Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-01-02


and threw away the scabbad she refused to treat with for
peace she drew the sword the arbter Of differences
and she held il TO this hour And yet gentleman got up
here upon the floor OF Congress- before his country and before
the world and grayey asked swho commenced this "
The gentleman well knew, God knew the world knew, and
history would tell We had made every sacrifice, and had
exercised degree of orbeaance compatible with the least
degree of seespec TO keep the peace and live in good
neghborhood with what some gentlemen denomnaed ''a
sister Republic"
was true that the President had anticipated this hostile
the Of Mexico though he did not know at
the me Of the actual issue of the Mexican orders He
forewarned he his guard he expected what
coming and he ordered forward the army the banks Of the
Rio Gande and posted them opposite to Matamoros to watch
the approach OF the enemy.
The attack was accordingly after made they crossed
the boundary claimed ours and attacked the American
army soil which, admitting it to be in dispute,
then occupied by Mexico, but by the American army.
Beoralhe approach had been vacant occupied in fact by
neither party, and of right belonging to Texas and lying with
in her boundary. Gould any in his ask "who
began the war;"
But in further illustration of this palpable fact Mr.. g.
would go little into the grounds and of the
From the day Of the battle of San acnto down the date
of the annexation of Texas the United States Texas had
uniformly claimed all the territory her western border up
to the Rio Grande and Mexico had unntermedly claim
ed all the country her eastern border up to the Sabine
Under this state of the respective claims of the two countries
the independence of Texas acknowledged by the United
States, and this the position of affairs when Texas
annexed TO the United States Mexico, finding that
going to receive her rebeous province into Unon de-
cared that she should consider that annexation, if it
summacd, BELL, and that she should continue to
resist it by as long as she was able to fight
Mexico had put the upon any other ground She
had openly declared that she would econquer Texas If she
able. In accordance with the public declaration of the
Mexican Minister that annexation would be deemed by that
Government good cause for war; orders issued by Pa
redes, tho 4h of April, to the Mexican army attack
the American forces wherever they were found within the
territory of Texas and the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca
de ia Palma followed consequence Of those orders
But would not do for the Opposition in considering the
to place Its origin the ground OF annexation, because
many of them voted for the resolution of annexaon and aid
ed in accomplishing it. TO condemn the war, them the
ground Of annexaon would be to condemn themselves None
would far suiy himself (but perhaps Mexcan) to
declare that the annexation of Texas independent State
to the American Union just of What, them
should these gentlemen say Oppose their Government they
must right wrong they had found out cause other
than that which Mexico herself assigned. What 1t
Why that the portion of territory lying between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande part of Texas, but truth
Mexican territory, and that therefore the President by advan
ing army to the river made hostile ncuson upon Mex
leo. Certainly Mexico must be under great obligations
these gentlemen Of the Opposition for having discovered
Of against the United States which had not occurred
herself When this advance of troops took place.
and the Mexican Government ordered her army to attack
she could have known of Gen. Tayors movement from
Corpus Christi Mexico had claimed the territory be-
tween tine Nueces and the Rio Grande any more
other ground than she claimed all Texas the Sabine And
the presence of American troops at Corpus Christi
her doctrine, good of its movement the
Rio Grande But admitting the territory that river to be
disputed ground certainly had good right advance
and occupy it as Mexico had.
But the Wing party themselves not agreed. One
gentleman from Massachusetts admitted that opposite to Mata
the Rio Grande did constitute the western boundary Of
Texas others utterly denied this The Wings were not
agreed TO where the boundary The friends OF the
Administration were agreed. They all held that the Rio
Grande the true boundary.
We had had open question of boundary with Great
Britain respecting Oregon What would have been thought
if either the British the American Government had attack
ed the other before the question settled We had had
several questions with Great Britain boundary lines, but
both Governments tried to settle their differences without
ing about them They did not fly to about the
territory dispute but agreed like sensible men, to treat it
neutral ground till the question Of right settled by
gotiation Why could not Mexico do the same But the
truth she did with about the strip Of
land on the Rio Grande about the question OF boundary
at all II account of the annexation Of Texas She
had avowed her intention to make for that and
she had carried her determination Had there been
dispute between US but the occupation OF narrow strip OF
disputed territory, should have had the present
And now Mr. g. asked of gentlemen what was TO be done
What would the Opposition themselves have had Gov
ernment to do with Mexico Treat she would not nego-
tate she would But she had drawn the swor and
ed should return to the scabbard till she had
quered Texas up the Sabine Did gentlemen expect that
army fall back the Sabine and basely abandon
Texas to Mexico We had evidence that Mexico
would treat for peace till she had regained Texas far
that river.
Now, the Opposition asked what the object of the war
Mr. g. asked hem turn, what would you have to be
What would you do if the power in your hands
Mexico would not live peace with she was bent
and must either sustain the act of Government
and defend Texas portion of the Unon surrender TO
the foe. Was this what gentlemen wanted If
invaded Mexico, but stopped the Rio del Noe and stood
the defensive, the like to be everlasting If
suffered her to attack u.s. and then retire and recruit her forces
and attack again, army must be kept in the field till
doomsday The only way bring the end TO
push into her territory, and let her clearly understand
and feel too at the point of the bayone that Texas
was to be restored to her domination
But the gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr. HUDsoS)
had asked what did the President do with the
quered provinces Mr. G. replied, he do nothing
with them. The President had power do any thing
with them he could only do in the Congress ordered
him, and with the they furnished him. But he would
with them. The gentleman ought TO have known that the
President could dispose of this conquered territory he
could neither it to this Union, could he prevent its
annexation But the people of the United States meant to
hold on to California they meant conquer it. and hold 1t,
and make permanent acquisition. That what they
meant to do with it. The President neither meant to do,
had he the power do any thing he disposition Of our
conquess Gentlemen might be very easy in due time the
American people would take proper both of California
and New Mexico. Of thing they might be assured,
those provinces would return to Mexico again.
Mr. G. said he for prosecuting this because the
people for prosecuting They for retaining these
Provinces because had conquered hem but in
denniy they willing take them payment what
Mexico owed u.s. and also the expenses Of the
which bad been ooshy and wckcdy made upon by
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