The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-01-27
WAR WITH MEXICO.

WAR WITH MEXICO.
We rejoice in common with every lover
Of peace, at the prospect Of a speedy settle
ment Of existing difficulties between our
government and the republic Of Mexico.
From the very commencement Of hos.ili.
ties We have been found with those who OPP
posed the war, and whatever be the infu-
ence Of our shetland il is as great IN its
sphere as that Of most other papers-it has
incurred no responsibility from the mum.
Der Of lives lost, nor the amount Of money
squandered, in the ill-fated war with Mcxi-
CO. In view then Of the orgination, prose-
cution and declared object Of this war, we
pronounce it unnatural, uncaIIcd for, un-
just, unconstitutional, unnecessary, often.
sive and oppressive; and in the same breath
would throw the entire blanc Of its or ig-
nation and prosecution upon the Admins
tration, which in taking this dcspotc stride
has incurred weight Of responsibility
which the constant exercise of good deeds
in the twelvcmon,h Of Office allotted il, can
by no means ntone. Al the first glance
this mny appear sweeping dcnunciation
oftho war, but we not only have the grcn,
body Of the Wing party to endorse our
views, but Henry Clay, Gen. Scott, Gen.
Taylor, Dan'l. Webster, Thos. Corwin, r..
II. Benton, J. C. Calhoun, Silas Wright
aud host Of other luminarics Of the two
political parties, have in concert avowed
the same sentiments.
We say that the war now waged between
the U. States aud Mexico is unnatural. il
10 unnatural, because the bcIl'gerant par
ties nrc two republics, side by side, whose
interests arc only advanced BY peace.
Mexico had done " the honor 10 copy our
constitution and form Of government, which
for more than twenty years she had strug.
glcd to maintain. Shc stood next 10 us in
tho chain Of republics, imitators Of our sys.
TEN, stretching from our southern bounda-
ry to Cape Horn. As Europe chad sys.
tenn Of monarchies, consolidated by holy
alliance" America had her Gordon Of repul.
lies with the United Suites At their head,
their friend, their ally. their political men.
tor. Il was natural for our government Ia
desire to maintain this supremacy, 10 cher.
ish and to protect the confcderacy forming
tho Republican System Of the new world
il was unnatural for il to rcnd asunder cv.
cry tie, TO Disregard our common interest
aud seek with slight provoca,iou and
against the better Judgment Of our wises,
statesmen, TO conquer the republic Of Mex
leo.
Next, we INSERT that the war now wnp-
ed against Mexico was ancalled for. i,
was uncalled Cor because there was no JUS,
grounds TO warrant the CONNIE ncement Of
hostilitcs upon the part Of the U. Sts,es.
True, Mexico had wronged our citizens b.,
injuries done to their property, but this was
not the cause Of tho war, as these spolia.
tons had been provided for by express
trenty, and the amount Of money to be paid
them as on indemnity had been specified.
England with equal business might make
war upon 10 because some Of the States Of
tho Union have neglected to pay the mon.
ey which they owe her citizens. Andrew
Jackson, when President, never deemed
those debts sufficient cause for declara.
ton Of war, and yet at that time no treaty
for indemni,cs had been effected. The
President began the war when no sent tho
American forces TO the Mexican settle
ments ON the Rio Grande, movement en-
.irely uncallcd for and which circumstan.
ccs did not, nor cannot justify.
The war with Mexico is unjust. Il is SO,
because we invaded the Mexican territory
without sufficient provocation. Our army,
under orders from the President, who had
usurpcd the authority from Congress, ad.
vanced into the Mexican territory and
drove the people from their homes, and
seized upon their possessions. The origi-
mi cause which led 10 tho war was no
doubt the annexation of Texas, but even
then BY prudence and discretion upon the
part Of our government war might have
been avoided. But instead Of seeking to
avoid hostilitics the President FASTENED
them by his own rash ind unjust act.--