MEXI CO
TH E W A R W I TH
M ili ta r y
A fla i rs to ra i se , fo r a li m i ted ti me , an a dd i t io na l
Mili ta r y F o rce , be i n g u nd e r co ns id era tio n :
.
di
rect o p posi ti o n to th e b ill , bu t
p
s i m ply w h e t h er i t s ho uld be ta k en up or n o t a t th a t
ti m e
A t a ll e v en ts , t h a t a pp eared to be th e lig h t
i n w h i ch i t w as rega rd ed by th e chairman of the
M r D O WN S sa id :
Milita r y Co m m i ttee
I h ad no i nten ti o n, Mr P res id e n t , w h en th i s
W e s oo n , ho w e v er , ca me to ano th er s tage of
So me d a ys a fter , w hen
b ill fi rs t ca m e u p i n t he Se na te, to sa y a n y th ing p ro ced ure i n t hi s m a t ter
a n a mend m en t w as
bill
as
l
a in call e d u
u o n t h e s u b e ct
h
O ll h t, s i r , t h a t o u r
w
I
t
h
e
r
o
p
j
p
ess i n t hi s w ar w i t h l
é ex ico w a s uch—we otlered by the enato r fro m entucky, [Mr C nI T
S ti ll I
e vi ng ad v a nce d t o th e i n teri o r o f th a t co u nt ry ,
TE N BEN ,] to ch a n e th e p ro vi s io ns , doc
t a k en o s sess io n o f i ts ca i ta l, a nd a cco m pli s h e d d id no t und er s ta ngth a t to be oppo s i tio n t o th e
’
i ng p ra cti ca ll y , t a t th e a rm y a nd th e bill ; fo r, i f I un d erstood th e S e nato r s rem a rk s on
e v er y th
P res id en t co u ld h a v e a cco m pli s h ed—t h a t a t t he th a t su bj ect, it w as no t d e n ied th a t t he P res id en t
m ee ti n of t hi s Co ngress , w h en i t ca m e toge th er , s hou ld be ,r o p erly s u sta i n ed i n the co nd uct of this
it w o n d i n its d e l i bera t io ns u p o n t hi s s u bj ect, w ar
A ndI a m m o re co nfi r med i n t h a t opi nio n ,
ra t h er i ndi ca te w h a t fu r th e r s tep s s ho u ld b e ta ke n
fro m a n i ncid en t th a t o ccurr ed a bo ut th a t per io d
i n t h e ma t ter , a n d w o uld o ccu p y the i r t i me i n I n s o me p reli m i na r y di scu ss io n a t t ha t t i me , I re
I h ad no ex p ectat io n coll ect v ery d i s ti nctly th a t th e ho nora bl e S ena tor
a ct io n rathe r th a n w or d s
w h atev er , w he n th i s bill w a s fi rs t i ntrod u ced , t h a t fr o m ! ent u cky seeme d to be ver y m uch su r p r i sed
i ts p ass age w o u ld be d el a ed , a nd th a t t h e me a s
a t a n i ncid enta l r e ma r k th a t fe ll fr o m th e S ena to r
u res r eco m men d ed by
0 P res id en t w o u ld be
fr o m M ississ i p i—viz t h a t th e p ro secu tio n o f th e
w a r h a d b ee n ela yed , o r p r o cra s ti na te d , by C on
O p o se d
pfi nd, ho w ever, th a t I h ave been v ery m uch gress I confess th a t I w as very m uch of the
W h en i t w as p roposed , fo r th e fi rs t O pi nio n o f the S ena tor fro m ! en tuck y , a nd I
m i s ta k en
t i m e , to t a k e u p th i s bill , I ha pp ened no t to be i n tho u h t t h a t th e obj ect io n o f th e S ena tor fr o m
g
t h e S e na te o n t h a t da y a nd l b eli eve it w a s th e M is S I s s ip i w as no t 0 w ell fo u nd ed as h e a ffi r med
i t t o be I s up po sed t h a t th ere had been no ser i ou s
o n ly d a y i n w h i ch I w a s a b s en t s i nce t h e co m
m en cemen t o f th e s ess io n ; bu t, u po n i nq u i r i u I o bj ectio n a t th e fo rmer ses s io n d es i gned agai ns t
foun d t h a t o ppo s i t io n w as m a d e t o such co us i s r th e part i cu l ar m ea su r es reco mmend e d for th e p r o s
I d id not u nd ers tan d fr o m th e
at io n , a nd th er e w a s a ve r y clo s e vo te as t o ecu t i o n o f t he w ar
w h eth er the bill s ho u ld be ta k en u p I u n d e rs tood a mend m en t o f t he S ena to r fro m ! e ntucky tha t
fr o m t h a t fa ct at t h a t t i m e , t h a t s o m e obs tr uc t io ns s uch oppo s i t io n w a s in tend ed , but t h a t t h ere w a s
w o u l d be t h r o w n i n th e w a y o f i ts pa ss ag e ; bu t , o n ly s o me d i ffe r ence o f opi nio n as to t h e d etai l s
of thi s p a r ti cu l a r m eas u re
Bu t , M r Pres id ent ,
s t ill , I did n o t a n ticipa te t h a t decid ed oppo s i ti o n t o
t h e bill , w hi ch ha s s i nce b een m a ni fes te d o n th e w e s oo n a r r iv e d a t o t h er s ta es o f th i s b us i ness
I t w as remar k ed th e o ther ay , by a n h onora bl e
o t h er s id e o f th e Ch a mb er
M r Pres id en t , as w e h a v e ha d s o m uch di scu s Sena to r o n the oth er s id e , ( I d o no t no w recollect
s i o n , a nd s p m u ch d i ffe ren ce o f op i n io n as to t h e
w hi ch ,) th a t th e ch a ir ma n o f th e Co mmi ttee o n
