Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-03-09

$50
army into submission; or, with vastly supe-
rior forces. tu make a combined and despe-
rate onslaught upon his small army, both
in front and rear. The design was well planned,
however base The spirit that conceived II, or the
nsidious object that induced it, Blu: The eye Of
the American Eagle was upon them. He Scream
ed aloud, and before the luminous orb OF day
exposed his golden disk above The Eastern horl.
ION, The gallant Thornton and his brave Dragons
were moving in iu speed 10 watch their move
menis, and report their progress. The advanced
guard Of the enemy, however, had crossed The
river in considerable force during The night, and
having made rapid circuit, rergns toward the
American camp, Thornton was intercepted, many
OF his brave companions murdered, and all the
survivors captured, and borne in triumph as pri-
soners amid Mexican shouts and war whoops, 10
Matamoras. Up 10 This time, not an American
gun had been fired; not Mexican soldier or CT
lizen had been molested, in his person, his pro-
perry or his privileges. This insidious aci OF
war. ihe capture Of Thornton detachment was
communicated with all The power and speed OF
steam 10 our authorities al Washington city
| Presently, we will describe The scene II produced
there Gen. Taylor, having but scanly rem
nant OF provisions on hand, ard finding himself
probably encompassed by numerous army, re-
| solved 10 cut his way, win inferior forces, through
/
provisions and military stores were deposited
This he effected without eneounterng an enc
my or meeting difficulty. So lar all was sale
| But while there, the sound Of distant cannona-
ding in the direction OF Malamoras was dis
tinctly heard. He Instantly put his troops IN
motion On his return he met The enemy al IA
10 Alto, prepared, upon his own chosen ground,
and with vastly superior army, 10 arrest his
march and Try The fortunes OF war. A glorious
victory crowned the proves OF our little army
| The enemy was routed, and lied from The held IN
precipitation and confusion. lie reorganzed
his scattered troops, however, and, with conside-
rable reintorcemens, planted his banner, and ar
ranged his army, in line ot battle on The future
historic field Of Resaca de la Palma, where, on
The next day, lie was met BY Gen. Taylor, and,
alter long and bloody conflict, compelled 10 re-
treat, with heavy loss and in shameful flight, 10
his encampmcnt al MalamoTas. Thus COM
meDced The existing war with Mexico. Let eve
r. true-hearled American, and every liberal and
enlightened man in ChIslendom, appeal 10 his
conscience and say, whether Mexico or The Uni.
ted States provoked ill-whether Mexico or the
United States commenced it!-and whether Mex
leo or The United States should how propose 10
terminate il by an honorable peace2 When The
official intelligence OF Thornlon's capture and
the critical situation of Gen Taylor's army
intense and tremendous excitement. Mr.. Polk,
in an able and patriniic message, appealed 10
! Congress for men and money 10 prosecute the
war with vigor and success. Like he Ostrich,
which hides its head in The sands oi Africa
ri The approach Of the simeon, party >p-
rl Tor the time, skulEed into us darkhdng places,
| before ihe overwhelming storm cl public enlhu-
sa,m which ensued. A till recognizing he exist
ence ol war ty The act Of Mexico, and proposing
and finn
! $40 COZ, 900 Tor lis prompt and vigorous prosecu-
ton, was passed through the House ot Represen-
talives almost in the twnkiins o an eye. II went
| TO The Senate, where il was expected 10 receive
the same hearty support, and The same speedy
passage through that august and patriotic body.
