Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
THE INSTRUCTIONS TO Mn, sLIDELL, &C..


THE INSTRUCTIONS TO Mn, sLIDELL, &c.
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,, JANUARY 10, lSis.
The House being in Committee Of the Whole the Pre-
sdent's Annual Message
Mr. JONES, of Georgia. rose and said hat discuss a.
the topics properly belonging the pending would con-
sumo time than allotted him by the rules OF The
House He must therefore content himself with bIef allu-
sion TO the leading facts connected with The orgn present
condition. and probable sequel Of begerent relations to
Mexico The magnitude and importance of this subject de-
manded OF us the most profound and deliberate Investigations
II not question, involving does the inter-
ests' every citizen, from the the circumference
this broad Union. Feeling, he sensbly did, the
weight and responsibility that rested upon hem confessed
that with ordinary socude and epidaton that he
to address the committee and he could but hope
that the wisdom and experience Of that body would prove
amply commensurate to she task that lay before them
War in It's mldest aspect great evil and paodoxica
it may appear it was sometimes necessary evil Il might
be crime or virtue according TO circumstances for all guilt
and all innocence predcaed upon and founded in The
tiyes and the principles that mpe to action Suffice say,
that that just which originates in Just cause causes
that is conducted just and magnanmous principles and
that is protracted to us extent There scoLun by
learned author upon the political economy OF which reads
hus
There no principles flowing from nature which
what the proper of the term is called repeye
amongst nations Natural justice extends further than
satisfaction and security Nations acknowledge superior
tribunal earth the picting OF punishent is therefore,
unwarantable usurpation OF power which may ene
people the OF national ferocty Gothic arbary
but not to the national right
ssNatons have but limited rght repaa ion and def
violence is lawful than that which sufficient afford
satisfaction and security neither acts OF hostility entitled
to any further connuance for in either of these
pulson and defence would be destitute of just the de-
fender would consequently become guilty Of aggression
and give the original aggressor right Defence
the limits Of Just and lawful defence exceeded
From this conclude that antagonistc nations cannot be
simultaneously right Both parties may be in One
may be tight and the other wrongs and each alternately right
and wrong.
Again. he would read from that brated author (yate1
upon the law Of nations the following impressive paragraph
'Whoever entertans idea OF warwhoever considers
its terrible effects destructive and unhappy consequences
will readily agree that should be undertaken
the most urgent Humanity revots against sovereign
Who without NECESSITY or without very powerful reasons
lavshes the blood of his faithful subjects and exposes
his people the caate Of when he has in bis power
maintain them in the enjoyment Of honorable and su
tary peace. Apd this mprudence this want of love for
his people he adds injustice towards those he attacks
OF how great crime, rather OF what ghul series of
msortnnes which he draws down bis subjects he is
loaded with the guilt of all those which he ncs
innocent nation. The slaughter Of the pllage OF Cities
the devastation of provinces such the black catalogue of his
enormitie He responsible God aud accountable hui
for every individual that is killed. for every hut
down. The yolences the crimes the disorders
every kind the tumut and of war;
poue his conscence and set down to his he
the original author Of them ALL Unquestonae truths alarm
ing ideas which ought affect the rulers nations and
all their military enterprises inspire them with degree cir
eumspeeon proportonae to the Importance Of the SUBJECT
Entering Mr. did into Congress this advanced stage
of the war; would naturally and reasonably be expected he
would direct his attention to the future rather than the past
In order however be in their Deductions twas
cessary to be correct in their promises. They must
Watch the wheels Of Natures may plan,
And learn the future by the past Of man.
An ancient and crudite Latin author (Yngi) has said,
Happy is he who effects upt their causes" His
views the origin of this might be told few words
1t the bitter fruits of the joint operation the presump
ton and folly of Mexico and blunders and NAL admins
had in all probability departed from the line of national rect
ude and may have acted alternately and recpocay aggrcs
sye. And yet had Gen. Taylors army been ordered
from Corpus Christi the Rio Nueees the eastern bank
of tie Rio Grandc, there had been That the ci
Of Mexico did commit anterior to the war,
ontrages upon citizens and poaon upon their proper
y, not dened and that she also bad neglected equ
vaent indemnity frankly admitted il was true that
she hquidated the claims Of citizens 10 the Of
S2,026, l39 IS, part of which has been paid
Mr. j. here read extract from q report made by the
Hon. John Forsyth in 1897 and made aluaon the
opinions Of Presidents Jackson and Van Buren,. lie then
continued i
That the annexation Of Texas to the United Sacs pro
duced deep and lasting heabunings in the bosoms Of MeK
cans fact well known in both countries The Mexican
Minister then resident in Washington entered his solemn pro-
test against that transacton and looked c1ss Je
demanded his passports, and returned to Mexico.
Here Mr.. quoted the Presidents message OF lsi5 and
also letter from Mr. Sidel dated Mexico, December "a,
1915, and then said j
That while believe that annexation ustlabe under
the then existing Of things could but aprehend
that that transaction tended the affections Of Mexico
from her alma mater and he could only hope that the fruits
OF that transaction might not prove did
-stt the first fruit
OF that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world, aud all wo,
With loss oil Eden"
And he ardeny desired that il might not prove Achn in
the camp or Jonah board ship Of state had been
alleged that the rejection Of the Hon. John Sdel minister
the Court of Mexico completed the
logue of aggressions that justified the Government Of the
United States in waging Such, however, not his
opinion after full investigation OF the diplomatic correspond
that subject Mexico would have been wiling, she
proposed repeatedly receive him in the capacity d
missioner negotiate boundary between the two Republics,
but the Administration persisted in demanding that he should
be received with plenay powers And this has been used
1imsy preext for prosecuting war, which has our
country thousands upon thousands Of valuable lives and mil
lions upon millions Of dollars and, to complete The budget
Of bundcrs and to render pablo his consistency he
has since dispatched commissioner in the perOn Of Mr.
Tnst Thus do they
." Wire In and wire out,
And leave a body still in doubt,
Whether the snake that made the track
Was going south coming back"
That the removal Of General Taylor and his forces from
Corpus Christi on the Nueces the Del Nore thereby
versng the modern Mesopotamia, the prime and poxi
mate cause Of hostles the settled opinion Of the peo
pie and has been literally endorsed by the leadn friends as
we'll opponents Vi the Administration. II was then that
crossed ne Rubcon it then the die and
the sangunary caames Of Pandoras box then spread