Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-01-28

that district. has been appointed, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate. 1t be-
came. therefore, of urgent necessity to provide
for the defence of that portion OF our country
Accordingly, on the 18th of January last, in
structions were issued TO the general in com
mand OF these troops to occupy the left bank of
the Del Norte.'
And in his annual message to Congress on
the 9Th of December, 1876, he repeats the asser-
ton, and he not only repeats the declaration that
war exists by the act OF Mexico, but he says ev-
cry honorable effort has been made by inc to
prevent the war, but all proved in vain, and the
war has come notwithstanding he was so en-
ceedingly opposed to it. Now desire to exam
inc this matter. The President is not satisfied
with thus telling us that the war arose from the
act of Mexico. and that he had used every hon
orable exertion to avoid it. He comes forward
in his message this year and tells us fourteen
times distinctly, and several times implicitly
that it arose from the act Of Mexico. 1t seems
a part of the Presidents religryr,to accompany
his more solemn acts with the continual declar-
alton that "war exists by the act of Mexico" as
it was OF the followers of Mahommed, to preface
their more serious sayings with the oit-repeated
avowa that there was no God but Allah, and
Alahommed his prophet" Now let rs examine
this matter; did it commence by the act of Mex
leo? Such is not my reading. Tho taking
possession of Texas was of itself an act of war.
Sir, at the time Of the American revolution, when
France signed Treaty of Alliance with u.s.
Great Britain was not long in finding out that
that was an act of war But suppose that act
was not one of war, what follows
One of the fundamental conditions Of the
Joint Resolution for annexing Texas to the Unit
ed States, was war.
First said State to be formed subject to the
adjustment by this government, OF all questions
of boundary
"Subiect to the adjustment of all questions of
boundary! That was the very first condition
which the American Congress fixed to the act of
annexation. Well, is it necessary for Inc TO
stand here to-day to tell the American people,
that if there is a question of boundary existing,
and one party goes and occupies the territory to
the extreme verge of the claim--that is an act
of war Why, | think the President himself
in the course of the controversy with Great Brit
ain, must have found that this was the case, al
though one of the first acts of his administration
was to tell the people in his inaugural address,
that our title to Oregon was clear and unques-
tionable. | saw the President amid the dripping
OF the storm, standing at the east front of this
Capitol. reminding the people how young man
he was, and yet he would have the whole of Or.
egon. | almost expected to hear him say
oud scarce expect one OF my age,
To speak in public on the stage
| know not whether was most amused at the
juvenilty of the President, or his determination
to seize upon the whole of Oregon. He would
not even submit the question to arbitration, be.
cause that would be admitting that Great Bri.
tan had some sort of title there. Nothing shorl
of the whole would satisfy him. Why, man
could hardly be recognized as Democrat in the
Eastern States, unless he was for claiming the
whole of Oregon. lie must 90 for $40 40, oil
he was no Democrat; and one State Legisla
ture was so violent in the cause, that they were
for claiming $40 40. Iwonder it never occur
red to the President to Send DIR officers anc
take possession of the territory up TO that line
Why did he not do this Because he knew ant
every body knew, it would be an act of war
He knew it would be so considered by Great Bri
tan and resented by her. Well, SO it was here
The sending of Gen. Taylor to the Rio Grandt
was, beyond all controversy, an act Of war Blu
| propose to give you the Presidents own &C
count of it. In his Message Of May, 1916, hi
says:
lie kept the troops at Corpus Christi, until i
was rendered certain that the Mexican govern
ment had refused to receive Mr. Slidell Well
on the 10th day of November this commissions
was appointed, and not being much acquainted
with matters of diplomacy, | of course take wha
the President said as being what he meant
"MR. sLlDELLs LETTER OF cREpExcE.
JAMES X. POLK,
President Of the Uniied States Of America.
GREAT AND Coon FRIEND Il have mad
choice of JoHN SIIDELL, one of our distinguish
ed citizens. to reside near the government ofth
Mexican republic in the quality of Envoy Elk
traoldnary and Minister Pcnipotentiary of TIN
United States of America. lie is well informe,
of the relative interests of the two countries
and of our sincere desire to restore, cultivate
and strengthen friendship and good correspon
dence between us and, from knowledge o
his fidelity and good conduct, have entire conf
dence that he will render himself acceptable T.
the Mexican government by his constant en-
deavors to preserve and advance the interest an
happiness of both nations ] therefore reques
your eXcellency TO receive him fiivorably, an
to give full credence to whatever he shall sa
on the part of the United States. Aud pra
God to have You in his safe and holy keeping.
"Written at the city of Washington the tent
day of November, in the year of our Lord on
thousand eight hundred and forty five, and G
the independence Of the United States the seven
tieth.
Your good friend
JAMES X. POLK.
II Dy the ITcslOeUU.
JAMES BUCHANAN,
Secretary of State.
To His Excellency,
Don JOSE Joaquin HERRERA,
President of the Mexican Republic"
, Sand pray God to have you in his holy car
and keeping" How pous the President is =
: lie prays for his enemies. This was write
on the 10th of November. Now want to rea
another document to show how Mr.. Polk wa
) treating his good friend on the 9th Of June pre-
ceding. In confidential communication fror
l the war Department, dated June Is, 1915,
: General Taylor, find the following -
l The point of your ultimate destination is tn
western frontier Of Texas, where you will Sc
lect and occupy, on or near the Rio Grandc de
r Nor,e such site as will consist with the healt
of the troops, and will be best adapted to repe
invasion, and to protect what, in the event q
annexation, will be our western border. Yo
t will limit yourself to the defence of the territor
of Texas, unless Mexico should declare wa
against the United States.
I" Your movement To the Gulf of Mexico, an
your preparations to embark for the western from
+ tier Of Texas, are to be made without any de
lay"
5 Well, now, what do you think of this piou
: President? On the 18th of June he ordered tn
t troops to be ready to embark for the coast o.
l Mexico, and five months afterwards, he sends
+; messenger to General Herrera, and by the hand
of this messenger, supplication to Almight
T God, 4" to have him in his safe and holy keen
Inn, Last Til, nravar SboulJ r,n