Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-16
FoR the ENQUIRER
THE APPROACHING ELECTION-THE
MEXICAN WAR, &c.

MEXICAN WAR, &c.
To The Voters Of tic Sirth Congressional District.
The candidates before you are wide asunder
as the poles. Mr. Leake and Mr.. Bolts are re-
representatives. OF principles SO opposite in their
tendencies and involving such mighty interests
in their scope, that 20 place remains Tor conser-
ya.ism, no excuse for apathy. II Is every mans
du!v 10 make hi. choice between them and 10 re-
cord his vote at the polls. But never was il
more The duty, TOO, of every voter in the District
to deliberate we'll and malurely ere he determine
upon his vote The questions you have 10 de-
eide upon involve the prosperity OF your country
and the prosperity of its institutions. The great
questions OF domestic policy, which, since the
earliest day of our Government, have constituted
dividing lines between Federaisls and Repub-
cans, ale still in issue before you. In regard 10
these, the Protective Tariff, the National Bank
against which you have 80 frequently given an
overwhelming tial OF condelnDation-it is only
necessary 10 remind you that they impend over
your heads; that the Republican party has SUI
Tered much from lis apathy north OF The Potomac,
and that the complexion Of the Both Congress
may depend upon The vote which is given by Viz
ginia.
But new elements have appeared in The poll
lical world, and the old landmarks OF parties have
been somewhat lost from view as new ones have
arisen The dividing lines however are more
strongly marked than ever; and moi one foot oil
neutral territory lies between them. The present
war offers Tor your choice The same antagonistic
principles as were presented BY the war OF 1872.
MIR. Polk stands now where Mr.. Madison stood
then; and he Federaliss of 1912, uniaught by ex-
perience, are now rallying upon The same platform
which the Federalists OF that day occupied. Il
Is for the people, ioo 10 speak now, as they spoke
then, and consisn 10 their political graves The OPP
ponents OF war demanded BY the honor and in
terests Of their country.
Examine for yourselves, Republicans Of the
9th Congressional District, the new issues pre-
scented by this Mexican war, and see whether
there is any thing in them which requires you to
abandon the banners under which you have here
tofore coneCded.
As the war of 1919 was styled By the Federal
isis of that time, "Mr. Madison's war;" so is
this wat called "Mr. Folks war" BY the same par
" now. As they then denounced that war, SO do
they now denounce this; and with some honora-
bic exceptions, the vigorous prosecution OF the
present war is in like manner vehemenly opposed.
The war took lis origin, il is alleged from the
act Of the President from The advance OF the
American forces TO the Rio Grande in pursuance
of his orders Yet Mexico never regarded that
act as The cause OF the war. II was mol because
our troops had crossed the Nueces that she COM
menced hosrilies They had been al Corpus
Christi, lresL OF The Nueces, from August 1915.
Mexico made war upon Us, not because she
claimed the territory between the Nueces and the
Rio Grande, bnt because she claimed the whole
territory between The Rio Grande and the Sabine
The war arose from annexation. The advance
OF our army from Corpus Christi was a necessary
consequence Of annexation. But, war was inc
vitable, though our troops had remained there.
On The 4ih Of April 1916, before intelligence Of
the advance OF our army from Corpus Christi
could have reached The Mexican government,
orders were issued 10 the Mexican army on the
Bio Grande to attack The American forces in
Texas. While The question OF annexation was
under discussion, Mexico had formally announ-
ced TO our government, that she would regard
the annexation of Texas as cause OF war; and,
upon the annexation OF Texas, hostities were
CONNIE need by her in pursuance OF this dcclara-
lion. In annexing Texas then, we annexed The
war. Te fiat of the people has sanctioned annex
alton, and IN sQncti0nins onnerniton, mas sane
Toned The par. Texas annexed, it could mol be
avoided.
To establish peaceful relations between this
country and Mexico nothing was LETT undone
by our patriotic President We made overlures
and concessions 10 Mexico, which could not
have been made 10 more respectable power,
can government twice refused 10 receive our
minister invested with full power TO adjust all
Questions 10 dispute, between the two Govern
menl.. Could there be stronger evidence than
conduct 90 unparalleled in The intercourse OF
nations that Mexico was obstinaely bent upon
This war; She was resolved 10 treat for nothing
less than Texas 10 the Sabine. The President
could have obtained peace with Mexico upon
these terms and upon these terms only: and TO Sc
cnre snch peace, Executive treason would have
been necessary.
The war could not have been avoided, though
the President had offered 10 surrender 10 Mexico
the whole territory between the Nueces and Inc
Rio Grande. But the President had no such dis
crelion. When all his concilatory overtures had
been repulsed, and Texas was threatened with
invasion, il was his duty to maintain against
every hostile incursion The boundary which ex-
listed, when she was incorporated by Congress as
norton of this Union He had no alternative
hit 10 regard the Rio Grande as that boundary.
From 1903. when Texas was ceded TO US by
France. until 1919, when Texas was ceded by
This Government 10 Spain, the Rio Grande was
her acknowledged and asserted boundary. From
n. establishment oil Texan independence, the
Teran Reoublic consistently claimed this river
&C her honndary. Within the whole district be-
tween The Nueces and The Rio Grande, the judi
c;.I system of Texas had been extended -Texan
conntes had been marked out, duties collected,
no.r ofices and post roads established, and grants
nf land issued By the Texan Government. From
This district delegates had been annually returned
10 The Texan Legislature, and representatives
from This district look part 10 the ACT OF anne1a-
lion. After annexation, the Amer,1an Congress
had virtually declared The Rio Grsnde 10 be the