Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-02-04
The Appropriation by the Gene
raj Assembly Of Two Thousand
five hundred dollars to defray
the expense Of raising and SUBJ
sisting volunteers from this State
for the Mexican War:

sisting volunteers from this State
for the Mexican War:
The Resolutions reported by the Committee
on the Militia on this subject, being under
consideration, Wednesday afternoon, Jan.
9th, the Hon. II. b. CRASsToS, Speaker
having called Mr. Robbins to the Chair, ad-
dressed the House in opposition to the Reso-
lutions, as follows
lie said the remarks ofthe gentleman from
Providence (Mr John II. Clarke,) would be
very well, if made in the Senate of the U. S.,
but had no application here, because the State
was not called on by the U. S. Government
for volunteers or militia of any kind. And
what are we about doing Nothing less than
to throw open the Treasury of the State to
raise a standing army for the United Stairs
Yes, sir, this company, when full, is to be a
part of the ten regiments of regulars to be
raised by bill now before Congress. No such
case as this has been acted on in any State OF
the Union, and my word for it the people OF
this State will sanction no such Legislation.
The gentleman from Providence says the war
has been consttutionally declared and it is our
duty to furnish supplies to carry it on, and not
to inquire into the wisdom and justice of the
war Sir, deny that the war was consttu-
tionally declared. The war power is in Con-
gress. This war was made by the President
lie ordered Gen. Taylor and the army under
his command, to the river Nueccs, and there
he remained six months unmolested. The
President gave him several hints that his ope-
rations might be extended to the Rio Grande
but the General would not go without orders
and finding they could not get up war with
Mexico, if they kept within Texas, he was
finally ordered to the left bank of the Rio
Grande, and planted his battery within three
hundred yards of the city of Matamoras. The
Mexican General told Gen. Taylor if he did
not retire, he should consider it an act of war
Gen. Taylor Immediately blockaded the mouth
of the Rio Grande; cut off all supplies from,
the Mexican city and army and declared to
them that his Government required him to
maintain his position. Then it was the first
blood was shed on the east bank Of the Rio
Grande, in Mexico, and not on the soil of the
United States, rs alleged by the President
What right had we, or Texas, to the east bank
of the Rio Grande 1t never had been ceded
to her, nor had she ever conquered it. The
President tells Congress, that Santa Fe is in
New Mexico, and congratulates them and glo
rifles himself upon the conquest Of that city
which lies on the left bank Of the Rio Grande
and within the territory claimed by Texas
and yet we hold it as q conquered country
Sir, it is a pitiful pretence that Mexico shet
the blood of American citiaens on American
soil. If our propensity to appropriate what be
longs to another be so strong that il cannot be
rcprcsscd, let us boldly say to Mexico that he
land is good and we want IL, and will take i
by force. II is true, as stated by the Presi
dent, that Mexico many years ago had plum
dercd our commerce and imprisoned our citi
zens, and any one of these insults would have
been good cause for war. These outrage,
were committed when Gen. Jackson and Mr.
Van Buren, were at the head Of the Govern
mcnt They did not recommend war they
negotiated, and in 1889, Mexico made treaty
with US, in which she agreed TO psy for all in