Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-16


Mr. s. would then proceed to inquire for what had this war
with Mexico been commenced and why The President
had presented aboed defence Of in his message 10 Con-
gess which intelligent and candid could read but ne
say that would have done credit to petty bar
politician the husngs than TO President Of the Uni
ted States He had tried to divert the minds OF all who read
the document from the Of the war TO alleged causes
which had existence Who here would that the Mex
lean ndenes had been the real for engaging in this
war All these had been ascertaned and an arrangement
entered into for settling the demand and only complaint
against Mexico her delay inability to pay Why 80
behind the treaty in which this matter had been settled II
there remained other ndemnes besides these
but who did not that Mexico had offered treaty for
the settlement of these also, and that own Government
had refused ray il What justice, them could there be
in charging this the Of the war Neither President
Jackson President Van Buren, had recommended to Con-
gress to declare his ground although there then
treaties in existence the subject They had never been
regarded sufficient for nor had Congress ever
thought for moment Of declaring on that account
The true of this the annexation OF Texas
that the real and original though remote cause Of the
would be remembered by most OF those who heard
him. that Mr. s. had been opposed to that annexaon and
had the political party with whom he acted almost nnani
mouy, and they warned the country OF what would neva-
bly, follow Those warnings had been but too soon and too
literally fulfilled. ~. ".. -.
But even them after annexation had been consummated
might have been avoided but for the unauthorized act OF
the President ordering army to advance and invade
Mexican province, to which had manner OF claim
whatsoever.
The Presdentried to answer this allegation by urging in
his message that Louisiana received it from France
extended the Rio Grande, and he argued that therefore
Texas had good title to it, being then part OF Louisiana
But in what respect she entitled Did not all know
that Texas proper of the provinces OF Mexico, never
had owned one inch of territory beyond the Nueces Did
every body know that the territory lying between the
Nueces and the Rio Gande part of the Mexican
vinces of New Leon, Tamaupas and chihuahua Admit
ting that Texas had acquired her independence to what ter
rory did she thereby become entitled To just so much
and mor than she had before owned when province
department of Mexico and under her jurisdiction He would
ask any gentleman that floor he would ask of the two
gentlemen who represented Texas in that House, whether
when the baeof San Jacnto fought, Texas owned
exercised jurisdiction inch of territory beyond the
Nueces and the small settlement Corpus Christi lie, them
tell him where, beyond this she had had possession
where her flag waved where her jurisdiction had been exer
csed To the infant settlement at Corpus Christi he admit
ted she had acquired title but she had none beyond it,
Mr. s. would here beg leave 10 ask question had any
gentleman calculated that Santa Fe within the limits OF
Texas Would any gentleman deny that had been within
the jurisdiction of the Mexican Government and that Mexico
had established customhouse this side the Rio Grande
that she had collected there that Government
had recognised her right do and that citizens
had regularly paid duties there foreign Government
What preex then could there be for saying that Texas had
title to the whole country up to the river from It's mouth to
the source of the main stream OF the Rio Grande i!
The gentleman from New York, (Mr. PREsroN KING,
who spoke yesterday morning. had in his speech delivered
then, made an important admission He said
between the Nueccs and the Rio Gnde where the Mexcans
held disputed possession and to Santa Fee where the Mex
lean authorities and people held undpued possession the
Of force necessary The of force between nations to
decide a disagreement between them is war;"
Here had the language of prominent advocate of the
Administration party, made deliberately and advsedy in
speech read by him that floor which, prevent all mis-
understanding and greater cauto he had himself reduced
writing beforehand This gentleman here told the House
and the country that the country between the Nueces
Gande was in the Mexico and that had
admitting all that the party opposed TO the had claime II
admitting that the President had been guilty OF an act OF
usurpaon that in violation of his OATH without consulting
the will of Congress of the people, he had taken orcibe
possession Of district of country which the possess
sion Of Mexico and had driven her from it. That act
the immediate commencement OF the war;
But Mr.. s. would proceed to ask how that war had
been prosecuted
When our difficulties with Mexico commenced, the nation
had told that chasse Mexico conquer her.
would he but holyday pastime that we could go down
there and thrash the Mexans and end the ninety days
And gentleman he believed if he rightly remembered,
had been patriotic that he had offered to do the job by
The had been commenced early in May last 1t
had continued some nine months millions oil dollars had
been expended, and many precious human lives sacrificed
and yet after all this told by those who came fresh
from the theatre of action, hawe peace at
this day than when began. Now, then, let him
ask of gentlemen il in eight nine months had made no
impression tho great sronghods of Mexico or succeeded
in materially cppng her how long, proceeding at
the rate would take suhugae and conquer her
The bill which passed both Houses in May, empowered
the President call So 900 volunteers why had they
been called out Mr.. SIS State had already fur
nshed three regiments to this and where had they
been Wasting away their lives in nacton the sicky
banks Of the Rio Grande. Many ay hundreds of noble,
active courageous young who had left their homes In
all the buoyancy of strength and hope, had left their bones TO
moulder those inhosptabe shores All must remember
the correspondence Of Gen. Scott with the Secretary Of
Scott with the cool caution of old and brave soldier,
had told this Administration that the troops if called out i'm
medately could operate in Mexico till late IN the fall
and he had recommended the Department TO fill up the
regiments their own homes and let them remain there till
the arrived in which they could be called into action
How had this wise counsel been received every body
must remember. They all recolcct the aunts and
which vented against the brave old soldier and
the insnuations which thrown out against his
personal courage The nation had been entertained with
jokes about his hasy plate Of SOUP and he had been held
up rdicue simply because he had told the plain truth
Who there that must not, and did not admit the
truth and soundness Of the views he had then expressed
Subsequent events had called forth the admission from
his enemies, (though the Administration had attempted to
disgrace him. who all united in conessing that his
positions had oil been correct How much better would il
have been for all parties had the volunteers been mustered
and allowed to remain at their homes, in healthy climate
surrounded by friends and by abundance and there prepared
themselves for subsequent service in the Would 600
brave volunteers be enough conquer peace
But they had been called out No, they had and
why not II the President wanted to strengthen
army in Mexico why not call for those who already
sanctioned by law Did he doubt their bravery their patriot
ISM and military spirit Had the volunteers inchcd in the
hour of trial Monterey Had they not, in all the late
engagements manifested that dauncss bravery which
characteristic Of American sodery When where it
that they had evinced want Of skill Of courage Why,
IL pGx nnnlaw,