The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-03-02

with cornisncs to her being as an ally Of Eng
land IN the treaty by which the war should be termna
never deserts an ally in war 1t seemed TO me, undor
these circumstances thst was great error to suppose
those with Eugland were pending Our true policy,
then according tn my opinion. was to suspend All a
temps at opening negotson WIN Mexico uoT .c tss
and Mexico could no look TO The support OF Eng
land in her controversy with us she would see the Jolly
OF declining 10 adjust the d ferences between US and
enter into conflict with power every way 50 vastly her
superior
There would. then, be another advantage which
would greatly favor q settlement Of difficulties With
Mexico The eloquent Senator from Louisiana has truly
said that Mexico least tar capital is ned
British colony The immense interest whchEngand
has In the country would have enlisted her on the side
been exerted to induce Mexico into satisac
tory arrangement with US cannot doubt that snder
the influence OF these powerful causes wi little
bearance and prudence part all the causes Of df
ference between the two countries would this have
been settled by treaty satisfactory to both
An opposite course was, however, unfortunately
taken both negotiations pushed at the same time
and that with Mexico, with at least much zeal ana
strong PRESSURE as that with England The then Pro
sdent of the republic Of Mexico (Herrera) friendly
to the United States and anxiously dsposed that
count as well as Others to settle the differences with Us
Acting under these feelings, he acceded TO the PROPOSE
ton to receive commissioner, without duly rehsctng
minds OF tho Mexicans against treating with Tho
result was might have been anticipated Paredes took
advantage OF the error and hurled Herrera from powsr
and the effect OF this premature attempt at opening
iation,wss to overthrow friend, and place enemy in
power deeply committed against settling the differences
between the two countries, and thereby, as ought to
have been fOreseen greatly to increase the difficulty OF
any future settlement of the questions What followed
from this unfortunate step until It ended in war between
the two countries has been clearly traced by the Sc
naor from Maine, as to supsrsede the necessity Of
touching upon il.
The overlooking Of the intimate connection of these
two questions not only the first link in that series OF
which finally minat cd in this war; but it came
preventing the settlement Of the Oregon question
Had tho action OF Congress- which finally led to the set
Element OF the Oregon question been delayed until
al ahAah kan hatu
forces and the Mexicans on the Rio Grande, Out
short perod there is every reason to believe the Oregon
high authority--the escape was a narrow one Fortu.
naely the British government promptly acted upon the
notice. and rendered a proposition to minister
which the settlement was finally made, which he
ceved and forwarded to our government but few days
the Rio Grsnde while they fortunately occurred
too late to prevent settlement OF the Oregon question,
with Mexico But if the policy which the adminstr"
ton hrst adopted after annexation had been pursued
Of s h an hs ns If
nexaon and no further-there il every to be.
ievs that on the settlement Of the Oregon question the
OF the two countries would have been
true Mexico claimed the whole Of Texas but it Is
equally true that she recognised the difference, and
showed disposition to act upon it, between the country
Texas proper and the country between it and
the Del Nore. Il i also that we and Texas recog
Missed the same difference and that both regarded the
boundary unsettledss the resolution of
which provides that the boundary between Texas and
Mexico shall determined by the United States clearly
shows. II is worthy OF remark in this connexon that
this provision in the joint resolution is understood have
been inserted in consequence OF the ground taken the
preceding session by the Senator from Missouri the
discussion OF the treaty that the Nueces the
boundary OF Texas and that extend boundary
to the RE del Norte would take in part OF Tamaulpas
Coahuila and New Mexico What, them ought to have
been the course Of tho Executive, after anne Xaton
under this resolution The very which they first
pursued-to restrict the position OF troops the
country actually occupied by Texas at the period Of
nexation All beyond, as far as the Executive
cerDeJ ought to have been regarded subject the
provision OF the resolution, which authorised the 60
| vernment to settle the boundary. There but two
MOODS OF settling a disputed boundary-one by the
Joint consent VI both parties that is treaty OF which
me President and the Senate the organs the
uner, by the dss animation OF the parties for
use after failing obtain consent of the other and
that under our governme n can only be done by Con
ress Indeed when we spe ak of our government il
Understood 10 mean Congress and the Executive acting
onty-the Que BY passing act resolution, and tn.
