Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-02-17
sIcpOrt or Mr.. Olmstead,
OF THE COMMITTEE ON
THE MILITIA

L - $3.50 y lEs Mill LA.
The Committee onthe Militia, to whom
was referred Senate file, No. 6, "Joint
Resolution. in relation to the Mexican
war" ask leave to report
That it has been usual and customary
for the States to pass resolutions Of the
character Of these submitted to your COM
mittee, whenever the calamity Of war has
oyertaken the pacific policy and generous
forbearance Of our Government. During
The late war with England, large major
lity OF the States manifested their noble
confidence in, and presented their encour-
aging appreciation Of, the General Govern
ment, by similar resolutions. Those States
| which refused this patriotic expression Of
opinion, were, at the time, charged with a
sympathy for, and an ambition to favor the
cause OF, the enemy, rather than that Of
their own country, which charge, lapse Of
time has almost ripened into an establish
ed conclusion.
The present war with Mexico has been
| declared by the same constitutional author
tiles which declared war with Great Brit
ain in 1872, The constituted authorities
have decided that the honor and integrity
OF the country demanded an appeal to
arms. The duf, Of the States and The cit
izens is plain. Iowa ought not to hold
out an encouraging Indifference TO the enc
my. II she cannot put forth the ''stalwart
arm, and "the avenging STEEL" she can
raise her voice and encourage and animate
the brave officers and soldiers as they pass
the mountain defles or storm the ram
parts Of the enemy. She can give evil
dence Of noble and patriotic devotion 10
their country and its cause. Well, then,
can she withhold such an expression of
opinion such an evidence of her patriot
ism? Jast assuming her position and
forming her character as State of the
confederacy, shall her first act be one Of
traitorous apathy TO the honor and integ-
rity Of the General Government
The causes and provocations which
forced the United States into this war, are
too well known to require recspitulation.
A desire 10 do justice to the cause Of our
country, is all that is necessary to con-
vince the most scrupulous advocate for
peace that it was an act of dire necessity
= emphatically Of sell defence. Mexico
had violated, in most wanton manner,
her sacred treaties; she had murdered,
robbed, and imprisoned our citizens; her
treachery was equalled only by her impu-
dent pretensions and iaithless promises;
her pledges Of reform and indemnity were
only harbinger Of new and additional in
suits and injuries, our commerce entered
her ports trembling with apprehensions,
our citizers trod upon her soil in dread Of
the assassin and ro5ber; solemn treaties
and plighted faith were bu. syrens that
deluded but to destroy All these, and
more indigniiies were borne by our Gov
eminent, and the 'olive branch Of peace"
and the messenger to negotiate, were sent
to her capital. These she again and again
refused 10 receive. The army of the Uni
ted States occupying the territory under
territory which nau ,uen III the pos
session Of Mexico since the defeat of Sam
Ia Anna on the glorious field of San ia
cinto--w was attacked by the Mexican for
ces, and the only recourse left. was to in
glorlously yield American soil to the foul
ant. polluting footsteps Of the mercenary
MeSica,n soldier, or repel the invading
army. 80
AS early as 1886, Texas declared her
self independent OF hieXico, established
separate government, ard III March 1885,
fixed the left bank Of The Rio Grande as
her south western boundary In 1887,
the United States acknowledged her indie
pendence and sovereignty by a treaty, and
other acts Of recognition Since that time,
Texas has sustained hers>st in the exer
Else of every attribute and the adherence
tc every duty pertaining to a sovereign
and Independent State. Her capacity and
power h.. ! ceased 10 be questioned On
The 29;h Of December, lS45, by the joint
act Of her Cows ament and that of ours,
she was annexed as State to our conied-
eracy. The Rio Granae was the bounda-
ry. The laws Of the United States were
extended 10 the left bank Of that river
Our government claimed allegiance Of all
the inhabitants and promised them protsc-
ton. the rct Of annexation substitute
the Government Of the United States for !
that Of Texas Ii became the duty of the |
United States 'to execute the laws of the
Union, suppress Instruction, and repel in
vasion'' within the limits of Texas. Law
had already defined her boundaries; vet
they had not been established by treaty.
In the act Of annexation, Congress had
reserved the rightto conclude the bounda-
ries Of The State by treaty with Mexico.
For this purpose, our Government sen,
minister TO that Of Mexico; but she refu-
sed to negotiate except at the lannon's
mouth. Without giving us the notice, by
an open declaration Of war, she marched
her armies into Texas, and the horrors of
war were commenced by rapine and lnur-
der. Our small but gallant army met the
ruthless invader at the fields of Palo Alto
and Reseca de Ia Palma, and the glorious
flag Of our country triumphantly waved
on the banks of the Rio Grande.
In reviewing the causes and provoca-
ton that preceded this war, your commit
tee can with difficulty restrain themselves
from denouncing its opposers with epithsts
Of condemnation, if not Of accusation of
crime. When an Iowa Legislature, in
view of all the facts connected with the