The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-02-18

Moxico and Texas--though in a state OF sus-
pended animation-when the annexation was
accomplished. But by decent negotiation
tanned; and this Nation could have afforded
her money indemnity The fact of annexa-
ton was consummated by Tyler, and the
formal ratiiications were in due timo. exc
cuted on both sides-that by Congress being
at the beginning of tho Nineteenth Congress
In 1S45. Yet our commercial intercourse with
Mexico went on as before, our ships freely
entering her ports.
But the Observation-Disclosures, of New
York. being Secretary of War-ordered our
dlsposable troops, about one thousand 1--WE
hundred, to assemble on the western bound
airy Of Texas, under General Zachary Taylor,
TO defend tho country to the extent that IL
had been occupied by the people Of Texas.'
In accordance with this, General Taylor
stopped at the Neuces Hints were given
him 10 advance to the Rio Grande, but he did
not take them. At lcngth he received
positive order from President Polk. and he
marched on Mexican territory more than a
hundred miles TO the Rio Grande, opposite
Matamoras through country In which the
Mexican laws were In undisputed operation.
The Mexican General notified him TO return
and await the issue of the pending question
relative to Toxas. General Taylor answered
that he was acting under orders. The Mexi-
can ofioer warned him.that his refusal would
be regarded as declaration of war. About
month after this General Arista crossed the
river with force OF 0,000 and attacked Cen
eral Taylor-whoso force had now been In
creased to 2,300-at Palo Alto, and was badly
defeated. The war spirit was excited by the
taste OF blood and victory. Polk sent mes
sage stating the lie that Mexicans had in
vaded our territory, and shed the blood of our
citizens on our own soil.
Congress rose TO the lie by resolving that
war existed by the act Of Mexico, and by CALI
ing for 5000 volunteers and appropriating
ten millions, which was only beginning OF
| this costly war. by this we may see how
aaailv n praafdAnt malra nndHr n
| Constitution which strictly confers on Con.
| gress the war-making power. And this was
| by the party Of strict construction OF the Con-
stitution. But the strictness was only for
| freedom, while for slavery there were no con-
stitutional limitations. Slavery was the divine
| order. and was above human laws.
Mexico was wcaS because of an excess Of
State rights and an incapable people. Our
| military successes, under the lead of the Whig
Generals Scott and Taylor were so brilliant
that the Jealous administration tried to cripple
| them. Mexico was conquered; our armies
were In her capital and In her seaports, levying
military contributions and collecting customs. e.
| But the administration was vague as TO It's In
| tentions of peace. General Scott was for
| peace. and Mexico came to regard him as her
| benefactor He says In his memoirs that Polk
had design to annex all OF Mexico.
| At length q special agent, Mr.. Nicholas
| Trist, whom Polk had sent to Mexico to take
| the negotiations out OF the hands of General
Scott, but who eventually came to good un
dersiandlng with him, took the bit In his teeth
and negotiated treaty and sent II home
much TO the disgust of Polk, although 1t ac
qulred largo territories; but he felt con
strained to submit II 10 the Senate, which rati
fed II. BY this treaty we acquired New Mex
leo, Utah, Arizona and California. But Mr.
| Trlst who negotiated nll this, was ostracised
because Polk had Interior designs which ht
did not venture to reveal to the country.
THE wILNoT PRovIso.
That all this high-handcd course to gain ter
ritory for slavery, and its complete success II
gaining territory, failed OF its object seemi
Incredible. but this avowed purpose 10 nc
quire free countries for slavery, and the bolt
aggression OF the war, stirred up fire In thu
rear in the form of the Wilmot proviso, intro
ducod by David Wilmot, Democrat, OF Penn
sylvanla. In the session in which the wa
was adopted, bill was introduced TO plac,
two millions In the Presidents hands 10 b'
used at his discretion In making treaty
Wilmot moved provlso to this bill that slave
ry should never exist In any territory acquiret
from Mexico.
This proyiso was adopted in Committee o.
tho Whole, only three Northern Democrat
passing through the tellers TO vote no. j
promptly passed the House and was lost will
the bill In the closing moments OF the session
without coming TO vote. The proviso wa
brought up again at the next session ant
again passed tho House, but was never adopt
cd by Congress. But the subsequent resil
was that the attempt TO create territorial gov
ernments for New Mexico and California wa
defeated by tho holding of this provlso owe
them. Because OF this California was kep
under military government.
In spite of all the efforts or the Adminlstra
ton and OF tho army influence and OF tn
Southern DULLES that were sent there, the em
igration from the free states & defeated IN th
fornia, by forming free State Constitution
and asking admission.
The pro-slayery crusade worked badly Il
another way. For military glory. added 10 th
| nnntlar AnnOailinu this QnrQah nj alnVnrN
elected the Wing General Taylor President
Tho regular Democratic nominee Mr.. Cas-
was opposed by the Democratic eT-Presideni
Martin Van Buren, on the platform OF oppos
ton to any extension OF slavery.
The new House OF Representatives, after
long struggle over tho election of Speaker
adopted the plurality rule, by which Howol
Cobb, OF Georgia, Democrat, was chosen
President Taylor used his influence In favo
OF the formation OF a free State Of Californla
and free Territory of New Mexico; but tn
slave power refused 10 admit California as
free State, and refused TO authorize a Terr
torial Government for New Mexico, becaus
the Wilmot proviso was held over IL
THE COMPROMISE or ls50.
And now the grcat compromlser Henr
Clay, thought the tune had come for anothe
grcat compromise, to save the Union again
Strange that compromise should have 20 b
made by giving compensation for the admis
sion OF q State with 4 free constitution fairi
formed by her own peoplei But freedom ha
always to compensate for its existence In th
good old time. Mr.. Clay's propositions, slfte
from their circumlocution, were the follow
ing; California to be admitted with her owl
Constitution; territorial governments In Oh
territory acquired from Mexico 10 be silent a
10 slavery; that II was inexpcdient 10 abolis
slavery in the District OF Columbia; that III
slave trado In the District ought TO bo forbid
den: that more effective law for recaptui
turing fugitive slaves ought 70 be made; tina
Congress has not power TO obstruct tho intoI
State slave trade
Alter long debate, during which Presidou
Taylor died, the atllrmRtivos Of these propos
lions were enacted into laws. California wa
admitted tho territories OF New Mexico an
Utah were organ zed without any anti-slaver
proyiso. the slave trado was forbidden in Tn
District OF Columbia, and a thorough law 10
the rccapturng Of escaped slaves was enac
cd. And as q rider 10 all, under pretense O
defining the northern boundary Of Texas, te
millions were given her to reDnqulsh hC
preciatlon was caused in Texas bonds. a pal
OF which had been placed where they woul
do the most good.
SLAVERY ELIMINATED FROM POLITICS.
And now was proclaimed that the SLAYER
question was compromised and settled for q
time, and that any further agitation of ant
slavery measures would be inexcusable an
wicked. Democracy and whiggery, Mort
and South, united In declaring that the miller
ium had come. The Rod-like Daniel webste
mado speech arguing tho improperly Q
putting any slavery, exclusion into the Uta
and Now Mexico bills, because he said th
climate and soil had forbidden slavery there
and 10 forbid IL by law would be 70 re-enac
the law Of God.
Tho slave auction block was the bright jew,
In tho snout Of our National capital. Frop
the adjacent slaye.breedlng States men an
women, boys and girls, were brought 10 th
capital, ana under the Rgis of the great II
public were knocked down 10 the higho'