The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1847-03-11
Mr.. Smiths speech, and tho
yTrr.


Ours being tho only paper Published In tho
county. We have deemed !, courtesy due 10 tho
Democratic party on al occasions to publish Tho
proceedings Of iheir meetings, &c; and on had
ing subjects Of discussion before the country VIC
have deemed i no moro than becoming libcnIi-
y also to publish one or more speeches on their
ellie Of the question: particularly when requested
80 TO do. This having been our course hitherto.
VIC have no, seen ceurc to depart from ii on tho
present occasion; and therefore, By request, have
published in our paper to-day Nj. Smiths speech
in the House Of Commons, on the resolution ap-
propriating ten thousand dollars for the use Of tho
volunteers from this state.
This speech was not made to bCnefi, the volun-
tccrs, by urging the speedy passage Of the rssOlu-
ton; hut to defend the Prcsiden, of the United
States from the charge Of having commenced tho
war by his at, without the advice and direction
Of Congress, and consequently IN direc, violation
of the Constitution Of the United States. Tho
question, therefore, is very simple one, and in
wolves very few facts, with which the main por-
ton Of Mr.. Smiths speech has nothing 10 do.
II docs not even involve tho question as to which
country 10 in the wrong. If Mexico has beer.
guilty Of the meny acts Of aggression upon tho
property and persons Of our citizens, and Of in.
sal'ins reasmelt towards our diplomatic agents,
as enumsra;ed in this speech, these might be sub
jee:s proper to be submitted to tho attention of
, Congress in fpcchl message" as they wcrc
during the administration Of Gen. jackson, ami
subsequently, BY Mr.. Van Buren but could not
justify hostile movement on tlc part Of the Pc
| silcn,. But these matters wsts. al settled by
trcaty Mexico agreed to pay for her a,rgrcssionr
anil in part had fulfilled her engagements, though
TO Do 50 she had to extort forced leans fton her
own people. Some two or three millions only n
naming unpaid.
These Mexican aggressions were made TO fiIl a
large portion of the message Of the President to
Congress IT, December last, and figure very large.
y in Mr. Smiths speech; but evidently for tho
purpose of justifying the act of tho President
which brought on the war--no, to show how tho
war was begun.
Equally foreign TO the question arc The ,ransac-
tons between Texas and Mexico previous to the
annexation. On receiving Texas into the Union,
we undertook to protect her from foreign aggrcs-
sions, not to avenge her past quarrcls.
After the annexation of that state to tho Union
our army under Gen. Taylor took up position
at Corpus Christi, where it could be readily sup
piled, and would be in position to resist any at
| tempt at invasion on tho part of Mexico. Our
fleet was also ordered into the Gulf The feel
ings of the people of Mexico were no doubt deer
" exaspcatcd against US for the loss Of so vau-
able u province, but no warlikc movement had
been made, except the collection of few troops
at MaIamoros, on tho west bank of the Rio
Grandc; and il is probable none would have been
made if our army had remained at Goraus Christi.
But for some cause not get publicly avowetA
the President was not satisfied with this state
of things, and issued his orders to Gen. Taylorp
advance from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande'
Under this order Gen. Taylor took up position
on the banks Of the river opposite the city Of Ma
tamoras, in the midst of Mexican corn and cot
ton fields
And this was the commencement of the war
Under what authority did the President directthls
movements Mr.. Smith says that the boundary
Of Texas extended TO the Rio Grande, and there
fore the camp Of Gen. Taylor was on American
soil, But how does he make Il appcaf' Texas
claiming that as her boundary did not makei So
The power of Texas never had ext, ndcd SO iar'
the whole Of the valley of the Rio Grande, on Dol"
its banks, was inhabited by Mexicans, and SUBJECT
to Mexican law. Even the resolution of Co"$'eS'
which admitted Pcxas into the UpiQn, !urPc'e9