The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-16

war are a lawful mode of acquisition, and recognised
Grotus and Puf1endor and Vatel, and others who by
their labors have lighted up and adorned the lurspu
dence of ages have not founded their codes upon the
scky sentimenalIty OF the present age, Out III reason
and common sense.
But, Mr. President we are not only told that this
unjust and unhoy war so Tar as the government and
people of the United States concerned, but that II
continue TO prosecute it, we shall bring down upon our
heads, nation, the vengeance OF offended Deity and
outrage the public sentiment of the civilized world 1t is
not permitted to to minister in-and regret to say
that this chamber is not the appropriate place to discuss
holy things. But | shall attempt to show you, before
sit down, that this not, our part, unjust war
readily admit that, in the conduct of great national af
fairs proper respect should be paid TO the opinion of the
civilized world, and much higher respect and yenera,
ton to those eternal principles OF justice, truth and
righteousness which are the habatons OF the throne OF
God.
"a decent regard for the opinions of mankind" is
lesson taught us by that immortal instrument which
trust will pass unhurt through the desolang mutations OF
time, and the strife OF turmoil OF party politics. and be
transmitted in all its excellence and all its purity to the
latest generations But how that public sentiment to be
collected and erected into standard by which to measure
the Justice and morality of our course in regard to thus
Mexican war; Turn your eyes to Europe. DO YOU lind It
in the conduct of Russia her policy towards Crcassia
De you find in the conduct of France towards Algeria
Do you find it in the conduct of several other oil the most
Christian nations of Europe in the course they have
Gently pursued and by which the very last nail has been
driven into the lid of the coffin OF undone miserable, ruin
ed partaioned, murdered Polanda Let Cracow answer
But put England, with all her faults, at the head OF the
governments of Europe Her power which almost en-
circles the globe her energy, her enterprise, her clvza
ton and intelligence her progress IN all the arts OF he
the wisdom of her statesmen and the great part she has
acted and is still acting and is destined to act hereafter,
in the great drama of natons-a all entitle her to
this gigantic pre- -eminence But when to look to
her authority and ascertain her public sentiment in
gard to the righteous prosecution OF wars and the rghu
acquisition OF territory, where will You find them Will
YOU find them amid the bloodshed and desoaton CT India
by which her fields have been blghted and vast por
ton of distant empire has been torn from its righu
owners, distant, unefending people, and the rivers
dies and made to red with the blood of her children
Is this the authority invoked, and this the evidence OF
that public sentiment to which we are TO conform our &C
ton in the prosecution of this war with Mexco' Let the
ghost of the murdered millions that walk unavenged by
moonlight upon the banks of the Indus and the Ganges
answer Sir, am tired of this doctrine of looking to
such examples for the government of our conduct
nation, instead of consulting and conforming to those
great eternal principles OF morality equity, and justice
which lie at the foundation of the moral universe.
But said should vindicate the Justice of this
far the government of the United States concerned
In order to do this it will be necessary TO inquire into
the causes of the war, and to inquire who commenced
the war. My honorable friend from New Jersey, Mr.
DAYToN to whom always listen with pleasure and re-
spect, except when he is little too hard upon the democ
racy of the country admitted, in enumeratlng all the
wrongs and injuries had experienced at the hands OF
Mexico, that some or more OF them would have been
sufficient to Justify declaration of war by the United
States against Mexico; and yet the senator to the
conclusion that all these causes which had been IN
creasng and accommodating for years, when put together
were not sufficient to justify declaration of war on our
part shall not inquire into the correctness of the
course of logical ratocnaton by which this conclusion
attained, but perfectly willing to leave the honorable
senator the quiet peaceabe and undsturbed
of his premises, his induction and his conclusion My OBJ
ect will be to show, not that we had sufficient cause to
60 to war with Mexico and that we ana not eommene me-
enormously that she had sufficient Tor war against
us. and that she declared and commenced the war,
From the commencement OF the Mexican war, through
all its stages down TO the present time, have entertain
ed but one opinion to the cause of this war; and IT
does appear to that any who will take the trou
oh. md h,
prejudice cannot come to any other conclusion than the
one to which have Mexico herself assigns the
that do Mr.. President, it was that great
measure in which the people of this country manifested
more interest and more feeling than they have on
any other since have been the stage OF public life
the annexation of Texas to the United States 1t was
that which Mexico declared, in advance she would
sider aggression her rights for which she would
go to war; for which she declared war, for which she
commenced war; and for which, in the language of that
abused but in my opinion sound patriotic, and states,
manlike document the Presidents message, she shed
American blood upon American soil This was the cause
for which revolution was effected in Mexico; by
which administration brought into power, breath
ing threatenngs and fury against the United States for
the annexation of Texas to the Union, or Mexico ex-
pressed it, for having despoiled her of part OF her
empire; it is described here with more fancy
and sympathy than truth or PATRIOTISM the dsmsm
Of na, sister puDc c And here pe
sympathy for their mother republic, than for such SISTER
republic Mexico they would place their sympahies to
much better account Fraternal sympathy and aHec
ton high qualities; but ilia duty and affection are
much higher ones. But not only did the Mexican
hores at home hold the language and adopt the course
towards the United States which have stated, but her
minister resident at this court held the language
and pursued the course, protesting against the an
nexation of Texas aggression upon the rights OF
Mexico, and demanding his passports, and leaving the
country as the act consummated But this
not all. Every proclamation and declaration, and pro-
nuncidmenfo of every public man in authority in Mexico
from that hour to this has stated explicit terms, not
only that they considered the annexation OF Texas as
sufficient for their commencing war against us,
but that they would prosecute the war until there was
not hostile American footprint the soil OF Mexico,
or an American sail in sight of her ports 1t was to re-
conquer Texas then, that Mexico according to her own
showing, commenced the war with us; and we rent to
war with her because she came to war with us.
Having shown, then, that the annexation OF Texas
was, according to the admission OF Mexico herself me
cause of the on her part conclude that unless the
annexation of Texas was our part an unjust ana un-
holy act there nothing unjust unhoy on our part
repelling the which Mexico commenced against us
whether the annexation of Texas to the United States
was an act OF injustice towards Mexico 1t VIII DC
proper TO advert for moment to the attitude anu
position OF all the parties with respect each other at the
time annexation took place And if do not show that,
the time of her annexation TO the United States, Texas
was as Independent of Mexico Massachusetts, Vir
GINA of the crown of Great Britain, then will admit
that we have done injustice to a sister republic
1t is well known that the territory which formerly con-
sttued the republic of Texas and now the State OF Texas
originally belonged to Spain For without going into
the question whether il part of Louisiana, &C
government preclude from asserting tte prior to the
annexation OF Texas to any territory In that direction
! beyond the Sabine By the treaty between the United
States and Spain, in 1919, agreed to and established
the Sabine the boundary between the United States
and Spain. Hence, have always contended, and still
hat dnotl derive rrh IN