Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-02-25
please. This Mexico and this Government did.
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| Union OF the 4tn Oh NAY, IofO:) ne says:
have no right to declare war, it is for the Con.
press of the nation" and then fully stating tina,
no aggression would be made by Mexico, but to
repeI force with force. On the other hand, the
President of the United States, in his message
of December, after annexation, congratulates
the country on that as peaccable and boodless
acquisition, and declares we were still ut peace.
Thus both nations regarded themselves as not in
state of war. Now, sir, know of but two
ways in which nations can settle disputed bound.
aries one is by negotiation, and the other by
the sword. If one nation has claim on terri
tory claimed and possessed by another, it may
be and should be arranged by negotiation; but
if not so done, it may be taken possession of by
force of arms, and this is war. When, therefore.
the President ordered lorcible possession to be
taken of the country wet to the Rio Grande, by
the army, it was co,inlry, not only .la.r ed by
Mexico, but then entirely in her possession
through the whole length of the valley, on both
sides of the river, and occupied with towns and
military posts on the east side as we'll as the
west as is distinctly acknowledged even in the
very orders issued to Gen Taylor. This was an
open act of war, by the President unauthorized
BY the Constitution, until declaration Of war by
Congress, which had not been made.
| 1t is said, that by saying, this war was COM
menced by the unconstitutional act o. the Presi.
ueit. we hoiu .ic wal itse' "eo"9'us''o""', anu
so condemn all who engage III 1t. lnat, sir, is
entirely an unfounded conclusion. Though the
Constitution confines the power to declare war
to Congress, yet the President may, by the abuse
of his power, involve us in war at any time; yet
that would not deprive the people of this country
of the right of sustaining the country in the war,
though thus brought upon it. Suppose the Pre-
sident should treat foreign minister with con-
tempt, and dismiss him with disgrace, and re-
fuse to make any excuse or apology to the coun'
try he represented, and thereupon that country
should declare war; must not our country be
sustained and defended, because the war was
produced by the act OF the President Neither is
the President any more eNcusable for common
cling war before it is declared by Congress,
because there may be good and sufficient ground
Of war, any more than sheriff is justified in
hanging murderer, however guilty, before he
has been regularly tried and condemned by the
court and jury. If, therefore, we had a cata-
logue of grievances against England, which
would well Justify war, vet the President can.
not therefore be justified in setting IN some prc-
tended claim to land, and send our army to Law
seige to Quebec, (because that is wapiny war
without its being declared by Congress ! and
vet that war, though SO commenced. should not
subject this country to conquest, and our people
be denied the right of defence. when ENGLAND
thcreupon invaded us. Indeed a war mi,rht bo
ent;relv ;ustifablo IN another nation and ,o, tho
President no subject to imneachnen, for ia v;no
commenced il. w,hout an,hortv Hence iii
that catalocue of oriev,ncos communal m tho
No r. If Woy;co nm, fnr,, h., tho pros;Jor, IN Lie
,noss,ro af,or ho con,,nan,oJ ,h, ,,,a. ne a.
cmsos md c.usos cor ,hn ,',a. o,,o &c ,ha, no.,
fonndod in truth .s ,ho,, ,,,oro n", ,,as hnt m
,temnt +, rouse Tho .nmr,: r,;onS ~ III nonnlo
AGAINST Mexico and 5;ysrr, e attention from his