o r ig i n o f th i s w a r , a nd a s , pe rh a ps , w e s h all h ere M ili ta r y Affa i rs , a nd tho se con nected w i th h im i n
m
a k i ng co n s id er
a fter h av e a d i ffer ence o f O
i
h
e su ppo r t o f t h i s bill , w e r e
n io n a s to t h e qu es t io n
t
p
”—
t h a t h e ha d a t fi r s t d is cl ai med a ll
by w ho m th e o pp os ui on to t h e bill w as com a bl e p rogres s
m enced , I w i s h to pl a ce o n re co rd the hi s to r y , a s id ea o f th e conq u es t o f a ll M exi co , bu t th a t h e
I und ers ta n d i t , of t hi s d eba te I n so d oing , i t no w s eemed to be di s po se d to rega rd i t a s not s o
w ill be neces sa r y fo r me to a l lud e to th e co urs e o f un reas o nabl e , or s o m o ns tr o us—
th a t s uch a n i d ea
cer ta i n S ena t o rs u po n t hi s a ll im po rta nt su b eet ;
m i gh t be to l era ted —and tha t t h erefore h e w as
fo r i n rela t io n t o t h e h is to ry o f the a cti on 0 th e m a ki ng s o m e p rogres s
S ena te , in th e d eb a te o n th i s bi ll, I do n o t , for one ,
N o w , I m us t s a y , i n r eply , tha t tho se wh o are
d es i re to h ave th e ques tio n left in do u bt as to w ho t hus ch a rgi ng us w i t h i n co ns is tency ,a re ch ang ing
co m menced or p ro t ra cted t hi s wa r o f di scus s io n
th e po s i t i o n w hi ch th e had as su med a t th e com
W h en t h e attem t w as fi rst ma d e , s i r , to ca ll th i s mencemen t v er y ra pid y I t is th ey w h o h a v e
bill u p for cousi era tion , th e obj ectio n ,as I und er been ma k ing p r ogres s ; bu t I mus t be allo w ed t o
”
sto od from the
O fli cial Proceedings , to ta ki ng i t sa y i t is a progress backward s
F rom th e time
Th e Bi ll re po r ted fro m the Co mmi ttee
on
was
u
n o t o ne o f
'
.
.
.
.
.
.
‘
.
.
,
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
'
,
.
‘
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
.
.
'
-
.
.
.
.
4
w h en t he
bill w a s fi rs t p rop o se d to th e presen t m o
m en t , th e y h a v e m a n i fes ted a n i n crea s i ng oppos i
t io n to th e p ro s e cu t io n o f t hi s w a r
N o t o n ly d o
t h ey fi nd fa u l t w i th t he s ug es tio ns o f th e P r es i
g
d en t o f the U n i ted S t a tes , w i t h the s ug ca tio ns o f
th e W a r D e p a r tm e n t w i t h th e re po r ts 0 t he ch a i r
m a n o f t he Co m m i ttee o n M ili ta r A ffa i rs , a nd
w i th a ll t he au tho r i ti es u s ua lly a l o w ed o n s u ch
o ccas io ns b u t t h ey res i s t a nd co n tes t th e m a t e ver y
poi n t a nd h a v e d en o u n ced i n the s tro nges t term s
t h e p r o s ecu tio n o f th e w a r
Th a t w as th e s ta ge ,
i n th e co u rs e o f th e i r p ro ced u r e u po n t hi s a bj ect ,
m a rk ed o u t by th e S e na t or fr o m D el a w a re
Bu t
t h e y did n o t s top t h e re
Th e re w a s s t ill a no th er
Wh ere th e y w ill Ma p i n t h ei r o n w a rd
s tag e
ca ree r I ca n n o t s a y ; fo r , s oo n a fter , a n o th e r h on
o r a ble S en a to r ( th e S e n a to r fr o m Co n n ect i cu t o f
)
fe t ed a res ol u tio n w h i ch t ook s till h i g h e r g ro u nd :
i n t h e fi rs t pl a ce , t h a t M e x i co ha d n o p u bli c d o
m ai n ; a nd , seco ndl y , i f s h e ha d , s he h a d no po w er
t o ced e a n y o f s a id ter r i to r y to u s ; a n d , th ere fo re ,
o u r i dea o f a cq u i r i ng t e rr ito r
fo r i n d em n i ty w a s
a l toge th er futil e
S uch ha s been the p ro g res s o f
t h e oppo s i tio n t o t h i s bill ; a nd I m us t co nfes s , s i r ,
t h a t e ve r y a dd i t io na l s tep th a t ha s bee n ma d e h a s
b u t a s t o n i s h e d m e t h e m o re
Th ese la tter pos i
t io ns a ss u m ed by a n ho n o ra bl e Se na t o r h a v e es
cially as to ni s h ed m e m o r e th a n a ll t h e r es t
% but a re th ey ? Why , th a t Me xi co ha s no p u b
li c do m a i n , a nd t h a t w e can
t n o t hi ng fro m h er
Well , s i r , I w il l no t s la p to is cu ss th a t qu es tio n ,
fo r I ca re ve r y li t tl e w h e th e r s h e h as a n y p u bli c
do m a i n o r no t tho ugh I u nd ers ta n d th e fa ct ve ry
d i ffer en tly
I u nd ers ta n d t ha t Me x ico ha s a pu b
l ic d o m a i n
I t hi n k it v e r y i m ma teria l, a nd th a t
th e a cq u i s i ti o n o f te r r i tor y fo r th e p u blic l a nd
i t b ri ng s i n to t h e cou ntr y is o f no gr ea t ud va n
I n r ega rd to p u bli c l a nd s ge ner a ll y, a nd i n
t ag e
rt icu la rly to th e i m m ens e te rri to r
re s pect
e
w
y
