Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-08-01
From the Cambridge Rerei!Is.
Democratic CanGl islatcS In n
Qu0Md0ry.

the camp al Corpus Christi on the Nueces.
10 position opposite TO Natamoras on /
the Rio Grande was an invasion of Mexico. I
and tina, this act Of Mr. Polk was in itself.
10 a declaration of war. This
position was based upon the fact. that the
original western boundary of Texas. when
a part Of the Mexican confedcracv. was
defined by the Nueces river Nor was
the claim of conquest urged by Texas
valid one: inas:nuch as The Mier and
Santa Fee expeditions fitted out by the
Texan government, for the conquest of
the intervening county has been signally
unsuccessful.
The Democrats. on the contrary. con-
tended that the attack Of the American
army at Palo Alto. by the Mexicans was
an act Of hostility committed by MeNicans,
on the soil OF Texas. which hae. then be-
come a portion Of the American Union.
President Polk. in his message. solemmly
shed upon American soil" Every demo-
cratic editor throughout the whole Union
took up this cry. and they bayed in de-
lg,itlul harmony. along the trail shewn 10
them by the administration. They con
tended thai the march Of our army TO the
Rio Grande was a ju>ttiable act. because
the President had ri ght to order them TO
take up a position. al any place he chose
within our boundary. and the Rio Granle
was our western boundary.
No one coniended more strenuously in
behalf of this act of the administration
than James Elder. the editor of the Jetfcr-
sonan. His columns were filled with Bit
ter attacks aimed at all who dared ques-
ton the proprety Of the war. All. who
opposed il, were denounced as torres. abo-
HionjSts. and JErican rings SO far
did ne carry his abuse of those who OPP
posed the war. and to such AN extent was
he embi,tered against them. that in a late
number Of the Ietlersonian, he called up
on the ntcI States Senate, TO reject the
nomination Of Sol Meredith. as Marsha
of this State. because he denounced the
war with Mexico as an ungodiy arar
Mark this-E.ller gives no other reason,
why he should be rejected. but because he
opposed the Mexican War. which war. tho
wings contend, was brought about bv al
invasion of the territory lying between the
\ueces and Rio Grande.
Since that time. by the treaty of peace
this territory is coded TO the nited States
BY the act OF Annexation, the ight of de
termning the boundaries of Texas is re
served 10 the United States. Texas wa.
admitted as a slave State. if it is deter
mined by Congress. that she shall bc
, bounded on the west by the Rio Granic
and northward by line including SAINT;
Fe. then all this territory is included in
slave State. The territory lying between
these lines is at least three times as larg,
as Indiana.
The Wings and Free Sellers have been
and are yet. in favor of combining tn,
jurisdiction of Texas 10 the eastward O
the Nueces, and applying the Wimo
Proviso to the intervening territory. Th
whig candidates for the Legislature in tn
county have pledged themselves to 80 in
struct their Senators and request their Re
pIesentatives.
Elder has been called upon 10 stat
j whether he will support such vote of in
? s,ruction. and refuses 10 answer. II,
could not vote for such a resolution. anC
, preserve his consistency. He asserts tina
all this country belongs 10 Texas. If
does. then no person will contend tina
? Congress can interfere with slavery in
, State. In shor, he contends that Congress
has nothing to do with slavery in the Stat
Of Texas, and Wings and Free Soilcr
viii agree with him. But they do not be
lieve, that this territory does belong t
Texas: consequently they wish TO subjec
, il to the Wlmot Proyiso
But suppose that Elder, at the eleven,
hour. pledges himself TO vote in favor Q
such instructions: then he either saws
. my assertions that this territory belong
TO Texas. were untrue. or. he SAYS, 9
will vote to instruct Congress to interfer
, with Slavery in a State
: Can Freesollers place any reliance in
man. who will take either of these posi-
< lions! By voting for Elder, Beard an
Mclaughlin. they contribute, through III
action of the State Legislation. toward
giving up territory three times as large a
Indiana. TO the rule of the slave power.
We have conversed with many Free
! soiiers. who say. they will not support an
man. whose position on this question
not clearly understood Elder and Bear
will not receive the Free Soil vote.