Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-08-11

1Nn Jay VI n,n civ and town TO hold meetings
on their next Cour.days, to send deieea'e' - 'a'1
C0nsen'0n' JOHN RUTHERFORD, Chairman.
W. F. RircHiE, Secretary.
yINDICATIoN OF NATIONAL JUSTICE in
THE MEXICAN WAR.
The Wing majority of the present House OF
Representatives in Congress have distinguished
themselve. by the adoption of the famous reso'
luton, ",hat the war with Mexico) was unne'
cessariIy and unconstitutionally commenced oy
the President" Nothing was easier than 10
make this asserlion-to prove it is quite another
affair. What is remarkable, the Wings pre-
dicted that annexation would result in war, and'
when the war ensued, they turned right rouno
and declared that the President had brought II
on. Another curious fact is, that they saw the
President taking measures to involve the country
in war, "unnecessarily and unconstitutionallJ,"
and yet never moved finger to prevent it. On
tho contrary, they voted men and money to car
ry it on. In annexing Texas, the United States
annexed what Texas claimed to be. But Texas
claimed to the Rio Grande; therefore, the annexa'
ton extended to the Rio Grande. whether the
claim of Texas to the Rio Grande as her West
ern boundary was valid and legitimate, is oil no
consequence in the present question. The Rio
Graude appeared on the Texas title deeds as the
boundary, and was, therefore, from the necessi
" of the case, to be taken by the United States
a, primo facie, the true boundary. In the act
of annexation, the right of adjusting all ques-
tions of boundary that might arise with Mexico
was expressly reserved to the United States, and
the Government OF the United States would
have relinqushed all claim to any portion Of
Texas territory as claimed, The title to which
could not have been made good in the course
of negotiation, if Mexico had agreed TO me-
gotiate When the annexation was consum
mated, and Almonte, the Mexican Minister al
Washington, retired, and the Mexican nation
seemed bent upon war, the President OF the
United States, in order to prevent, if possible,
this calamity, despatched that able and faith
full Envoy, MIR. slidell, TO Mexico, with full
authority to adjust all questions in dispute be
tween the two countries. Mexico had, before
hand, agreed to receive such an Envoy he
arrived in the City Of Mexico, December 9th,
1s45. On the 9Th he presented his credentials
to President Herreras Minister for foreign at
fairs. Herrera referred Mr.. SlidelPs application
to the Council, and that body en- the 18th render
cd their final negative decision. Mr.. Slidell 10
q despatch, dated on the l7th, announced his
virtual rejection as Minister, and enclosed
copy of the dictamen Of the Council to that eff
feet, as published in the "Siglio."
This despatch was received al Washington on
the 18th of January, ie4c, and it was not until
that satisfied him, that Mexico would no, trear
with the United States, sen, orders TO Gen Tay.
lor to march upon the Rio Grande. As long as
there was any reasonable hope tina, Mexico
would settle The disputes between the two coun.
tries, in peaceable way, the President RETAINED
from making military occupation of the inter-
mediate strip OF country lying between the Nue..
ces and the Rio Grande. Bu now, when Mexi.
co appeared TO be incorrigibly bent on war-he
determined to occupy the left bank Of the Rio
Grande, so as either to force Mexico to treat, or
n least in case OF war, 10 secure the advantage
otthe afi possidetis. Mexico, however. up 10 this
time, had drawn no distinction between the strip
OF country lying between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande, and the rest of Texas. Mexico then
claimed The country on this side of The Nueces
rs ABSOLUTELY and as pertinaciousy as The coun.
try lying on the other side. To Mexico, then,
there was no reason TO believe, tina, i, was less
offensive to occupy the left bank OF the Nueces
IMAM It was 10 occupy the left bank Of The Rio
Graode. Mexico declared the act of annexation
TO be the ground OF war.
December 30th, Herrera was displaced by one
Of those revolutions which, in Mexico are ever
and anon breaking gu, like her own volcanoes.
and Paroles, the head of The Mexican war party
by military usurpa'ion, became head of the
Government. The overthrow OF Herrera was
mainly owing to charge brough, against him.
mat ne was inclined 10 receive an American mi
mister. MIR. Sldell, although rejected by HERE
ras administration, upon pretexts wholly futile
and false, nevertheless, under the instructions OF
Mr. Buchanan, still remained 10 Mexico, and, in
ofder 10 exhaust every honorable means OF con
Citation with a weak and distracted power. cain
presented his credentials to the new Minister Of
= o'S'~a 4aahhS EdISucS. hdTCn 18th,
1886, Mr. slidel was again rejected in terms tai
mofe offensive and hostile than before. The act
OF Congress annexing Texas TO the United States
was denounced as "nolable act of usurpstion,"
when created an imperious necessity that Mex
ieo' Tor her own honor, should repel it with pro-
per fi'mness and dignity. The Supreme Govern
men," ii was added chad beforehand declared
that ii would look upon such an act as a easu,
os1s and as consequence of this declaration,
negotiation was BY its very nature at an end,
and war was the only resource of the Mexican
Government"
April 18th, Paroles made proclamation re.
ferriDg TO Mr.. Slidell's mission as an additional
Insult, which, with other causes, had induced
him, "npon his accession to power, 10 the begin.
ming of the year." 10 issue orders to his army 10
attack our troops. This was while Gen. Tavlor
with bis army was sill at Corpus Christi lis
to be here observed, that the overthrow Of Here.
"a did not result simply in change of administra.
hon, but IN revolution ofthe Government itself
which became now in effect military despotism.
Aud the Mexican nation being resolved upon
war, Paroles, in his warlike orders, only carried
ou' Tue popular wish. On the war question, The
masses, The Congress and Paroles conceded
H.'s voice was theirs. Is ii no, a necessary con.
c'usion from all this, that The war was nor owing
70 the "afcn OF Gen. Taylor upon the Rio Grande,
ana oy consequence tina, it is no, true. ,,ba, the
war was unnecessarily and upcops,i,n,ion.IIv
commenced BY the PRESIDENT"
GEN. TAYLOR AND THE VETO
General Taylor, in his Allison letter. give, !; |