texas, for such a river boundary as that be-
tween nations OF opposing languages, races
and religions, is the worst possible boundary
line in the world /; whereas the great desert
between the Nueces and the Rio Grande was
the proper boundary line, the line Gen. Jack
son named as q military boundary line such
another as which cannot be found short Of
the lofty ranges Of the Sierra Madre noun
tains. beyond Monterey.
fGen Taylor had been permitted to re-
main with his little army at Corpus Christi,
in Texas, II is evident TO all that he never
would have been assailed by the Mexicans,
and that, therefore, there would have been
no war. When, however, 1t was deemed
wiso TO crouch and to cover before the maj
esty Of England. on the houndary line of
Oregon, il was deemed necessary 10 set up
further prefer nsions as TO our boundary line
on the Rio Grande, and 10 let off the war
steam that had been got up among the peo-
pie against brave and powerful John Bull,
against the feebler and poorer Mexicans.
Gen. Tsylor was ordered to erect batteries
in the Mexican state Of Tamaullpas, so as to
threaten destruction to its capital, Matamo-
ros, and the natural consequence was the in
tended collision with the Mexican forces.
That the administration has been dlsap'
pointed in all The incidents of this war, there
can be no doubt. First, it finds that instead
of being in the "halls OF Montezuma," it has
but just begun 10 Gght the buttles that can
carry our flag there the next, that instead
of fighting only the Mexican leaders. and
military chiefs, il has the whole power and
spirit and prejudice, civil and religious, OF the
Mexican people to conquer. The Catholic
| Priests it has sent there, II finds, can do
nothing, even if disposed towards conciliating
the Mexicans. The Spanish paper printed al
Matamoros for while, to make Yankees Of
Mexlcans, soon ceased to live. The rebel.
ling Republic of the Rio Grande existed but
in the fancy of the Texans. The whole Of
Mexico, as one man,-Castilian, Mexican,
Mestizo, Indian, negro,-cach and all, seize
arms to repel u.s. The very women hate us.
Thus war that the administration expected
TO end in campaign Of some sixty days,
indicates an end just now scarcely short OF
six years. Meanwhile, the Treasury has
been robbed Of all its surplusses, which the
TYLER administration left it, and while it is
issuing War Warrants and Treasury Notes
lin Mexico, it is, in the commercial capital Of
the Union, begging loans from Banks to en-
able it to 60 on with its numerous expendl
lures. The army has achieved prodigles OF
valor. Its warike achievements on the Rio
Grandc and at Monterey,as well as it's peace
ful progress at Santa Fe, are the admiration
of the world. These victories, however, arc
all barren yet. No impression has been
made upon Mexico. Not one inch Of peace
has been conquered. The naughty and trea-
cherous Santa Ana, after duplng Mr.. Polk in
order to enter Vera Cruz, frowns defiance at
him from Jalapa.
In this position of things, let us Wings,
while cheering on our gallant countrymen,
whether they orc called upon 10 go farther
aud s;or.r ether heights OF the Sierra Madre,
or made to trcmble the rocky battlemcn,s Of
Vera Cruz, hold to strict responsibility the
men who created this war, and who have
thus for so badly managed it. Let us tell
them TO their faces, as We rejoice over our
victories, .'every dollar you have spent, all
the blood you have split. have been thus far
spent and split in vain. The unnecessary
war you have long provoked has but begun.