The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-08
National WING Doctrine. concerning the
Subject 10 The lecision Of tie Wing National Con,

1
and its objects, it is useless to deny; but
while such is the fact, every Wing will ad-
init that there is common ground of agree
ment among them upon these momentous
subjects; and that this ground is broad enough
for all Wings to stand upon and do battle on
the side Of the country.
1t is the duty, therefore, of Wings every
where to ascertain the extent and nature of
this common ground, to rally upon it in force,
to present an unbroken front to their oppo-
nents, and to compel them to administer the
trust confded to them for the good of the
country, and not for the advancement of
party,
On what points, then, do the Wings of
the whole Union agree respecting the Mex
lean war, its prosecution, and the purposes
Tor which it is waged'
Passing by the diversites of opinion that
exist upon these questions in the various
States, we believe that all Wings agree upon
the following positions as embodying what is
absolutely true:
/. The proposition Of party in this coun-
try to annex Texas to this Union was shown
by the Wings to be an assumption by the
United States of the war existing between
Texas and Mexico
| 2. The people passed upon this PROPOSE
ton in the face of this demonstration, and,
after severe struggle, declared in favor Of
| it bySmaking Mr.. Polk their Chief Maeis-
trate.
3. The contamination OF the act of annex
alton placed the United States in state of
war with Mexico
A. The Polk dynasty, upon its instalment
in power, resolved upon a foreign war, to be
used as an element in the Presidential cleo
ton of lS4S to establish the continuance in
place Of that dynasty.
5. A war with Great Britain was first de-
tcrmined upon, but the division of the domi-
nant party in the United States Senate
thwarted the designs of the Administration,
and brought peace out of the intended evil.
6. The Executive then turned to Mexi-
co with predetermination to force her into
actual war against the United States, and to
SO manage the war that it should be prolong-
ed until the Presidential election Of lS4S,
and be made direct element in that cleo
ton, for the purpose of either eecting him
or his appointed successor. l.,
Z. In the negotiations with Mexico fol
the establishment Of a boundary, which ne.
gotiations Mexico expressly agreed to open
upon tie ground mat the TWO nations were
at war with each other in consequence Of the
annexation Of Texas Mr.. Polk refused to
admit that the United States occupied this
= position and insisted upon the negotiations
being opened as between two nations a
: peace the one with the other.
s. Pending the negotiations with Mexi
e CO, the Executive ordered the forces of tn,
United States to rendezvous upon the west
ern line Of the old Mexican province of Tex.
. as, and our fleets to assemble In front Of tn,
seaports of Mexico, with view to intimida.
ton; which object failing, our army was or
dered by the President during the session 0
, Congress to take post on the banks Of thu
( Rio Grande
9. The occupation of any part Of Texa,
X proper by the United States forces was nj
/ more an act Of hostility against Mexico thar
the contamination Of the act of annexation
but the advance Of our troops into Tamauli
pas, which was claimed by the Texas repub.
! lie, was a military occupation Of at least dis.
puted territory, and therefore unauthorized
by the law Of nations. hHt.s5a"
10. The marching Of our forces into the
disputed territory was fresh act of hostii-
ty against Mexico, by the law of nations.
IL. The omission by the President not t
consult Congress upon the Mexican qucs.
: ton, when it was in session, was violation
of his constitutional powers, and an act o
tyranny, for the express purpose of prevent
: ing Congress from interposng its authority to
arrest him in his determination to force Mex.
leo into open hostilities.
H. The recognition Of hostlitics by the
act of Congress Of the 18th Of May, 1916
was the legitimate result of the Executive
policy, which took the initiative in forcing
an open rupture with Mexico, and then, I'M
der the lash of public excitement, left Con-
gress no alternative but to act as it did
Is. The spirit Of the act of 18th Of May,
1916, did not contemplate war Of invasion
against the Mexicans, but only war to de-
I fend the boundary claimed by Texas, and
|, yet the Executive followed its letter, and pro-
!, claimed that peace was the object of the wal
which the act Of annexation established be-
c tween the two countries, and which the Pre-
sldent forced the Congress to authorize him
= indirectly to carry on.
ID. The whole conduct Of the war has
been in open violation Of the laws placing
means at the disposal of the Executive to
\ wage it, and even in contradiction Of the
a avowed purposes of the Administration; for
e it has been solely to prolong the war and