Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-08-13
VINO ~ FALSfFFGNG HISTOBTs'
The Causes of the t,rst war with Mexico.
Who strought ~ About


1SrELLIGENcER), and on the 9TH OF August
1t appeared in the Tunes That paper, of
that date, in replying to what | had written
under the head ot talsifyiug History
says
"There WAS dispute between Texas and
Mexico, and a resulting dispute between the
United States aud Mexico, about the terri.
tory between the Nueces and the Rio Grande
rivers hut neither Texas nor the United
States had ever exercised authority over the
disputed country. 1t was proper subject
for d iplomatic adjustment, but not for sudden
war, five years after annexation, and without
any formal claim 10y Congress or 10y the gov.
ernment TO possession of the country.
Then the Times says that without either
the direction or knowledge Of Congress, the
only war-making power, President Polk, or
dered General Taylor to march from the
Nueces line to the Rio Grande
The territory thus seized by the surreputious
order of the president had never been under
jurisdiction of the United States &C, &c.
Let us see how this sccords with the facts
OF the case. l Will a briefly as possible call
your attention TO the message of President
Polk and the debates which took place in
Congress IN Isis on the Mexican war and the
causes which brought 1t about | quote
from the appendix TO the Congressional
Globe, S0th Congress, lst session. On the
7th of December, lSi7, the presidents mes
after referring to his former communications
relating to the war, he SAYS:
" 1t is sufficient on the present occasion to
say that the wantou violation of the rights OF
person and property of our citizens, COM
mltted 10y Mexico. her repeated acts of bad
faith through long series OF years, and her
disregard OF solemn treaties sttpulating for
indemnity to our ipJ Jured citizens, not only
constituted ample cause OF war ON our part,
but were of such an aggravated character as
would have justified us before the whole
world in resorting to this extreme remedy.
With an anxious desire TO avoid rupture
between the two countries, we iorbore for
years to assert our dear rights by force, and
continue TO seek redress for thewrongs " q had
suffered 10y amicable negotiation, in the hope
thatMexico might yield to pacific couusels and
the demands of justice. In this hope We
we're disappointed. Our minister OF peace
sent to Mexico was insuluingly rejected.
The Mexican government refused even to
hear the terms OF ad justulent which he was
authorized to propose, aud hnanlly under
wholly uniustibable PreteNts, involved the
two countries in war. by invading the terri
tory of the state of Texas, striking the first
blow, and shedding the blood of our citizens
on our own soil.
Now, as to the charge of the Times that
"neither Texas nor the United States had
ever exercised authority over the disputed
country l. q, what lies between the NueCes
and the Rio Graude. ON the 10th OF January,
lSsi, Mr.. Bolts, of Virginia, inquired of the
non. DtNlu -. hhuUul1tl. rcnrtstn tdllNe
from Texas, whether the boundary of Texas.
as described by the act of her Congress of
l>3b, included Santa Fe To which Mr..
Kaufman replied that 1t did, and that
"it included all the territory east of the
Rio Graude, from its mouth TO its source; and
that the Congress OF the United States which
passed the annexation resolutions, approved
March l, ISIS, understood that Texas in
cluded santa Ee; for 1t provided that states
formed out OF the territory of Texas north o!
* h4 tFA.a tate IA Ia.
Santa re is south OF 36ig degrees north lati.
tude. The republic Of Texas previous to an
nexation, had established post routes from
BeSar 10 Laredo, on the east branch OF the
Rio Grande, and from Corpus Christi to
Point Isabel, and every portion of territory
east of the Rio Graude, from its mouth to its
source, and north to the i2d degree of north
latitude, was included by different acts OF the
Congress of the republic OF Texas, previous
to annexation, within the limits of some or
ganized or established county OF said repub-
uc."
But he placed the matter beyond dispute
in speech which he made in Congress on
the 9TH of June, ISIS, on the boundary of
Texas. | make the following quotation
"During my late visit TO the North, Mr..
Chairman, ! was PANIED to find an error pre-.
vailing to great extent viz that Texas
previous to annexation only claimed to the
Nueces and that her claim to the Rio Graude
was atterward urged 10 increase her domain,
10 enlarge the territory subject TO slavery,
and To afford preteHt Tor commencing a war
with her old enemy, &c, &c,
"Ihis opinion Is honestly entertained by
many thousands Of respectable, useful, and
valuable citizens OF the North, Mr.. StrOhm
among the number who love the truth, and
seek every occasion TO embrace it. | am my
self native OF Pennsylvania, Mr.. X. was
born and raised near Carlisle, in Cum berland
county, and address myselft to my Northern
brethren i'll the language OF friendship and
truth.
81 will now, Mr.. Chairman, proceed efTec-
tually to remove this erroneous IMPRESSION
and show that Texas not only always claimed
this country in good faith, but that she exer-
cised political civil, and military jurisdiction
over it-proyided tor the construction of in
ternal improvements there-that she laid off
a cOllectOral district up to the Rio Grande,
partitioned off counties, gave military pro-
lection, established land Offices organized
district courts, and provided tor the erection
OF trading posts, &c, &c.
"TeXas, OF course, could only be known
and recognized as an independent nation,
with certain specified boundaries. Metes and
bounds are indispensably necessary TO the
existence of a political sovereignty. In view
OF the capitulation OF General Cos, at BeXar
OF the treaty of May II, 1885, above partially
set out; of the provision in the constitution
OF Texas Tor the representation OF the counties
OF BeXar and San PatriciO, and generally of
all the events which transpired during the
short but glorious revolution of Texas,0the
first Congress of Texas passed the following
act" He proceeds to cite the act at length,
and also other acts and authorities bearing
upon the truth of his assertions These
would take up too much OF your space and
will not quote them.
His colleague, Mr.. Pilsbury, also sustains
AIR. kaufman in all his assertions, as did
Generals Houston and Rusk, the then senator's
from Texas, also many other members of
Congress, and tho Hon. Lucien B. Chase
author of the "HistOry of the Polk Admins
tration," all OF whom had studied the matter
in dispute, aud were thoroughly familiar
with every phase of the question.
The Tunes speaks OF the "surreptitious or
der of President Polk, implying that he did
wrong IN ordering the American army under
General Taylor to the Rio Grande that the
march OF the troops was unnecessarily and
unconsttuuonally ordered, and was unjust
70 Mexico. What says the constitution
'lhe hlted States shall guarantee to every
state IN thls Union, CTeNas had then been adj
mltted, ana was represented in the Congress
OF the United States), a republican form of
government, and shall protect each of them
against invasion, and against do
mestic violence. And again, "He (the pres
ident) shall take care that the laws be faith.
fully executed" What other course could
President Polk have pursued
MIR. Cassius Nj. Clay, OF Kentucky, as YOU
know one OF the original Abolitionists said
at banquet given at Richmond, Kentucky,
IN the summer of lsiS:
Through Wing do not stand here As a
partisan. shall speak with tho freedom of
history. have no sympathy with the late
OutcFy against preziIeut pnlk ~ -.