Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-30
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, Va.
Saturday Morning, November p, 1917
Mg- cL.AY,s NAMES 70.

We had intended this morning 10 continue our
review of MIR. Clay's strange positions on '"e
Mexican war, but we find some o! his important
arguments so well handled by the Baltimore sum-
a journal Independent, Of boh parties, mat we
substitute the following for cur own. Inc piain
common sense Of The 4 american people Will view
Inc mater in lis iue light, unbiased oy Tie cloud
ed logic Of speculating pollicians-especishy
when The great object Of the lasier seems 10 DC 10
m, their own country in the wrong andto justify
The enemy:
M CLAW uses The words, "If We had mol Tex
,ne shn,,id have no war" And again: Thus
,hs war commenced; and the President, after ha'
wing nroduced il, appealed TO Congress" Here
are two things al!eged-Firs', Inc eanss oil 'nc
war in The annexation OF Texas, as an ac' OF our
Congress; and second, The war iseii, as an acl OF
our President. We dispute both OF these iacis.
submitted as unqualified assertions ine , "aa
orio;na,ed in that miserable admiIlure oil lolly
ard concei, which is the basis OF The military
character of Mexico. Ii was projected by Inc
;ealousy and hatred of Mexican leaders Inc
eouse OF these emotions was The annexation oi
TeYos 10 The United States; but Mexico cannot
plead Ina, canse successfully before me WORM as
her nst,fca,ion, and ieas; Of all do we expect 10
And citizen OF the United States maintaining
!, The United S,a;cs aud Texas acted as moe
nendpn, nations in The deed OF annexation, ana Ii
!, Injustice 10 both 10 charge The cause o. the war
with sentiment oi Ieproach against ehhel.
As the war having been Proauceo oy 'hc
President. l. strikes us as an absurdy; and we can
hni think Mr.. CLAY has not been SO careiul IN re-
terence 10 this assertion as strict justice demands
Had MIR. Clay been in the Presidential chair, ne
would have been dereir in duly, had ne Win
held the protection Of the American arms from
any portion Of territory declared 10 " Gnae1ea.-
Sucb norton OF territory was threatened, ana oc-
cupied. and overrun By parties Of MEXICAN cav
alry The President threw The proleciioh OF cur
ba9 overt. Mexico, al hat time, refused 10 re
ceive Cur minister. clothed win power 10 neso'i,
ATE unon the sublec; declared war against W. anu
IN virtue Of This declaration chaiieh2eo ana
brought on q general engagement "a 'na, tsis
moment every general officer oi lhe onisea STAIRS
was acting under line restrictive inJanctions OF Inc
PRESIDENT 10 abstain from aay aggressive act
Bnt lei US see wha vas The opiniaa ut Gene
raj TAYLOR with reference 10 this movement 10
the Rio Gfan;lc lie writes 10 The Secretary OF
War on the 4,h OF October, and says:
81, is with great Difference that | make any
suggestions on topics which may become matter
IT delicate negotiation; but If cur Government,
in settling the question of boundary, makes the
line of the Rio Grande an ullimalum, cannot
donht tina, The settlement will he greatly faci!ia-
led and fastened by our taking possession at
once Of one or two suitable points on or quite
near thai river"
Niexicn having subsequently rejected the mis-
sion Of MIR. Siice!, tie l;nc oi tie Rio Grande
was forced u7ou ,hc United SAFES, because Texas
had declared il as The boundary q her tsf'!'oTy IN
her independent legislative capacity, ard mus she
was annexed 10 he United States. The order 10
march 10 TIC Rio Gran.:e having been received
by General 'Tayior he writes again under Gate OF
February 4, 1876:
sour advance 10 the Rio Grande will i!sei
produce powerful effect and il may be Ina! me
common navigation OF the river will no! ee dis
puled."
This seriously conflicts with the remarks in
Mr. Claws speech, lha, The war might passbiy
have been prevented, "ii. Il" amongst other things,
General Taylor had been pe'mined 10 'smam
where his own good sense prompted him 10 De-
lieve he ought 10 remain. al Corpus Christi
We now come 10 The Eexi impulaIion against
The President that he did mol appeal 10 Congress
nrior to the occurrence Of hosliiiies. Appeal TO
Congress for wha;2 To declare war; No! ne
was cndeavoring 10 avoid il lie acted al'o:elh-
er within his appropriate sphere, and executed,
with a view 10 the honor of his country The duties
which The constitution imposed npon The incum-
bent O! that cmnen, station to Shich ne had been
called. But, as soon as hostities had broken
out he committed The whole matter unIeservedly
10 Congress.