h a ve h e d , I th i nk t h e y b r i ng i n b u t v er y li ttl e
i nco me to the G ov er nm en t
I v en t u re to sa y , t h a t
o n exa m i na t i o n i n res p ect to t h e v a l ue o f t he
u bl i c l a nd s i n t hi s co u n t ry , a fte r d e d u ct i ng th e
p
e x p e ns e s o f s u r v e y s , p u r ch ase s a n d t h e o t h e r n e
ce sa ry e x pe ns e s , i t w o u ld be fo u n d t h a t i t ha s
been by n o m ea n s a m o n e y m a ki ng b u s i nes s
There a re o th er a d v a nta ges i n th e ac qu i s i t io n of
Th e
te rr i to r y b es id es t he m e r e va l ue o f th e l a n d
i ncrease of po pu la t ion o f c o mmerce , a n d co ns e
e n tl o f r e ve n u e re s u l ti ng fr o m su ch a cqu i s i t io n ,
u
q
S u p po se w e ha d
e ta ken i nto a cco u n t
mu s t g
n e v er rece iv e d a d o ll a r o u t o f th e i m m ens e te rr i to r y
a cqu i red by t h e acqu i si tio n o f L o u is i a na , w o u ld
no t t h e a cq u is i t io n , co n s id e ri ng t h e m illio ns o f
re v enu e recei v ed a t N e w O rlea ns , h a v e been a su f
fi cie nt i n d u ce men t t o i ts a cqu i rem en t ? I b eli e ve
Mex ico h a s a p u b li c do ma i n to ced e ; bu t w h ether
s h e h a s or n ot , I do n o t ca re a s t ra w
W e w a nt
the ter r i tory fo r th e s pr ea d o f po p u la t io n , th e i n
creas e o f o ur co m mer ce , a n d the e xt ens i o n o f o u r
l i berti es , us t a s w e wa n ted L ou is i a na a nd th e
I
vall e y o f t e M is s i s ip pi , F lo r id as a nd Tex as
s h all no t follo w t h e S e na to r i n h is ar gu m e nt on
th i s poi nt , H e cite d fro m a w o r k o n i nt er n a ti o na l
I s h a ll
law , o f w h i ch I p r o fess t o k n o w bu t li t tl e
B
ut I
n ot , th en fol lo w h im i n t h a t qu o ta t io n
,
s ho u ld t h i n k t h a t s uch la w a s t h a t w hi ch h e ci te d
i s a t v a ri a nce w i t h the p ra cti ce o f a ll na tio ns , co n
t ra r y to common s en se , a nd no t to be t ol era ted i n
th is age of th e w o rld
H o w , I w o u l d a sk , did we
a cq ui re th e v ery gro un d on w h ich th is C a i to l
p
.
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
.
,
-
.
,
.
'
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
,
-
.
.
,
.
.
'
,
.
,
.
.
'
.
d s ? Tra di tio n recor d s , th a t the I ndi ans o nce
l ig h ted th e i r co u ncil fi re s o n t h i s v er y h ill ; w o ul d
t h e S ena to r t h e n h a v e i t th a t w e h a v e no t i tl e to
t h i s t h e s i te o f o u r C a pi tol , a n d t h a t t h e rem na nt
o f t h es e I n d ia n s co u ld a t a n
t
i
e
j
m
u
t
l
e
t
e
c
us
y
j
y’
fro m i ts po s s ess io n ? Bu t i f th e S e na to r s a rgue
m en t s ho u ld be co rrect t h a t M ex i co h a s n o po wer
to ced e t err i to r y , h o w w ill th a t h elp h i s ca u s e ? I t
w ill o n ly m a k e i t t h e m o r e ne ces sa r y fo r us to ta k e
i t , i f s h e ca n no t ced e it
S uch , t h en , s ir , is the hi sto r y o f th e oppo s i tio n ,
th u s fa r , t o t hi s bill
B efo re I p ro ceed fu r th er ,
ho w e v er , I w ill a d v er t to a n a rgu m en t m a d e by t h e
ho no ra bl e S ena t o r fro m Ver mo n t , [ M r P H E L P S J
w h o l a s t a dd re s s e d th e Se nate
I n th e co n cl u s io n
o f h i s r em a r k s
h e co m pl a i ned o f t h e e x er ci s e o f
w h a t h e wa s pl e a s e d to t e r m , a n a l m o s t d es po t i c
m ili ta ry po w e r , i n t h e h a nd s o f t he P res id en t o f t h e
U n i te d S ta tes i n M e x i co a n d d ecl a i med , a t s o m e
l eng th , ag a in t the d a ng ers o f a n a b u se of a m ili
Bu t do es n o t t hi s m ili ta r y po w e r
ta r y a u t ho r i ty
co n ti n u e to be e xe rci sed by t he P re s id e n t , i n t h e
v e r y ne ces s i t y o f t h e ca s e , a n d b e ca us e t h a t l ega l
p r ovi s io n h a s no t yet been m a d e by w hi ch h e
w o u ld h a v e been re li ev ed o f th a t r es o ns i bili ty
i fo r nia a nd
So far fr o m b ei ng d es i r o us t o hol d C ap
N e w M e x i co by m ili ta r y ten u re , ra th er t h a n by
t he o rga n i za t io n of c ivil gov er n m en t , th e P res id en t
h a s b ee n a n x io u s t o be r eli ev e d o f t h a t re s po ns i
b ility , w h i ch t h e ci r cu m s ta n ces o f th e case h a v e
d e volve d u po n h im a nd t he g e n tl e ma n fro m Ver
m o n t ca n a t a n y ti m e co n t r ib ute h is s h a re i n th e
re m ova l o f t ha t m u ch o f t h e m ili ta r y po w e r o f t h e
Pres id en t by e s ta b li s h i ng civil or ter ri to ria l go v
s ta n
-
,
,
,
.
