Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-01-29
SENEX.

lY-The following speech which we take
from the report of Mr.. Lemay. the editor of
the Raleigh Star, will amply repay the reader
for parusal 1t was delivered by our able
Senator, Mr.. AsHE, in opposition to the pre-
amble to the resolution approprating $4,000
for the volunteers. That preamble, as our
readers are aware, charged that the war had
been brought on "by the executive" which
every body knows to be false. We commend
this expose to the people of North Carolina:
MI. AsHE said, yesterday, having just returned
to his seat after short absence, when he found
the resolution had been introduced, he was very
anxious to vote for it but he could not, from self
respect, in its present shape and it was Postpon-
ed at his request under the hope that he might
lay his hand OIL documents which would throw
light on the subject but he had not succeeded in
procuring all that he desired and had hoped a lit
tie further time would be allowed him but as this
act of courtesy was denied, he would proceed to
give his objections to the preamble.
He was unwilling to vote for it for it contained
language which implied censure upon the Pres
idcnt who he believed had acted right. He did
not believe his friend from BERTHE, who no doubt
entertained the kindest feelings for the soldiers, and
an earnest desire for the prosecution of the war,
had introduced the Language to entrap them but
it proceeded from that spirit fhostility which the
opposite party have to every thing Democratic
They did nothing without aiming blow at De-
mocracy. Their conduct reminded him Of GER
tain Roman General who always ended all his
speeches, whatever might be the subject matter Of
the speaker, width Carthage must be destroyed"
The whole question, said Mr.. A., is narrowed
down to the single point-Did the country be-
tween the Neuces and the Rio Grande belong to
Mexico, to the United States ? This could be
sa factory answered. by reference to treaties and
boundaries. The country originally belonged to
Spain and to ascertain who now held the just
claim to it, it was necessary to inquire what Spain
coded to France, and what France coded to U.s.
Mr.. jefferson purchased that country, and always
claimed the Rio Grande as cur Southwestern boun-
Diary. He had also the authority of another distn-
gushed statesman whose ipsc dirit is law now
with the opposition party-that Of Mr.. Clay. 1t
was contained in of his ablcst and most patri-
otto productions, and he was surprised to find it.
Gin compilation of his speeches, &C. placed in
the back ground, in an appendix. Mr.. A. here
read to show that Messrs Clay, jefferson, Madi-
son and Monroe claimed the aforesaid boundary.
He said although he would be very suspicious
in looking upon what Mr.. Clay had said since
1924. as orthodox yet what he said previously
might be regarded as such. Gentlemen might
scorn what he said before, because he at that time
turned political somerset and wheeled into the
fcdclal ranks but the country would Judge Of its
weigh and soundness.
Mr. Monroe, under the advice of his political
friends ceded away certain parts of Texas for Flori
da, retaining what lay east Of the Sabine, and c.
ding that portion laying west of that river. But
in little while where did we find Texas! She
had separated from the confederated States Of
Mexico; and when she threw off the yoke, was
there any change of boundary! Why did Texa.
separate! Because she was oppressed by politica
aspirants. II gentlemen wished any evidence Of
the right Of Texas ~ separate from the general
Government, let them look at our condition under
the old Confederacy, an exact parallel case. Had
not any Of the States, under that system, a right
to secede from the confcderacy! N. Carolina
! Maryland and Rhode Island were the last to come
into the Union, and they had the same right to
have left the original confederacy that they pos
sessed to remain out Of or accede to our present
Union. Texas possessed the same right in refer
ence to the Government Of Mexico. Texas wal
found at the commencement other revolution draw
ing upon all her resources and she levied the sin
ews of war from all her territory, including tn,
country lying between the Neuces & Rio Grande
When her Congress met in 1886, they decided OF
the metes and boundaries, which included all oil
this territory. 1t now belongs to her. There i
no neutral territory. The battle of San Jacint
was . Yorktown affair to them. By it they es
tablished their independence. The U. 8. acknowl
edged her independence. So also, next, did Franc
and England, and Spain acknowledged it only fiv
8 years after she acknowledged that of Mexico
D When we acknowledged her independence, wha
. part or portion did we acknowledge as indepen
dent. Was it not what Texas claimed hersef!-
Then this territory was included
t But again-in order to put this question beyon
the possibility of doubt suppose in this territor
now said to be neutral, before the act of annexa
ton, some spoilation had been committed upon on
citizens to whom would We have gone for redress
: Would we not have held Texas responsible? an
why because she claimed it. and had extende
her laws over it. But to put it entirely beyond III
pale Of contestation what did Texas do herself Sb
made judicial district in. that very TERRITORY an
sent member of Congress from there. What d
we say to this Refuse to receive him, and o.
tracise one of our own citizens Not at all.
The resolution Of Congress of lS45, inyitin
Texas into the Union was here read from the NJ
r tonal Intellgencer by Mr.. A., who went on to II
marx, in pursuance of this resolution the people
Texas called convention, in which this neutrG
i ground was repre- sented by their delegates. tn
: Convention agreed to annexatiol. He had some
Y thing to confirm what he said in relation TO whs
= Texas claimed for herself. Here he read extrac,
: froma late work, describing the boundaries G
s Texas. &c, and showing; that the Rio Grande wa
described By The author a. its Southwestern hour