Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-10-14

war against MEXICO on TINS account. ne
conduct of Mexico was as reprehensible six
months before, as on that day; but there
had been manifested no disposition to make
it cause of war with her.
To say, therefore, thatthis war was found
ed upon the refusal Of Mexico to pay her
debts, is pretext, and nothing but a pre-
text.
Well them sir, what was in truth, the re-
al object the war If all these things were
preteXts, what was, in fact the true motive /!
So far as we can now scrutiniZe the motives,
so far as we can look into the designs and
objects of our rulers, what was the motive,
the purpose, the impulse ofthe heart which
led to the measures that brought about the
war Why, sir, have poor opinion of
my own sagacity, do not pretend to see
farther into such matters than other men.
But to me it is as plain as a turnpike, as Wis
ible as yonder sun now shining upon us.
Sir, an eminent person, belonging to the
party in administration, most eminent GER
tainly of all those who do belong to it, so
eminent that it strikes one rather oddly that
the administration should not belong to
him, rather than he to the administration
| mean Mr.. Calhoun, one of the most prac-
teal of the politicians and debaters in the
country-a gentleman who is not apt to con-
cede away his case, declared in the last SEES
sion of Congress, that if there had been no
annexation of Texas, there would have been
no war And he went further, and said
that the immediate cause Of war was the or
der for the march of our army from Corpus
Christi to the Rio Grande.
But how did the war grow out of annex
alton ? This is case in which, correctly
to answer this question, we must adopt prop
er distinctions, and follow the light afforded
by ascertained facts.
Now, Mr.. President, do not stand here
at this time, nor have ] at any time been,
an advocate or apologist for Mexico. | have
a very poor opinion of her government in
all its states, and at all times / pity the
people of Mexico from my heart, and
should pity them more if they appeared to
have sense enough to understand the mis-
cry of their own condition. | believe the
government of that country to be the very
worst of the civilised world, pretending to
guard the rights of the people. The repub-
lie, which by the way is no republic at all,
but military anarchy, has been, | am sor-
ry to say, for years and years the prey of
every miserable military upstart, that could
find money enough to sustain a miserable
army. have no sympathy, therefore, with
any government, or men connected with any
of the governments, Of Mexico, for the last
twenty years. | 90 farther, sir. And Isay
that, in my judgment, after the battle OF
San Jancinto, in 1886, and the events OF
the next six or seven years, Mexico had no
reason to regard Texas as one of her prov
inces. She had no power in Texas, but ii
) was entirely at the disposition of those who
) lived in it. They made a government for
themselves.
This country acknowledged that Govern
, ment foreign states acknowledged that gov
ernment and ! think, in fairness and hon
esty, we must admit that in 1910, al, AZ
and '43 Texas was an independent State
among the States of the earth. l do moi
admit, therefore, that it was any just GROUND
f of complaint on the part of Mexico, that the
f United States annexed Texas to themselves
But Mexico did take offence at the anneXa
: ton. Long as Texas had been independ
l ent, notorious as was the fact, that the gov
Y ernments of Europe, as well as our own
f had admitted the nationality of Texas, Mex
/ leo persisted in saying that 1t was her prov
/ ince; and she would not live on terms o
e entire amity and friendly confidence witt
: the United States, although she did not g
o to war Her Minister, Almonte, wen
: home she would not receive our Minister
k she became gloomy, sulky, and discomfort
{! ed: and that was the condition of things i'm
d mediately after the annexation of Texas
n and at the commencement of Mr. Folks ad
y ministraton.
y | think that the object Of this war wa
n simply this. Mr. Polk became President {
st the United States in March, lS45. In Jun
J., 1915, Santa Anna was banished from Me,
Of leo to Cuba, on what is called half pay. ii
!, seems to have been disconnected with hi
A. situation at Cuba, and | am strongly susp
Of cious that the " half pay" never was paiC
lie Through 1915, the condition of things bt
N tween us and Mexico was thus angry an
rs unsatisfactory
ID Not to trouble you, sir, with many date
lie allow me to approach period of some il
ID terest. 1t was in January, 1916, that ii
il army of the United States, which, in ii
summer preceding, had been ordered to tax
c. its position at Corpns Christi, was now o
r. dered to advance to the Rio Grande. I'll
I'd reason given by Mr. Buchanan for this o
n. der among other things, was, that it mig
bit be at hand, in case Mr.. Slidell was rejectC
of by Mexico, to act as Congress s--ould a
thorise Now, there has been an opino
p | believe very far back, from the time
ed Santa Annals release from Imprisonment
C. Texas, that he was rather more favorable
ed the acknowledgement of Texan indepen
an ence than any other of the military chic
ut in Mexico. At any rate, after his banis
r? ment by Parades, the sentiment becan
Sc general that he was more favorable to pea,
We with the United States than the governme
he then existing.
of The President of the United States Sc
re his war message to Congress on the Ill
M day of May, 1916, placing the existence
he war upon the fact that Mexico had invad
en- our territory and shed the blood of our pc
10 pie. On that very day he despatched {
I'm ders to Commodore Conner, at Vera Cru
ok that in case Santa Anna should come I'll
re way, he should not obstruct his passage in
Mexico, Now, how came it into Mr.. Poll
id, Imagination that Santa Anna was likely
Dts come that wayl At about the same tin
ed if l remember Alright, Mr.. Sldell Macke
lat zie, brother of our Minister to Mexico, W
= | 4 Ill 81 f.,I.n 4 lrf