Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-16
1nottbmon & 9tote Journal.
E,P. WALTON, JIs., EDITOR.
Montpelier, Thursday, Dec. NC.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

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This is the great eleciioneering document of
the locofocos for the next campaign: we give it
entire, and invite every voter at least among our
readers to master it, and prepare himself thus to
understand the discussion which is TO ensue.
The document is very long, and it seems TO be
received with great deal of GOODNESS the Sem
ate did not take the trouble 10 hear it all read
and an effort was made in the House to suspend
the reuding-but nevertheless it is an interesting
document. Nearly all the topics are interesting
and important to the people, and ought to have
been fairly treated. 1t will be found that in this
respect the President is faulty. Had the editor
of the Union written the message, the document
could not have been more unworthy of public |
confidence ne-sided in all its views
more uncahdd. For instance, as TO the Wdr,
which occupies over half of the document: the
President does not scruple TO give the impression
that INerico began the war, by "insultingly re-
jecting our Minister of peace" and by "striking
the first blow, and shedding the blood of our cit
liens on our own soil !" and he also tells us that
he promptly communicated that fact (bostilties
by Mcxico) to Congress-" which body, he says,
affirmed that the war existed by act of Mexico,
"with great unanimity, there being but two
negative votes in the Senate, and fourteen in the
House of Representatives" This is outrageous
ly unfair, TO say the least. In the first place, ev-
cry man of ordinary intelligence knows that our
government is more justly responsible for the re.
lection of Mr.. Slidell than was Mexico But
this is Of little consequence: for in the next
place, the actual fact was that the President or
dered Gen. Taylor 10 occupy Territory claimed
and possessed by .Nerico, THREE MONTHS BEFORE
the rejection Of Mr.. SiideH by Mexico. We re-
fer the reader to President Folks Message of
Dec. 1916, in which he will find the following
facts stated:
Gen. Taylor was ordered to the Rio Grande,
JAN 10, 1876; he left Corpus Christi for terrific
ry claimed and occupied by Mexico, March II,
1S46, and reached the Rio Grande opposite Mat
amoras, Mexican city, on the 2sth of the same
month.-PreSidems Message, 1916, pr.
Mr.. Slidell, according to new instructions re-
ceved from Washington, asked the Mexican
Minister of Foreign Affairs TO accredit him,
March ], 1916, which request was nsultingly re-
fused by that Minister in his answer of the
treljh of The same month"; Same Message, p, 9.
We therefore find, from the authority of Pres
ident Polk HIMSELF that he, the identical Presi-
dent Polk, ordered Gen. Taylor TO take posses.
sion of territory, claimed and held by Mexico
Hree months Unto one day. before Nh SlideA DdS
rejected! aye, and that Gen. Taylor was actually
on his march from Corpus Christi when the Mex
lean Minister wrote his note. This act was war
Mexico SO had warned our government long be-
fore--and more than that, it is fresh within the
recollection Of all, that the first blood was shed
on the territory which Gen. Taylor then occupi
ed, part of his force having encountered por-
ton of the Mexican army upon it, In the third
place, as to the promptitude of the President in
consulting Congress the making power
The first information that Congress received, was
on the 18th of May, l846-not until four months
fwithin two days. after the orders oere sent 10 Gen.
TAYLOR; and indeed not until int igence had
been received of fight, and that Gen. Taylor
was in imminent peril. This may be pronpti-
tn de in the Presidents Judgment-it may be he
deems it proper respect for the representatives of
the people, the only constitutional war power
but we venture to think otherwise. And then as
to the action Of Congress the President seems
to treat its action as a ratification by almost
unanimous vote, of his doings-a sort of retro
sp ective declaration OF War; which is to heal the
breach made in the Constitution by his bold usur-
pat ion of the war power four months before. But
we trust the people are not prepared 10 rest sat
isfed under that view Of the matter: for if they
have come to that, there will soon be no usurpa
ton Of power by the Executive too gross to be
salved over by corrupt or plant party in Con-
gress. No! not even did the last locofoco Con-
gressi dare fairly to meet this Mexican War
question, and legalize IL: they made no declara-
ton of war, but ANONYMOUSLY lodged the ques-
ton by a mere affirmation that the war exists by
the act of Mexico-an affirmation stigmatized
as falsehood by eighteen Senators and sirty Sep
en- members of the House.
In view of these facts, the course of the Pres
ident in his present Message seems to be any
thing but candid or commendabe. There is owl
IDENTIFY an effort to gloze over this important mat
ter, nor is the gloss confined TO The war The
President gives rosy hue to every thing which
he touches-puts the best face possible even up
on very hdeous things he is the man in the
mask. The National Debt, he says, has been in
ere ased only about