The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-02-12
The War with Mexico,

s We are astonished, as every man must be WHIT
pays any attention to the progress ofevents, at thu
course pursued by the wing party in Congress in
relation to the present war with Mexico.
After the capture Of Thornton's commanded by
q the Mexicans in April 1916 ,theC Congress of the U.
States, with a unanimity scarcely paralIeled, voted
that "war existed by the act of the Republic al
Mexico" and placed at the disposal of the Presi-
dent. ten millions of dollar and a uthorized hint to
accept the services OF 50, 900 volunteers, if neces-
sary. After doing this, they now labor to embar.
raAs the executive in the prosecution OF the war by
every means in their power. First by making
speeches attempting to show that DUR country is in
the wrong, which speeches finding their way to
Mexico, as they invariably do, are calculated TO in
duce the people of Mexico to protract the war I'm.
ill after the next Presidential acknowledging
that the wings will then be in power, and a treaty
will then be made giving ID Mexico all she claims.
In the next place, the wings refuse or delay passing
such laws as the President deems necessary for a
vigorous prosecution of the war, alleging that
there is now a sufficient force in Mexico. Who
does not r%ecollect, that, less than a year ago, the
administration was abused and viIiied, for not
sending more troops to Scott and Taylor? And
yet according to the wings, we now have soldiers
enough in the field 10 conquer and hold all the I'M
portant places in Mexico.
The administration is attacked for ordering Gen.
TAYLOR from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande, al.
4leging that by that act we commenced hostillties.
and were the aggressors in this war. Now would
it notbe well to remember, when such charges are
made, that Texas claimed TO the Rio Grande-that
Mexico never denied the right of Texas to the ter
ritory between the Nueces and the Rio Grande
any more than she did TO the whole territory
Mexico claimed the whole territory of Texas. and
never thought Of instituting a claim for any less
portion, until after they were led to set up such a
pretence by the wings of this country.
But admitting. for the sake of case, as MIR.
Clay says in his Lexington resolutions. that the
territory between the Nueces and the Rio Grande
was "cIaimed by both Republics" had we not as
much right to send our troops into that disputed
territory as had the Mexicans? Most undoubted-
", And no one doubts but what 1t was the inten-
ton Of Mexico to send her forces C loss the Rio
Grande, as soon as they could be mustered in suf-
fcient numbers at Matamoras. In fact small par.
ties Of Mexican soldiers or guerillas were seen east
of the Rio Grands long before Gen. Taylor arrived
at the place of his destination. But as well might
Mr.. Clay or the wings say, that the march of Gen.
Taylor to Corpus Christi, or any other point in
Texas, was the cause OF the war, as to say that his
march to the Rio Grande caused it. For the Mex
leans claimed the right to conquer the whole Of
Texas, even to the Sabine, and therefore the whole
territory OF Texas is as much disputed territory as
the achapparal thlcket," (as C0rwin calls i) be-
tween the Nueces and the Rio Grande. But 1t is
only Chat they may find fault with the administra.
tioa, that the wings set up the claim that Mexico
was d~espoiled other territory lying between the
Nuecss and the Rio Grande.
All admit that the title of Texas to the territory
Immediately on the west side Of the Nueces is val
id. The Congress of the United States admitted
il, BY passing a law extending our revenue aud
office laws over il. Now az our title is admit
ed to be good to territory on the west side of the
Nueces, we confess we cannot see why it is that
we do NOT hold by the same title, to the Rio Grande.
Mexico never admitted the title of Texas to the
territory On the west side of the Nueces any more
han she did to the east side of the Rio Grande.
But we commenced this article for the purpose
introducing to the attention of the reader, the )
following extract from the democratic Review"
The editor of the Review, in an article on the
mexican wn-its Origin its Justice and its Con-
s.ou.nses," has examined the subject it its vari-