.
.
.
,
,
_
.
,
,
cr a m e n t .
Th ere is a n o th er p rel i mi nar y r ema rk w h i ch I
d es i re to mak e , a nd i t is i n r eference to t he as t on
i s h i ng d i s tr u s t ma n i fes te d on th e o th e r s i de o f t he
Ch a m ber , w i t h r es pe ct to the reco m m e nd a t io n o f
th e P r es id en t , the Se cre ta r y o f W a r , a n d t he ch a ir
I be
m a n o f th e Co m m i tte e o n Mili ta r y A ffa i rs
li e v e i t h a s h i t her to b een ge nera lly cohs id ered ,
t h a t i n cas es w h er e t h e h o n o r a nd i n te res t o f t he
co u n tr y a re i n volv ed i n a co n tr ov e rs y w i t h a for
s i g n Po w er , p a r ty s p ir i t s ho u ld be as s ua ged
A nd
I th i n k t he h is tor y o f th e co un tr y s ho w s , th at in
t h e hig h es t pa r t
ti mes , w h e n s uch ca ses h a v e
y
a r i sen
p ar ty s pi r i t h as s u bsided I t w a s s o , I
recoll ect , s o m e y ea rs a o , w h en t he
es t io n o f
u
g
q
th e nor th eas ter n bo u nd a ry w a s i n ag i ta t i o n Th en,
i nd eed J be l ie v e i t
nea rl y by u n a ni mo u s co nse n t—
w a s una ni mo u s—m ea ns w er e placed a t the di s o
p
ea
rl o f t h e Pr es i de n t to mee t a n y co n ti ng en c
w h i ch
m igh t a rise S o i t wa s a l s o , I b eli ev e , a t h e co m
m ence me n t o f th i s w a r ; but th e S p ir i t o f pa rty o p
u
r
s
e
s
ea
i
io
r
a
d
a
lly
a
r
i
sen
a
n
v
y
t
h
u
d
e
o
n
r
m
s
a
e
,
g
p
s ugges ted fo r th e pr osecu ti o n o f th e wa r i s no w
mo s t scru p ulo us ly s cr ut i ni ze d
I no w p roceed to giv e s o m e o f the o u n d s o f
my vo te u pon th i s bi ll , i n a ddi ti o n to t i s reaso ns
iv
h
i
t
s pa ssa e h
t
ai r ma n of t h e C o m
e
r
h
e
c
n
f
o
g
g
mitte e o n M ili ta r y A a i rs , a nd s o eloqu ently s us
ta i ned b
a no t h er me m ber o f the co mmi ttee , [ the
S e na to r ro m M i ss i ssi ppi ,Co l D a vi s ,] w ho s e h erorc
and s k ill fu le x ploi ts i n t w o o f th e m ost b r i ll i an t bu t
tles —
a n d I regr et to sa y, a l so , a s h is o w n h o no r
o ody
a bl e wo u nd s bu t too clea rly a t tes t , th e m o s t b l
ba t tl es of th e w ar—M o n ter ey a nd B u ena Vi s ta
ct ,
a dd a we ig h t to w h a te ver h e sa y s on th i s s u bj e
w h i ch , i t s eems to me , o ug h t to be co nclus n e
,
'
.
.
,
.
.
e
.
.
.
.
I felt
are
it would be
s o then , but
.
