Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-04

isit for an humble man like me, VINO s'ahus mere
like the poor publican OF old, ana does NOT pre-
tend to be one of the Pharlsees that know al
things. and are better than all men-that smtes
his bosom and saws, God be merciful to me,
moor Whip w-is it for me, when these appoin-
ted HIGH Priests OF the Temple of Democracy
hold two different stories, to- judge between them?
Is it for me to say that the President of the
United States has told the truth, and that the
Senator from Missouri has lied ? 1t is not con-
troversy between the President of the United
States and me. 1t is controversy about mat
ter Of fact and truth of history, about which the
Senator from Missouri has declared that 1t as
part OF the Republic OF Mexco,-ths very
country, which your President, in this document
of his, which must have passed into the poltlcai
history of Congress for what 1t Is worth, mas de-
clared to be a part and parcel OF the state OF
Texas and always so, and that therefore he
parched an army in its defence and expelled the
enemy. Why, sir, who did he expel? He
found a cus.om-housc upon the left bank Of the
river, at San Isabel, and yet no American prop
orty. And how was your American army re-
ceved? Why, the population fled; and here, 1t
is said that for ten years, ever since 1886, before
the Republic of Texas, up 70 1913, and whole
year after her annexation, there was scoundrel
of Mexican in that custom-house levylng du-
ties upon everybody that traded there. IA laugh.)
This Republic of Texas must have been
think men so violent in fighting for their rights,
might have fought little about that. 1t was
Mexicans who were there. What is the fact,
then? Gen. Taylor marches there with his ar
my to protect the possessions ofthe United States,
and the people of that territory set fire to the
town of Isabel and run away from it. What a
harmonious Republic you had! Whenyou came
brstlIng in arms-your banner waving in the
wind-your eagle spreading its wings for the
Of oil A pf,1O Goy
on Republican is so alarmed at the sight of this
illustrOus banner that he sets fire to his dwell
ling and runs away from you as from savage
"a laugh)
This is so utterly and apparently contradicto-
ry to public documents, that do not wonder it
has not been investigated; nor would | probe
this miserable mass of filth and fecuence and
toulness, if 1t were not that have been arraign-
cd here, and by my own brethren too-by those
Of my own household, for endeavoring to act up
on the hypothesis that this left bank of the Rio
Grande be not Texas or United States property.
1t all turns upon that. Not a man in North A.
merca who has a regard for the rights of nations,
II say more, no man who regards truth and
honor-does believe that the marching of your
army was into ncighboring republic, but will
agree there is only one course left. You must
unless you are willing to be thought robber,
an invader of your neighbors-you must recall
President asks of me men and money to prose-
cute the war; with Gods assistance and my own
poor faculties, he shall have neither men nor
money TO prosecute any such purpose.
How is 1t? Am mistaken in this? III am
| shall consider him the clevetest friend that
may own in all the relations that should happen
TO me, or can happen to me in this life; | will
consider him the best friend who shall satisfy
me that am mistaken in regard to this very
,,l f,,,I,, t..,a
Gladly will retrace my steps. Convince me
that the army Of Gen. Taylor was OIL American
soil satisfy Inc that American blood was shed
by hostile army on American soil, and the las.
dollar that can he drained from all the resources
Of the Countrywide last man that can raise an
arm in battle-these will l grant to defend tina,
soil and to protect the rights of citizens there
But until am satisfied Of that, do confess tina
/ must have right to an opinion on this subject
While the American President can command
the army, thank God | can command the purse
While the President, under the penalty Of death
can command your officers to proceed, can tel
them to come back for supplies, as he may. Ht
shall have no funds from me in the prosecution
OF such war That conceive to be the dut,
of Senator. | am not mistaken in that. If
is my duty to grant whatever the President de
mands for what am here? Have no will up
on the subject? Is it not placed at my discre
lean Senate and House Of Representatives moth
ing to do but obey the bidding Of the President
as the mercenary arhy he commands is compel
led to obey under the penalty of death? No
your Senate and House of Representatives wer
never elected for such purposes as that.
They have been modelled on the good old pla
of English liberty, and are intended to represen
the English House Of Commons, who Curbed tn
proud power of the King in olden time, by with
IelI how a id anft J.,
war; II was in that way that English libert,
was preserved at one of the most critical period
in the history of that wonderful people. How
was il that Charles the LIST came TO have his heat
upon the block by the judgment of the Round
heads and the Purtans Of England? He hat
granted them every thing they asked. He hat
surrendered all the kingly perogatves save one
and what was that? The command of that arm,
raised for the purpose OF quellng the rebellion
in Ireland The infamous Wentworth (Strafford
had counseled him all along, whatever he yiel
ded up, to stick to the command of the army.
The Parliament men had required of HIM tina
they should appoint the Generals to command
and this was all the remaining difference be
tween them. On that depended the mead OF hir
who represented an hundred kings, relgning b
divine right. "Give us the command Of thl
army" they said. What was the reply of thi
doomed and fated representative of the house c
Stuart? mot Tor one hour, by Cd" WIN
did he stick to the command of the army?
had not then become the habit of the House
Commons TO make specific appropriations of moi
ey. The supplies were given to the King, an
he could distribute them as he pleased. Sue
men as Hale, and Somers, and others, had NJ
vet learned the true art of managing the tyran
of England. While Charles could comman
the army, he might control the Parliament, an
because he would not give up that comman
our Puritan ancestors land his head upon II
block. How did it fare with the others?
1t WIS on this very proposition OF controllr
the Executive power Of England by withboldlr
the money supplies, that the House Of OranG
came in, and by their accession 10 the throI
commenced a new epoch in the history OF En-
land, Distinguishing 1t from the old reign OF Il
Tudors and Plantagenets and those who pr
ceded it. Then it was that Parliament specific
the purpose of appropriation, and since 1908
has been impossible for king OF England to i
voye the people of England in war, which yo
President, under your republican institutions, al
with your republican constitution, has yet ma
aged to do. Here you stand powerless l.
commands this army, and you must not withho
their supplies. He involves your country IN
wasteiul and exterminating war against nalll
with whom we have no cause OF complaint, b
Congress may say nothing
y when that comes TO pass--when the Anne
lean Senate-when the American House OF Re
resentatives-stoop to that submission to the b
g 4Ia xnh1 Il. A. 4