Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1848-03-23

so, and therefore | take him on his own ground
Mr. gOBB. (resuming) the gentleman take
the Pfsldent by the ground he assumes, he mus
allow ha, his mind has been convinced Of his for
mer error by the argument Of the President Th
gentleman cannot say at one time before Congress
that sTh and such are his opinions, and after
wards when he asserts contradictory opinions, sa
he doe so on the gIound that although he believe,
he was first right, yet he Is told by the Presden
OF The United States that he was wrong. Are ih
genllehcn on that side of the House willing thu
TO Plac. themselves in the attitude before the coun
ny Of rnnng their faith to The sleeve Of the Pres
icenl? Or is it an attempt TO justify themselve
in 30 daring an inconsistency, by the effort tt
throw he burden Of il off Of their own shoulder,
and on 10 the President Of the United States!-
Were gnlemen 10 come here under The solemn
ties which were thrown upon the official acts o
membes Of this House, and put upon record thu
solemn declaration Of fact, and afterwards say
10 the country, did it not because believed ii
but because the Presiden, took that positions
That was the sum and substance Of the cSpana.
ton Of the gentleman from Vermont; and ser
ously doubt whether better one can be given by
any Of The gentlemen who are involved with hin
in his awkward position before the country.
apprehend that these things may have passed a.
mont, and recommend to him to bestow rather
more reflection upon them before he undertake.
10 reconcile these contradictory statements Of opin
ions.
ha sc The speeches. before me assuming SIMILAR
positions of other gentlemen, some OF whom are
now members Of this House, and who, like the
gentleman from Vermont, have now voted that the
war was unnecessarily aud unconstituonally be-
gun by the President. will not trouble the
House by reading further; my object is simply 10
present The fact TO The attention Of the House and
the country, that the Wing party, in reference lc
The annexation Of Texas and the var, now occupy
position wholly irecOnciabIe with the one la.
ken by them at the time the resolutions for the
annexation Of Texas were pending before Con.
gress. There were three classes Of opinions OK.
pressed by gentlemen who were opposed 10 annex.
alton; one class commended that annexation would
be cause of war; another that it would necessarily
involve the country in war; and The third took the
strong position assumed by my friend from Yer.
mont, that annexation was war per Sc. Now,
appeal 10 The andor of gentlemen on the opposite
side of the House, 10 say with what propriely with
what justice do you call down the indignation oil
tins country upon the head Of the President Of the
United States, for war which some OF you say
was the necessary consequence OF annexation, and
which others Of you say was Identical with the
net of annexation? | ask You to wipe out this re.
cord; blot it OUT let it not go down to posterlty
side by side with The contradictory statement made
by you on former occasion.
But wish 10 inquire for moment what are the
reasons and motives which govern gentlemen on
the other side Of the House in thus changing their
position on thus question. Why are YOU not now
AZ, LoIl a. tl,, ,lT
originally brought about the annexation Of Texas
who advocated, sustained and passed through both
Houses Of Congress, this measure, and who thus
as you then said, brought abou, this war, - resbon-
sibe for the waste Of blood and treasure which
has been occasioned BY it, ! confess, in looking
over tho whole subject and endeavoring TO satisfy
my mind whether or not any good reason exists
for this change, | have been unable TO discover
any. 1 can find but ono reason, which am com.
PEELED 10 believe has been the cont olng one in
bringing about this change position on your part,
and It Is this: so long ms YOU continued TO charge
that annexation involved US in wat-lhat anncXa
ton was ipsof acio war-so long was the prcsen
President Of tho United States Irresponsible Nc
point could he made upou Mr., Polk, no attack
could be made upon this Administration in conse-
quence OF this war; unless some means were resor
ted TO place the orr gin al it on other grounds thar
the act Of annexation, which existed prior 10 Mr.
Folks coming into power. | see no other reason
for this glazing inconsistency, unless it be the
attempt to relieve gentlemen on the opposite side
CT the House, who participated in bringing abou
annexation, from their due proportion the rcspon
sIbi!i,y, if responsibility they will have it, Of
involving the country in war. What other motive
could acua,e gentlemen? Why is it that the
eloquence of gentlemen against annexation ha,
harn ,lf l. r. 4
other motives than those to which have just re-
lerred. lf any others exist, make them known
and you shall have the benefit OF whatever pallia
ton il nay offer.
Passing on from this gross and palpable incon-
sistency in which the Wing party have involved
themselves, propose to consider the truth of the
allegation, that the war was brought about by the
removd of the army from Corpus Christi TO the
Rio GrmGe, and 10 examine the reasons and nhu-
ences llat were operating upon the mind Of the
Presldnt TO induce the issuing OF that order, and
10 see whether he could have done otherwise than
before Congress and the country for failure 10
do his ,uty feel no hesitation in giving il as
my oplon, that had the President neglected TO
adopt he policy for the defence of the territory of
1exasas Texas claimed it 20 be, which was car
ried OF in the execution of this order. those gen.
tlemenwho now charge the responsibility Of the
war Jpn him for that act. would have been eIo-
quent their denunciation Of the imbecility and
want energy ON the part Of the Executive
| What re the facts? The ANNEXATION resolutions
had passed Congress md become the law Of the
land wen Mr.. Polk came into office. The Mex
lcan nnistcr had notified this Government, pending
the qeston before Congress that tho Mexican
Government would consider the contamination
OF ihahct Just cause Of war; and he enerd, in The
name his Government. their most solemn protest
agains it. Immediately after the passage and
Eyecuve sanction Of the resolutions, the Mexi-
can mister. in conformity to tho opinlous preyi-
ously expressed by him, and the direction Of his
government, demanded his passports. dissolved
the diloma,ic relations between the Two Govern
menls and returned to his country What, | in
quirewns the feeling then existing in Mexico,
both nth her rulers and her people towards the
Unite Saes' From all the Information which
has ben thrown before the public gathered from
the toe of her public press, the official correspond
enco f her various civil departments, the manes-
Toes shortly thereafter issued from the public
gathdngs of the people in their primary assem-
hlies-we are fully justified in the assertion, that
McXO at that time, in furherence OF her previous
ly e,ressed intention Of accompanying Texas, was
detcnined upon war with the United States She
profeed TO regard the annexation OF Texus as not
onlyusl cause of war, but as war itself; and in
that pinion she was coun,enanced, as we have
seenhy the concurrent opinion of some of our own
prominent statesmen. War, then, in her own
empllic language, was her only alternative. In
conlnalion Of this view Of the matter, beg 10
refefo certain circulars from tho office Of the
Nexan Minister OF War. at as early date as Ju.
! ly u 1915, wherein the officers in command Of
The inv ,Nern callcd unnn rccrnil and rnise the