The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-11

justify himself for not warning his worst enemy oil dan
ger, when on the brink OF precIpce; but when he is
the representative of free people, and he sees his country
the of crime and disaster and does not warn those
who hold the helm she seems to me GAS Mr. ADAMS re-
marked OF Mr.. WEBsTER) to have but one step iur-
ther to go, and that is TO join the enemy"
| With all this superior information and patriotism
with this keen foresight of danger and snung carnage
in the evening breeze, political opponents are silent
as death We find only Mr. AsHMUN moving on the ga
OF February Tor information as to our relations WIN
Mexico and whether the army navy had been moved
towards that republic, and what have come
to the knowledge of the President to require such move
ment" But, though introduced by leavethat 49, uidn-
imouss consent-- quietly laid over under the rule,
and attempt made to suspend the rule or any call OF
ayes and is done when members make serious
effort to bring to notice an important subject nave
carefully examined the journals from that day TIL war
declared, and find motion ever made or even men
ton of this resolution, after its introduction Resolutions
dea uness speeS eaed p his NO
arrest the march. 1t was information, no warning 10
the President the House, the country, of what
going forward, or the danger of the step resolution
allowed by unanimous consent was introduced, and slept
without movement or word from Its author Was II
done anchor in of storm, which they did not
intend to prevent! Its introduction prOreS notice Of me
Increment. Notice has been admitted on all sides II
not concealed The papers soon full OF IT. and
of the events OF the march. But movement was made
effort to arrest this disastrous and terrible march,
which was TO involve all in the crime OF unjust war
An honorable wing senator from Delaware, OF great dis
tncton and consideration with his party, [Mr. } NJ
CLAYToN,l admits that he knew it at an early Pc
Rod, but he did not move. He informed Mr.. CALHOUN
and he occupied important and delicate situation with
reference TO the administration and the settlement OF the
Oregon question, that it dangerous TO the peace OF
the country Tor him TO take any step having even the
appearance OF hostile attitude TO the government But
what restrained political opponents? They never
have informed US, but only proclaim the house-tops
that it is Mr. Folks war
We find no further movement upon the journals until
the 9th Of May, the very day the battle fought at
Resaca de la Palma, when MI DAVIS, of Kentucky in
troduced resolutions nqurng whether any attacks had
been made either side; and whether the killed were
slain on Mexican or American territory; and whether
any supplies had been taken, and the force guarding
them and what efforts made to recapure them &c
This was long after it was known here that Taylor was
encamped and entrcnched opposite Matamoros, (whch
took place on the 2Sth of March) This was too late ;
and if earlier, gave information, and found no fault
Next, the news OF PoTters death and Ihornons cap
ture received and then had the Presidents mes
sage and the recognition OF war as made upon as by the
Mexican republic, and authority receive $4,000 men
navy and militia of the Union at the disposal of the
Presidents and apProPratng $lo,oo0O0o This was done
"to enable the President to prosecute said war to sue
cessful and speedy termination" Only fourteen wings
voted in the negative. To them my remarks as to ncon
sisency do apply They have declared their country
in the wrong from the beginning and adhered to it. But
President bound to fight and use his utmost efforts
against the enemy-after this SURPRISING unanimlty-
then, and not till then, all the patriotic streams of burn
ing and indignant eoquence were opened and poured up
on the head of the Executive. We then first heard OF
sold maps and Biographies the boundaries of Texas
or the river Nueces, and timeoer, of the vague
and new found and vet underlined line somewhere" be-
tween the Nueces and the Rio del Norte It not the
march of the army-it was not full knowledge Of Execu-
tive views and determnatons-it not the Executive
pledge to Texas sanctioned by Congressby silence and
by acts. II not the full knowledge that war was
toming-hat it unconstitutonay and uniustly TO be
waged by the President-that could remove the seals
from their lips and loosen the tongue of wing PATRIOTISM
to utter warning dissenting word. 1t was
y when they had declared themselves-recognised
| war-a made by MeXico--nvoved the countryin
beyond retreat and when the President bound TO
it, and the country had hope chance to
cape it honoraby, and when blood had been shed, and
the whole atmosphere filled with war and notes Of
busy preparation, and the sky urd and porentous
that then have the whole wing phalanx, in mass
pouring upon the administration torrent of eloquent in
dgnaton. Then they search musty archives and unro
old maps before us, to show where the line not and
point here the spot where the gallant Porter fell there
the amened Cross murdered, and here the reckless
Thornton cut his way through every obstacles and rails
ing their eyes to Heaven with holy horror exclam, sit is
the Presidents war; an unjust war We can not avenge
remained at Corpus Christi The line ought be
where between the Nueces and the Rio Grande. This
battle field must and shall be in Tamaulipas
Is there living who read the documents upon
this subject who will not say, and who did not at that
time think, that war with Mexico was impending
hanging by thread, and that thread the hopes and
fears of military demagogues in Mexico In all that
emergency-pending Taylors long march, the opn-
ion expressed aloud in the Capitol even in the
city, that the march would bring on war-st less, as
contended, that it was war ITSELF and invasion on
our part What was the general opinion in private
conversational Even now ask what course would now
recommended by ninety nine in every hundred citizens
and members of Congress- expressing opinions without
peculiar information, party reasons TO be dlsengenu
Gus? The answer would be- that to remain at Corpus
Christi invite war, by leaving the frontier open to
the thoughtess inroad of any Mexican brigand, who
might fancy inactivity cowardice, marauding
march chance for popularity at home. Who would
say march at once to the position you mean to oc-
cupv Plant your foot there with firm front, and act
kindly and civilly, but firmly tell them you will await
their attack but that line you will fight and die upon
This the best to avoid war possible, the best
place to meet it if inevitable You would say your kind
ness may conciate, your frmness will overawe any
thing short OF great and national movement for a
of invasion, And if such is in the heart OF Mexico
meet it at the lines, where you can retaate
| Even now, think it was the best-the wisest policy
If war could have been prevented, that march would
have prevented it, If Taylor had called for volunteers
and trebled his force, in my opinion he would
wisdom of the move not doubted at the time by the
mass of men and this gives them sound and patriotic
reason for their silence They have since become wise
overmuch, after the fact, and easily fore
see that such move might produce war, and as
easily contend that it itself. Even now
anxious for the reputation of supe-
rior sagacity-we have heard of but two gentlemen
who had foresight enough to think even a danger
Gus movement-hIr CALHOUN and Mr.. CLAYToN-and
the latter laid wager with OF his political brethren
that there would be "a fghr-thus showing that the
opinion anything but unanimous. No one else has
even pretended that he thought much less adduced
evidence that he said il dangerous move,
four hours it could have been made till long after
TAYLOR was opposite Matamoros! Our troops OPP
pos,e Matamoros from the 2th OF March till the oath OF
April before hoslities commenced. They commenced
moving from Corpus Christi on the sth of March How
few believed that these events would bring war; no
IL