The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-19


present. therefore, in this connection, to the attention
Of the committee, that in June 49, Gen TAYLOR had in
heated 10 nun The extent OF the Rio Grande
aimed as Texas under the act of annexation receiving
at The same time his orders to defend and protect that
territory while Congress in December 1916 on their
first meeting, informed fully by the President of his
acuon In lexas-to which they took exception; but,
on the contrary egsated, without restraint and without
limit, for all the territory claimed as Texas and partc
uary committed itself 10 this territory of the Nue.
ces, by further and particular legislation in the establish
men OF custom house and revenue district of that
river Upon this of facts feel consrare ed to re-
gard as caumny the assertion that the territory west
OF the Nueces occupied by the illegal and unconst-
tutona order of the President of the United States ruth
out the concurrence of Congress.
Sir, have seen II suggested from the opposition that
the war; though just and honorable the result of
nexaton as between Mexico and the United States, yet
as between the different branches OF this government
there exists responsibility with the Executive peculiar
and painful created by The rash act of the President in
ordering troops to the Rio Grande provoking the state Of
active hostites.
Such conclusion could only result, sir from the strug-
gle OF generous spirit, under the impulse OF PATRIOTISM
Such assault the President like the broad declara
ton affirmed by this House, and already referred to, must
be reiuted by simple review OF the history of annexa
ton; and coming from the opposition under all the exist
ing circumstances, II Is even more unwarrantabe than
the abstract Remuneration OF the egallty and uncons
nationality of such order. In repeing this assault
| upon the wisdom and capacity of the President in one
particular act OF administration, 1t must be observed that
even in view of the act of territorial occupation west OF
the Nueces, this advance 10 the Rio Grande was not
made for months after armies posted west OF
the Nueces and Tor months after Congress had actually
extended American laws and American life into that ter
ntory until months after General Taylor. who was
ntrusted with the defence and protection of Texas, had
repeatedly urged and advised the movement upon high
considerations OF military and political poprety
! til months after the organization of the Mexican
mics the banks of the Rio Grande river, under
peremptory orders to that river and seek our
people at Corpus Christi, or wherever else they
might be found. thus movement, made with caution
with care, purely defensive spirit, subordinate and
secondary to the occupation of the country west of the
Nueces, which was made six months before the adj
ment which withheld for months at the express
command of the President that every possible effort TO
settle differences by negotiation might be exhausted is
seized upon by one branch of the opposition illegal
and unconstitutional act by another, an unwse one
and by both, the Of The proximate remote
position which Is to attach the responsibility of This war
to the President He is denounced sir, for eecting the
joint resolution for the admission of the State
of Texas into the Union, rather than the resolutions
which proposed negotiation Sir not to remark that the
Presidents predecessor had already made the election let
me only suggest that Congress authorized the election
and that it somewhat of presumption, to argue
nou, in the dark, that different election would have
avoided war. For one, sir believe the alternative cleo
ton of negotiation would have lost Texas altogether
MIR. Chairman, think the war
LIST In its origin, just honorable and necessary, q
mean unavodable)
ID think is being prosecuted with the avowed OBJ
ect of conquering peace, which would secure ndemni
y for the past and security for the future.
3D. | think indemnity and security may consist in pc
cunary, territorial or commercial conditions, altogether
or severally
4th. think the war-power under our federal constu
ton omnPoen under the recognised laws of nations, as
5th would inquire how shall this war-power be
ercsed in the further prosecution of the existing war
with Mexico.
What, Sir are the facts which develop the origin and
history of this war In 1886, the republic of Texas
compshed revolution with the Stvord-conssting OF
the people of the department of Texas and portions the
moo Of aft ryin
the Mexican armies beyond the Rio Grande, and at once
organizing government declared that river to be their
western boundary and from that time to the present,
maintained complete and undsurbed possession of the
soil west to the Rio Grande SO far concerned their
intercourse with the United States and the nations OF the
earth who had recognised their national Independence
England, France and other great powers inclusive
within these limits OF boundary, they exercised in their
intercourse with these nations all the rights OF sovereign
ty; and in their relations with Mexico, actually
making peace the recognition OF such boundaries,
stpulang for the withdrawal of the Mexican armies TO
the west of the Rio Grande and the release OF the Mex
lean commander-in- chief and further maintaining such
boundary against all subsequent efforts OF Mexico TO OBJ
tain permanent footing on that soil IRON which her
armies had been driven IN the of the revolution
While the people who continued to nhabt such terri
tory recognised citizens Of Texas rendering their
allegiance and being represented IN the Congress OF Tex
asand believe in the very convention that accepted
terms of admssion-these acts OF sovereignty have
been often referred to in this House As of such
sovereignty, Texas became State of federal Union
bringing with her the old quarrel with Merieo, which, at
the time of annexation, the Mexican claim to all of
Texas and this quarrel and more, cheerfully
as the price of Texas.
Sir observe the conduct of the governments in their
intercourse that the act of annexation has transferred
this ercourse to the federal administration the nso
lence of Mexico and fobearance OF the United States
see the declaration of Almonte Withdrawing from
country the passage of the act OF annexation; see
every subsequent stage of the controversy between Mex
and the United States and every despatch of every min
lister, in every change OF changing government The Of
fence the act of annexation That the act Of
Congress- and the occupation OF part OF Texas
offence in the eyes of Mexico but the occupation Of
any and every part the duty of the President and had
necessarily the OF Congress virtue alone
of the original act OF annexation which Just,
wise, constitutional act and in advance sanctioned by
the will of the people of the United States and ratified by
mnion from the Sabine to the Rio Grande See the
subsequent and subordinate ground of complaint arising
out OF the disputed boundary queson-supposng the
major offence of annexation reconced and in this
nexion observe the cautious, forbearing, concating
course of the American Executive holding the American
forces the extreme western border of the disputed ter
rory until every effort for peaceful adjustment OF dit
erences seemed hopeless and further observe the
ous, defensive policy adopted in occupying and defend
ing the soil of this State.
On the other hand, sir, the offensive, hostile, ag-
gressve spirit with which the Mexican army order
ed to take forcbe possession only of that territory
which, in collateral issues of the negotiation, had
been styled disputed but also of the territory of Teras
all the way the Sabine Surrenderng them sir, all
the advantage which results from the acknowledged
eregnty of Texas the Rio Grande and the transfer OF
that sovereignty to the federal government we af-
ford to stand upon the issue OF opposition very nat
urally adopted by beaten and desperate enemy and
acknowledge for the moment that Texas to the Nueces