Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-02-15
mr. McPhcrson's RESOLUTIONS.


which. In tho words OF the preamble s demanded by
the public woal"-though, according the modern doc
Of moral treason" incrpolncd into tho poli,ica
code by the party of which the member from Page is
distinguished leader, may the pains and penal
ties of the second section, for presuming dissent
from such high authority
We have heard surmsed that the authors this
nent had purpose in view, the introduction OF these
resolutions which does appear upon the sursce-and
that was TO compel THE CALHOUN show their hands
either to commit them to the propositions therein
FORTH throw them attitude open opposition
HunkcriSm this vital question public policy. We
have scanned the list Of delegates for the purpose Of
ceraning course OF those whe are understood TO be
the friends Of Mr.. Calhoun; and find that about
moiey OF them did not ALL while only of them
voted for the fret resolution, IN relation the origin OF the
On the second, eItonR the eminent ability" with
which the President has conducted the war; the number
absences diminished by one six voted for IT, and
against Whether the susges;ers and mover of the re-
solutions accomplished their alleged principal object of en-
trapping the "twentythree" therefore, is problem a.
difficult regarding them a parfy) Of solution
especially ii it be true, conJectured that portion OF
those who voted the affirmative did with decided re-
puguance, and without certain mental reservatlons-
Perhaps they had read Mr. Cahoun's great speech
If they had given it slight perusal they had not
Learned and inwardly dgested" that condensed and
masculine argument But to the resolutions themselves
The first reads n follows:
R6solped, That the present with the Republic OF
Mexico, most unrghteousy provoked her part by long
Ecucs o outrages towards the United States, presents
such occasion requires the united action all true
friends OF the country enforcing speedy and honcra-
bic termination OF tins war; by vigorous prosecution
hosuli'ies
We submit the author and supporters OF this resou-
that they have involved themselves and their party IN
"prcdoamen," by not being careful in their phra
scoo2y They should have studied Senator Cass speech
IN order 10 learn how to turn adoiy and show
fronts the What the fact assert
ed in the foregoing resolution IL s, that the present
with the Republic of Mexico" has been most IN
rghtaousy pouoksd her part by long series OF out
ragcs towards the United States" And what then. :
the inference which the member from Page and the majo-
ry in the House OF Delegates would have the country 10
draw from this assertion Is any man ass enough 10 be-
leve that Mexico began the upon u.s. as is ALLEGED by
Mr. Polk and the parry generally JseavSe she had been
gu lty OF this long OF ouIragcs against Us What
Ind she complain OF, avengo7 Why should she
strike because she had thus wronged us1 The Ian
Euagc Of the resolution express admission that the
stns war, Prorokea her paTt by the outrtges refer
rcd To- running back according Cen Case as far rs
1917, and which Tor thirty years had been patiently sub
United 10 by Monroe, Adams, Jackson and Tyler tsa,
commenced By act, and {" by the act OF Mex
co" And this be so, by what authority, we ask wa,
the war wassdl Congress- although in session At ,b
time, haG issued no declaration subject; aud the
very first act OF tina; body, the exclusive war.makirs
power, was TO recognise as existence announced them
10y the President, whose insugauon they inserted IN
the preamble OF the act providing for its pro
sccuton, the memorable declaration, the fa!seho5d +
which is shown by the fore going resolution that this
" exists by the act OF Mexico" Now. we
how fragrant the wrongs ard injuries we
had sustained the hands Of Mexico, how long they had
been condnuod-which admit now. as we have here
toiore done, might long ago have justified Congress in Ia
king up for their redress, and doubtless would have
done but for the peculiar condition of that country
which there scarcely be said have been govern.
