Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-06
But, say bis opDos.rs. he has involved the

neither unjust nor unnecessary, or maj u can lie
conducted without money. will only remark,
that, il series OF outragcs, continued LOT Sc
ries Of wears. such as the capture q our mer.
chan, vessels and The confiscalion OF their car.
goes. the imprisonment and murder, IN cold blood
Of orr citizens, repeated insults 10 our hae-a
NJ which remain unredressed 10 his day-and
the abrup, withdrawal OF her Minister from our
Cour, and dismissal OF ours from hers, ny Mexi-
"a he moi good and jusiihable cause why one
nation should wage war against another, then
confess have searched in vain Tor what would
be good or justifable cause; oui even for these
iniurie. aud insults, srievous and outrageous as
they were, our Government did not 90 10 war.
bnt forbore to strike. II was le.t for Mexico, by
an actual assault upon our army, on cur own
| soil 10 break the peace and commence The wal
and the fault of MIR. Polk is, il fault he has com.
mitted 10 repel The assault, whip The enemy, AID
| drive him into his own territory. This is iaut
which think, generous, brave, and pain.
otic people will be disposed, somewhat, % rink
al. Il is very true that this war might have been
avoided, if our Government had permiIied tie
Government OF Mexico 10 have prescribed what
should be he western boundary Of Texas, and 10
what poin, our army should be permitted 10
march. Bn; what American is 81 degenerate as
10 have required his Cove rnment 10 have srb-
milled 10 This diclaion? None, | hope, except
The legitimate heirs OF Hartford Convention Fe.
dera ism, or those OF the Webster school, who be.
| lieye that Americans are mole apt 10 ne coniT,.
led in making war By lis expense than its j4sics--
This was the only alternative, and our Govern
ment was compelled 10 submit 10 Ibis humiia.
ling indebe disgrace, or fight
| | am well aware that The territory on which The
| Mexican army attacked and captured Captain
Thornton and his troops, and assaulted our a.
nv. is alleged by some 10 be lNerlcan, and BY
Others not 50 bold and reckless, 10 be disputed Ter.
ritory; bu 10 the dispassionac and impartial
mind there is no doubt that this territory va,
paIt oihe Iebeilious Texas that achieved and es-
tabl:sled lis independence; "as pan oi the md.
penden, Republic Of Texas, anliI its annexaCn
! 10 The United States; and that Texas brought an!
intended 10 hing this territory as an inlesia! pa!
OF herself into Inc Union, and, as such, tie f!esi
dent was bound 10 regard her, and provide ior
| her protection and defence. lie was as much
bound 10 prevent Mexican army from crossing
the Rio Grande, bounding this territory, as he was
| 10 preyen, one crossing the Sabine or the Misss.
| sippi. IL is very true, that alter the annexation Il
Texas, Congress might BY uealy with MeIi,o
have made tie Ncuces, the Colorado or The Bra.
zos the boundary; because in the ACT OF anLeSa-
lion This power was reserved; bnl until II va:
exercised, and the boundary a;ered, the President
was bound 10 regard Texas as she was, and net
act in reference TO boundary which dir mol and
might not exist. The President, Then, IN o.
deIins The army 10 take pos. between the Nue..
ces and The Rio Grande, therealened with in.
| yasion only did what his constitutional duty
required him 10 DO, and what lie could not, with
| due regard 10 his oath, have RETAINED from
doing. II he had done Otherwise, he would have
been iai,hless 70 The Constitution and reacherous
10 Texas. This whole question, then, lurns upon
| the tact not what Texas had been. but what 81.
was when she came into the Union. Her te-
| caration II independence her constitution, ma
iional and STATE and her acts OF ltgisa ion, seIle
this question beyond all doubt, and JUSTLY ne
| course oil the Administration most cohclusiyey.
This territory was claimed by Texas from he
beginning OF Ter national independence, and ste
now claims il. In this state OF things, what else
could Mr. Polk. or any oher President, have
done than he did do? ana il he had hot done So,
these same grumbleIs would have denoUnced,
/ with The utmost bitterness his course, as COW
ardly and recTeanl OF his duiy 10 Texas ana lie
nation.
