Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-01-07

4
this disgraceful war; and he go unwhipt of justice
Give aid and comfort to the enemy forsooth! Tina
is to be the slang of the day, is it Give men an
money TO any amount say |, to get the country hon
oraby out Of the difficulties with which it is sur
rounded but at the same time, and in the sam
breath, inilict constitutional punishment upon whom
soever Shall, by his reckleSsness and presumption
nave made 1t necessary 10 vote these supplies, 81
freely bestowed
Give aid and comfort to the enemy. eh Well
when the party upon whom it has chiefly devolvec
to fight these battles of MIR. Polk shall give said
and coin!ort to the enemy" by giving safe conduct
into Tx country of the ablest generals and states
men, 10 nc found at the head of their armies and
councils, they may be charged with giving ssaid and
comfor, to the enemy - but in the mean time tina,
shall not prevent AN exposure OF the knavery and
trickery that have attended this whole business es-
pecially so far as that knavery and trckery can be
established from circumstantial evidence and public
documents coming from under the hands of the
President himself Muzzles were made for dogs,
and dogs only wear them.
think then it must be conceded that these Mex
lean outrages long since alledged to have been per-
petratcd, did not induce Mexico to undertake the
punishment of the United States, in the war she is
charged TO have made; and think it will be diff
cult to show that Mr.. Polk had any authority to or
der the army of the United States into what was
at that time indsputablc Mexican territory in their
possession, and neDer get claimed by the United
States Government, who alone had the power and
the right TO settle the question Of boundary for it
Is idle TO pretend that revenue laws had been
extended or were intended to be extended over that
part OF the territory between the Neuces and the
Rio Grande, where Mexican custom houses were
established, and from which they were then derv-
ing revenue.
Now all this, | say, was known to Mr. Polk {;
and If do not convict him OF the Knowledge and
m,
as part of Texas, and admitted into our Union
was greatly beyond the 6 Western limits Of Ieras
and recognized by him rs Mexican territory, until
he had involved the country in war in resentment
OF point of etiquette | say if do not convict
Mr.. James X. Polk of this knowledge and recogni-
ton by Mr.. James X. Polk himself. then am will
ling TO stand charged with giving ''aid and comfort
to the enemy :" but if do, then let the Represen-
tatives of the people hold him to the responsibility
he has assumed, and punish him as the organic
law of the land demands. Either let them do this,
or declare at once that all constitutional government
Is at an end or that whatever constitutional resric
lions may be imposed the power OF the people.
through their representatives, to incorporate Bank
protect labor, encourage industry, improve harbors,
and protect the lives and property Of American c-
Zcns that the powers of the President are absolute
sovereign and supreme and then we shall know
what sort of a government we live under.
That this claim now set up by Mr.. Polk to the
territory on the Eastern bank of the Rio Grande as
belonging the United States was an after thought
and designed to smother his unjustfablc occupa-
ton OF Mexican territory, may, in the absence of
all other proof positive and crcumstantial be es-
tablished, beyond all doubt by his own Message to
Congress at the commencement of the session of
1915, in which he says:
1.-The moment the terms of annexation offered by
the United States were accepted by Texas, the lat
ter became so far part Of the country, as to make
1t our duty to afford them protection and defence
l therefore deemed it proper, as precautionary
measure, to order strong squadron TO the coast Of
Mexico, and TO concentrate an efficient military
force on the Western frontier Of Tcras"
Mark that son the Western frontier Of Tea
asP' We shall see presently, by his next Mes
sage, sent TO Congress on the lIth of May follow
ing, what he then considered the Western frontier
Of Ieras, and by that means ascertain where Mex
lean territory began. That point was Corpus
Christi, on the banks the Neuces. He proceeds ::
''Our army was ordered to take position in the
country between the Neuces and the Del Norte,
and to rcpct any inrasiom Of the Ieran territory
,chich might be attempted by The .Merican forccso
The distance from Corpus Christi to the Rio
Giande is lG0 miles, and yet our army was stopped
at Corpus Christi to repe any invasion Mexico
might make OF the Texan territory by crossing the
Rio Grande That was military movement wor-
thy of the great irresponsible commander-n chief.
81
if the Texan territory extended to the Rio Grande
What would be thought Of a military commander
who wouId station his forces at the city of Rich
mond to protect BALTIMORE from any invasion that
might be made by the good people of Pennsylva-
mia? But he continues
''Our squadron in the Gulf was ordered to coop
crate with the army. BIT THOUGH oar .4r,nu and
Mary acere placed IN position 10 defend o, ocn.
and The rights Of Teas, they were ordered TO con-
NIT no act of hostility against Mexico, unless she
declared war was herself the dggressor by strik
ing the first blow. The result has becn That .Ucr-
ico has made aggressive mouement and o1tr mil
aary and ndrm commanders hare erec,ted their or
ders ,oh such discretion that the peace IF The t,co
Republics has mol been distwbed'
Now. is il not worthy of enquiry, if our SQUAD
in the Gulf, and our army at Corpus Christi
''on the western frontier of Texas" were placed
in position Gas Mr.. Polk declares to Congress) To
protect own and the rights of Texas. aud to re-
pei any invasion of the Texan territory which
might be attempted by the Mexican forces, and
Mexico making no aggressive movement say, is
it not worthy OF enquiry, why was that army
marched from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande
And why were our guns mounted and pointed upon
Mexican town, on the opposite bank Why was
this state of peace not allowed to continue? AnC
yet, when he thus proves himself to he the arpres
sor. ne declares that Mexico has forced a war upor
u.s. has invaded our territory. and murdered our cit
liens on their own soil; and finds ready rcspons,
from bis we'll trained and disciplined cohorts in Con
gross and obtains romthcm preamble to bill ofar
preparations declaring ''whereas by the act Of Tx
republic of Mexico state of war exists between
that Government and the Il. States therefore, ?
&c.--a statement protested against by every man o
the Wing party in both Houses. as n wilful false
hood, and protested agaiust in the Senate by Mr.
Calhoun, OF his own party, who said, ''H ,couid
as impossible for him to cote for That preamble, as
,cotdd he 10 strike n dagger to his heart ~ We
the Wings voted for the bill, with that protest a
gain5t the preamble, because they would not with
hold supplies necessary to carry on the war ant