I fi ud I wu
5
l
been an s w e red ;
th e y ne v er ca n or w i ll be a ns w e re d on t h i s floo r o r
S till opp o s i t io n to the bill a pp ea rs to
e l s e w h e re
h a ve co n s ta n tl i n cr ea s e d fro m t h a t d a y t o thi s
ks o f t hi s body a nd o f t he
M y t h a nk s a ndt h e t h a nk
ble S e na to r fr o m M ii s
o ra bl
co u n try ,a re d ue to th e ho n o
i ta ry co m
s is s i
t
e m il
D
w
h
o
i
i
s
h
ili
V
S
i
O
o
n
A
C
L
I
,
]
pp [
ffe red
m ittee , fo r w h a t he s a i d o u
n t he a m e nd m e n t o fl
d
e nt
t
e
n
m
Th
a
a
m
d
by the Sena to r fro m ! e n tauckk y
y
s ee med a l m o s t to ha v e r ed u ce d t h e fr i end s o f t hi s
bill to t h e n ecess i ty o f u ndd e rvv a ll u ii ng t he e ffi ci en cy
Th e re
o f vol u n t eers o r t o a dop t t h e a m e n d m e n t
c
t
t
e
bj
bo
h
n
t
e
i s a di ffe r en ce o f o pi n io n o n thi s s u
i
h
u
a r m y a nd e l se w h e re
T h e ho n or a bl e S e na to r w as
u m
ce reg u l a rs
i d e n ti fi e d w i t h bo th a r ms o f th e s er vi
d h a ve no p a r ti a li t y for
a nd vol u ntee rs , and co u ld
e i th e r
F e w m e n o ccu p t he s a me po s ii tio n i n th i s
pa r ti cu l a r ; he ha s sa id , ty
e re fo re , a ll t h a t is p r op e r
o r n e ce s s a r y o n t h e o cca s iio
o n , a n d , I h a v e n o do u b t ,
s a t i s fi e d bo t h p a r ti es , th a t fo r t he s e r vi ces co n te m
pl a ted reg u l a rs a re to b3e p rreefer r ed Wh il e ex
p res s i ng , th e n , m y t ha nks to th a t S ena to r , a nd m y
fu ll co ncu r r en ce i n a ll h e s a id o n th e r es p ecti v e
ivi ng p r efer e nce
m eri ts o f vol u n tee rs a nd regu la rs g ivi
n
p r li a te S ph er e bu t ddoi
om
to ne i th er i n t h e i r a p p r op
g
a m pl e cr ed i t t o bo t h , I t a k e o cca s i o n to s ta te a
fa ct , a n d a n o i n io n o f v o lu n te er s , Il o nce h ea r d
fr o m a ve r y i s t ingu i s h ed o ffi cer o f th e regu l a r
a r m y i n t h e w a r o f 1 8 1 2 n o w n o m o r e a nd w ho ,
i
e
a bo u t h i m
bo
r
lik e m y fri e nd fr o m Mi sss iis s ii ppi
p
w o u nd s rece iv e d o n th e b a ttl e fi e ld s o f h is co u n t r y
a n d w hi ch I b e li e v e, a t l a s t ca rr i e d h i m p r e m a
t u r ely to t he gr a v e—I m ea n t he l a te G e ne r a l Rii p
I tho ug h t t he fa ct s ta t ed a n d t he O pi n io n
ley
o w b e l ie v e t h e m
e n , a li t tl e ex t ra va en t
n
iv
I
g
g
bo th p er fect ly t r u e H e sa id , th a t i n a ll t he a nna l s
O f A m e r i ca n w a rfa r e , A m e r i ca n vol u n teers , in a n y
t hi ng lik e e q u a l n u m be r s n ev e r h a d be e n b ea ten ,
a n d n e v e r co u ld w hil e o u r p re s e n t i ns t i t u tio ns ex
T h e ba ttl e fi eld s o f N e w O rl ea n s B uena
is ted
Vi s ta C erro G o r d o B raz i to , S a cra m en to , a nd
o th ers a t tes t the t r u th o f w h a t h e a i d
I n th e d e b a tes o n th is bill , th ere h a s been I
t h i n k , s o me i nco r rect ne s s i n t he s ta te m en t s o f
tho s e w h o O ppo s e th e bill n o do u b t u n i n ten t io na l ,
a s to th e fo r ce n o w a u tho r i z e d a n d req u i r ed by th e
E xecu t iv e a nd t he co m mi ttee , ca l cu l a te d to le a d to
I t has b ee n v ar io us ly s ta t ed by d i ffe r en t
e rr o r
S p ea ke rs , fro m n i ne ty t o a h u n d red t ho u s a n d m en ,
a nd th e i n c rea se co n te m pl a ted by t h e bill n o w
u nd e r co ns i d er a t io n a nd th e bill fo r t w en ty r eg i
m e n ts o f vo lu nteer a s i ncreas i ng the a ct ua l fo r ce
I d o n o t s o u nd e r
i n s ervi ce th i r t tho u s a n d m en
s ta n d i t
A s u nd ers ta n d i t , fro m t he r e po r ts o f
’
t h e Ad u ta n t Ge ne ra l s offi ce , th e p rese n t fo rce s
j
a u tho ri z e d a r e :
m i sta k en
H is a rg um e n ts have
.
no t
,
.
.
,
,
'
.
,
.
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
-
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
'
.
.
To ta l
ho ri zed
I f w e a dd to th i s th e t en r egi m en ts co n tem p l a ted
t h i s bill , w e m a k e th e w hol e a m o u n t
yh e fo r ce in a ct ua l s erv i ce fro m t h e l as t r et urn s
,
,
au t
3
a re
Vo l u ntee rs fr o m Mi ch i ga n
a nd
A la
b a ma , o n
M a ki ng i n a ll,i n a ctua l s er vi ce
F ro m th ese s ta tem e n ts , it w ill a p pea r th a t th e
numb er t h a t ca n be k ep t i n seru m , of tho s e s a th o
,
.
