The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-07-16
From the Marion (Alabama) American.
POSeyS History OF the Palmetto Regiment

IL VIII De remembered tnat nOStllltlcS be-
tween the United States and Mexico com,
menced about the first of May, 1s46. The
first hostile act was the ambuscade and cap
ture on the Gath of April Of Captain Thorn
tons company of Dragons, while on re.
connoisance few miles from Matamoros.
This was followed Immediately by I'M at
tempt to capture Corpus Christi and cut of
Taylor's supplies and communication with
home. To avert so great danger, Taylor
marched with almost his entire force to the
relief of Corpus Christi. The Mexicans
opened Immediately bombardment upon
Folt Brown opposite Matamoros, and an
army OF several thousand crossed the Rio
Graude 10 intercept Taylor. lie eucoun-
tered them on the sth of May at Palo Alto,
and by brilliant victory drove them before
him. They rallied the next day for moro
desperate resistance, and on the 9th of Nav
he again encountered them at Resaca DE
La Palma, where they sustained another
disastrous defeat, and fled in confusion and
terror back 10 their own territory. Mata-
moros was surrendered without further 10
sistance.
But before the cheering news of these
victories came, there was period of the
most painful anxiety. The first hostile
news that came, was the ambuscade OF
Thornton and the attack upon Corpus
Christi, 1t was feared that TayIor's mea-
gre force would be overwhelmed by mum.
bers, and destroyed Prompt TO meet lhe
emergency, a small force was raised in a
few hours in New Orleans and Mobile,
which was sent to Corpus Christi.
well remember the glow of national
pride, and the military furor, which were
reused TO enthusiasm by the tocsin of wal.
Upon thousand rostra was rung and re-
yerberated the thrilling and electric cry,
chat the foot of foreign invader had pol
luted American territory, and that Ameri-
can blood had been shed upon American
SOIL" Then indeed was 4imericanjSm in.
tense, and then was foreigRiSnI under popu-
lar indignation. But times have changed
since then, and We have changed with
them.
There was simultaneous rush 10 arms,
gathering Of hosts:
with souls in arms, and eager for the fray"
On the llth Of May tho President com.
municated to Congress the official announce
ment Of the capture Of 1horn,ou's compa-
ny, and on the 18th Congress passed the
preamble recognising the existence of a
staIe of war, authorized the President TO
call into service fifty thousand volunteers,
ana vo.si him ample peounia.y ,nyans 70
conduct the war on an imposing scale.
Gen. Gaines, then the senior officer in
the Western department., called for seven
regiments from the Gull States for immeli
ate service. Twice the number promptly
offered themselves, but his call WAS disap
proved by the President, aud most of the
volunteers were discharged.
Taylor army WAS safe, and it Vas nol
yet decided upon what plan or for what Oh
jecls the war should be conducted. Though
hosiiliIics had commenced, and two great
battles had been fought, there was no off
cial knowledge that Mexico had declared
war llostilities were not necessarily war,
and ii might be that the Mexican general
had acted on his own authority in opening
hostiities. Mr.. Calhoun in the L. S. Sen
ate urged this distinction, and strenuousy
opposed, under existing circumstances, q
declaration of war.
There were also two opinions rs 10 the
proper plan upon which il should DO con
Quoted. There were two causes Of the war
First, was tie long deferred claim which
The United States had rs creditor against
Mexico. This, however, was too trillng 10
Justify war. Second, aud paramount was.
the annexation Of Texas. Upon this Mexico
founded two complaints. The first was a
general objection 10 .ue annexation OF Texas
at all, aud the second was, that even waving
that objection, the proper boundary OF Texas
was the Neuces, not Rio Grande, and that
the occupation OF the western side of the
Neuces was an invasion Of Mexican terrific
ry, and in itself All act Of war against Mcxi
co.
Mr. Calhoun urged the one plan and Mr.
Cass chiefly the other. The main cause OF
war being the annexation Of Texas and the
boundary dispute, Mr.. Calhoun urged that
the proper plan OF the war was defensive.
That we should rest with having driven the
enemy into their own territory, aud that a
strong chain Of garIsons should bc estab.
Ilshed on the frontier line, to keep the Mexi
cans on their own side, and attack them
only when they should cross tho line
Further than this, rs a means of enforcing
the creditor claim against Mexico, he advis.
cd n blockade of all their ports, 10y which
their commerce might either bo cut OIL OF
It's tariff appropriated to the United States
This plan would have compassed the on.
ly real object of the war the preservation
of our territorial boundary. The creditor
claim might have been postponed, OF en-
forced by commercial reprisals, or abandon
cd. In going 10 war about money claim
governments should exercise the discretion
Of an individual contemplating lawsuit
and not involve themselves in q disastrous
controversy, even upon the iustost aud
clearest right. Thus would Mexico have
been treated with the mercy due to a weak
and helpless government, aud hlplly been
forced, like a trelted child, into obedience
This was tho mastery plan Of Mr.. Cal
houn. 1t is national calamity that ii
was rejected. The cause Of It's rejection
was that II WINS i., ,.vs-iy, T., .atisf,, tl,.