Blu, they complain of The ,ariiness with whith
The war has been conducted. This complaint IS
as uniounded as the other. The President cCui
only use The means with which he was furnish
ell By Congress and these have been used sue.
cessully. He could ro be President, General,
Commodore, Quarter Masler, soldier and L.
He could not whistle an army into existence, nor
sions and munitions had 10 be transported or ne
troops to march. All things considered The W..
has been carried on with great energy and sue.
cess, and as soon AS all the troops ordered BY Con-
gress can be brought into action the war vii te
speedily closed So that upon The whole, the Es
ecutiye deserves commentator rather than IT,
buke.
will not undertake 10 answer the charge
about The expenses Of The war; No war often
civ p- dprsr q. I've prn "a ful
without heavy expenditures, and when hear %
many croaking NOES about the expenses OF the
war, ascribe II 10 that feeling OF Uebste,i0n pa
lriotism, which calculates The cost more han he
Justice Of the war. This miserable cant ii
Blue Light Federalism, about the expenses was
well nIsh fatal 10 us during The wal OF 1912. AMI il
Mexico were formidable power il wuut, Be
fatal 10 US now. Nothing but The imbeci!i,y q,
Mexico saves US from disgrace.
The charge that in the prosecution OF this war
Mr.. Polk has violated The Constitution, is 100 al
surd and ridiculous TO need eutation. Mr. Folk
did nothing. lie neither declared nor commenced
war; bu! il seems the Mexican army assaulted
and attempted 10 destroy our army, and Gen.
Taylor fought and beat il back VIVA, woult
these lasidous gentlemen have had Gen. Tay.
Tor dof Was he and his army 10 stand and lie
| snol al until Congress met and declared wa, a.
On, no, This is too absurd. What ;hen2-lethe
Mexican army retire, increase ils strength and
return 10 the conflict before our army was Dsf-
United 10 slrikc3 This would have been uniy
wise and Constitutional Now, The truth is /,
was Gen. Taylor that resisted, fought and WIN.
ped The Mexican army before MIR. Polk knew
hat here was Mexican soldier east OF The Rio
Giance The position taken up on The Rio
Grahde, oppos,. Maiamorss, was selected by
Gen: Taylor himself, and no, dictated 10 him !
The President, and was, as have shown on Anne.
y IN our army occupying The East bank Of
The Rio GTande, opposite Maramoras, as
lhere was IN the Mexican army OCCUPY.
ing Maamoras on the West bank Both hsd
The same object in view and each army was 10.
tended 10 keep the other in Oh ok. Where hen
the violation oi the Constitution II can oniy lie
found IN The Imagination Of those Hospue psn!-
zans who can see nothing but corruption and e..
ror in The Administrator, however wise and "a.
| lrioic sacts.
10 The one thousand and one fasehccds which
arc put IN circulation TO Destroy the Adminis,ia.
| ton, aud with Il the Democratic parry have no
answer 10 make. only beseech such Of my Re.
| publican brethren, as are likely 10 he inoy,t by
item, only 10 recur 10 by-sone Times. Wha vas
said Of your Jefferson, vour Madison. particular
~ by The blue light F-deTalisrs during he ia.t
war, and oil your JACKSON How many false
hGots were circulated about hem. and Their ad-
minisralions, by the unliing ara relentless enc.
mics Of Democratic Republic anism7 And what
has been l0e resut} Now HAL he uIs,s and
clouos which parry raDecur and unbushins false
hood had cast over acts, all The IMPARTIAL and re-
dec'ipg see the purify OF their motives and III.
wisdom Q. .heir policy. We should permit Ihe,e
bold, reckless and unqualified denuucia,icls
TO waste themselves upon The ceser, air, ard
heed them moi. II, however, Mr. Polk were
all that his enemie: represent him TO 5e-a very
devil lncarnate; this does not make Democratic
kepnollcanlsm false or Whiggeiy uuc. II
would only prove that MIR. Polk was a traitor TO
Republican principles and oueh, no longer 10
be conhted in. But this is no argument Why we
should abandon Republican principles and EN-.
brace Whiggery. No; our Course should be 10
abandon the tsihless Republican, and take up
one who Is genuine and trustworthy. Fellow
Republicans, this habit OF going over 10 our I'd.
veTsarie', when some Republican betrays Us ..