Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-21
Whole No 9O4.

temporary existing government Of thai
miserable nation ! Aside from the want
OF dignity, which It appeared 10 the nj
mos, covered the country with some DE
gree OF Disgrace, IN fomentiDg a revOln.
ton ~ the country ot an enemy, Il AZ.
pears 10 me TO have been ex,remei,
!. weak, III judged, and inexpedieni.
\ Santa Anna got to Mexico. Gsw
F. Taylor distributed his proc lamslion -.
\ The President admits in the message ~
lah December that he hoped Tor coun
clIs more peaceable to the United State =
from the authority OF Santa Aunn, ihsn
from the authority OF Paredes. H""
far he has been disappointed the event
will tell. How far this military Ch"i.
tain entered INTO an Argument, ! am n"'
able to say that there Was o geDri ~
Understanding, Is evident whether H.
was unable or unwilling 10 carry omi tIlnr
understanding, or whether he found 10"
sentiment OF the nation too strong tor bin.
l leave y"u 10 Judge but the tact il, wc
find bIm soon after, at the head OF ia"
army, and ia direlul and bloody conflict
with the army OF the United States. H.
had come, either at The suggestion, or A.
least, 10y the permss ION oi the PresidetH
OF the United States. He had pui hlm
sell at the head of The Mexican s,mies
bat instead oi moving towards peace, b"
moved only towards war, aud cohHici.
aud battle. " hatever else may be said
OF the circumstances, ordinary or ,xir.
ordinary, that have attended the eleva
ton OF the fortunes of the President a.
the United States, It Will be admitted
that at least III one respect hs case =
somewhat singular. He has se~n a.
tnies of vast numbers and amount, fgh,.
ing various battles IN tented fields, aad
! 1t 30 happens that he has had the selec.
ton OF commanders on both sides
The precise object ofthis war is prov
ed by facts aud circumstances, sutlirIeni
| think, To satisfy any reasonable nun -
The precise object OF this war was 4"
establish t,overnmen 10 Mexico, h>
the restoration of Santa Anna, whici.'
should Jrld the question OF Is.an IT,
dependence and give Us no more Il nouhIr
on that account. How griev"usly th"c
calculation has been disappointed, lea
subs, queut events show. This then, l.
The real ground and origin oi the ",t
and all the resi-, so far as appears /"
me, Is mere pfet"xi and ! hope 'b"s'
whose business 1t Is to spIesd iHI"im".
tion upon these important subjects. VII
look at that proclamation oi the 9th 80
May, will compare what the Cover.
mrnt oi the United States say, wnn
what the President said IN hI. mcsshg'
of the llh oi May, aud what C"ng,'..
enaCied ~ conformity with that message
the hypolh' SIS that war arose from invo
SION by the Mexican forces of our soh
and the murder ot our citizens.
Sir, have alluded to the declaration
of Mr. Calhoun that if there had been
no annexation of Texas, there would
have been no war. now choose TO say
sir, that ] agree i'll your sentiment, eA-
pressed in your own iorcible way in your
place IN the House of Representatives
that the direct consequence of the act ot
inIqulty IN the annexation of Texas, ~
the war III which we are now engaged
have eudeavorcd to show that II was to
avoid this consequence. TO pacify Mexico.
or subdue the spirit of resistance by
changing her government, that these oI-
eralons, military and diplomatic, wcr.
undertaken by the present gOvernmen, ~
The United States. Now, sir, the propo-
sltiou is too plain that this war grows GU,
Of annexation. Mr.. Calhoun is righ, -
II there had been no annexation, there
would have been no war. Does auy one
suppose that we should have gone to war
with Mexico, drpopulated her, and cx-
hauSted her resources, To collect our
debts. Or that we should have gone I"
war with Mexico, because she did not
choose to receive, either as Cotmnis-
sIoucr or as an Envoy Extraordinary,
Mr.. Slldcll Would Congress have de-
clared war upon such preteDces =
Never. 1t did grow out of anncxailor,
and as YOU see was not an unnatural con-
sequence; ] do not say necessary CON
sequence. But what is remarkable, sir,
is that the grievance rs on the part ot
Mexico and we make the war. She ha-
the prominent complaint aud We strlk.
the first blow.
Sir, nothing in the history of a per'"r
no more important than am, can be- ~
any great consequence To tins great Peo-
pie But II Is of some consequence {"
myself, and IT is among my consultations,
that from the very first In'imailon oi am
design or desire to annex Texas Ia tln'
country, have opposed 1t with all nv
ability, IN all places, aud at all times. u
is NOW len years, sir, since at meeting
Of our political friends in New Yors
where that question was one upon which
the opinion of those friends were a good
deal divided, IN which received my ad
montlons not to- commit myself did
commit myself; and there il stands, and
am thankful for IT. ! was then, and !
have been AT all times since, down to the
period when the bill had its las, 'esdlug
aud my vote was against II, thoroughly,
out aud out, under all rcams,soc e.,
against II And my opposition ~ss found.
ed upon this ground that ] never would