Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-03-11

three millions responsibility asked by Mr. Polk. r
| The secretary knew that he had made war with
Mexico-that in accepting the gage three times laid
down. he had Joined an issue with that compound OF
Celtic blood, called Spanish, would redeem. knew
it, and said it on this floor, in secret sesson-for
did not then choose to say il In pubc-that IT there
was but of that blood in all Mexico, and he
no bigger than Gen. Tom. Thumb, he would fight.
Senator's will recollect it. Mr. MANGUM nodded as
sent.
now come to the last act in this tragedy of errors
the alternative resolutions adopted by Congress IN
tie last DAYS of the session of 1S44-45, and IN the
last moments of Mr.. Tyer's administration. re-
solve, single and absolute, had been made by the
House Of Representatives; 1t came 10 this body and
an alternative resolution was added, subject TO the
choice Of the President, authorizing negotiations for
the admission, and appropriating SlOOOtO to de-
fray the expenses of these negotiations. senator
from North Carolina, not now member OF this body,
but who have the pleasure to see sitting near me,
[Mr HAYWOOD knows all about that alternative reso-
tuition, and his country owes him good thanks for his
abors about it. II considered by everybody, that
the choice between these resolutions belonged TO the
new President, who had been elected with special
view to the admission of Texas, and who was already
in The city, awaiting tie morning of the 4th of March
to enter upon the execution of his duties, and upon
whose administration all the evils Of mistake IN The
lchoice of these resolutions TO fall We all ex-
pected the question be left open TO the new Presi-
dent; and so strong was that expectation, and SO
strong the feeling against the decency or propriey OF
interference the part of the expiring adrninlstra-
ton, to snatch this choice out of the hands of Mr.
Polk that on mere suggestion of the possibility Of
such proceeding, in debate on this floor, senator
standing in the relation personally, and politically
and locally to feel for the honor of the then Secretary
of State, declared they would not have the audacIy to
; do it. Audaciiy was the word: and that the
declaration of gentleman of honor and patriotism,
no longer member of TINS body, but who has the re-
spect and best wishes of all who knew him.
speak ofAIr McDutEe and quote his words heard at
the time and since printed and published by others
! Mr. McDuffe was mistaken They did have the au-
dacity They did do ii or rather HE did it, (ook
ing Mr.. Calhoun;) for it is ncontestible that Mr.
Tyler was nothing, in anything that related to the
Texas question: from the time of the arrival OF his
Secretary Of State. His last act, relation to Texas,
was the answer which Mr.. Nelson gave for him
through the agent, Murphy denying his right to lend
our forces the President of Texas to fight the Next
cans while were at peace with them the reversal
of that answer by his new secretary was the extnc-
ton of his power the Texas question He, the
then Secretary of State, the present senator from
South Carolina, TO whom address myself, did II On
Sunday, the second day of March,-llst day which
preceded the last day of his authorty-and on that
day, sacred to peace-the council sat- that acted on
{, the resolutions and In the darkness of night
bowling with the storm, and battling with the ele
ments, if Heaven warred upon the audacious act,
(for well do remember it, the fatal messenger was
IL,
as. The act was then done: Texas admitted
all the consequences of admission ncurred-and
especially that consequence which Mr.. de Bocanegra
had denounced and which Secretary had accepted
y WAR. The state of war established-the
status bei created-and that by the operation OF
our constitution, well by the filed decara-
ton of Mexico for Texas then being admitted into
the Union, the with her extended to the whole
Union and the duty of protecting her deyoyed upon
the President of the United States The selection Of
the absolute resolution exhausted action the al
tentative resolution for negotatation was defunct
the only mode of admission the absolute one and
: 1t made war. The war made to MIR. Folks hand
his administration came into existence with war upon
its hands, and under the constitutional duty to protect
4! Texas at the expense of a war with Mexico and to
, that point all events rapidly tended. The Mexican
, minister, General Almonte who mad returned to
Washington city after the rejection of the treaty OF
annexation, demanded his passports and left the Uni
ted States. The land forces which had been advanced
to the Sabine, were advanced to Corpus Christi the
Mexican troops moved towards the Rio Grande: the
1 feet which remained at Vera Cruz, continued there
q commerce died out the citizens of each country left
e the other, far they could angry denuncia-
4 tons filled the press of each country: and when
minister sent from the United States, his recep
:, ton refused The state of existed legally
all the circumstances of war; except the single cir
cumstance of boodshed, existed at the accession OF
, Mr.. Polk and the two countries, Mexico and the
' United States, stood in relation to each other i'm
, possible to be continued. The march upon the Rio
: Grande brought on the ccnfict-made the collision o.
: arms-but not the The prepared, or
ganized established by the Secretary of Stale, before
d he left the department 1t his legacy to the de-
II mocracy, and to the Polk admnistrationhis last gift
;, to them, in the moment of taking long farewell
y And now he sets up for of peace, and throw.
all the blame Of tie war upon Mr. Polk, to whom h'
II bequeathed it.
d Cicero says that Antony, flying from Rome to tht
O camp of Cesar in Cisalpine Gaul, was the o
: the civil war which followed-as much so as Heller
l. of the Trojan Ut Helena Trojanis, sic iSt
It huic reipublice beui-cdusa pests aque eiti
ut. He says that that flight put end to all chance
accommodation closed the door to all Cancellation
N broke up the plans of all peaceable men; and by in
ducing Cesar to break up his camp in Gaul, and marc
= the Rubicon, lit up the flames of civil
IF Italy. In like manner, say that the fight of tn,
+ winged messenger from this capital the SUNDAY
night before the Sd of March, despatched by the theI
q Secretary of State. in the expiring moment of hi
5 power, and bearing the fatal choice to the capital
d Texas, was the direct of the with Mexic,
> in which now engaged. Like the flight 0
e Antony, it broke up the plans of all peaceabe men
slammed the door upon negotiation, put end to al
chance for accommodation, broke up the camp th
Sabine the troops towards Mexico, and lit thu
N war. Like Antony and the others, he made the war
unlike Antony he does not stand up it but, copy
ing rather tie conduct of the paramour of Helen ht
flies from the combat he has provoked and, wors,
than Paris, he cndeavors TO draw along with him, IL
e his own unhappy fight, the whole American host
Paris fled alone the sight of Menelaus the senator
from South Carolina urges all to fly al the sight
e Santa Anna. And, it may be, that worse than Paris
Is again, ne may refuse to return to the field. Pari.
IF went back under the keen reproach of Hector,
e tried TO fight.
10 "Fsr thee The soldier bleeds the mairon mOurns,
LII I..~ue