The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-12-04

this pacific and moderate course, whilst
Mr.. SIidell was bending his way 70
Mexico with his diplomatic c~redentisls,
General Taylor was ordered TO trans
port his cannon, and to plant them, IN
a warlike attitude, opposite TO Mata-
moras, on the east bank OF the Kic bfa-
vo, within the very disputed territory,
the adjustment Of which was to be
object of Mr.. Slidell's mission. What
else could have t%ranspired but a con-
1ict of armsw
To this batch of blunders and misstatemenss
we cannot do better than add the following rom
the w a~shington Union: .sThe position Of par
ty is indeed deplprable, when, to justify is pess-
ton on a question involving the most sacred rights
and the good name Of the country, its chief states
man is forced into SO palpable and fragrant a mis-
repi esentation of well-known facts. General Idy-
Tor ordered his cannon opposite to JMatan'ords
~,chile Mr.. Siideu tcas bending his Day to IMer-
leo NTH his diplomatic credentials!' When we
saw this stupendious misstatement in the publish
ed sketch of Mr.. Clay's speech, we corrected II
from the record, suspecting, however, that there
might be some inaccuracy in, the report. Bus
what means the same language given as It is here,
almost word for word, IN the revised and authen-
tic speechl Mr.. Slidell arrived at Vera Cruz on
the Both of November, ls45. On the 9Th of De-
cember following, he presented himself with his
"diplomatic credentials" in the city Of Mexico to
the Mexican government On the 2lst OF that
same month, the government definitely refused to
receive him. And not until all these facts tcere
kno,on at Washington did the order issue-on tho
18th II of January, lS46.for General Taylor to
move from Corpus Christi! But more than this
Paroles came into power in Mexico by the over
throw of Herrera's administration, on the first of
January, 1876. Mr.. Slidell was then there. In
stead of receiving our minister, Paredes himself
tells US. in his proclamation under date of the 18th
of April, 1916, that having determined sin the
beginning Of that gear" to adopt a more vigor-
Gus policy, he had ordered his army to attack our
troops. Tits order, thus referred to as issued
''in the beginning Of the year," was aimed 1t
General Taylor while he was yet %encamped At
Corpus Christi, which place he did nat leave till
the 18th of March, 1916, just ten days after Mr.
Slidell, already once repulsed by Herrera's gov
eminent, had made in vain his second application
to he received with his "diplomatic credentials"
by the usurping administration OF Paredes. In
the face of these facts OH the official records both
OF Mexico and the United States, Mr.. Clay de-
nounces his own government as having, BY it,
own act, brought on the war, and offers for proof
the astounding assertion that our army was order
ed to plant its cannon in battery against Mafamo-
rs while Mr.. SlidelI was on his way to MexicoE
But Gen. Taylor's ''good sense" SAYS Mr.. Clay,
"prompted him to believe that he ought to remain
at Corpus Christi" Just the reverse. General
Taylor's good sense prompted him to write to the
War Department on the 4th Of October, 1e4b. adj
vising. if we meant to claim to the Rio Bravo, 10
make a forward movement to the Rio Grande,.
more than three months b.fOre the order for that
movement was issued. We have already seen
how Mr., Clay states facts. This may show how
he cites authorities"
We have in our possession the letters of Gen.
Taylor, in relation 10 the removal of the army to.
the Rio Grande. II any of our readers would like
to see them, they can do so by calling at our Office
They fully sustain the position taken by the Union,
as above quoted.
In addition to the foregoing remarks, WI give;
the following from the Baltimore Sun, a neutral
paper: