The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-12-11

W "SSCl' NV iISut dIlQ IcuTcSS Tic
wrong-to stand by the cause OF the
country, SO formally and constitution
ally proclaimed, and, by every means
in his power, to aid the government in
the energetic and vigorous prosecution
OF such a wal TO a just and honorable
termination; that in a contest of this
kind, there is 10 such thing as neutrali.
ty. He THAT IS NOT FOR THE couN-
TRY, Is AGAINST 1T.
Resolved, That if this duty were less
imperative in its character, and it could
be regarded as consistent with true pa.
iriotism 10 go behind the constitutional
enactment of the war.making power,
and institute an inquiry into its justice
or truth, in order to determine the rule
and measure of obedience, we hold it
demonstrable, from the history of the
two nations, and the causes that led to
this conflict, that our government is not
only fully justified in the purse it has
pu%rsued-but that upon our part this
war was utterly unavoidable, without a
sacrifice of the national honor-a sur.
render of a portion of its lawfully ac-
CURED territory, and an abandonment
OF the rights of its citizens who were
entitled to lis protection; and that the
declaration of Congress, put forth with
almost perfect unanimity, that this
"war erists By The act Of The Republic of
Merico,' was then, and is now, literal.
ly true.
Resolred, That the annexation of
Texas to the United States, upon the
request of the people of that Republic.
constituted, in the language of Mr..
Webster, ''no good ground Of offence to
Mexlco"-because Texas, at that time.
and for a long period prior to it, was,
and had been entirely independent of
the Mexican government. She was a
sovereign and independent nation-so
organized and aeting--and so recogniz-
ed not only by the United States, but
the nations Of the world. Mexico had
no power over her-exercised no iuris.
dlction within her limits-levied and
collected no taxes upon, nor received
any allegiance from her people. That
the mere ann ouncement Of an intention
at some future day, to overrun and re-
conquer her revolted Province-then a
sovereign and independent nation gave
to Mexicosno more claim to Texas, or
right to control her future acts, than had
Great Britain upon the old Thirteen
States. after the contamination of the
war of the Revolution.
ReSolved, That proceeding upon
such false pretensions--such unjust as
sumptions-Mexic became the aggres-
sor in this conflict. That when, upon
the passage Of the resolutions of annex
ltion, and before the action of the peo.
pie of Texas upon them, she declared
that act 'cause of war;" and broke off
relations, by the withdrawal
Of her Minister, and dismissal of our
she ~"appealed from proof to pow
er;" and when at a subsequent period,
and after the organization of an army
to prosecute the wal she had declared,
diplomatic relations were again opened
at the request Of our country, she VIC.
lated her faith-rejec,ed, upon the
most idle and frivolous p~retexts, our
ambassad or -,hrew her forces across
the Rio Grande, and commenced hos
%tilities by attacking a portion Of the
command of Gen. Taylor upon the soil
Of Texas she again appealed "from
reason to force" anticipating ''that in
that temporary suspense of all the prin-
ciples of virtue, strength or chance"
might "usurp the sacred office Of the
Ruie Of Right.'
Resolved, That the "cause Of wars
thus adopted by Mexico, was the an
nexation Of the who'e of Texas, and
not the assertion upon our part, of
a claim, by virtue Of that act, to the
Rio Grande instead of the Nueces as a
boundary; that there has been no ques-
ton of boundary between the United
States and Mexico, until the recent ne
go,iations, Tin which Mexico still claim
ing the whole of Texas, proposed to
cede to the Nueces,j which was long
after such Il pretext had been discov-
cred and set up for her, by her apollo
gists in the United States.
RESOLVED, That the original boundary
of Texas was the Rio Grande.-that
such was It's boundary when il became
a state of the Mexican confederacy;-
that any subsequent aItera,ionof its linn.
its was the result of concession in the
formation of, and under the Constitu.
ton of that Republic--al of which Tex
as had the right to, and did resume, and
when that Constitution was everthrown
and a military despotism substituted for
a republican form Of government;-
and that these were fully confirmed un-
to her as the fruits of her revolution, as