other by IFS approval And in Congress. taken ,his
sense all discretionary power undsr system gov
erhment is invested 1t Is only by his power dis
pued boundary can be determined the
itself aud without the consent Of the other party The
President had right to determine his will
>hst the boundary was, Than had, any other S-na
or such indeed sppesIsd to Dc the conviction Of the
resident himself IL is only on such supposon thai
40 eau Ell plain his course attempting open nego
istion wIh Mexico, with view oi settling ell differ
.nces between the two countries, among winch the
dement, OF the boundary considered a paramount
question Why negotiate, If it were an unsettled
liestionf Why negotiate, If the Rio del Norts- as II
vas after wards assume Twas the clear and
abse boundary And If not, upon what authority after
he aempt,to open negotiation had failed could he d..
srmius what the boundary viewing it a. an ofen
question! Was T. not his plain duty such sour.
,ence ~ submit The question to Congress- winch wa
then in session, and in whom thu right Of establishing thu
oundSry and declaring wsrwas clearly invested Had
tost course been adopted greatly msake IL the SEM.
o this body would not have been decidedly opposed 10
| taking any step which would have involved the two
| countries in war Indeed, | feel a strong CONVICTION
I!ai, II the Senate had been lett free eide tn
question, OF third OF the body would hav. been
lound IN favor OF war As it large majority falt
nsmseives compelled as they believed to vote for tn.
IN recognizing the existence OF In order 10
ne supplies OF men AMI money necessary TO
army under General Taylor, the Del Norts from
| aanRers to which II was exposed.
But to bring the matter home the Senator himself is
IN no small degree responsible for the war | intend no
attack on him. have made none and will ma ke none
The relations between him and self personal and d
cal have long been such that selfre nd sense
propriey, forbid my audng to him. exec pt when un
avoidable, and then in a courteous manner; and now
nliude 10 his course only because Is necessary to ex
plain mine, and the motives which governed me the
| occasion
The Senate will remember that when the Presidents
message was received recommending Congress re.
cogDize that existed between and Mexico and
to raise the necessary means for it's the Sc
naor tom Mississippi whose seat is immediately my
right, but who is now absent, Mr.. Speight moved
print 20 600 copies of the message and documents The
scene was solemn one and what occurred will lorg
be remembered by the members OF the body. rose
objected and said that we were on the Of great
events and expressed my hope that would proceed
calmly and deliberately. I suggested that the printing
Of so large number Of copies would be construed
| an endorsement of the message adding that
willing either to endorse condemn until the message
and documents printed and carefully petused by
me. debate ensued, and the journals Of the Senate
will show what took place. The Senator from Missouri
the individual who made tho discreet apr opri
motion 10 separate the ndatons Of the mes
sage into two pars and that which related to re-
| sognising the existence OF TO the COMMITTEES on
Foreign Relations and that which related to the raising
| Of men and supplies to the Committee on Military Al.
fars Of which he chairman The latter 1t was ex
pected, would report immediate measures for the support
OF General Taylor. seconded the motion, sni 1t was
carried by large majority saw in it that which IA ~
me hope and that should be able effect the obec
| had in view, and which will hereafter explain.
The House of Representatives ected with much more
precipancyj it passed bill the very day the message
received, recognising The existence Of the war; ana
providing for s prosecution. It late in the
evening when II passed the House, and am of the i'm
preston that the Senate had sdourned and 1t
reported 10 it that day; but be that may the next
day the Senator chairman of the Committee OIL MIr
ary Affairs, reported the bill to the Senate came
from the House, with both provisions in it, directly
rsry TO the order Of the Senate, made his motion
10 refer the part Ct the message relating to the recogn
ton OF TO the Committee Foreign Relations. To
that and the fact that had been held OF the par
y which agreed to sustain the report may be traced the