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

gerous position of having Point Isabel TAKEN because
initiated by want of supplies. Yet all excaim il
was certain war it was war itself. Are we certain
there would have been at all if it had not been for
laylors security and tempting exposure, leading the
enemy to think they might strike and decisive
blow leading to their generals glory and honor, and
afterwards to an advantageous peace. The policy OF
MIR. Folk had at least high military authority. The
opinion advance is well sustained General Taylor
recommended the march, with the very view here pre-
sented The march ordered at the request, and
doubtless for the reasons, stated by the commanding
general, IN whom large discretion had been invested
Suppose there had been march, and war had ensued
would not MIR Polk have been censured for controlling
the genesa} Indeed, there reproaches against
hi: Tor xAd policy in keeping the army long at Cor
pus Christi distant from the proper line of defence and
action Such seems at all events, to have been the
OPINION OF Gen Taylor, when he writes early the
4th OF October 1915:
have ssQn to believe noreeyey that saIaary moral
eiieot Mas beeneNercsed upon the Mexlcans Their traders
continually carrying home the of position and
increasing numbers, and contessedy struck by the spec
ncle of large camp of well-apponted and disciplined
troops, accompanied by pereci security their persons
and property, instead of the mpressment and pilage
which they are subject in their own country For these
reasons, position thus far has think, been the best
possible but that the entire force viii be
tra'ee may well be Question whether :e views OF gov
point 1t is with great Difference thar make any sugges
ions on topics which may become matter OF delicate nego
t'aton; but onr government in settling the question OF
boundary makes the line of the Rio Grande ultimatu
doubt that the settlement will be greatly facilitated
and FASTENED by taking possession once OF one
suitable points on or quite near that river Our strength
state OF should be displayed
be mistaken However salu'ary may be the effect
produced upon the border people by here we
far from the frontier impress the government OF
Mexico with readiness vndicate, by force of arms,
necessary title to the country far the Rio Grande
Iated at tbs point in condition for vigorous and efficient
service Mexico having yet made positive declara
feet at liberty under my instructions particularly those
of July to make forward movement 10 the Rio Grande
without authority from the War Department."
And he writes on the 9TH of February, 1916
''Our advance the Rio Grande will itself produce
powerful effect and may be that the common navigation
Of the river will not be disputed"
Even up to the 18th of April he thought it very
doubtf,P' whether Ampudia would think it prudent to
attack him, when all his force should have arrived
But if the conduct OF our opponents anterior to the
war was strange what shall we say TO the war itsef'
Why did they vote for the BILL Why vote SO large
force Why recognise the. war; Why declare that II
was made by Mexico, 1t sno answer to say our men
were in danger We know that they not then
danger 1t known then that, in all human proba-
bilty they lost safe by their exerons, pos
sby aided by such troops Of the States near BY as might
that 900 men, and the whole army and navy. including
the shps the stocks, were not necessary to relieve
them from peril and could not reach them time, though
dragons teeth had been sown and sprung armed men
in battle array or, like Roderick Dhus, at his whistle
In truth, they did spring at their counys call with an
alacrity unexamped and which will never in
unjust war Such force not necessary for relief
Neither the recognition or the declaration that war
was made by Mexico The vote was not for rescue; it
was war, and war of invasion was contemplated
The militia the army, navy, and $4,000 men, and 80,
900 900 to sare Cen falori What did Taylor require
his letter then before the very letter showing the
commencement al hssties? He wanted but 5000 men,
not to defend himself, but to invade Mexico.
He says he had ordered some regiments from Texas,
but as delay must occur IN collecting these troops,
have also desired the governor of Louisiana to send out
four regiments of infantry as practicable. THIS
,pW constitute auxiliary force of nearly
SAND MEN, arhich mil be required to prosecute the
uh rtgOr and carry II, as should be, INTO THE Enc
MY's COUNTRY"
Thus neither the force nor the declaration was neces-
ay for Taylor You might have sent force and required
him to retreat you might have refused to recognise
war--or say Mexico began it-or voted against the
bill You were not cut off from amendments, but pro-
posed none. You voted all proposed side.
You declare the allegation in the bill that made
by Mexico to be FALSE and that 1t was made by the Pres
dent Every gentleman not responsible, matter of
personal veracity, for facts stated in bill for which he
votes But when he votes knowingly for palpable and
gross alsehood he should at least be prepared to sustain
his vote upon the justice wisdom, and patriotism OF the
measure apart from the false fact But upon what prn
cple of ethics will gentlemen Justify themselves before
God and the country voting false fact, vile SIAN
der upon neighborng republic as they say when the
main measure declaration of war, itself unjust,
disastrous Infamous and voted under circumstances and
with and adequate and expected, to
dnct with spirit and aggressive retaliation and conquest
and only necessary for such purposes-a measure
faught with every moral and political evil and false in
all its facts The country will ask hard questons and
the stale and stupid cry Of "M Folks war, will be no
answer. -
You have made it your wharf.-the peoples war You
have not required the President 10 retreat but advance
You have sanctioned his acts And from the 18th May
the war is entirely your He is bound to prosecute
with vigor to ga speedy and successful termination"
You may mpeach him, if he wilfuy neglects it. On
the 18th May Congress had power to declare war, TO
order the President to and withdraw troops
1t chose the former. Can Congress declare peace
There is another party and peace cannot be made
except by Mexico and the United States the utter
ncton of other party The responsibility OF this.
if il lasts century, is upon us, unless you can show
that advantageous terms OF peace have been offered
and refused by the Executive But know that his
pacific overues have been refused by Mexico Ii your
heard of the battles Of the sh and 9TH and knew Taylor
was safe and pursuing the enemy about to pass the river
and take Nlatamorosl If wicked now, was 1t innocent
them You adhered to your war.
Mr. Polk, with the silent acquiescence of Congress,
with war impending, advanced to the boundary
declaring the begun by Mexico, has nearly unani-
mousy ratified his act But James Madison, whose
memory delight to honor, IN profound peace, with not
speck of in the horizon, with Span-lndeed, when
she herself overrun by the French-dd not hesitate
to take forcbe possession of much larger tract OF coun
try, which not within the limits of any State, not ex
pressed TO be in the limits of any Territory, upon title
acknowledged to be much more doubtful on all hands,
then in the peaceabe possession OF Spain, acknowledged
be and contemplated by Congress to continues OF
which the United States had possession, and never
dared ask the delivery of the possession. Yet Mr. Mad
son admits that Congress contemplated present posses
SION by SPAIN but speaks of chs determination to take
possession 2; and thinks the LEGALITY and necessity OF
the course pursued assure him of the favorable light
which it will be viewed by the Legislature" | quote his
message of December 6, 1910:
"AInong the events growing of the state Of the
Spanish monarchy, attention imperiousy attracted
to change developing itself in that portion of West For
da, which, though og appertaning TO the United States
had remained in the possession OF SPAIN awaiting the re-
suit of negotiations for its actual delivery them.
"The Spanish authority was subvered and situation