The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-03-16

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proper and necessary to strengthen the
Executive arm in maintaining the honor
and Interests of the country; but this bill
proposes a surrender of more power into
the hands Of the Executive than | can
consent TO grant. So much for the bill
and its objects.
And now, in regard to this Wilmot pro-
yiso. What Is it. It IS a proposition TO
prohibit the extension Of slavery in the
new territory we may acquire with these
three millions of dollars. and which is
now free territory. Where can be the
objection to an object like this, Gentle
men say that this is not the time; that this
is not the place, that it is a mere abstrac-
ton, and viii have no practical operation.
But | say it will have a practical and
most s~alutary operation, as / shall show
directly. But even if il were an abstrac-
ton, if it were merely a declaratory reso-
luton, saying that Congress is in favor of
liberty and opposed to slavery, how would
gentlemen vote! Shall this American
Congress, which claims to represent the
freest people on earth, dwelling in the
home, the citadel, the cherished land Of
liberty, vote that we are in favor OF sla-
very? Let the South so vote, il they
choose; be did not blame southern men
for maintaining their own side Of the
question; but LET northern men beware
For his own part, while he would faith
fully abide by all the compromises OF the
Constitution, while he would not invade,
in the slightest degree, any of the consti-
~iutional rights of the South, he would
never extend, by any vote Of his, slavery
over n foot of territory now free. |
will, then, vote for this proviso. not only
because | think it right in itself. but be-
cause | believe il will have a more power
full effect in restoring peace than any 9TH
er measure that can be adopted-peace a.
broad and peace at home. beg gentle
men to recollect that the acquisition of
territory was the original design, and IS
now the declared object and purpose, Of
this war. The acquisition of New Mex
leo and California is, we are now told on
all sides, the object of this appropriation.
1t was for this purpose that James K
Polk brought the war OH the first instance.
Il was a scheme, a notable scheme, for
the acquisition Of territory by conquest;
but hat object was TO be concealed, and
therefore he began the war without say
ing a word to Congress about it. He
feared they would not sanction his scheme,
and bring on a war for such a purpose
Here was the great error committed by
the President, sa blunder worse than a
crime When Mexico refused 10 recog-
Mise our minister, the President instead Of
sending his army TO the Rio Grande to
bring on the war, should have sent his
message to Congress, setting forth the
causes, and recommending, if he chose, a
declaration of war; and then, if Congress
had declared war, it would have been con
s~titutionaIly declared by the peoples rep
resentatiyes, and they would have cheer
fully sustained it. But, instead of adop-
ting this course, though Congress was in
session at the time. he ordered the army
10 march from Corpus Christi (where he
himself says il had been posted for more
than six months, without objection or mo-
lestation from Mexico to the Rio Gran
de, into the disputed territory, directly op-
posite TO Maiamoras, a Mexican town,
blockading the river, cutting of their sup
plies: and erecting a battery within gun
shot Of the city itself-an act OF war, and
producing war as a necessary and inevita-
bic consequence. 1t did produce war;
n ID tt1oe .~o~1 fa,,-bff ~ a,- I-~.o l.,t1o -
my was cut off from It's supplies; and.
when his plot had thus succeeded, then
he called on us "to recognise the existence
of the war" and provide men and money
for its prosecution. And why did he not
send us his message, and leave it to us to
Judge whether the nation had good cause
of war or notl Because he was afraid to
trust the House with The question. He
knew that it never would sanction a var
for the acquisition of territory, and thai
was the reason why he took upon him to
send his army to bully Mexico into a war.
T. Mr.. MARTIN, of Tennessee, here In
terposed to inquire, whether war had not
been declared against us by Mexico as
early as April
Mr.. S. No, sir, no.; she did not. No
declaration of war was ever made by
Mexico against the United States, or by
the United States against Mexico. II is
an Executive war--a war brought on by
t your President, without q declaration oil
war on either side. Mexico, wishing tc
i avoid hosiilities, sent, by her General in
commend, a notice to our commondel
General Taylor) not to cross the colora
do, otherwise they would regard il as al
2 act OF war, and an invasion of Mexico
. They were not only willing to leave on
/, army undisturbed at Corpus Christi, bu
> were willing we should march TO the Col
orado without resistance. No, sir, thu