i f
I k no w t h a t compl a ii n ts ha vv e
few w ord s to o ffer
ce to t h e p a t r o na e d iis
ns
bee n m a d e w i th re fereu
g
sed b
h
e E xecu t ive i n th e a ppoi nt m e n t 0
of
n
t
e
p
y
h is
t h e p ri nci pa l o ffi ce r s o f t h e a r m y e ngaged in th
But I t hi nk , s ir , t h a t a n a t ten ti v e e xa m i na
w ar
i lll fu r n i s h e v i d ence o f s o
o me
ti o n o f t he a rm y li s t w il
A
A
t
us t i fi ca t io n fo r the co nd u ct o f th e E x ecu t iv e
j
t h e h ea d o f the lis t , t h ere do es s eem t o be a
ra nce o f D em ocra ti c na m es ;
repon d era
co ns id era bl e
ll d is co ver thha t
b u t i f yo u loo fur ther do w n ,you w iill
th e o ffi cers a ppoi nte d by t h e E xecu tiv es o f t ho s e
h a vve
S ta tes i n w h ich Wh ig ii n flu en ce p r e v a iil s , h
F Oo r
be en s elected fro m th e ran k s o f th a t p a r ty
dii s ti nctii o ns o f
m y sel f, I w o u ld ne v er per m i t u ch d
fli
t
rt
o op era te i n t h e s el ect io n o f ofi
cers fo r t h e
a
p
y
a rm i e s of t he co u n tr y ; a nd n ev er , i n a ny reco m
m enda ti ons w hi ch I h a v e m a d e , h a v e s u ch d iis
ti nctio n s b een
er m it ted t o e xe r cm
h tes t
is e the 8s ]li gh
nce o f t he ho n o r a nd i nte
I n t e d efea
i nflu ence
er
es ts o f t he co u n tr y , Whi gs a nd D em ocra ts a lik e
h a v e p a r ti cipa ted , a n d s ho u ld fa i r ly s hare i n th e
I f th e Pr es
o ffi ces a nd emol u m e n ts o f th e a r m y
iden t had a cted i n thiis m a t ter i n th e excl us iv e
I s ho u ld
s pi r i t th a t has b een a ll ege d ag a i n s t h i m , I
s t em h
os
h aatii ca lllly Bu t
h a v e cond emned h i m m o
w h en I fi nd t h a t th e s pi r i t o f e x c u s i veness i n a p
in tments to o ffi ce co m m ence d on the o th er s id e ,
e fo re t he gene r a l s ta ff w a s o rga n i z ed , I b el i e v e
th a t t h e Pres id en t w as no t a t a ll t o bl a me i n a t
te m p ti n
to m a k e s o m e th i ng lik e a b al a nce , by
g
a p oi nti ng a l a rg e n u m b e r o f D e mo cra ts
I f th e ho n o ra bl e S ena to r w ill
r MA N G U M
a ll o w m e , I w o u ld r em a rk , i n re feren ce to m y
o w n S ta te , th a t s u ch a co urse as he d es cr i bes w as
.
.
.
l
i
.
h
.
.
.
m
p
.
.
.
.
.
dop ted by t he Execu t i ve o f th a t S tat e ; a n d
t h a t a v e r y m er i tor io u s a nd s ci e nti fic ge n tl e ma n o f
th e D emocra ti c pa r t y r e ce iv e d a n a ppo i ntm e n t ;
i nd eed , I belie ve th a t a ll t h e a po in t me n ts w e re
A s th e
m a d e i rr es p ect iv e o f p a r ty co n el e ra tio ns
S ena to r is a w ar e , we h a d a W h ig Execu ti v e i n
n ot a
.
S ta te
Mr D O W NS I a m v er y gl a d th a t the hon o r
ab l e S enato r i n ter ru pte d m e , beca u se i f in e rr o r , a t
a n y t im e , I s h a l l a l w a y s be h a ppy to be co r rec te d
’
I re coll ect a n i ns ta nce i n t h e gen tl em a n s o w n
S ta te , w hi ch sus ta i ns m e i n th e pos i tio n I h a v e
assumed w i t h res p ect to t h es e u p oi n tme n ts of th e
l h a the pl eas u r e o f
Execut ives o f the S ta te s
b ei ng i n tro d uced , l a s t s u m m er , to a gen tl ema n w h o
co m m a nd ed on e o f th e ne w r eg i men ts in th e r eg u
la r a r my : ( Colo nel Wil s o n ,) a nd a s cer tain ed t he
fact , th a t a l th ough a ma n o f w ea l th a nd s ta n di ng
i n th e co mm u ni ty , h a vi ng vol u n teered w h en th e
fi rs t call w as m a d e o n th e co u ntr y , a nd been
e l ecte d to s o me s ubo r di na te o tii ce , yet , co n tra r y to
h
o t r ece iv e fr o m t h e
n
e
n
l
io
did
e
n
e
e
x
c
t
a
t
ra
e
,
g
p
S ta te E xecut iv e the co m ma n d of o ne o f th e r eg i
m ents , and th a t , i n co nseq uen ce o f the negl ect , t he
Pres id ent a ppoi nted h im to th e co m man d of o n e
Bu t I r ega r d ed it as a v e ry
o f the ne w regi m e nts
s tr o ng ca se i n po in t , a n d I ha d i t i n vi e w w h en I
m a d e the rema rk w h i ch eli ci ted the i nter ru p t io n
o f t he h o no ra b le S e na to r
Mr MA N GU M The fa ct i s as s ta ted by th e
h o no ra bl e S ena to r Colo nel Wils o n w as a fter w a d s
a ppoi nted by t he E xecu t iv e h ere , a n d t w o s t ro ng
le t ters from the Whig Se na to rs of t hi s body w ere
h i m t o t he a poi nt me n t
w r i tte n reco mme n d in
Th a t w a s the s pi ri t w i ch , s o fa r as I no w , ch a r
a ct eriz ed th e ubli c a u tho r i ti es o f N o rth C a r oli n a
Mr D O W S I h a ve no k nowl edge of the
t ha t
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
'
.
