The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-31

cation OF it, and of our title TO the Perddo that OPP
position was silenced. Tradition says that severll
members of ii, upon the conclusion oil Mr.. Clnys
speech expressed their satisfaction with his success
iul proof of our title.
The occupation of West Florida by Mr.. Madison
in 1910 has been compared TO the measure OF MIR;
Polk, ordering the army Of Gen. Taylor to proceed
from Corpus Christi TO the valley OF the Rio del
Norte. What inlauation There is not the remotest
simude between the two cases. Mr.. Madison had
the authority not only OF one, but OF various acts OF
Congress for what he did, Mr.. Polk had no authors
~ whatever from Congress for his rash act Mr..
Madison acted in the vacation of Congress Mr.. Polk
adopted his warlike measures while Congress was in
session in the capitol in sight of him.. Mr. Madison
acted against third party, the revoutonists, who
had seized on Baton Rouge and expelled the Spanish
power and not against Spain. Mr.. Polk did not act
against any third party but against Mexico, the only
other power that had right to the country between
the Nueces and the Rio del Norte, II the U. States
had not good title Mr.. Polk acted with military
force when his minister knocking at the doors OF
Mexico TO be accredited. Mr.. Madison waited many
years, depending on peaceful negotiations. Mr.. Ma
olson acted when the power OF Spain was extinct
Mr.. Polk when the jurisdiction of Mexico was in full
vigor over the valley OF the Rio del Norte. Mr. Ma
olson paid proper and decent respect TO the sense
Of mankind, by declaring that the occupied territory
should remain in the hands Of the United States sub
ject to friendly negotiation, Mr. Polk has done no
such thing The measure of Mr., Madison was one
of pence without encounterng any resistance. That
of Mr.. Polk has been one of terrible war. A,fulile
attempt has been unlustly made 10 cast upon Mexico
the odium of beginning the war. But was not Gen.
Taylor repeatedly called upon by civil and military
authorities, us he approached the valley of the del
Norte, TO dcsst from his march, and warned Of the
hostile consequences ifhe continued in And is not
the invasion by large military force Of country
occupied settled, inhabited, and under the iurisdic
ton of another power, an act of war against that
power before single blow is struck lis II moi
especially so, II the invading army comes with the
view of asserting right to the country 80 occupied
settled, and Inhabited, and under the jurisdiction Of
another power2
II has been argued thai Congress authorised the
establishment OF port of delivery beyond the Nue.
ces which had been in the actual possession of Tex
as, No part of the country between the Nueees and
the Rio del Nore was in the possession Of Texas
when annexed TO the United States, except Corpus
Christi and San Patricio. Beyond all question the
valley Of the del Nor,e was not in the possession OF
Texas Beyond all question that valley was occupied
aud inhabited and under the actual Jurisdiction OF
Mexico. la that condition Gen. Tayors army en-.
tered and inva ed IT, and that invasion was itself an
act OF war The country between the Nueces and
the del Nore should have been left in the state in
which il was, until the result of negotiation to fix
the western boundary of Texas was known and un--
til Congress acted BY undertaking to act prior to
the issue Of the attempt at negotiation. and without
the sanction OF Congress (Which had in the resolu-
ton of annexation OF Texas expressly reserved its
western limit as subject Of negotiaton,) Mr.. Polk
assumed 10 himself the war-making power He
made war; and he stands before the United States
and before the world responsible for all the conse-
guences