Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-08-26
Who Commenced the War,

Who Commenced the War!
II can hardly be profitable or interesting TO
proIong q controversy with the DemociAl on
this point, since it, farther continuance is likely
to be q mere bubble upon words. Our proof
that Mr. Polk commenced the war rested not
upon assertion, nor even upon argument alone,
but upon the recorded acts and declarations nl
the Administration. We went TO the records,
and to official acts and documenis--lhe written
evidence, which cannot be mutiiafed hy enc
mics OF denied BY friends We took the mes.
sage Of Nj Polk To prove that Of Corpus Christi
the army was Ia position to defend athe rights
Of Texas and our own" and thereby showed
the falsehood Of the prelenee that the advance
10 the RIO Grdnde was necessary, to protect
the inhabitants OF Texas.
We took the official documents Of the Sec
Rotary Of State, Mr Calhoun (the Democrats
own wlness-being letter Of instructions TO
our Minister In Mexico), admitting by express
tcords that the country between the Nucces
end Rio Grande was dfspnied territory, and
matter Tor negotiation; and We did this, TO
prove the faisehood Of the pretence that our
title to the line Of the Rio Crande was clear
and tndispuioJie. We took the letter of the
Mexican Genersl.in-chief To General TAYLOR,
when he was pointing his guns Of Maiamoros,
requiring him 90 withdraw his army, not from
Texas, but beyond the Nueees, 10 show the
fasehood OF the pretencc that II was the act
OF annexation, and the military occupation Ct
The undispuied, and not doubtful territory OF
Texas, that brought on actual war.
We took the deliberate public speeches OF
MI benton, Silas Wright, and G.. J. Incerso
(ieading friends Of Mr. Polk in Congress), stat
ing that Mexico had a reasonable ground not
only TO claim IN equal tight with Us 10 the
country between the Rio Grande and the Nue.
ces, but TO regard foreibie and miiitaru oc-
cupation OF that country by US us justifa5Le
ground Of trar, Ia prove the ials~hood Of the
pfetence that the Democratic party or Mr. Polk
ever regarded our title 10 il as beyond doubt or
question. Lastly, we produced Mr Folks or.
ders TO General Taylor TO take military possess
sion of the country, admitted By Mr. Polk and
his friends To be disputed territory, 10 prove
the utter snd shameless faisrhood Of the pre-
ienee that he 10 not guilty Of the first segres-
sive act of war, and responsible for oil the ca.
lamiiy and bloodshed that has followed.
Now le; any person interested in this discus
sion-and we hope no one is Indifferent TO it,
read our former article, and the attempted an
sweT, and see II . fact slated by US has been
dispfoved, 40 argument reiuted, or position
turned or assaiird. We venture TO say not one.
Bot let US not be misunderstood Dor read
efs will remember that we have carefully avoid.
ed any Justification Of the conduct OF Mexico
previous TO the aggressive act OF Mr. Polk. We
have not denied that Mexico has been guilty
OF wrongs and ontrages upon both the persons
and property Of our citizens On the contrary,
We assert Il TO be true. But we say the war
was unneeessary Tor the purpose Of redress.
and was not commenced ioS that PURPOSE. Our
claims for damages had been partly ssreriained
by arbitration, and the Others were under me-
collation., and might have been Disposed of in
the same way. The greatest obstacle TO their
liquidation was the poverty Of the acting Gov
efnmeni Of Mexico-an obstacle which certain.
ly could not be removed by ravaging her towns
and cities. We have had far greater difficulty
and delay in obtaining compensation for similar
injuries IRON France and other European pow
els, but We never resorted TO arms-nor would
II have been done now, except for the wenk-
ness Of Mexico, and The desire for more slave
Territory.
ssIt "a not, therefore, from any consideration
or sympathy Tor the government of Mexiro.
tina, we censure the conduct of Mr. Polk-al.
though there is this pallisiion Tor the Mexican
Government, that her frequent revolutions, and
consequent instability, lett her too feeble some
times TO control her own citizens-bul we CEN
sure MI Folks conduct because tpe are the
sufferers; our claims might have been adjusted
by negotiation, nnd that is all we can rightlul-
" obtain by war.
Think Of The thousands Of gallant youth,
semi in the very spring lime Of life 10 an un-
timely and bloody gravel How many hearts
have been wrung with anguish-how many
children have been left iaiherless and destitute
and how many parents childlcSsi What
must be the feelings Of the widows, parents
and children Of those who have persisted 10 this
war, by peslilence or the sword, when thew
reiiecI that the war was forced upon the coun-
TRY by Mr. Polk, and was whoiiy unneeessarv-
MAT every liz; lost in il has been wanion and
slassss sacrifice 10 Southern craving for more
Sized ,,ssrloryi Not drop of blood has been
does no, MS unholy crusade Tor slavery, that
He did il. sSo the hands Of James X. Polk.
as If The fa,s Mould answer for il, as strictly
much viii il aev;s, was made by him. How
Of the mourning iren6Sse y anguish and distress
know that their blood has tshe gallant dead, 20
fence of our rights and libeis. shrd not 10 de-
glorious and dostardly struggle %. ~ an m
"Upas" tree Of slavery upon the Rlant the
Mexicoi Is there free citizen Of the sol OF
that does not burn with shame and ndignaaSrlh
al such an oulragc' And will not the com.
Try hold him who has hecn guilty of il 10
fearful responsibility, not only for the millions
has cost, but Iof all the blood that has been
ihedl