The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-28
Accomack county, Feb. 10, 1s4s

llu, Informing me lat on the 2Sth day OF the present
month the democratic party OF the State will meet IN
lconvenuon at Richmond, with view to organize Tor
the approaching presidential contest and requesting my
attendance Tor the purpose of expressing my opinions
the "mportant subject of the existing between the
United States and Mexico" tardy but duly received
by me; and have to return my most sincere &C
acknowledgements for the compliment which it tenders.
am proud to be thus recognised by the democratic
party OF the State and happy TO have irmy power
publicly to declare-that on the subject OF the Mexican
war | am with the administration of Mr. Polk and,
corng to my most ardent CONVICTIONS think may safely
say that am whh OUR country
Dl delayed responding to your flaerng request until
after meeting the republicans OF this county at our
January court, order that might ascertain to some
extent the sentiments and the wishes OF your political
friends IN my neghborhood onithls great topic and
take great pleasure in assuring YOU that as far every
public demonstration made, found their views in
perfect accordance with my own:
That the President of the United States did not cause
the with Mexico nor declare it:
That II was caused ty the actual hoslities OF Mexico
herself and by the act of Congress, and the negotiations
in pursuance thereof between ~ sovereign and nde
ted States, annexng the former to the latter State OF
That the nation of Texas to the United States was
an act moral rghtful and just justified by the laws of
natoas and authorized by the constitution OF the United
States:
That the war in conseque thereof wantonly and
unnecessarily commenced by Mexico, and unrghte-
Gus and unjust on her part:
That Mexico having in an authentic diplomatic FORM
threatened the war; and in fact officially notified the Uni
ted States, through her minister, Almonte at Washing
ton, that it would be Immediately commenced upon the
OF annexation po tacto, the President OF the Uni
ted States would have been wanting the prompt and
energetic discharge of his constitutional duty had he not
ordered the military and naval forces OF the United States
to take such position was best to repel INVASION OF
what was declared by of Congress and by convention
with Texas to be lawful territory of the United States
That the proper line on which to repel invasion was
the extreme verge of the boundary claimed to have been
conquered by Texas from Mexico, and which was an
ne ed to the United States:
That according to the claims and pretensions of Mex
the United States, even after the act OF annexation
had right to take military position N any part OF
Texas because of her territory had been yielded
by Mexico; it follows, then, that il it was wrong to have
marched troops from Corpus Christi to the Rio Bravo
del Norte opposite Matamoras ii equally tcr0ng TO
haze marched troops at all from any point Of the Uni-
led States into any portion Of IeIaS because the choe
Of Texas equally with that part lying b hue
and the complaint of the march from Corpus Christi
is an argument hich stops not short Of yielding at once
our aclole acquisition Of Texas:
That Congress, by its ACTS pointed out to the Ex
ecutve and designated clearly the limits OF Texas from
which, by the good faith of the treaty and cesson OF
nexaton, the Executive Of the United States 0as bound to
That east of the declared boundary the Rio Bravo del
Noe Mexico, in pursuance of her previous notice. COM
menced wage the war; and east OF that boundary the
inva sion by her of the annexed territory thrice
peed before troops crossed that rivers and hoshl
ties on part may truly be said never to have been
carried into the limits OF Mexico proper, until alter Con-
gress had by public act in response to message from
the Executive submitting TO Congress entirely the CUES
ton of peace solemny declared the war to be an
That this was most potential declaration of by
Congress- whose constitutional power alone 1t is to de-
clare war;" and previous to it, the President had simply
discharged the duty imposed the Executive by the
| constitution OF repe{ing tnDdSlon: -.
That after the ACT of annexation morally certain.
much less consunated had the President neglected to
have ordered troops into Texas and had he allowed
Mexico and lay waste her borders he would
have been wanting in his chief executive duty and been
Justly liable the severest and condemnation:
Thai the has been prosecuted With unusual mora
nness, and conducted with extraordinary vlgor, ICON
sidering the small regular army OF the United States and
the limited appropriations for military operations which
had to be carried on IN the enemys country as proved
by the brilliant with which it has been crowned
That if the has cost too much, it has been owing
chiefly the magnanimty and humane orbearance with
which it has been prosecuted in the enemy's country
and the moral irmness of the Executive, in maintaining
the policy Of its continued prosecution has been equalet
only by the vaor and skill of our gallant and devoted
officers and soldiers in the field, who have won tor us
glory in worth more among the nations OF the eartf
than all the cost Of the war. even though may lar ex
coed the most exaggerated estimate:
That looking to the final issue OF the war, there
should be hesitancy and retreat upon our part IL
hesitate would be to manifest doubt, both OF our WIS
dom and of our own integrity at the beginning and t.
retreat, would be make all our expenditure howeve
great van and to convert by our own admission al
our glorious victories INTO many butcheres the 0loot
of which ought to cry aloud to Heaven against u.s. no
only from Mexcans slain, but from the lamented dead
our own countrymen, sacrificed by wanton and worse
than worthless invasion:
That nothing but national dishonor and disgrace cou
possibly follow the mbecility which would now-afte
all which has TRANSFERRED, no matter what might nave
been duty and policy at rsail to obtain Tor us ~
demnty for the original claims, reimbursement tor TIT
expenses of the war; satisfaction in the form OF damage
for the infection of the without just cause and with
out necessity and for wagng barbarousy and security
for the future against the Vaccinations OF Eur0pedI
nonarchies upon the North American continent Thes
are the plain and obvious objects and ends OF the war;:
And naly if causes beyond control shall polons
this war; and we shall be reluctantly compelled to TAX
more OF the territory of Mexico than we would original
ly have willingly negotiated for without war; we shou'
take enough of amply to satisfy and secure an mos
ends and to acquire for ourselves the fruits OF the trad
of the Pacific ocean, and if are forced to ncorporat
the degenerate mixed OF Spaniards and Indians o
Mexico, themselves incapable OF self-government, W.
must show to the world that we do 1t more Tor thei
own good than our benefit, by saving them from tn
domination of military tyrants at home, and OF the mon
archsm or imperialism of the Old World, giving them
disturbed land titles and their religion and all their fran
cbses Free without injury sacrifice on their part JUS
as easily we and do yearly incorporate heterogene
Gus from Europe or govern tribes OF savages o.
our own borders demonstrating that the republican nsti
! tuons of the United States OF North America are capa
bile of indefinite expansibility and development
. The people of the United States have shown them
selves the rghu conquerors of Mexico, and let not tn
leaders of the democratic party for moment doubt
q dirst that the people Of the United States ioH De dp
palied at their own conquest.
: Such is the synopsis of views which would present
were il in nv power to attend the convention at Rich
n,ond on the 2Sth of this month But IT will not be
nv power TO attend; and present 1t to you as an evl
dence that you made mistake IN addressing me as yo
have done on the subject of the Mexican war and a
the most proper which could make for lhe homo
which YOU have been pleased to confer by Your nvitao