The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-14

not yet received the ratification of the Mexican govcnma
Ia the meantime our citizens who suffered great lo,4
md some OF whom have been reduced from ailnenee
bankruptcy without remedy, unless their rights be EN-
forced by their government Such continued and unpo
voked series OF wrongs could have been tolerated Nv
the United States, had they been committed by one of
principal nations of Europe Mexico was, however a
aeghboring sister republic; which, following our example
had achieved her independence and for whose success and
prosperity all our sympathes early enlisted The
United States the first recognise her independence
and receive her into the family OF nations and have ever
been DESTROYS ofcuivating with her good understanding,
We have, therefore, borne the repeated wrongs she has
committed with great patience in the hope that a return
ing of Justice would ultimately guide her councils
and that might, if possible, honoaby avoid any hostile
collision with her"
Now, here were the debts and claims which Mr. Web,
ster calls preer' and 'atter thoughts" falsely con.
jured up by the President in justification of the war
treated of at length and circumstantiay by the President
not recommending war their account but set forth
causes of complaint, which another President General
Jackson) in referring 10 them had said .teoid rsfyia
the eyes Of all nations WAR = but which Mr.
Polk did not urge as cause or justification of war
But, the contrary, he informed Congress that he had
sent minister to Mexico commissioned and instructed TO
arrange all our differences with that power-the claims
among oihers-adding that,
''Unti that result [resu of the mssionl Is known
orbear to recommend Congress such uerio measures
OF redress for the wrongs and injuries have long borne
as would have been proper make had such negot
alton been instituted"
Thus were the claims mentioned in the message of the
President to Congress fine months prior to the commence
ment of the war by Mexico and the recognition of by
Congress, as causes of complaint against Mexico in the
language of General Jackson, SUBSTITUTING in the eves Of
all nations IMMEDIATE )" but, concerning which Mr.
Polk recommended forbedruace until the result of be
mission, which he had instituted for the peaceful purpose
of settling our difficulties, was known.
This matter of the claims, then was not an "afer
thought" as Mr. Webster has asserted, but was tbouyb,
OF by the President fue months before the qcar commenced
and nine years before by that stern and patriotic old man
now no more, whose heart was always for his country
In this matter therefore, has the very distinguished a
vocate of Mexico-we mean emphatically Daniel Web
ster-wilfully msrepresented the President We saw
wlliuy because he processes to speak from the record
and preends to refer to "facts and circumstances in
proof of his positions
We have shown that the matter of the claims was NOT
an "qfter-Mought." Now we will see if the pres;Jen,
assigned it as pretert justfyng the war after il was
commenced We first refer to his war message of Nav
H. 1916 Here is all he says in that message upon fine
subject of the claims:
"rhe grevous wrongs perpetrated by Mexico upon our
citizens throughout long period of years remain unre
dressed and solemn treaties, pedging her public faith for
this redress, have been disregarded oovernn,ant h
unable or unwilling to enforce the execution of such ea
ties, fails to perform one OF its planest duties.
"Our commerce with Mexico has been almost onpibI,t,
IL was formerly highly beneficial to both nations but our
merchants have been deferred from prosecuting il bv The
system OF outrage and extoron which the Mexican aubo
tiles have pursued against them, whilst their appens
through their own government for indemnity have been
haa,
heme as to be mistaken in its character Had we acted
with vigor in epelng the insults and redressnp the min
res inflicted by Mexico the commencement we should
doubtless have escaped all the difficulties in which we are
now involved"
Does the President put FORTH in the paragraphs we have
cited, the claims of citizens against Mexico as the
cause, or the pretex for the justification of the war;
Not at ALL On the contrary he assigns another reason
Tor the Wharf.-The act of Mexico herself He saws:
"But now after reiterated menaces Mexico has The
boundary of the United States has invaded our territory
and shed American blood upon the American SOIL She has
proclaimed that hostiles have commenced and that the
two nations war
Gas exists and stand inc all our ers m ,v,;d
IT, ertsfs 6y the act Of Dero herself are called upon by
every consideration Of duty and patriotism to vndicate with
decision the HONOR the rights and the interests of our
try"
Thus, it was the act of Mexico herself which the Pres.
ldent says brought the war; and in this he is right
notwithstanding the base and infamous calumnes and
misrepresentation heaped upon that patriotic man. byun-
prhcped and INSCRIPTIONS partisan orators and by an
equally unprncpled and INSCRIPTIONS partisan press
both advocating the of Mexico apolosizng for her
injuries, her insults and her atrocities and nisrepresen
ing and magning the and the government of their
own country; thus venuring upon the very verge of
actual treason but, fortunately for Them not quite
lar enough to expose themselves to the fearful penalties
which the law nbes for the commission of the overt
act"
Inc war; then was commenced by "the act of Mexico
herselfshe invading our territory, and splng the first
blood Whether she had any just cause for this act, will
be fully considered before are through with our ex-
animation OF Mr. Webster's speech.
Thus, in the war message, our claims against Mexico
are not put forth by the President as pretex' in JUS
LITIGATION of the Were they put forth as such in the
Presidents last annual message communicated TO Con-
gress December s, 1916 Not at all. The President
after giving long and minute account of the origin and
progress of difficulties with that perfdious nsolent
and aggressive power, and of the claims of our citizens
among others, referring TO those difficulties says:
We had ample of war against Mexico long before
the breaking of hostcs. But then ,ec fobore 10
dkeredress INTO hands, Mcrico herself became
The aggressor by invading soil hostile array she'd
ding The blood of oir citisens."
In this does the President undertake TO justy the war