Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-02-16

ever been the custom OF nallOnS 10 occupy
disputed territory by their troops, and it has
never before been regarded as cause for
war. This government has repeatedly
done SO before; and we refer as q recent
instance, to that when our troops, as we'll
! as those of Great Britain, both occupied the
disputed territory on the northwestern
boundary of Maine. Yet no one in his
senses thought that cause of war-nor
did such consummation result from it,
Stark Co. Dem.
{. While the Mexican allies are contending
that the advance of the American army to
the Rio Gronda was the cause of the war
that but for that advance war would not
| have ensued-that the war arose out OF
the march Of our troops onto territory, our
title TO which was disputed by Mexico
; do they wish to be understood to mean that
their friends, the Mexicans, would have
peaceably submitted to the annexation Of
Texas, extending to the Nueces? Do they
| wish to be understood to say that "Mexico
did tacitly acknowledge the Independence
of Texas, and admit her right to incorpo-
rate herself into the American Union max
ing the Neuces her western boundary?"
The whole history Of the difficulties gives
the lie to any such claim. Mexico con-
tended from the first that Texas was re-.
bellious province Of hers, (though she had
enjoyed her independence, unmolested, for
period Of nearly ten years. and that, was
the annexation consummatad, she should
regard it as a declaration Of war. The
act was passed, and Mexico did treat it rs
declaration Of war, and set Immediately
to work preparing for the prosecution of
Of that war, by collecting and equiping her
armies, assembling her troops upon her
frontier, (the west bank of the Rio Grande, }
and finally issuing orders to her command
I ing General 10 attack the American forces
wherever they may be found, himself tax
ing the Initiative. In all this there was nc
claim by Mexico that the claim to the Rio
Grande Us the boundary OF Texas, was the
cause Of her affront, or that, for that cause
she was about TO undertake war against
US. Even after Santa Anna had returned
home and taken the command Of the armies
of Mexico, he issued his proclamation de-
claring that he was about to lead forth his
troops ':to gather laurels''--where?- ?-upon
the Nueces?-or at any point between that
river and what Texas herself claimed and
had maintained as her boundsry!-no; but
son the banks Of the Sahine.'' She claimed
then,as she had constantly before done, thai
she had right to the whole territory o.
Texas; nor was any other claim set up un
til the rederalists of this country, i'll theil
overweening and untiring efforts to fird ar
excuse for opposing their own country il
her struggle for her rights, hatched up this
question of boundary. This whole wal
question, when narrowed down and strip
ped Of the verbiage which has been thrown
around it, amounts to this, no more: Texas
prior to the annexation, was a free and in
dependent nation; SO regarded by the Uni
ted States, and looked upon as such by th'
world; and, so believing, the people Of th'
United States incorporated it into our Un
ion, and for doing this, Mexico did as sh
threatend she would do, commenced wa
against US. Her armies were assembled
and the war trump was already sounding
before the American army left its quarter
at Corpus Christi-the arm was uplifte
to strike the blow. Our army consisted c
but handful Of brave men, while that G
the enemy was named ''legion.'' Thu
Mexico was determined to strike was Gel
tain. What then was the plain duty {
the army Of this government?-to allow th
enemy to choose the time, place, and maj
4 ner Of attacking them ?--to allow them t
y strike the blow when we were least pre-
! pared for it? No other nation would hav
acted so-no individual would have acte
n thus. Had Great Brltain occupied tn
. / position which we did at the commence
a ment of our difficulties she would not hav
j.. wai.ed till Mexico had struck the first blov
r but when she found the blow must come 81
would then have struck; and all the fed
). ralists of this country, with one voice wou
j have said she acted right and honorabl,
but when our own country had suffered il
suit upon insult, and endured injury aft
injury, and waited until the blood of OF
. countrymen was shed upon our own SC
u hefore she struck blow in her own d
8 fence, these federnlists find oil their syr
pathies enlisted against their own count'
), in favor of 1s'poor weak Mexico" Sue
n is the patriotism Of federalism.
i Accounts Of State Auditor g. Treasure
We have received a voluminous doc
# ment the report of the Committee appointt
J. by the last General Assembly, sto exami1