The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-07
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 7, ls4s.
The Late Adnai nistxal Il GA.


is now part of the history of the country, and not
unmporant part of the history OF the world. 1t came
INTO power four years ago. II when the popular
mind asitated by many grave questions of public
policy involving in their decision some of the vital
principles of constitutional construction Our relations
with the most powerful OF the nations of the earth
also full Of difficulty and danger Since that pc
ROD very many and most important changes have been
effected The Oregon controversy of near thirty years
standing, which had batled the efforts of best and
wises statesmen, has been permanently and honoraby
adjusted, and the most penetrating vision can scarcely
see the terminating seeds of future hostility between
our people and the Mistress of the Seas. Texas, too
with a domain richer and more extensive than that Of
most of the leading nations of Europe, and peopled by
men of our blood, who speaking the same Ian
guage worshipping at the shrnes, and respecting
the same institutions with ourselves. has been added to
our confederacy not by force OF arms but by her
free and unbiased The world has scarcely
witnessed phenomenon like ths-a union between two
republics, effected by the consent of both people, and
wrought by the concurng operations Of both govern
ments.
These achievements would have served of themselves
to give character and prominence to any administration
but they constitute only small part of the solid claims
which the course of James X Polk is calculated to i'm
press on the grateful remembrance of postery. When
Texas was annexed to the confederacy the republic OF
Mexico refused to unjust unfounded, and ex
ngushed claim to that country except upon the express
condition that would forever hold itself aoof from the
United States thus admitting her want OF inclination or
ability to subdue the brave who had defeated the flower
of her troops at San Jacnto, and manfesng in an unwar
rantable manner her jealous hostility towards our gov
eminent She declared, through her accredited minister
in Washington, that annexation would be regarded
antamoun, to declaration of and as that
measure was contaminated, he demanded his passports
and took his departure for Mexico. 1t then that
government the true spirit of peace exered its utmost
energies to put an end the hostile attitude which the two
nations had assumed and to restore friendly relations be-
tween them At one time seemed that peaceful counsels
would prevail But the government of General Herrera
was overthrown by violent revolution, because
asceraned that he desired to adjust all causes OF
without an appeal 10 arms. The administration which
succeeded him refused even to receive the minister OF
peace whom had sent to Mexico, and manifested the
most decided disposition to wrest Texas from our Union
and to drive us, at the point of the bayonet across the
Sabine! AT this time nothing had been heard from
Mexico herself of the distinction between the west
ern and the eastern bank of the Nueces and in no
communication between the two governments was
that river suggested as landmark TO us, or a
boundary between them. Mexico claimed the whole
of Texas up to the State of Louisiana, and re-
fused to enter into any negotiation by which any por-
ton of her claim should be surrendered Our army had
been stationed on the west bank OF the Nueces, with the
knowledge and tacit approval OF Congress That body
had extended our revenue laws the country between
the Nueces and the Rio del Nore and receiver OF the
public moneys had been appointed, by and with the ad
vice and consent Of the Senate reside in that section
of the State These facts, independent of the irresistible
Justice of our claim TO the east bank OF the Rio Grande
forbade the President OF the United States to renqush
any portion of the territory beyond the Nueces Had he
consented this sacrifice, he would have surrendered
it without consulting the other branch OF the treaty
making power OF our government; for, Mexico had
assumed hostile attitude, and refused to enter INTO
any treaty whatever. In that event, he would
have taken upon himself to say what portion OF the
Mexican claim just; and as Congress had
extended our revenue laws this territory thus
implying that it was acquired TO the United States
by the act of annexation he would have assumed the
more than kngy perogative of surrenderng to Mexi-
CO. But such was not the temper of Mr.. Polk He was
deeply mbued with the spirit of our institutions, and
incapable of doing violence to that constitution on which
they are founded man of peace, he exhausted every
effort of honorable diplomacy to adjust the difficulties
with Mexico; but yet he would not, for one moment,
TO surrender the rights of his country In the
mean time Mexico concentrated her forces her eastern
border And subsequent information proves that orders
were issued TO her generals while the American troops
were encamped Corpus Christi, to drive them. not out
Of the disputed tertoy-or there disputed terri
tory-but out of the State of Texas.
When it was ascertaned that minister to Mexico
would be received by the government OF Paredes the
President ordered troops in obedience to recon-
mendation made by commanding general in the
event that the line of the Rio Grande to be insisted
on to break up their quarters Corpus Christi and take
position on or near that river This order promptly
Matamoras distinctly informed that it not the
purpose of the American army TO into Mexican
territory but that it would resist any armed invasion OF
the bank of the Del Noe. Notwithstanding this
assurance Mexico adhered to her original position that
she would regard the act of annexation tantamount to
declaration of Her army, under Generals Ampu.
da and Arsta secretly passed the Rio Grande and fell
upon an American detachment which either killed
or captured When the of this transaction reached
Washington, and the people heard that American blood
had been shed on American soil, one burst OF indg
nant feeling swept over the whole country. Sup.
plies and volunteers promptly voted by both
branches Of Congress- and the heart of the nation