The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-08-21
MORE LIGHT.

Evidence that the war with Mexico was
unnecessary, as the wings allege can be cited
in any quantity from the more inteli gen; To-
cof6cos OF the country. The war has been
called Mr. Folks war. And what says Mr.
Brownson, one Of the most learned men of
the locoioco party; In late number Of his
review he SAYS:
Extract from Browusou's Review.
s.The course the President should have
pursued is plain and Obvious GA learning
the state of things on the frontier. the Cri,i-
cal condition OF Our army Of occupation. he
should have demanded of Congress the rein
lurcemeuts and supplies necessary TO relieve
it and secure the purpose for which It was a.
vOwcdly sent TO the Rio Graudc: and, IT he
believed itproper or necessary. 10 have in
addition laid before Congress tjIl and truth
tul statement OF our relations with Mexico.
including all the unudiu<tcd complaints, past
and present, we mad against her, accompa-
MED by the recommendation Of dCciara-
lion of war. He would then have kept with
in the limits olhis duty proved himself Il
plain constitutional President, and left the
responsibility Of war or no war 10 Congress,
the only war making power known 10 laws.
Congress after mature dGliberation, might. or
not. have declared war,-most likely would
not; hut whether so or not, the responsibility
would have rested with it, and no blame
would have attached to the President.
"Unhappjly, this course did not occur TO
the President, or was too plain and simple to
meet his appreciation. b. declaring that the
war already existed, and by the act Of Mexi-
co herself the President relieved Congress
ot'the responsibility of the war, by throwing
ii all on Mexico. But since he cannot fdsieH Il
on .NeTico for war did not already exist, or if
so by our act, and not hers, il necessarily re-
coils upon hmselfund he must bear he resp0a-
sibildy Of doing lchai the Constitution forJiGs
him 10 do,--0f making lrar ,rithod The inieyren-
ton Of Congress. In effect therefore, he has
irampledhe Constitution lH9er his feet set a
dangerous precedent, and by the Q6iciGi puJ{icd-
tioa Of a puipnbie dlsehood, SUilied the national
honor. 1t is with no pleasure that we speak
thus ofthe magistrate ofthe Union, for
,cI,oSe eler1tion TO his high and responsible office
IRE ourselves roted. But whatever may he our
attachment to party, or the respect we hold
to be due from all good citizens to the civil
magistrate, we cannot see the Constitution
violated, and the national honor sacrificed
whether by friend or foe from good motives
or bad, without entering,t feeble though it may
| be, our stern aud indignant protest.
And what says MIR John C. Calhoun
whose Iocoiocosm is well known? He said
in the Senate:
"The immediate cause ofihe war tcas III,
marching ot'our forces from Corpus Christ to
tie banks orhe De! .Norie. That clearly
made the invasion, so called by the President
and hence the declaration on lis part that
the Rio del Norte was the boundary. Ii Gen
! Taylor had remained where he was, there
,cotld hare been no ncdSion,-no Rio del n nrte
as boundary 10 he established by Treaty
and declaration of Congress"
Speaking of the Treaty with Texas, con-
corning which Mr. Turney charged that il
embraced the boundary of the Del Norte, he
said
at was expressly left open, that the boun-
Diary might be subsequently established with
Mexico. When the Treaty was signed hy
the Presdent,I (being then Secretary ofState
communicated directly with the Mexican
Government, and stated was ready 10 settle
all questions of difference, and amongst
| them the BOUNDARY, on liberal principles"