Litchfield enquirer., 1848-03-16

The man who Shali write the history {
the existing national administrator, whe
ii is over, will. IL he does justice 70 b.
theme, make most racy and Interests"
volume. The subject viii We worthy
the graphic povers Of q Sam Sliek OF
Dickeus--and worthy 70 be ilius'ra'eo =.
the inimitahle pencil Of Hogar'n' "
jealousy, partnership, and Pe"y "~'o.
which have cha, aclerized the prominent On
le.;., ..,. or the executive thus far, "oul'
lb.,,.v h.come a newly made locOfoc" justice
- ,hs mace. Than the recognized head OF
n.,;on. Indeed, we do not beIiev'
That even the administration OF John Tyler
iueacient and vindiclive as it confesssdiS
was. will. 10 the future historian, exhibit ''
the world 50 many weak points, as that o
James X. Polk. The war in which "0'
country was unnecessarily aud unconst'-
tutioualIy" plugged BY hi: act has ha0 Inc
effect to let the people know WHO he iS' aud
will doubtless cause his name tn be Te"'c'">
6eyed.
The peculiarites of this gentlemen began
to manifest themselves soon after he was
seated in the presidential chair. His itch
ing for notoriety, it would seem. was not
satisfied by being elevated to the seat once
6lled BY Washington. He must s'g"o''se
himself and his ministration in some way
and how could he do it SO effectuatiy as
by a war? Suddenly he began to blus!er
and show signs Of fight" with Great Brit
ain, by an uncalled>for assumption of ouI
" clear aud unquestionable right" to the
whole of Oregon. That Government, how
ever. did not chose 10 manifest the spirit oil
a non-resistant. The & lion" vas aroused
James K. Polk began to tremble, and sus-
nee, he had gone 100 far! What could he
do 2-or rather, What did he do7 What
bu, simply say to John Bull. as Jack Fall
staff said on a memorable OCCASION
s.Don't fire, sir-for heavens sake don't fire !!
CERTAINLY. the schole of that country be-
longs to us-but, if YOU wont fight US, you
may have half of it" This logic was per-
tectIy satisfactory TO our transatlantic
neighbor, who readily assented to the terms.
The Pr, siden, having very wisely con-
cluded that he had Mt made much glory
out of that proceeding. began to look 10
other directions Discovering that less
powerful nation. nearer home, had not
paid US our dues a. the time which had
been mutually agreed upon-'hcrr, them
thought he. is grand chance TO reap II
harvest ofglory. Mexico is u great coun-
try in point of territory, but feeble in
arms; we can conquer her in month,
aud "annex" to the Union new States
from her vas, domain
From the moment this 'one idea took
possession of Mr.. Folks mind, ali his acts
tended to it's accomplishment. He we'll
knew that the Government, Of that coun>
try felt aggr isvrd and iUsulted at tn.
conduct of the United States. in annexing
to themselves a revtlted Mexican Prov>
ince--a Province which had not esfab' ish>
ed its inde pendence, and with which Mex
leo was siilla! war. He knew. too, equal.
ly well, that she had declined TO receive
a minister plenipotentiary during the exis-
tence of the alledged grievances-but had
offered TO recrive commissioner whose
specific business should be to negotiate
on the difficulties between the two coun-
tries. Mr.. Polk, however, sent minister
enipOtenti@y -he wis of course rejected
Ibis rejection wa> assumed as a ground
C ssar! .-.. ..-. -r
Again--the army had been stationed
Of Corpus Christi, upon the eastern bor-
der ofthe disputed serritory-performing
their evoIu.ions, and occasionally en-
camping. o" the very ground in dispute.
This. however, did no. produce an outs
break. Accordingly, the Presiden, or
ders Geperal Taylor to march ENTIRELY
ACROSS the disputed territory. and to en-
trench himself on the Rio Grande, 0ppo>
site Mataimoras-tO point hts cannon up
on the town and 10 blockade the river
All this was done--and it had the desired
feet. The Mexicans very naturally res
garded these movements as wARLlKE IN
their nature, and consequently I'm armed
force crossed the river with the intention
Of driving the army of General Taylor
from lie position. A accommodating par>
~. under Capt. Thornton was surprised!
md slain by the Mrxicans. Suddenly n
great hue-and cry wis raised by Mr..
Polk and his party, that "the blood of our
:itizens had been shed upon os~ econ s'il -
Blu; the war WIS NOW begun in earnest.
Gen. Scott, rs commander in chief OF the
army, waited in vain tor orders TO take.
command OF the forces in the field, and
the $4,000 new troops which Congress