| Bat there sd, The ui-omened Genius of '7aasterly
inactivity" the selEassunled protecting saint Of
The Constitution |! the profound and renowned
teacher Of metaphysical a6stractions! When our
pIundered cilizens-when our insultcd national
| honor-when the blood OF Cross and The brave
when Ihe President OF The United States and
the House of epresenatyes-when the voice
of the American people--and The God OF War
| all, all, united in one pealing note Of patriotic
invocation, like The Roman Senator:
sRise fathers, rise! IT'S Rome demands your help"
MIR. Calhoun did rise, but only 10 deliberate in
| bic 10 The bill, because il Recognized the exist
ence Of war by the act OF Mexico and, forget
inl 0. his country's wrongs, and Of the pre-
cious blood OF our slaughtered so!diers-and,
unmoved BY the stirring scenes around him,
he uttered this memorable and, under the
circumstances, condemnable declaration, ara
hcr han in tic absence of all information,
rro1lld rote for suct preamble rceogni2ing he
etisteaec NJ mar, wonld pln"So dogasr 'n,e
my breast And then he refused 10 Vote al all
| upon the bill. such declaration may well be
associated, in the future history OF The country,
| with that Of Mr. Webster, some years ago, in the
same place. thai, sooner than put in President
| Jackson's hands three millions OF dollars 10 be
| used by him in the event Of then probable war
| with France, he 'mJuld see The enemy bahering
| darn he rails OF III C0puoi "a declaration
that called forth, even from John q. Adams, his
| famous outbuf>l OF patiiolIc Indignation, that
| he man RHO copM utter snci n Sentiment lad but
osc morc step u take aud hal a rern noinrai o'r
Ito 70 Orer 10 Inc eacmM"
| Mr.. Calhoun did nul then have The boldncss
10 avow himself against the war, but was con-
tent to qu,j5tc abou, the Pyeamtici and because
| il recognized "tie erStcnce Of rar IN Ike act Of
| iHertco," he refused 10 vote the men and moncy
necessary 10 prosecute II. But The extraordinary
| declaration referred To- afforded sure auguiy 10
| every sagacious mind, what his future relations
to that question would be and, accordingly, he
has recently given The world 10 understand that ne
| was opposed 10 the war from the beginning, as un
wise and unnecessary. Nay, he has even proposed,
/ while Mexico is yet in arms threatening 10 drive
"he .No,h Aa,erl' ans" from her soil without re-
| paralion or atonement for The wrongs She has
committed. and the blood she has shell, TO with
draw our army 10 the Rio Grande, and establish
4 line OF posts from the Depasso 10 The head Of
/ ~, - ali he nj
| ill.," The principal war measure OF The present
session OF Congress, can 10 the Senate with
| provision, precisely similar 10 that in the act Of
| 1913, for which he voted without the least obec-
lion, giving to The President The power TO appoint
The "infcriOr oHoers" during the recess Of Con.
| gress, and upon another quiJbic as 10 The Con-
stulionality Of yesting such power in the Pre-
sdenl, he showed his Willingness 10 defeat that
important measure, and thus, greatly to weaken
our military operations in Mexico But why
multiply evidence oil his hostility 10 Mr.. Folks
administration II was developed, in the very
beginning, upon the Oregon question, when he
announced his political solee,sm OF ''masteriy in
actlpity," and had ms unwise counses predomi-
mated, that threatening question would yet have
remained unadjnsted, and the peaceful relations
of The two greatest military powers on earth been
seriously il not faaRy disturbed. In facI COM
mon sagaciIy, aided BY knowledge Of his past
political career, ought 10 have satisfied others, as
| il did Mr.. Polk, that he could not be relied upon
as safe counsellor in The great cause Of De-
mocracy. He voted for The tariff Of 1916, with
The first odious and unjust principle oil minimum
| duies-he voted for The charter of The United
| States Bank in l6l6-he was the friend OF Inter-
nal Improvements by The General Government,
while Secretary OF War-he was Tor Nulliflca-
lion in lS32-he became impacable in 1888,
| and Hencef0r7rQyd against Gen Jackson's adj
minislration and The Democratic paHy-he was
on The side Of The Bank during its long and ar
tuous struggle with The Governmental exlorl re-
charter after The Presidential veto oil lS32-he was
agains, The removal Of The deposles in lS33-he
voted 10 restore them in l63l-during The same
year he voted Tor The recharler OF the Bank, for
Twelve years longer, which would have prolons-
ed its criste'ec and its eoraPt,Ons TO lhe 4lh ol
March, 1876. On The 18th January, 1884, he
boasled OF his agency and claimed all the credit
Of lis establishment in 1916 His language was,
~ might say lciM truth The Bank ores as much 10
me as 10 ann other ind,ridual IN the country, and
=, .,e,, fb,y Nail ~ NM hen f0r mn STOrLS