.
'
.
.
.
.
I
d er s ta n d the Pres id en t as
I h a ve nev er u nd ers tood
t a ki ng a ny s u ch gr o un d
t h a t th e re h as b een a s i ngl e ca s e i n w h i ch a ca ll h as
bee n ma d e fo r vol unteers i n w h ich t ha t ca ll ha s no t
b een fully a nd co m pl e tel y a ns w e red I n ! en tuck y,
Ten nessee , a nd , i n fact i n a ll t he S ta tes , the l as t
ca ll s w ere n o t o nly r es po n d ed to a t o nce , but m o r e
m e n were o ffered tha n co u ld be receiv ed
M r B U T L E R I beg to i n terr u p t t he S ena to r
for a m o men t
H e h a s no t e xa ctly s ta ted m y
ro o s i tio n
I
n
co n t e ndi ng as I did co n tend ,t h a t
p
i f t i s a ddi tio na l tr oops ca l led fo r w er e ne ces sa r y ,
t h e y co u ld be s u ppli ed i n t h e m a nne r ro po sed by
m a men d m en t t o th e b ill, I as k ed t e q ues t io n
wy
y no t ra i se th em i n thi s w a y ? O ne a ns w er w as ,
th a t th e m en w o u ld p refe r e n te ri ng a n e w o rga ni
za ti on
But my p r op o s i ti on w as , th at if a dd i
N
ow ,
do
no t
un
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
.
,
,
.
tional troo s w ere needed
ed to
d
t
ey coul
ld
b
e add
d
d
h
,
p
th e o ld reg i m ents , i ns tc
d of ii ncurrii ng the ex pp ense
ead
of crea t i ng new o nes
Mr
.
D O W NS
o not s ee , i n th e rema rk
ks
d0
o f t h e S e na to r , a ny d
dii s ti
on b
bett ween th e t wo
t i ncttiio
d es crip tio ns o f fo rces O n th e conttra r y , th e ten
regi me nts a u th o ri z ed b
t
se
s
s
i
by
b
i
ill
ll
l
t
io
h
e
o
f
a
s
o
n
t
b
y
w ere fi lle d up w i th ex t ra o
o rd
d inary
y ra pi
pidi
y I do
d itty
not k no w t h a t t h ere i 3
t
pl
h
e re
p
t
s an
l
a i nt
i
n
o
m
c
y
cru iti ng fo r th e old re i m e n t
t
t
s
Al
t
e
v
e
m
os
r
y
g
new s pa p er t h a t w as r ece iv ed
d from N ew OO rl ean
ans
a nno unce d th e a r r ival o f fres h M
tr0 0app s , to fifi llllu p the
reduced co m p an i es
But w h il e u po n th i s u
b es cet , p ermi tt me to m ak
ke
ab
ano th er remar k , a s a n a d iti
itional
l reas on for the
assa ge o f th i s bill Th
s no d
tt tth
d
b
h
ere 1i8
at
h
t
o ub
rc
ecr u i t
p
i ng i n th e n e w re i m en ts w il
ll
o
pid
h
l
b
e
m
o
pi
d
t
h
re
ra
an
g
in th e old r eg i men ts
A nd th e reaso n i s , t h a t
w hen yo u a ppoi nt o ffi cers fro m ciivil
v il lil ife , tthh ey
yg
go
in to th e cou n tr y w h ere th ey
y ar e k no wn , and , con
seq uen tly , t h e m en th e m or
o re readily undd er tta k e to
s er v e u nd er t h e m
I do net k no w certa i nl h o w ma n o f ou r troo o p s
in M ex ico w ere lo s t i n a tttl
tl e a nd
y
d
s e , re
i
d
i
s
ea
y
sp ecti ve]
bu t I s u ppo
os
se a t l
l eas tt as ma n y w ere
lo s t by t e l as t as by th e fi rs tt Man at a ny r a te
fe ll by d is ease , a nd i n co
o ns equence oO the l a tte pp e
rio d i n w h i ch th e y a r r iiv
C ruz
v aedd a t Vera C
I f w e th en pas s t hi 3s bil l a t o nce , w e ca n sen d
the m O ff a t a n ea r ly p er iiod
a d , so as to esca e th e d
dii s
eas es o f th e cli ma te , w hi
h ich h a ve b
been ereto fo r e
e nco u nte red
Bu t if w e co
o nttii nue to d
d eb
ba tte th e bbill
i nd efi ni tely , i f w e go o n ta lki n w iith
t a ctii ng , w e
t ho
o ut
s h a ll n ot o nly do a s w a s d
doone as t s es s ii on
o n , bu t the
e vil w ill be mu ch
r
e
t
h
l
y
b
a
t
e
a
n
t
e
e
s
r
as
a
r
cau
e
;
g
th is is a v er y lo ng sess io n , a nd ma be ex tend e d
y
i ndefi ni tcl to th e m id s t O f s u mmer ; w h ereas , l as t
e
y a r , th e ela co u ld n o t extend b ey ond the fo u r th
o f Ma r c h
w a s for r ea s o ns o f t h i s k ind , a s
s ta ted by th e ho n o ra bl e ch a i r ma n of th e Co m m i t
tee o u M il ita ry A ffa i rs , t h a t I t h ou h t i t w ou ld be
g
fa r p refera bl e to p as s t hi s bill w ith ou t a ny u nne
cessa ry d el a y
A s the rem ar k s w hi ch I s ha ll ma ke are i n a
ca t d eg ree i n a n s w e r t o a r u men ts w h ich h a v e
g
en m a d e i n o
s
i
t
n
b
ll
I
o
i
o
t
t
t
o
e
i
u
h
m
s
s
a
,
p
y
t h a t I s ho u ld n o t a ve s pok en a t all, i f i t h a d no t
been fo r t ho se a rgu men ts
I n o w w is h to a dv er t to an o th er o f th e p os i tio ns
as s u m ed by t h e h o no ra bl e S ena to r fr o m S o u t h
Car ol i na , a nd l es t I s h ou ld be m ista k en , I w ill
qu o te the langua ge of th e gen tl eman :
.
