Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-03-10

Administration wh hich it is entitled 10 clain
and when this war is denounced, as tha
beer. as 'llcsal i'll its origin, unjust in il
objects, and mischievous in its consequen
ces, must say This much for The Presi
deni that although, as far as lis immediate
origin is concerned, he may have beer
} instrumental in precipitaling or Fastening
its inception, yet as far as it's consequen
ces are concerned, he cannot in my ap
prehension, he held 10 be responsible The
odium and the responsibility for this war
should not be thrown upon him. | canno,
undertake to specify precisely what were
The remote or immediate causes Of The
war; but l know one thing-il has been
recognised, sanctioned or if you please
declared in the most solemn manner. by
this Legislature; and if majority Of the
Legislature Of this nation have adopted
the war. it does seem TO me to be no more
than RI ght and proper tina, the Legislature
should share in all The responsibility al
tached TO it. | do not undertake to iudi-
cate the causes of the war, because think
it would be but just, believing as | do that
Mexico was in fault, to forbear from taunts
and accusations which can be Of no avail.
/ feel r;;e force C. the admonilion-
Beware of entrace to quarreIi but being in.
Bear it that the opposer say beware Of thee
Or again-
"Gire thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproporion'd thought his act,"
For, if we are in war, can see no
good purpose that it is to be accomplished
by advertising our enemies what shall be
our Ultimate determination in relation 10
it. think it inpolilic and unwise, and
so far, therefore, as we can indicate our u!-
limalespuiposes. they are already .clamor-
ously sounded in The hearing of Mexico
herself. think the President, thus far,
has shown himself entitled TO the indulsen'
consideration OF this body. He was placed
in difficult circumstances. He was called
upon 10 occupy aud hold the territory Of
Texas-a territory which had been ceded.
under peculiar circumstances, without
definite boundary but the instructions TO
the President were obligatory upon him
to take possession Of it as the representa-
tive Of The nation, and in taking such pos
session he had 10 run all the hazards Of
collision with The enemE an euemy which
had disputed no! only the right of the Re-
public from which we claim The title to
ceie such title, but disputed the title itself
to any part OF the territory. How was the
President, under these circumstances, 10
proceed For | will endeavor TO do him
E:iusIiee, atlen oEe Lhan jaslice.lL he splls.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ms sT1c ur
would not have satisfied that Government
whc! was Ginning ell The territory of
Texas, Or rather that people that were
claiming it; for, they had no responsible
Government that could take cosnizance
of this matter. No matter, then, what Po-
silion the President had taken, his posi-,
ton would have been. disputed. Here we
have the extraordinary circumstance OF
one Republic making grant OF all her
territory 10 another, aud that other, on
taking possession Of the grant, finds itself
involved in al unfortunate quarrel with
another Government. But, as have
said, | do mol wish 10 enter inlo The causes
which produced the war, because, 10 do
so, would only be unavaling, but impol'
itic. canno. see any good that is 10 be
obtained by il. | am not disposed 10 go
beyond The declaration that was made IN
the solemn form hat | have stalled that
war existed. do not care to go beyond
that act of this legislature which puts into
The hands of The President ten millions ol
dollars, and gave him fifty thousand troops;
which put into his hand the sword, and
directed him 10 use it. After all this, what
are we to do =? And this brings me 10
consideration Of those suggestions which
seem principally to be inv ,lved in The bIl
now upon your table. What does tha
bill propose ? For ! intend 10 speak d.
recrly in reference to the matter before
YOU. and to pass by those things whlct
have no legitimate bearing on the decis
ion of this question. What is This mea
sure :! Why lis a measure purpoTtn,'E
TO be a proposition for obtaining speedy
honorable, and, hope may add, salt
peace.
Now, looking at the question in one as
pect. as it concerns our relations with l
hostile Government, | would have YER.
little difficulty in determining what W.
ought to do; but viewing the matter II
another aspect, viewing it as it regards ii
consequences upon our own domrstlc IN
slitutions. it brings up the subject, 1t pre-
sen,s considerations Of greater moment
the agitation of which, beyond all Others
will be attended with the greatest difficult
aud danger. But If this be measure 10
peace, would take the alternative pre-
, sen,ed by the honorable Senator from Ma
rvland. would not have a peace extor
, ted from her under duress or al the pom
Of the bayonet. 1t should be voluntary
. though do not know that ii peace wer
ex.orted from Mexico, it would be a sui
, ject of historical reproach to us; but
: would be an event much to be depiored
we were compelled TO march our arm
to the city of Mexico. and there, maxim
F, -. ,.,lor rho ynke Nictate a DelC