New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-02-04
Governor's Message and the War.

Governors Message rs relates 10 the War was re.
ferred. made the following Report on Wednesday
morning
The Select Committee, 10 whom was referred
that part Of the Governors Message and certain
Resolutions relating 10 the War with Mexico. re.
port
That they have bestowed upon the subject re-
ferrsd 70 them the attention it's importance de.
msnds. To review the acts OF our own Governme
with foreign power is always one OF great deli.
cacy 70 express sentiments adverse 70 the pro-
ceedings oil our Government on matters of great
national importance is liable 10 misconstruction
while 10 uphold the measures of the Administration.
at al times and under all circumstances when in
conflict with foreign power. no got compromise
those principles Of justice. humanity ard honor to
which nations, SIS well as individuals, are bound 10
submit Nations, no more than individuals, can
attain prosperity through paths Of violence. iDias
tce and oppression. National faith is national
power and the history Of all Republics will show
that they have lost their liberties when they lost
their virtue.
Your Committee conceive il TO be important to
inquire into the origin the objects and the tenden.
cy of this War for, the State Of New.Iork with
the other States Of the Union, has been and will
be again, required to yield up it's citizens and its
treas ure for its prosecution We cannot subscribe
to the doctrine frequently advanced, aud by those
occupy ing high stations, that when the nation is
engaged in the active operations OF war upon Tor
eiRn soil all inquiries and discussions as to its pur
poses and management are 10 TO cease lest the Ggi-
tation Of the subject should encourage the enemy
10 his resistance This doctrine carried 10 its le-
climate results, would be most dangerous 10 civil
liberty IL would make the President. in a state
OF war, all but supreme II would retain under his
control unquestOned as to his motive or conduct
the treasury and the sword OF the nation.
more favorable condition OF things could not be
desired by an ambitious Executive, in carrying
f,rf. MD ba haya
bis country. free people always are, and Il IS
right they always should be, jealous OF their hber-
ties. An American citizen feels that he has Alright
% speak, with freedom, on whatever pertains u
the action of bis Government, whether IN Its inter
nsl policy or its foreign relations and although, IN
some cases partial injuries may result 1t is better 70
submit 10 them than have important rights and
great principle invaded. No possible injury can
nov result to the American nation In this conflict
with a weak, distracted and PROSTATE enemy, by
frank uvowa of opinions or by adverse efforts to
arrest proceedings colamitOUs alike 10 the United
States and Mexico
The President Of the United States, in his An.
nuol Message to Congress assigng as the origin OF
this unhappy war, that our territory had been IN
vaded by Mexico and that American blood had
been shed on our own soil IL we could concur
with the Executive in regard TO the rights OF the
respective nations tn the soil on which hostiites
were commenced. we could not, for one moment,
hesitate in sustaining the constituted authorities OF
the nation In obtaining by arms or otherwise ample re.
dress for violation Of territory and the rights OF
American citizens Justice would unite with patriotism,
IN urging the vigorous that not only Nex-
CO, bat the world might understand that American soil
could not he invaded the persons of American cii'
injured With mpUniiy Bat, although solicltous TO
find in the acts OF the Government whatever would place
the nation the vantage ground with foreign power,
regret that cannot with the President In his
views upon this subject.
