Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-31
Friday Morning, December 81, Is47.
MEXICAN WAR.

MEXICAN WAR.
Although we have written much on Tie subject
of the war, in which the nation is engaged, YET,
as il is sill the great question before tie country
we hope 10 be excused Tor continuing The discus
sion, i. discussion it may be called All The indi-
cations which can b. gathered frcm the public
prints in The in!eress of the Wing party, show
that this is the point which has ben selected by
the opposition for its attack upon he Admini'iTa.
zion. Mr.. Clay's idea, that the mach from Corpus
Christi to the Rio Grandc, being through territory
M disruis between The United Sales and The Re-
public Of Mexico was in violation Of The CoEsii-
tuition, has been generally adopted By the Wing
press; and by none more strong " than Tie Fede-
raj organ in this city. We purpose 10 notice
some Of The positions assumedby that paper more
tally than We have yet done; but we will first en-
deavor TO shuw what MIR. Gays present opinions
on that topic are worth.
The United States purchase louisiana OF
France in 1903. At that time, and until 1919,
Florida belonged TO Spain, who claimed that her
dominion extended West 10 The Mississippi. The
United States denied this, and alleged that Lousi-
ana extended 10 the Rio PeIdidc, a stream running
into The Gulf Of Mexico, about SO miles East Of
Mobile. Between The country actually in the pos
session and occupancy of Spain and that actual
ly in the possession and occupancy Of France,
space ineryened oil thirteen or fourteen leagues,
which ha! never been in the exclusive possession
OF either OF those powers. After the United
States hat purchased Louisiana, dispute arose
as 10 The boundary between our possessions and
those of Spain, and President Madison seized
upon The country Eas, OF the Mississippi river,
and exlcntcd the jurisdiction Ct The United States
to the Rio Perdido, which flowed through the in.
tervenng space, which had never been in the ex.
elusive possession either Of France or SPAIN
For this at, he was assailed in Congress by the
Federal mtmbers, who denounced This act as an
usurpaion Of The uar-making power. On The
25th OF December, 1910, Mr. Clay replied to those
denuncialions, and went as far, if not farther, in
support o(he seizure of the disputed territory, than
any advocate Of the present war has ever gone
Whether cur title TO the whole territory thus
seized was good under The cession OF Louisiana,
had not been settled by negotiation. II was dis
pu,ed by Spain as much as our title 10 The coun-
try beyond The Nueces was disputed b. Mexico.
II il be unconstitutional in Mr.. Polk TO order our
troops inIo the latter because it was disputed, was
ii not equally unconstitutional in MIR. Madison
to scisc:lhe former, for that ,cas disputed p
True, an act of Congress had been passed author.
izing port of entry and delivery in the territory
disputed by Span-but an act OF Congress had
extended our revenue laws beyond the Nueces.-
True, Congress had recognized The boundary OF
the Orleans territory as embracing West Florida
but Congress had recognized the limits oil Tex
as as extending beyond The Nueces. But this is
mol all. Mr.. Clay went farther in 1910, and said
that We were right in seizing the disputed terrific
ry, Independent Of any tile; Tor, says he, 81 have
no hesitation in saying, that if parent country
will not or cannot maintain its authority in
colony adjacent 10 Us, and there exists in it
state OF misrulc and disorder, menscing our peace
and it, moreover, such colony by passing into
the hands Of any other power, would become dan
s..,us ~ me integrity OF The Union, and mani
iesy tend 10 the subversion OF our aws-we
have right upon the eternal principle OF self
10 lay hold upon H."
This carries The constitutional power Of annex.
alton 10 lis fullest extent. 1t also settles The mat
Ter of The annexation of Texas as far as Mexico
is concerned, even if The United States had, with
violent hands laid hold Oil Texas. Whal then,
has Mexico 10 complain Oh The country wes'
OF The Nuecesl She has made no such complaint;
and besides, she could have settled The question OF
boundary. That was offered her, and she refused
10 entertain The subjecr. What, then, was 10 be
done2 Mexico was al war with Texas, Stale
OF This Coniederacy-a war which could be ter
minated only BY treaty Of peace made with
the constituted authorities OF The United Siates.-
Mexico declared that this war did exist; said hal
the United States had assumed il; and refused 10
enter into any treaty whatever 10 bring il TO
close. This gave the President the Constitutions
al right TO invade The country beyond the Rio
Granae or any Mexican territory whatever. So
much for The assumption Of the war-making
power.
Il is conceded that the government was obliged
TO protect Texas, but how far did that exend7-
Texas had said, TO The Rio Grande. Mexico did
MOI dcny this assertion, but claimed every thing
up TO the Sabine. But admitting, for the sake OF
a Argument, that she had denied il, and had avoweda
willingness 10 yield The country East of the Nue.
ce. vet refused 10 treat for that west OF that river,
the war would still have been Enclosed, and The
question OF boundary would still have been IN.
settled, unless the Uniied States had chosen 10
yield up ,c,ttout ncgo!iation, what one OF The
States claimed as right. Would this have been
lust or honorable toward that Sae2 Il certainly
would have been neither. But Mexico did not
take this course. She did not talS of meles and
bounds, but claimed the whole OF Texas 10 the
BORDERS of Louisiana, and said, through General
Almonlc, her minister, lei the war continue, ard
the sword win Texas-lhe whole OF Texas, for
one or the olher A sovereign Stale of The Unioa
was the prize for which we had 10 contend and il
we were right in not yielding up that prize, then
the war in which we are engaged is just and
rishlul war.
The Wing politicians affect to forget that Mex
leo insisted that the annexation Of Texas, with
on, reference 10 her boundaries, would be con-
sdered by her as lanlamountto declaration OF
war. Notwithstanding This iorseiiulness, it is
one OF the historical facts connected with the
case. In order then 10 make our cause just, we
had nothing 10 do but 10 take her al her word,
and attack her by land or sea. Justice could re-
ouire no more at our hands, if we had not wrong
fully annexed Texas. Then justice would have
reqaIed US again 10 contract our limits 10 the
Sabine, proposition which no one enler;ains
al this day.
SELF REPUTATION.
A letter from Miedgeville in the Wing Taylor
Savannah Republican slales that 1.-THE Hhigs