Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-12-08
Mr. wcbsters s1exican spccch.

Mr.. Wcbster's Mexican Speech.
With all our efforts we have hitherto
been unable to make room for review of
this extraordinary production. We will
now give brief, a few Of his principal po-
sitions.
In the course Of his desperate special
pleading to convict the Administration Of
wrong and subterfuge in the commence.
ment and prosecution Of the war, to p, Owe
that our government is in the wrong and
Mexico in the right, and to manufacture
pretexts to justify the wing policy Of with
holding supplies, Mr.. Webster has invol-
we'd himself in labyrinthian maze of in
consistency, absurdity ard point blank
contradiction, from which we orine it
would be impossible for a Philadelphia
lawyer, even, TO extricate him. Starting
out on one tack, he suddenly siriken off
into another leading in an opposite direc-
tion-rounds to, crosses his track, doubles,
and runs but up aga'ns: the positions which
he has reared, knocking them all into ad.
mirable confusion. This, in such ia
Tented statesman aid skilful taciciar as
Mr.. Webster, certainly show that he is
engaged in very bad cause.
Assuming at the outset, that tive are en-
gagged in most unnecessary, and therefore
unjustifiatle war;" ne says:
mo man is ignorant Of the TACT that the
Constitution Of the United States coniers
on Congress the power Of making war
And therefore. there is no man SO ignoran,
as not to know, when that poweris exer-
cised according to the forms of the Con-
stitu,ion, Tint the expressed ,rW of Con-
gress is the law Of the land, and is the rule
Of erery citi-en's eiu.l obligations. We
may oppose counsels which will lead to
war but when the deliberations of gov.
eminent result IN a lar, then that iuw is OF
course TO be fesardedi!"
Here lie: it be noted, that in Nav, 1916.
Congress enacted law with due form and
solcmniy, declai ring that wax existed by
the act of Mexico, and appropriating sl0,-
600, 600 and authorizing the calling out of
10000 volunteers to prosecute it. This,
according TO the above declaration of Mr..
Webster, definitely established ''the rule
Of erery citizens civH obligations" and was
"ot course 10 be ,egarded' as such.
Mark, also, how explici, he is in indi-
eating this as the manner in which the war
making power is to be "exercised accord
ing to The forms of Ike Constitution" But
how does this tally with what follows
closely in the same column, to wit; Il
hold it to be war unconstitutional in ITS
origin" This is contradiction No. l.
He then says:
':.Now, sir, the law of nations instrucfs
us that there are wars Of pretexts-lhar is
on pretenccs, vi here the cause assigned is
not the true cause. That | believe upon
my conscience, is the character of the war
now wsged against Mexico"
He next proceeds to enumerate these
"preteAts," as follows:
Isl. THAT the Mexican Government
had invaded the territory Of the United
States, and she'd American blood upon
American soil" % "The refusal OF
Mexico 10 receive cur minister" And
third, 'that Mexico had leclied and re-
fused to pay the debts due from herself 10
citizens ofthe United States"
These are the pretcr's upon which Mr..
Webster assumes that the war is found
ed and prosecu'ed-the causes which lead
10 this "nnrishteous and God abhorred'
war. But what does he say alnos: in The
next breath? Hear him:
"Sir, ! have before alluded to the dec
laraipn Of Mr.. Calhoun, that if there had
been 10 annexation OF Texas, there would
have been 10 war, Now, choose to say
that | concur in your own declaration, sir,
that "the direct consequences OF this &C, Of
iriquity, is the present wsr-iiss TOO plQin
nat nanere'iOn uoS The primary cause of
lie uar.'
SO those 'Preierts" had nothing to do in
the matter at last. The war is ''the direct
coaSeGuace," and Enumeration was Tie
Erin,ary cause Of the war; This is pref
ty clear and forcibIe reasoning from cause
to effect. 1t will pass for contradiction
No, =.
Notice that in the above extract he de
dominates the annexation Of Texas as
4his act OF inqui'y.' But what next?-
Speaking Ut Texas, he says:
This country acknowledged that gov
ernmert; for.ien States acknowledged that
government; and l think in all fairness and
honesty, we must admit, that in 1910, Al
AZ, and '43, Texas vas an independent
State among the States Of the world. Il
do not admit, therefore, that 1t aros any Just
ground Of COM iaint!on the part Of .Meaico,
that The United &a,es unneued Ie1as to
Memsiues
Contradiction No g. Here he falsiiies
all Ia. 4 l..