oil since she threw off the yoke Vi Spain That
she has done enough 10 have provoked a war; we adm,
But has the Constitution conded the PRESIDENT the high
porogaye OF ayengiug national wrongs and injuries by an
appeal to the sword whenever he may think ct TO unsbent
~ This, we beg to say, is the sist Of the contro-
veytho great point in issue between tho two parties on
this question. The Whg-and appeal to the votes in
Congress TO confirm the truth OF what ssy-have exhi
bed not less readiness, and less unaumy than their
opponents in voting the necessary supplies Of men and
money But they alege, at the time, that it s an On
necessary and ought therefore have been avoided
aud the failure Of Congress declare IT, although that body
well 0pprzd the President OF the long series
OF ouagos," by which Mr. McPhrrsons resolution say il
was provoked" shows that RNAEISs POWER did
not believe that every pacific expsdion; had been
exhausted The Wings aloge, too, a necessary deduc.
ton from this naction OF Congress, tai 1t an uHeoas
tahoHai war-thnt the President, without authority a.
Congress, assumed the responsibility Of beginning the con-
tcst bg 90 oct which he knew would Iced to conflict
Aud this i7 virtually conceded by the resolution Of The
House OF Delegate, IN which the "ong outages''
committed by Mexico against the o. s. are admitted To be-
the proroeatiOH which justified hosttcs For i Mexico in
truth struck the fret blow, why back subjects Of COM
paint, running through period Of thirty years e., iusufg
our bcigciont attitude, when, T 'hs assertion were true w.
have been forced into that attitude by blow whic b. how
ever pacific purpose left alternative but 10 tr
fIInE him Ttf rrgf rf.t sr..r .T, Ill
pies OF controversy ~ justify the war, shows tlt those
who refer TO them tor that purpose that IN,
the authors Of IT, Fol- II were true that MEXICO be.
the conflict attempt would be necessary to Justify
u- no assuming position Of hostility towards thst power
Nl On her assault upon had rendered inevitable
Il would be sufficient cay that the war has been made
by Mexico upon us and that alone would
have been sufficient to yndootc the necessity NJ returning
blow Tor blow. But the President while making this a.
scruon, knew that 1t conuadlcted by facts omen
Co the observation OF the country. Hence be felt the me-
ccs'y oi dwelling h ~ much length and with niue
emphasis, upon long forgotten matters Of complaint srain,
MrHc',-iogctug that be thereby betrayed conscIou,
noes OF tho hmsusss Of This assumption lie felt tait va,
necessary 90 'NPauao upon the ouuogts pefpetated D.,
M'co 10 order 90 arouse the passions Of the pcopc o.,
1, escape o the conseque Of biz own rash and IN
cusuiuuou.l action, 60 which alone tc origin Of the ~
De- Co be traced lie has indeed incurred fearful fc-pon
sDihty aud surprised that he seeks O., .ssr
90 causes which had nothing Whatever TO DO with H. An,
which, d hey bod been Of character Go Justify ho.
rcs was che province OF CoSsGss and not Of Che Pfr
siuEvr. make hat declaration the world. We doubt
therefore. whether the Administrator will be moro obloe
Zoo Nf. M,pb,r un Tor hs good intentions or drsasf,
with bo bungIue which he has essuyed its ,n
d.eluln aud defence.
Tho s,c.ni resolution be- boo tlc following words.
E,sol,rd Tina, the thanks Of tiis General A,ssubr
are due and hereby cordially rendered p the Pfedsr
me j1ied sntes Tor the justice frmness and en,ire
ability with which bee hos conducted ic WARMTH Mckee.
This resolution comes with great propeiy from d., e
oac trptescrgrr county the famous "rcnt Lsgion
The ali pIafrd Boz fhot quarter Of bc Sai, boo satpl
of Che va cod 90, slacuV with which clars of tha,
,aaartr t.l,d 90 lc held. Of te sound of the burc ODD
tholg. H,o peculiarly, through their representatives
thank s,eu ihr rfosdcut .r the "6rmncss" uni c ZEN
n.utbtIiy" with which hos conducted the war"
utetn VIC Washington Union Of Thursday Loot, procoe,