Tri-weekly journal., 1848-02-05

like this. The territory was withheld by an
other power, and disposition manifested by
that power to deprive US OF what we owned
Under these circumstances, Mr.. Jefferson con-
ceived that he had no right to use the military
forces of the country to obtain possession of
that which was clearly ours and which was
withheld from us. But, he states as a reason
for referring the subject.to the determination
Of Congress, that matters relating to peace and
war belong exclusively to Congress; and as
this movement might change the relation of
the two countries from peace to war, therefore
ii belonged to Congress to determine whether
the movement should be made or not
But, Mr.. President have other authority.
certainly shall not say that it is more respon-
sible in itself, than the authority of Mr.. JEFF
ferson. | doubt very much whether with
large portion of the American people, and of
the Senate it would be thought quite equal to
Mr.. Jefferson's. But upon this question with
respect to the President of the United States,
the authority is conclusive and overpowering.
1t creates upon him what lawyers call an e8-
tdppel, for | am able to show that the Presi-
dent of the United States has himself recogniz-
ed that such an act as this is an act of hostili-
| ty-of aggression-of war. On the / lth of Ju-
/ ly l845, the Secretary of the Navy writes a
onfidential communication to Commodore
Conner, an officer in the United States service,
then in the Gulf of Mexico. He says:
The unanimous vote Of the Texan Congress for an
nexaton leaves no doubt OF the consunatIon OF that
measure When you ascertain, satisfactorily, that
the Texan convention, which assembled on the 4th,
has also acceded to annexation you will regard Tex
as as part otyour country-to be defended like any
other part of it,
AT the same time. every honorable effort is to be
made preserve peace with all nations The restor-
alton OF boundary the southwest, by the con-
sent and choice the people OF Texas is due TO the
strong attraction of the principles ofliberty which
dear America to every one OF its sons and is trb-
ute before the world TO the policy of peace, of pot
cal freedom, and OF union the principles OF free
dom. 1t is the Presidents desire that this great event
should be consummated without the efuson OF blood
and without the exercise OF force; believing that free
institutions, in their right will achieve all that
can be desired
read this part Of the communication, sir
for the purpose of calling distinctly the atten
ton of the Senate, to the fact that though thi:
/ paper was written on the llth of July-somt
months prior to the actual consummationofth thC
act of annexation, yet the instructions t
which propose TO call the attention of tn,
|. Senate, are given ospectively-cautiously y
and with view to the actual completion o
that measure, when as appears from the in
structions themselves, the officer to whom they
were directed was required to consider Texa,
as part of this country.
Secue tnlS enQ most eI1eclually, you are cnarg
ed TO commit act of aggression; and at the sam
time, you invested with a command sufficient {
take from Others a disposition to hostile acts.n
Then after enumerating the forces at the of
fcers command, the Secretary says:
THAT you may precisely understand what is mean
by the aggression which you are instructed to ayoiC
will add. that while the annexation of Texas ex
tends boundary to the Del Norte, the Presiden
reserves the vindcation of our boundary, if possible
to methods of peace You will therefore, not emplo
force to disodge Mexican troops from any post eas
of the Del Norte which in the actual pOssessio
of the Mexicans at the time of Enumeration.
lodge her troops from any post she may have east
the mouth of the Del Norte; take possession of Tam
pico; and II your force sufficient will take the cast
of San Juan d'Ulloa, il being the determination
the President to preserve peace, if possible; and,
e war comes to recover peace by adopting the mo:
5 prompt and energetic measures
4 Again, sir, the Secretary of War writes Gen
], Ia lor under date of July z, 1915:
u WAR DEPARTMENT, July 8, 1915.
n "SIR:-IhlS department Is informed that Mexic
has some military establishments on the east side
: the Rio Grande which are, and for some time hav
been, in the actual occupancy OF her troops In carry
ing out the instructions heretofore received, you wi
Il be careful TO avoid any acts OF aggression unless
actual state of war should exist The Mexican force
at the posts in their possession and which have bee
so, will not be disturbed long the relations
! peace between the United States and Mexico co
II tnue. VIM. l.. MARCY
d Now, sir, here we have from the Represer
Y tatives of the President in the two Depart
o ments, War and Navy, clear and distinct re
e cognition of this proposition, that, althoug
the President held that our true boundary wa
/ the Del Nore, yet that it would be an act
it aggression, a hostile act, an act which woul
v not be justifiable except in state of war, (
o dispossess Mexico from any portion of that TEL
= ritory-as she held the possession at the tim
t, of the annexation. When, therefore, order
t. were issued to Gen. Taylor, on the 18th of Jar
It uary, 46, which directed him to advance an
/, occupy position on the left bank of the Ri
n Grande, the President ordered what he ther
e undoubtedly, understood to be an act of wal
He ordered what he intended, and what he sur
l. posed would be regarded on the part of Mexic
k as an act of hostility. For, sir, you will oil
e serve, that when General Taylor, in the execu
is tion of thisrorder advanced to the Rio Grand
l. and drove the Mexicans from their possession
N when he occupied what had before been OF
e. cupied by the Mexicans-and the inhabitan
lie were flying before him, and these facts wei
IS reported to the President, there was not ii
d slightest intimation that General TAYLOR ha
TX exceeded the orders which had been given +;
ID him, and had thus been the means of precip
E. tatlng the country into war, which by prI
at dent regard to those orders, might have bee
10 avoided. On the contrary, up to this very M
st ment, all that was done in pursuance of tn;
ID order, has been recognised by the President
p having been rightfully done, as having bee