Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-03-23


chose, declaration of war: an then, II Con
gress had declared war. il would have been con-
stitutonaiIv declared by the peoples represe 1T
tives and they would have cheerfuiy sustained
il. But, instead Of adopting this course, though
Congress was in session at the time, he ordered
his army to march from Corpus Christi (where
he himself says it had been posted for more than
six months, without objection or molestation
from Mexico to the Rio Grande, into the dspu-
ted territory directly opposite to IatiuIoras, a
/ Mexican town. bockading the river. cutting OFT
their supplies, ana erecting battery within gun
shot Of the city itself-an act OF war ana pro-
ducng war necessary AMI inevitable conse-
quence. 1t dill produce war. Battles were fought
Oar brave little army cut oil from It's sup
plies; and, when his plot had TINS succeeded,
then he called us ''to recognise the existence
Of the war; and provide men an money tor It's
prosecution And why did he not send Us his
message, aud leave it 10 to Judge whether the
nation had good cause Of not Because
he afraid to trust tho House with the qnes-
ton. He knew that 1T never would sanction a
for the acquisition of territory; and tn at " as
the reason why he took it upon him to Sc nd his
armv to bully Mexico into a
Mr.. Martin, of Tennessee, here interposei to
inquire, whether had not been declared a
gainst rs by Mexico early as April?
Mr.. $. No, sir, no; she did not. NO decla-
ration of made by Mexico against
the United States or by the United States against
Mexico 1t is an Executive war--l war brought
on by your President, without declaration of
either sle. Mexico. wishing to avoid
hostiiiles, sent, by her General in commands a
notice to commander General Iaylor) not
to cross the Colorado, otherwise they would re-
garl It as an act Of war, and an INVASION OF Mex
leo. They were not only willing to leave our
arm; undsturbed at Corpus Christi. but We're
/ willing should march to the Colorado with
. out resistance. No, sir, the Mexican Congress
mover declared war against u.s. aud the President
did not give the chance to declare war against
them. l tell the gentleman from Tennessee,
Mr.. Martini who represents Mr.. POLK on t!lts
floor, that this is war male by his resilient,
and, for all the consequences of winch he Is re-
sponsible to. AMI will be held responsible by. the
American people, Peace is the true policy o
this country; war, ami especially wars of con
quest AMI invasion, are dangerous to the chartc-
ter, integrity, and best interests of this Union
As fren! of peace, present and prospective, |
am in favor of this prov $50 The object of this
war being the acquisition of southern territory,
as long as there is hope of accomplishing this
object, there will be no peace Put an end to
this hope, an! you at once put an end to the war,
by defeating its object The moment the Presi
dent finds this provIso accompanying this grant
of money, he Will be for making peace; and so will
all the South. They want no restricted territory.
If the restriction is imposed, and the territory
acquired is to be free, from that moment the
President would pay Mexico to keep her terrific
ry. rather than bring IT in on such con !itions. |
am for the proviSo, therefore, because 1t Will bring
Us peace. Impose this restrictions AMI Mr.. Polk
will say h. wants tcrritory--the South will
say they want none: say, agreed. we want
none Them if Mexico is to lose territory,
she will he for peace; AMI if we are to acquire
none, what fighting for Then, impose
this restriction, and the will be promptly
ended, TO the great benefit AMI Joy of both Re-
pubcs.
Blu, this restriction would not only terminate
tn war, bat it will promote pence at home. do
nestle peace. 1t VIII avoid ciEi!, ana perhaps,
in the end, scrvile wars.
The acquisition of unrestricted territory will
be an "apple of discorl' to the States of this
Union. New questions Will at once spring up
new lines of party distinction viii be drawn, AMI
the old ones obitcrateL. We shall be no longer
divided Wings ana Democrats. As long
our party distinctions founded on abstract
principles, ana measures OF internal policy, they
never Will divide this Juion-neTer; but Us soon
as You make geographical division free par
ty and slave party, north I'm AMI Il southern
party-yon at once strike a fatal blow at the in
tegrity of this Union. want to shuu all these
which believe can be avoid
ed only by keeping out foreign territory But
the President tells US, in his Message, that this
war was not commenced. and Is moi prosecuted.
for conquest. SIR, | am sorry lie has SAID so. |
am sorry for the credit and character of my coun-
try, for what Is there so blind not TO
that conquest is the whole ami sole end and OBJ
lect of this war Whether we look to the man
ner of its commencement, or the manner OF lis
prosecution, ey.rv one must see that territory.
the acquisition of territory, the first and
asst, the cherished and darling object of the Pres
dent. But the President tells US that Mexico
be gan this war; that she struck first; that She in
faded our territory. aud ..shei American blood
,n American soil If this be true, it is sufii-
;ient. Then why 60 back twenty years TO give
what the President calls "a history Of the
hat led to this war Led who 10 this war;
That led him to make it of course. Why rake
up and cite, order, this long string of old griev
lnces and causes of quarrel, long since settled
" treaty Why dwell Mexican outrages.
md what Mexico owes u.s. She has ac1 now
dyed the debt. and has agreed 10 pay it: and did
,ay as long she had the means. But W i'll war
ring the money Or will it not rather destroy
10Th the ability and disposition of MeNIco to pay
suppose a man living in Texas or Florida owes
dr. Polk. not 50 100000, but $4,000 he sends
man over there 10 collect the money. The man
cknowl edges the debt, but says lie can't pay
Nr Polk flies in passion. and says. ''I'll make
lin pay He hires a hundred men. agrees TO :
'ay them $40 per month, gives them loo acres y
If land finds them horses, horrows SoO,oo0 to
,ay expenses, and away he goes. The man col
ects his neighbors, they have fight; Mr. Polk.
With the loss of half his men, gains glorious
ctory: he burns the mans barn; he sets his I
tacks on fire; destroys his cattle and kills his {
wife and children; ana what is the result Mr..
ok has ruined the man. and ruined himself; the I
ebt is lost. ana Mr.. Folks property is sold by q
he sheriff TO pay the expenses of his folly. ami
nat is the end Of If. Such course would be I
lst reasonable as this war upon Mexico to
olleci what she But who believes Mr. t
ok to be in earnest Who does not know that c
his is only the ostensbe motive, the pretext, ( Q
Or the war. ana that the true. the real object is
nd was from the beginning, the acquisition of /
erritoryl t
But the President insists. that Mexico struck c
rst- Is this true Ii so, that is enough; why t