Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-11-26
WING AUTHORITY ON THE WAR.

1t is well known to the country that Mr..
Reverdy Johnson, one of the Senators OF the
United States from the State OF Maryland, is
a whig-a Clay whig--a most decided wing.
We are happy, therefore, to call IN the autho-
rity of his opinions to confirm the views which
have SO often been taken in our columns OF
the Justice of the war; Let other wings abuse
it as they may, for being unjust, outrageous
a violation of the constitution; we call IN the
shield of Mr. Johnson's authority to protect
the war from their violent attacks. we Tor
bear further comments The following speech
of Mr.. Johnson, in the Senate OF the United
States, on the 18th May, 1916, IS extracted
from the Congressional Globe, and speaks Tor
itself:
"Mr. johnson, of Maryland, rose and said,
that when he first heard of the peril IN which
our army was placed, and the INVASION OF the
territory of the United States by the Mexican
troops, he was resolved to do whatever lay IN
his power to rescue the one and rePel the 9TH
er; and he was ready now TO do whatever ap-
peared correct and proper. Judging from the
information before the Senate-and he regret
ted that the documents accompanying the mes
sage of Yesterday were not before the Senate
he believed that a state OF war does exist
not in the strict constitutional sense. but in
the other, and almost equally important sense
to wit: the territory of the United States had
been invaded, and with an armed force. He
| (Mr. J) was not present in the Senate when
| the annexation resolution was passed but IN
honesty and candor he was compelled to say
that had he been, he would have voted against
| it. Texas, however, had been annexed 10 the
United States, and the Rio Grande had been
recognised as her boundary by the United
States, and by those governments which hac
acknowledged the independence Of the repub
lie of Texas. Further: in pursuance of the
offer of the Congress of the United States, Tex
as had adopted constitution in which the Rio
Grande was stated as her boundary; the laws
of the United States had been extended owe
all the country to that river, and the territory
in dispute was recognised as one of her con
gressonal districts. 1t was no matter, then
ho1c this new State came into the Union sh'
was now one of the States of that Union; wa
entitled to all the privileges of State ant
her citizens were entitled, in their persons ant
property, 10 all the rights and protection at
forded to citizens of other States the faith o
the United States was pedgedto vindicate he
rights, boundary, and territory The UniteC
States having thus adopted the State of Texas
the invasion of the territory within the boun
Diary which her constitution claims, was al
invasion of the territory of the United States
and should be repealed accordingly. He (Nr
j. could not vote for the amendment propo
sed by the Senator from Connecticut, (Ml
Huntington.) He could vote for no amend
ment which implied that the United States wa
an aggressor in war; but, in the presen
case, he would advocate such a course a
would show to the world that the conflict wa
!: not the seeking of the United States, but Q
: Mexico. In conclusion, Mr.. J. observed, tina
if he was right in his view of the extension Q
the jurisdiction of the United States over Tex
as to the Rio Grande, &C., we were as actual
ly in state of war as though the news ha
) been received that the entire forces under tn
) command of General Taylor had been attack
ed and cut off by the Mexican troops"
WdShin gtOn Union.