The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-30

which. on the 9th Of June, was despatched /.
Gen. TAYLOR, to be by him distributed through.
out all Mexico, and that purpertsd to set forth
to the people Of Mexico the causes of the var
have II, and hope the gentlemen Of the
press will publish it. What did that declaration
say 10 themf Anything about invasion Of
American territory and the murder Of American
troopsl Not a word like it--not one word
That proclamation goes upon the old matter OF
the debts, and upon the refusal 10 receive Mr..
siideii us our minister, and upon q supposed de-
ciaraiion by Paredes, which cannot find any,
where, that war did actually exist But the
fact alleged in the war measure of May IL, and
the fact enacted, il fact can be enacted by
legislative power. that war existed by Mexican
invasion, is not alluded to, stated, or intimated
in the proclamation to the Mexican people
On the contrary, the proclamation, speaking
from the mouth Of Gen. Taylor, says: ave
come as friends. We have great causes Of
complaint, but we come to relieve YOU from the
tyranny of your own Government. We come
TO put down that despotsm which lords il over
YOU" Well, IL was Paroles, military chief
tain, who had succeeded Santa Anna, another
military cheftain, according 10 the order Of
Mexican succession for the last twenty wears
II Is to put down those who would establish a
monarchy over you. -.
where was Santa Anna at this tlmel Why,
he was in Cuba AT some time in June he left
Cuba and made his way 10 Vera Cruz. and was
there admitted by Com. Conner acco rcing to or
der. Before he reached Mexico he had sent his
proclamation TO be distributed there. He had,
py aPronunciamento, set forth his purpose to
put down the tyrants and to prevent the estal-
iishment OF monarchy. Either Santa Anna
borrowed from our Executive, or they from him.
or it was the jumping judgment Of two great
geniuses, don't know which; but the sen,i
mcnts were the same, they were pronounced at
the same time, and when Gen. Taylor was in
vading Mexico at the north, Santa Annals
agents were possessed of his plan of pronun =
eiamenfo TO the same effect with the same ideas.
and in the same language. This terminated in
July or August in deposiug Paroles:
| Now then, the President Of the United States
acknowledges, and he could not deny it, in his
elaborate commentary ON these transactions in
the message Of last year that he did wish to
overthrow the government of Paredes, and saw
no other way Of getting rid of our difficulty
with Mexico than by bringing about revolu-
ton in Mexico. | confess, sir, that when /
hrst read that message | was struck with equal
notification and establishment. We, of the
United States, citizens living together under this
Constitution, and twenty millions Of us, while
We have a just cause Of war against Mexico.
cannot get rid Of the difficulty without attenIpt-
ing TO subvert the temporarily existing Govern
inent OF that miserable nation. Aside from the
want OF dignity, which il appeared TO me al
most covered the country with some degree of
disgrace, in fomentinga revolution in the coun-
Try Of an enemy, it appears to me to have
been extremely weak, ill-judged, and inexpe-
dent,
Santa Anna got TO Mexico. Gen. TAYLOR
distributed his proclamation. The President
admits in the message Of December last that he
hoped for councils more pesceable to the United
States from the authority Of Santa Anna, than
from the authority Of Paroles. How far he
has been disappointed the events will tell.
How far this military chieftain entered into an
agreement, | ain not to say; that there was a
general understanding is evident; whether he
was unable or unwilling to carry out that un-
ders,anding, or whether he found the sentimen,
of the nation too strong for him, leave YOU to
Judge; but the fact is We find him, soon afier al
the head Of the army, and In dlreful and bloody
conflicts with the army of the United States.
lie had come, either at the suggestion, or at
least, by the permission Of the President Of the
United States. He had put himself at the head
of the Mexican armies; but instead Of moving
towards peace he moved ONLY towards war; and
conflict, and battle. Whatever else may be
said of the circumstances, ordinary or extraor-
binary, that have attended the elevation Of the
] fortunes of the President of the United States.
| il will be admitted that at least in one respect
his case is somewhat Singular. He ha. seen
armies Of vast numbers AID amount fighting
various battles In tented fields, and il so happens
that he has had the selection Of commanders on
both sides,
| The precise object Of this war is proved BY
| facts and circumstances, sufficient, / think. 10
satisfy any reasonable man. The precise object
Of this war was to establish Government in
Mexico, by the restoration Of Santa Anna,
which should yield the question Of Texan indie
oendence and give US no mare trouble on that
account. How grievousy that caic uation has
been disappointed, let subsequent events show
| This then Is the real ground and origin Of the
war, and all the rest, SO far appears to me- is
mere preteyt; and | hope those whose business
il is to spread information upon these impor-
tant subjects will look at that proclamation of
the 9th of May, will compare what the Govern
ment of the United States say, with what the
President said in his message OF the llth Of
May, and what Congress enacted in conformity
with that message, ON the hypothesis that war
arose from invasion by the Mexican forces Of
our soil, and the murder Of cur citizens.
Mr.. Webster opposes any acquisition Of ter
riiory. lie was willing, when Secretary Of
State, TO obtain possession Of the port Of Fran
cisco by cession, or us naval station
This was for commercial ends. Mr. w. did not
dream of acquiring more territory. OF the ex-
tension Of slavery, the orator said:
Allow me to say, sir, that have not seen one
intelligent man Of the South who objects to the
fair exercise Of all the power Of the North in
preventing the further increase of slave repre-
sentation in Congress. i do not know the man
Of my acquaintance who says to me that il Is
unreasonable in us, or that il is not 10 be ex-
pected from us, or that it may not be rightly
performed by US. There is no one who can
complain of the North for resisting the increase
Of slave representation, because it gives power
to the minority in manner inconsistent with
the principles Of our Government. What is
past must stand; what is established must stand;
and with the same firmness with which l shall
resist every plan to augment the slave repre-
scntation, or to bring the Constitution into any
hazards by attempting to extend our dominions,
shall | contend to allow existing rights to re-
main.
But there is one thing of which Southern
gentlemen do complain. They complain Of this
provision Of the WiImot Provis,, s'because,"
say they, "it IL unequal. You of the North
can settle II, because You can 60 without slaves.
We Of the Sopth cannot settle it because we
have slaves. 1t establishes aderogatory distinc
ton and tends to establish an Inequality" Let
US consider the force Of this argument. | am
always happy to meet Southern gentlemen Of
character, honor, talents, and ability upon this
question. How is it with the privilege which
they now have Of u representation dispropor-
| toned to ours7 They admit this to be an inc
quality, and If new territory is admitted, open
to slaves, is not that plainly augme ntatioa Of
that inequality
Sir, I can only say, that, in my judgment, we
ara to use the rat and the last and every occa-
| sion which occurs In maintaining our senti-
| m thu nj sion of the sl.ve