The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-31
For the Union.

FOR the Union
The Wnr.-No.3.
While it was raging between Mexico and the United
States, it repeatedly denounced as unnecessary
unconstitutional, cruel, and unmercJM on our part
The clanor went forth that but for President Polk,
it never would have been waged; that he, and not
the Congress of the United States declared it
or words to this effect Are these charges or any
one of them true in point OF fact Can any in his
sober senses for single moment believe that the
ghened and patriotic statesman, who has for nearly four
years presided over the vast and complicated concerns OF
this great nation, would voluntarily assume upon himself
declaring war against Mexico Every tyro Of constitu-
ond iaw much less the President and his cabinet well
knows that the power to declare war belongs exclusively
10 Congress, while the power to repe 'nUaon belongs
to the President and in this lies the important difference
Did then the President, in the with Mexico, tran
scend the power which belongs him here stated Let
facts be submitted to intelligent and right Judging
people, and no difficulty will be felt their part in readily
deciding between truth and fiction
The first great battle between Mexico and Texas was
fought at Bexar in December 1895, when the Mexcans
were completely defeated and Gen Santa Anna taken prs
oner Whereupon the two contendng parties entered INTO
the following sipuations: st, that Mexico should
knowledge the independence of Texas 3D. that the Rio
Grande should be the southwestern boundary of 7eras
should cease, and be succeeded by all the blessings of
peace and Santa Anna restored to liberty And the mat
ter stood until Texas in March, 1s45 annexed to the
United States Very soon thereafter Mexico manifested
aodycdrd temper towards the United States To the
pacific overtures she not only turned deaf ear but
positively refused to receive our minister, who sent
edge and of the Mexican government to settle
in an apueaMe all and every misunderstanding
between the two countries
There being good cause to apprehend that Mexico de-
signed to limit f she coud the boundary of Texas by
to the river Nueces, instead of the Rio Grande, as
stipulated, and to take possession of the large ex-
tent of country lying between those two rivers, the
President, through the Secretary of War; directed Gen
Taylor, then with his command at Corpus Christi,
and with his full concurrence and indeed with his advice,
to move down with the army and take such a
position as he might Judge best the east bank OF the
Rio Grande. This was accordingly done; and the Amer
lean forces under his command posted opposite the
town OF Matamoras, lntercommunicatons succeeded
between Gen. Ampudia, Gen, Arsta and Gen Taylor
and finally the Mexcans about 900 strong crossed the
Rio Grande in the of Tayos encampment attack ed
Captain Thonon's troop of horse, (63 strongly killed
about IS, and surrounded the rest compelling them
surrender and followed up their u,cto1y by attacking
raylors forces which ended in repeated defeats of the
Mexicans and the taking of the city of Mexico i this
statement is substantially correct in its details, then Mex
co invaded our soil, struck the first blow. and shed the
first blood.
If Mexico is Justly obnoxious to these charges lives
there's solitary citizen of this republic dead 10 every
patriotic impulse, az for to condemn the course
pursued by the President of the United States in recon-
mending to Congress to repe invasion and defend the
grossly tnsuted honor of the country
Upon this subject Gen. Taylor, in his Allison letter
among other things says elm the Mexican war our ma