The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-11

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nally pracised We have seen one Kingdom overturned
and its dominion pass TO foreign power because IT.
semibabarous sovereign forgot his own dignity and the
rights OF others, so much 70 flourish his fan in the
face OF consul And we have seef the Oldest empire
IN the world attacked and its recesses 60 long concealed
Land OPEN and IFS government, posaed at the eet OF an
INVADER because insisted upon the exercise of its in
drug equally destructive 10 the ply seal powers and 10
the moral faculties. But sir, have no disposition TO
open ledger with other nations and to make regular
pare the account with our @ W. s mo- e. sDn
hon from the iraes Of humanity. 1t were well If war
Se na &c d 3D. AND hs Ssys established
will come when i Is ordained in the providence Of God
The eye OF faith may discern il now. But. looking at
human as adsen Ky Of unyerss
shll far remote, And, in the mean time If we struck
we must strike back, or become bywo and reproach
among the nations OF the earth.
But sir, passing from the external view Of our difficult
ties with Mexico have still internal one to take,
which involves much higher considerations. The causes
OF The war are grave subject OF discussion. Public
upon them, For myself have 10 fear d he result
The more the question is examined, the manifest
will be wrongs, and the clearer forbearance In
the Presidents last message interesting synopsis
given OF the conduct OF Mexico towards this country
No conclusive review of national injuries has ever
appealed TO the public opinion of this country or of the
world II recaptuates, calmly and with truth and force
the stl accommodating wrongs we had suffered and the
hnal act which crowned henthe invasion Of coun-
Try and the attack upon army attack which the
Mexican authorities declared they would make as far
east as the Sabine river.
/ shall not. Mr. President 60 over the whole ground
OF our difficulties with Mexico regret that it becomes
necessary to investigate their history in this place re-
gret that unanmity does not prevail upon this subject
IN md
action. While regret il, however, | mpugn the mo-
tives Of no Thank God, free 10 ihyesti-
the air Of heaven But while concede to others the
same right claim for myself-the right TO examine free
" and to Judge openly the conduct Of the government
its intercourse with other nations- may be allowed 10
express the regret and together with the regret the sur
prise, that throughout the country undivided sent-
ment had not preyailedthat the conduct Of Mexico left
US no choice between war and dishonor
We were the first to receive that republic into the fam
Ivy OF nations Our complaints against her commenced
almost with the commencement OF her independence
They go back to the year 1917. and come down 70 the
present day in almost uninterrupted series of out
RACES. shall not state them sertam, enter into the
detail of their nature andexcnt This has been repeat
eIy DONE and the official documents before the
try will merely classify from able report, made by
Mr. Forsyth in 1887, the various heads Of complaints,
which will present TIE general aspect Of the subject
has been sezed by Mexican officers IN its transit from
the capital to the coast.
@ Vessels Of the United States have been captured,
detained, and condemned upon the most frivolous pre-
texts.
3:-Dutes have been exacted from others notsrously
against law, without law.
4. Other vessels have been employed, and, in in
stances ruined IN the Mexican service, without compen
sation to the owners.
5; Citizens OF the United States have been imprisoned
for long periods of time, without being informed Of the
offences with which they were charged.
9, Other citizens have been Murdered AMI robbed by
to bring the guilty to Justice
In presenting to Congress these causes OF complaint
against Mexico in 1887, General Jackson stated that
they. would justify. in the eyes Of all nations inn
mediate war This sentiment was responded to by
the Committees Foreign Relations, both in the Senate
and in the House OF Representatives.; the former of
next session OF Congress- and could not doubt but that
such measures would be Immediately adopted as might
DC necessary to vndcae the honor OF the country and
insure ample reparaton TO injured citizens. And
the latter said they 'fully with the President,
that ample cause exists for taking redress into our own
hands, and believe that shall be justified in the opn
ION Of other nations for taking such step" President
Van Buren,, in December, 1887 his message to Con-
gress, said that though our causes Of complaint,
and some OF the most offensive character admitted OF
immediate and satisfactory reply yet was only within
a few days, that any answer had been received,
OF our public complaints. and that only Of per
sonal wrong had been fayoaby considered and that but
Jour cases. out OF all had been decided by the Mexican
government" President Van Buren, distinctly told Con-
gress that redress beyond the reach of the Execu
hve and could only be obtained by the action of Con-
gress' which action must, Of course, be war
the two countries, and violated by Mexico. need not
enter into their history they fresh in the recolec
on OF all. These three conventions, by the nidelity
OF the Mexican government have proved nearly
nitess; and after thirty years OF injury on the one
SIDE and OF renonsance the other there nothing left
for but 10 abandon all hope Of redress, obtain il
by vigorous prosecution OF the war Is there another
government on the face of the earth, which would have
been thus patient not to say humble, during the long
progress OF such aCgressions And it is now too
late to tell that have hastily and unnecessarily
commenced war, when the war was commenced BY the
enemy, and when if we had struck the first stroke we
should have been justified in the eyes OF the world and
Of posterity. 49,,
But it may be said, and it has been said, that although
not these causes which provoked immediate hostites
Ihs vew true, has relation to the expediency, and
not 10 the justice OF the war But what are the general
facts upon which just conclusion be formed After
the convention of Texas had decided that that republic
would annex herself to the United States ageeeaby to
the terms held out in the act OF Congress- but before its
contamination by vote OF the Texan people, we were
any foreign invasion, and more particularly from any
invasion to which she might be exposed by
the manifestations of her intentions to attach herself
to the United STATES / shall not argue this point No
illustration make il stronger. AS soon, therefore, as
the Inclpen steps had been taken, troops entered
Texas, by the invitation OF the proper authorities and on
the 18th day of August, 1915, they had taken position
there till the 18th Of March, 1916, when they marched
for the Rio Grande. So much for our military move
ments.
Two alleged as giving Mexico lust cause of
war against the United States The frst which is the
annex alton OF Texas, is jointly urged both in Mexico
and in this country The second which believe finds it.
advocates only in the United States is that our army oc
mad tho Iak..,. NJ