Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-12-03

THE NEUTRAL PREss.-The views of Mr..
Clay, and those of the Whs party who act
and think with him, are so glaringly absurd
and wide of the truth on the question of the
Mexican war, that even the strictly neutral
.press-the press that processes to keep aloof
from politics-cmnot but speak out. The
following, which we clip from an editorial in
the Baltimore Sun, one of the ablest and most
widely circulated neutral papers in the coun-
try, will enable the reader to see what the tes-
timony of an unbiased witness is, touching
the great issue now before the American peo-
pie The Baltimore Sun says
As for the war having been produced by
the President, it strikes US an absurdlty; and
we can but think Mr.. Clay has not been SO
careful in reference to this assertion as strlc'
Justice demands Had MIR. Clay been IN the
Presidential chair, he would have been dere-
lct in duty had he withheld he protection Of
the American arms from any portion OF terri
tory declared to be annexed Such a portion
of territory was threatened, and occupied. ant
overrun by parties of Mexican cavalry. The
President threw the protection of our flag Owe
it. Mexico, at that time, refused to receive
our minister, clothed with power to negotiate
upon the subject; declared war against us
and in virtue of this declaration, challenged
and brought on. general engagement. A
that very moment every general officer of the
United States was acting under the restrictive
iniunctons c. the President, to abstain from
any aggressive act
But let us see what was the opinion of Gen
IT. Al
Rio Grande. He writes to the Secretary o
War. on the 18th of October, and says
SIT is with great Difference that make an,
suggestions on topics which may become mat
ter of delicate negotiation; but if our govern
ment, in settling the question of boundary
makes the line of the Rio Grande an ultima
tum, cannot doubt that the settlement viii
be greatly facilitated and FASTENED by our ia
king possession at once OF one or two sultabl
points on or quite near that river"
Mexico having subsequently rejected tn
mission of Mr.. Slidell, the line of the Ri
Grande was forced upon the United States
because Texas had declared it as the boundar
of her territory in her Independent legislatlv
capacity. and thus she was annexed to tn
United States The order to march to the Ri
} Grarde having been received by General Tay
Tor, he writes again under date OF Februar
4th, 1916 -
} sOur advance to the Rio Grande will itse
r produce powerful effect, and it may be thu
the common navigation of the river will nc
: be disputed
This seriously conflicts with the remark
} Mr. Clay's speech, that the war might poss
t bly, have been prevented, it, amongst oth'
| things, &c Gen. Taylor had been permitted
e remain, where his own good sense prompte
$ him to believe he ought to remain, at Corpr
e Chrst.''
: We now come to the next imputation again
a the President, that he did not appeal 10 Coz
a gress prior to the occurrence of hostllities.
/, Appeal to Congress for what? To decla
f war? No he was endeavoring to avoid
: He acted altogether within his approprla
5 sphere, and executed, with a view to the ho
y or of his country, the duties which the const
It tuition imposed upon the incumbent of tn
S eminent station to which he had been Gale
: But, as soon as hostilities had broken out,
i committed the whole matter unreservedly
S Congress.