The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-02-06
S ID IL Il G iii
Of Hon. j. r. GIDDINGS.
(COncLlMLeR.l

MIR Chairman: The President has many IL
Die and warm friends on this floor; but no one
steps forth TO eXtricute him from This attitude
in which he has placed himself Sir, "om Of
his OiCH mOuth is he condemned" lie has him
selfpnCed the evidence ofhis msrepresent-
alton on the records of the nation. II will go
into the archieves of the Government, and
will descend to posteritya perpetual proof
OF the weakness and wckedness ofthis Adj
miniStra,iOn. IT is humiliating duty thus TO
expose the uncandid arguments and asser-
tons of the Executives but due regard 10
the cause oftruth, devotion to the principles
ofimmutible justice, demand the faithI.j
examination of this very extraordinary docu-
mcnt; and only regre; that the duly has not
fallen upon one more able to do it justice.
Before leave this part ofthe subject wish
10 say, that this admission of the President,
that "New Mexico" extends this side Of the
Rio Grande according to its former limits, is
a surrender of The whole argument that
Texas is bounded by that river. The Presi-
dent defines the boundary 10 be "the Rio
Grande from, its mouth TO us source" But, by
admitting that New Mexico" still includes
'Santa Fe," he admits that the line of Texas
extends 40 farther west than she has EXTEND
ed her cOnquests and maintained and CI-
forced her laws. That is the correct rule OF
international law, and it applies 10 Tamaui-
pas as well as to New MeXico--to "BraZos
Santiago" as we'll as to "Santa Fe." He says
so, for the reason thar Mexican laws ever had
been and continued to he in force there, and
Mexican officers CONN anded them up TO the
time that our troops arrived and took control
of the country. Such was precisely tie
stale of hcts in relation TO "Brasos Santiago"
ut Fort Brown" and through the whole val,
ley of the "Rio Grande." The clistum-house
IL Point Isabel" was in the care and under
the control ofNleXican officers, and had been
from the day Gifts establishment; and the
people there were governed by Mexican laws
aud yielded obedience TO the Mexican Gov
eminent, up TO the time of General Taylor's
arrival, precisely as they did at "SSauta Fe,'
up to the arrival of General Kearney. "Point
Isabel" and that portion ofthe State ofTam-
aulipas which lies between the Rio Grande
and the desert, was captured by General Tay-
Tor. precisely as New Mexico and "Suntn Fee"
We're captured by General Kearncy. The on
y distinction in the two cases is.that one was
invaded and captured in time Of peace, aud
the other in II time of war.
Another feature this message is the GER
cral representation that this irdr is defensive
on Our part But here again the President
has recourse to vague sorhistry. He does not
inform us what portion of our territory was
invaded or threatened with invasion. Who,
sir, ofall the people of these United States ev,
er dreamed themselves in danger of Mexican
violence? Why, sir in time of profound
peace, our army, by order of the President,
left Corpus Christi, and, crossing the desert,
proceeded more than n hundred miles beyond
the fartherest limits of Texas and Of Texan
laws, and entering upon territory. which had
ever been in the possession of Mexico, they
seized upon the custom-house at point lisa,
he'll" blockaded the Rio Grande, erected Il
fortificalion, and mounted cannon, so as 10
command Matamoras, surprised their militp-
ry encampmont, drove away the men, and
took possession oftheir horses; and finally our
dragons charged upon their infantry, before
the Mexicahs fired gun. And now the
Executive represents this as defensive war.
Our army has crossed the Rio Grande, taken
Matamoras, Camargo, Monterey, Satillo, Ia,
basco, Tampico, Santa Fe. and the whole of
California. We have penetrated TO the very
heart of Mexico. We have stormcd their
strong tortresses, bomharded their cities, aud
involved deienceless women, helpless chill
dren, and decrepid age, in scenes of human
hutchery, and now profess that we are acting
in defence -four own people. What estimate
must the author of this message have PLACED
upon the intelligence OF this body, and of the
nation, when no penned this message? Such
absurdities defy argument.
Bat the President complains that .7Ierico
long since seized the property Of oar citizens, for
,Chich they failed TO make compensation, Ggs;fcn,
bly, 10 treaty SiiputdtionS. Much ofthe Message
is occupied in calling the attention of tho
country to these wrongs. Ii is undoubtedly
true, that some Of our citizens residing IN
Mexico during their revolutions, We're uniaws
fully deprived of their property. But it is 2.
qualify true, tllat those dfficliiies were sHiIs