The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-03-09

made the war. Had the order Of the Senate been
Tespected-had The Senator from Missouri, in con.
formity with il. and as he was in duty bound l.,
do. moved to strike all that related TO the re
cogoition OF The war. and referred II to the Com
miitee on Foreign Relations and confined his
report To raising the necessary means of rescuinp
General Taylor and his army from the pressipg
dangers which surrounded them, the possibility ia
that the war might have been aver,ed, and the
two countries at this day have been at peace. Sir
say possibility. because, even then, after the
skrmishes between our forces had occurred. 7 did
no, despair of escaping war. if sufficient frmness
and prudence were used on the par, Of this body.
had deeply reflected on the subject in advance.
and great as were the difficulties, still saw n
CLEAN of hope.
The intelligence Of the skirmshes on the Rio
Grande was received on Saturday, at once saw
the danger, and turned my mind To the subject
j anticipated that message, would he received
on Monday from The Executive, and formed no,
an incorrect opinion as 10 what would be its char
acter. Casting my eyes over the whole. with a
view ofavolding war, came tn The conclusion in
myown mind, what course best to effect that
object. Next morning communicated the con.
illusions to which come 10 two of my colleagues
who were boarding with me- said to them tina
there was but one way of escaping war, but am
not certain that il will be successful II will
however. place MS in the chapter of accidents. and
thereby afford possibility of escape. was ask
ed what it was, and replied that il, depended on
separating the question of war from that which
relates 10 the rescuing OF General Taylor and his
forces. Let the means necessary for The latter Nc
Immediately granted, but let time be taken for due
and deliberate consideration Of the former Had
that been done, II was my intention to throw nv
whole weight against the immediate declaration OF
recognition of war; treating what had occurred
as mere hosiilitles between the two armies with.
out authority OF the Congress-the war making
power of either government.
We had not particle uf evidence then or ever
now that the republic of Mexico had made wa
against the United States Indeed, we are il
the snoma lous condition of the two countries be
ing at war during, and almost, an entire wear
without either having declared it, although Tho
constitutions of buth expressly provide that Con
gress shall declare war
Instead. then. of recognising war, would
have taken the very opposite gronnd-that wha
had occurred was mere hostilites and not war
as the Congress of Mexico had not authorized il
10 provide for the contingency of the Congress.
ct Mexico approving of what had occurred ant
refusing TO treat for the settlement of our difcu Z
ties, would have advised the raising of ampl,
provisional orce, TO be collected at some conYe
nent and healthy point, where they could b.
trained during the interval, and be fully prepared
to meet such decision; but even in case such de
NAL declaration of war. would have advised, a,
Gen. jackson recommended, giving authority Il
the Executive To make repfisals for Selling and
holding such portion of the Mexican territory as
would afford ample indemnity TO be retained un
vi the differences between the two countries wer,
settled; but in the meantime, would have taker
measures TO repel the attacks made upun our ar
my by the Mexican forces, and to drive them ia
beyond the limits Of our borders
Had this course been pursued, we should have
had all The glory and reputation Of the two bril-
liant victories al Palo Alto and Resaca de la Pal
ma without being involved in the present indef
nlle and expensive war waGed against Mexico -
we would also have had The ADVANTAGE of IN,
chapter of accdenis--of Mexico disavowino hos
tlllties, and indemnifying our citizens-ethe
from sense of weakness, or of returning Justice
on her part, or from The influence of other pow
ers, winch Rave an interest in preserving peace
from tleir commercial or other relations with her
ana thereby save a resort TO arms on our part
But, at all events. failing in that we would ba VI
avoided by resorting TO reprisas, the enormou.
expenses, The sacrifice of men and money and The
disasters TO which the war has exposed us.
have now met, and, trust, successfully repealed
all the charges made by the senator from Nilsson
I'll, except those relating to the Missouri compro
mise. and The abolition question at that period
'or which am in M ways responsible I was
mol then IN Congress. filled the office of Sec
re'ary oil war at the time, and had no agency o,
control over IT. His charges are light as air-old
ana stale, without even plausibiliiy. and have
nv the slightest fear of their having any weight
e"ner mere or IN the community.