The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-29

"KR. sLIDELL's LETTER OF cREDEScE.
JAMES X. POLK,
| president Of the United States Of America.
"GREAT AND Coon FRIEND: | have made
| choice of JOHN SLDELL, one of our distin-
guished citizens, TO reside near the Government
Of the Mexican Republic, in the quality of En-
yoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipOtentiary
of the United States Of America. He is we'll
informed Of the relative interests of the two
countries, and Of our sincere desire to restore,
cultivate, and strengthen friendship and good
correspondence between us; and, from know
edge Of his fidelity and good conduct, have
entire condolences that he will render himsef ac-
ceptable 10 the Mexican Government, by his
constant endeavors to preserve ard advance the
interest and happiness Of both nations. there
fore request your Excellency TO receive him ia
vorably, and 10 give full credence 10 whatever he
shall say on the part Of the United States. And
/ pray God to have you in his safe and holy
keeping.
written at the city Of Washington, the
tenth day of November, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty FIVE,
and of the independence Of the United States
the SEVENTEEN.
"Your good friend,
JAMES K. POLK.
"By the President: JAMES BUCHANAN,
''Seerstary Of State.
ITO his Exeellency
"Don JOSH JOAQUIN HERREkA,
president Of the Meriean Republic"
Sand / pray God to have you in his holy care
and keeping" How pious the President u.s.
Tie prays for his enemies. This was written on
the 10Th Of November. Now, want to read
another document, to show how Mr.. Polk was
treating his good friend on the 18th Of June
preceding. In a confidential communication
fro h. - H. 4
10 General Taylor, find the following:
"The point of your ultimate destination 10 the
western frontier of Texas, where you will select
and occupy, on or near the Rio Grande del
Norte, such a site will consist with the health
Of the troops, and will DO best adapted to repel
invasion, and to protect what, in the event Of
annexation, will be eur western border. You
will limit yourself to the defence Of the terrific
ry of Texas, unless Mexico should declare war
against the United States.
"Your movement to the Gulf of Mexico, and
your preparations 10 embark for the western
frontier Of Texas, are TO be made without any
delay"
Well, now, what co you think Of this pious
President On the 18th of June he ordered
the troops TO be ready 10 embark for the coast Of
Mexico, and five months afterwards he senos
messenger to General Herrera, and by the hands
OF this messenger a duplication 10 Almighty
ing" Lest this prayer should fail, he had TAX
en- the precauiion to SEND General Taylor with
his army, FIVE months before, to take him in his
care and keeping. Well, will not detain the
Senate long on this part Of the matter. IL
seems to me Il Is too plain for cavil; and IL
| had the issue TO be tried before twelve good men
aud true, the first witness would call would be
James X. Polk-for never knew witness who
was conscious Of telling the truth, who found
IL necessary 10 repeat so often the same asser-
ton. Why does the President 20 into so long
and labored an effort to prove that we had good
cause Of war' II this were the case, and we
had not commenced il, instead Of being TO our
credit IL would have been a disgrace TO us. IL
would have shown US pusillanimous nation
IL Is therefore ftio de Sc Of his argument Be.
cause, II this were the case, II shows that we
should have done what the President has labor
ed to show we have not done. The President
may conquer Mexico, but he can never succeed
in conquering the truth He may direct as many
guns 10 bear upon II as il would require 10 ST.
lence a Mexican battery, but ne will not be so
successful.
Well, IL this was the cause Of the war-if this
was the manner in which the war commenced,
what are we carrying Il on for now What do
/ we propose What do we want Why, in
the message Of the President to Congress, in
1876, he tells us that II was not conquest that ne
desired; but in the message Of this year he
modifiez II little. Now the conquest he disa-
vows that is, he does not mean to take the
whole of Mexico. suppose that he means to
| divide il, very much az Lord Aberdeen divided
Oregon with him.--to take what he wants, and
| leave the rest. He says:
g II was never contemplated by me TO make a
permanent conquestof Mexico, or to destroy her
nationality" Well, sir, actions speak louder
than words, and need not admonish gentlemen
on this floor Of this fact, for have proof in my
hand. What does the President tell you l
heard II asserted by tho Senator the other day,
that Senators voted for the appropriation of the
war under protest. That they did II for Moth
| ing else than to relieve Gen Taylor from the
critical position in which he was placed. The
Preside mt came and made the thrilling announce
ment that American blood had been shed on
| American soil And, while every heart papi-
| tated at such an outrage, Senators, anxious 10
| relieve Gen. Taylor, were now willing TO vote
the supplied required, even though the bill for
raising them was accompanied by the deciara-
ton which, at that time, they believed to be I'M
true, that +" war existed by the act OF Mexico
| They gave their votes under the protest that II
was expressly for the relief Of Gen. Taylor
| And what does the President now say TO those
Senators Why, he says you did not mean any
such thing You could not have meant it,
You knew that the indemnity must be acquired.
Senators. when YOU passed that vote, you all
meant to get territory. The President has said
so. He is your executive officer, surely he ought
to know and the President has right to say
il, because actions speak louder than words
You voted him the men and the money; you
gave him the sword and the purse, and you
gave him unlimited license TO conduct the wal
as he pleased, and now you must pass this bill,
give him the ten regiments of regulars, and al
forwards twenty regiments Of volunteers, and
let him thus, according to the Senator from
Kentucky, increase his available forces In Mexi-
co to ninety thousand, and 90 on subjugating
that country, and what will he tell you at the
next session. He now tellsyou
.sCopgress could not have meant--when, In
Nav, SAC, they appropriated ten millions Of dol
l.rs. and authorized the President to employ the
military and naval forces of the United States
ard TO accept the services Of fifty thousand vol
unteerB, 10 enable him to prosecute the war; and
T when, at their last session, and after our arm,
had invaded Mexico, they made additional aP'
. lamentations, and authorized tho raising Of add
: tional troops for the same purPose-that no In
demuity was TO be obtained from Mexico ct th'
conclusion Of the war; and yet IL was certain
that, IL no Mexican territory was acquired, nj
3 indemnity could be obtained.
/ at 1, further manifest, that Congress contem
Z nlated territorial indemnity, from the fact that
:, thei,. last session, act was passed, upon tn
/, Executive recc nmendation, approPriating thre
million. of dollars with that express object
This appropriation was made TO enable th
p,.s;dsnt TO conclude treaty of peace, limit,
q "a boundaries, with the Republic Of Mexico, Z
n be- used by him in the event that site treaty whs
d signed by the authorized agents OF inc Nv