The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-02-10
PRESIDENT POLK AND THE WAR,

PRESIDENT POLK AND THE WAR.
il submitting the Ten Rcgiment Bill,
10 the Senate Of the United States, Gen.
Cass, the avowed leader Of the Polk party
ia Tint body boastingly said:--
"Iu presenting this bill | do mt propose
to touch any Of tho disputed topics, which
divide the two great parties, under the ban.
ncr Of one or the other III which. every cit
izcn Of our country is arraycd. shall
leave these If introduced at all, 10 lie intro
duced by others. had hoped, till heard,
the incidental discussion which arose day
or two since on the question Of taking up
this bill, that these exciting subjects would
be postponed for some future opportunity,
and that tho propositions now submitted
would be considered upon their military
merits, taking il Tor granted, that the pro-
priety Of voting tho additional force rcqui-
red would mt he controverted. was
we'll aware, tl,,t we could not escape full
discussion Of tho origin Of the war, its pro-
gross, its objects, and the whole course Of
tho administration connected with it. Mr.,
indeed, did wish TO avoid il. However
severe may he the attack, trust il will be
rs earnestly met, md easily repealed, for !
consider the ground which the administra-
ton occupies as perfectly i,npregnablc."
Among the prominent members Of the
Senate, who disnpprovo Of the War, none
occupy o more exalted position in the cs-
teen of the American people, than the
Hon. John NJ. Clayton Of Delaware. Ills
patriotism, exalted talents. and purity, are
univ ersally conceded.
lie recently addressed the Senate in u
lucid and unnnswerablc speech, and in nc-
,icing the vain boastins of Cass in regard
to the "war," its progress, its objects and
the whole course Of the administration con.
nccted with il, Mr.. Clayton, cloquen,ly re-
markcd:-
"It sometimes happens, sir, In the affairs
Of this world, that man by blowing a
trumpet may invite M opponent into tho
field when there is none there before he
did il. The honorable Senator Inns utter
cd this mite Of dciiince, aud suppose i,
was intended for gentlemen on this side ol
the Chamber. lie has thrown the gaunt.
let nj our feet, aud darcs us to takc il up.
He says that tho entire ground Of the i'd
ministration is ''imprcgnable," that M nt-
tack upon il can be 'seasily repclled," mud
will be, he trusts, 'sas earnestly mct.'--
Now, sir, although one of the humblcst Of
tho members on this side Of tho Chamber,
yet ] will take up tho glove, and ! desire to
see how cnsily the champion Of The admin
istra.ion will repel ono or two attempts on
my part to question the propricty Of the
course Of tho administration in carrying on
this war.
"Many years ngo there was certain
gentleman in our Sinic of Texas, then
province claimed by Mexico, by the namc
Of Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
lie met some American troops-if rccol-
lect the history Of times gone by-at Ger
tain place called Goliad, md induced them
10 surrender to him undcr the promise ih,i
they would he fairly and hnnorably treated
rs prisoners Of war. lie took out every
man Of them, the next day, and shot them,
ono BY ono, deliberately, in cold blood! lie
violated his solemn pledge before God snd
man; aud bloody rufiiin-murderon vii
lain ~ he is-hc slew one hundred and
scventy-niae Of my countrymcn, after
p'edging his honor to give them quarters.
On another occasion this same Don Auto-
MO Lopez dc Santa Anna m1ssacred some
hundreds mnre Of our countrymcn At q
place called the Alamo.* 1'hcso things
are fresh in the recollection Of every Ancr
icnn patriot. There is not M honest Amer
lean heart TINT did not burn with indigna-
ton against this fcrocious ruifisn On &C.
count Of the atrocions acts. We'll, cir.
when this war was declared in MAY 1916,
the President Of the United Sta,cs-.he
head Of the administration, and Of tho ex-
ccuiivc govcrnmcn,--ga this same San.
IA Anna. with all his titles, = free pass
through the American feet, into Mexico.
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Maryland, lin his
scat.) On tho same day on which war
was declared.
Mr.. CLAYTON.-On the very dsv rs
my honorable friend remarks, on which
the war was declared the President Of the
United Stntcs issued his order to let pass
tho perjurcd assassin without let or hin.
drance into Mexico. THIS. eir, is one Of
those points in which | desire to sec the
chairman of tho Committee on Military Al.
tuirs so easily repcl the attack which he
has invited. | am bound. sir, 10 hold up
the CONDUCT of tho President in this in
stnnce, not only 10 the Senntc but 10 tho
American people, and ask tho champion
Of the administration or any gentleman 90
the other side Of The chamber 10 demon.
stratc TO us the case with which he can re-
pei the charge Of misconduct. rr.es miscon-