Yur Committee are Of the opinion that the Immediate
cause Of The war with Mexico the orders OF the Pre-
sdeni I'm January 1885, directing the American forces 70
march from their station at Corpus Christi 10 the RIO
Grande L; hsd been before announced by Mexico that
annexation Of Texas TO our Union would be regarded as
hostile measure-whelher Justly or otherwise IL foreign
present inquiry. The adoption Of that measure by
the Ued States calculated TO awaken, and did pro-
duee throughout Mexico hostile feeling Unfortunately,
have shown, the army was ordered TO move in
the direction OF the Rio Grsnde In this state OF excite
ment and alarm on the part OF Mexico our position should
have Of defence, and not OF aggression tile
might have preserved US from war, the latter was
Inconsistent with peace Ii was known % our Cover nnebt
that the territory lying between the Nueces and the Rio
Grsnde claimed by Mexico part Of the state Of
pas-portons Of H. lying the Rio Grande, we're
settled by Mexican citizens engsged In the peaceful pur
suits Of husbandry and which Mexican Jurisdiction
absolute aud exclusive. Although the late Republic
q Texas after her revolution made claim TO the left bank
OF the Rio Grande on its Western boundary yet never
during her separate existence as nation did she exercise
Jurisdiction that region nor, since her annexation TO
the United States had exercised any control or author
y it. Mexican citizens, who bad not participated In
the Texan revolution, but yielded willing obedience 10
the authority Of Mexico. were In the quiet ard absolute
possession of the territory The that the Nueces
The Western boundary Of Texas, and that the territory
lying that river and the Rio Grsnde was portion
of the state Of ramaupss, not only affirmed, but
clearly established In the Senate OF the United States by
ar eminent Senator from Missouri who had examined The
subject with and whose position such as TO give
his Opnious on that question, the advantage oil hsh
authority .
THE Rio Grande del Norte (Grest River Of the North
he remarked, is Mexican ryeT by possession ana 20
stion, and TO the Mexicans may Il ever belong
1.-The Treaty with Texssl and all that relates TO the
boundary Of the Rio Gfsnde Is an act Of unpara. out
OF her territory without word of explanation with her
by virtue OF Treaty with Texas TO which she IS no
A resolution was offered by him, affirming
THAT the incorporation Of the le bank OF the RIO
Grande i'to the American Union, BY virtue OF treaty
with Texas, would be act Of direct aggression on
Mexico for Gil the consequences Of which the United
States would stand responsible
distinguished Slatesman-ihe late Governor wright
then representing this state IN the Senate OF the United
States voted against the ratification OF the Treaty win
rexss and. aferwsrd, assigned the following reasons
He believed the Tresty from the boundaries ihAi must
be implied from IT, embraced country 10 which IeSes
had clsirover which she had never asserted Jpi'
dietion-and which she had no light to cede'
the eec. have been the declarations OF oiher
dsneushed friends Of the President both In and out OF
Congress We should DO violence 10 mass OF evidences
and great weight Of authority this question, were We
10 claim Tor the United states by virtue OF the annexation
Of Texas or otherwise, right to the region Of country
lying between the Nueces and the Rio Grande.
admitting the title OF Mexico hot 70 DC Gear Ald
unqusstionable sue had abandoned her csln wa
IA session and exercising actual jurisdiction. In either
view Of the case invasion Of The territory by the Amer
lean army. was virtual declaration OF wsr-war unois
guised and aagrant commenced BY The President while
Congress the only war-making power known 10 the Con-
sttutlon was IN actual session. Had the temonstranors
on the part Of Mexico. been such 70 induce an sppe
henson that she intended invasion Of our territory the
army was IN position 10 rCpel such Invasion The rep
rcentayes OF the people should have been possessed OF
whatever information the President had received OF the
designs Of Mexico that H. IN the opinion OF Congress- II
was advisable 70 move the army from the position IL &C.
cupea that measure could have been tke IN strict oo
seTyauce OF the forms OF the Constitution The Trainers
OF that instrument with wisdom that cha aelet]el le
founders Of the Republic assigned 10 the Representatives
OF the people, IN Congress assembled the exclusive power
o. declaring The indirect exercise Of that power on
tho part OF the Executive, by ordering the army ino
foreign disputed territory. az eneroaohmeni On
another department Of the Government and dangerous 10
pnbc liberty. Presidents favorng al Increase OF Au
,hogy are too oen regarded with favor by men occupy
iug high places strict observance Of The Constitution
sternly eemsntee the only security 10 free people
against the encroachmenis Of pewer and the evils OF am
buOn. A., Il, .
Your Committee from the circumstances attending he
commencement, OF hostliuesfrom distractions 70 our
Savsl Commanders on the Pacific coast relating 70 me
seizure Of Upper Caorniafrom The vigorous iei ms pro
nosed nv the President for accommodation Of Inc penn
Nexfr