I
.
.
.
.
.
'
d
.
.
.
g
.
.
.
II
.
.
gz
.
il
But ,s i r , tha t is as far as I w l go as an ultimatu m o f an y
rO posi ti o n of p eace t o t h at Governm en t
ns s t ,
I w oul
n t h e fi rs t ns ta nce i n all m e as ur es o f n e oti ati o n th at to
,
th e Ri o Gra n e w e a re o u n
e m n of
, u n er t h e m ost sol
e
es , to
ro te c t t h e r h ts o f Texas
But th en the q u es
l
ti on m ay be as k e
an d i t i s a p ro er q uest on—
h o w w ou
you esta l s h a ny oth e r ne fo r s ep a ra ti n th e terr tor es o f
th e U ni te S ta tes fro m th os e o f Me x co ?
i ll yo u fa l ack
u on th e
ne w h ch s e para te s O re o n fro m Mex co ? I
th nk no t, si r
But , by w ay o f m a k n i t as a cce ta e as
oss
e t o Me x co, a nd w th a s ncere e s re to term nate
th s w ar, I w oul no t h es ta te , i f i t w ere to be one to m or
ro w , to s en
u str ous e m assy to Mexi co an d to
th e m os t
,
opose to h er te rm s o f eace u o n t h s ulti matu m w th th e
r
,
ri h t, h ow ever to act
a d fro m h er to s a
,
y w hat ne sh e
s h o u l run by w a
y o f c o m p ensa t n us for th e c a ms w e
ha ve agalnst h er, a nd I s h o ul th n k i t n o e ra at on ”
d i i
.
i
p dg
p
p
p
i
i
p
d
bi
d
li
b
ig
d—
li
i
d
d
p
d
i
d
ill
.
i
.
i bl
g
i
g
i
i
i
p
i
g
i g
d i
b
i
i
i
d
i
ld
l b
p bl
i
-
i
li
d
i g
l i
d i
d g d i
N o w , I h a v e a v er y grea t obj ectio n to th e fi rs t
r
os i t io n co n s id er ed i n t h i s ex tra ct
o
I o bj ect
p
to ta ly a nd pe re m p tor ily to s en d ing a n mo re a m
y
bas sa dors to M ex i co
W e h a v e sent too m a n y
a l rea d
e Presi d ent was r i ht a t fi rs t h o w
T
h
y
,
g
.
.
.
.
S
p
p
of
ass d i selalin i n g th e d esii gn 0
n
h
r
e
so
l
u
i
o
o
d
u
l
d
a
t
re
u
e
q
f th e
co nq uest, eace w ould fol o w i n ess t h an s i xt days, iif
”
i
P res ide nt w o uld co nfo rm to his c o nsti tut ona d uty
.
l
l
l
y
y
.
II d o not see a n y
d ecii d ed
r eas o na bl e o bj ecti o ns t o th e co u rs e s u gges ted
’
I d o no t k no w w h a t t he Pres i den t s o i n i ons
I s p ea k o n l y for m ys ellf but I w o u ld e v ery
ave
ra t
s i d en t w o u l d a l so be
l
a d , a n d I thi n k t h e P r ee
g
b
hy
lfie d ,i f C ongre ss w o u l d a d o t s uch a co u rs e
h as n o t t h i s cou rs e been a ( o p te d ?
Th ere h a s b ee n a no th er a nno un cem en t of thi s
f
r
a
no
t
h
e
ph
i
o
a
c
o
n
m
r
i
ipl
v
y
t
e
th
a
e
m
d
r
n
c
e
an
e
r
,
,
p
Th is
is fra n k
a nd
.
.
—
—
p
t
a r er
u
q
I
.
W
.
re a d
m o rn ii ng, thi s dec i ded declara
fro m a ge ntl em a n i n a not h er de
Genera 1l G o vernm en t :
thi s
o nly
ti on o f Opi n i o n
t
t
e
n
f
e
r
m
o
t
h
a
p
Wa
s s u t rzo r o rt , J a n u a r y 7 , 1 848
'
M! mu
Sm
.
To all h uman ap pe aran ce ,t h e ter m ina ti on
an
of th i s m i se ra b e w ar w i t h M exi co i s m o re r e m ote th e
I n m y j udgme nt , i t w as
whe n th e fi rs t b o w w as s trtui c k
unn ece ss a ri
an d u n co nsti t uti onally co m menced by m ar ch
i ng o ur a rm
of
i n t o d i s pu te d t e rri to r
i n t h e po ss ess i on 0
Me xi co A nd I t h i n k tha t C o ngress , w h o u nq ues tii on abl
h a e th e po w er, s h ou d p ut a n en d to th e w ar on j us t a n d
h onora b e p ri nci p es
fter ag reei ng u p o n th e terms o n w h iich a t reaty sh o u d
o n th e E xe cu ti e by re soluti o n
he mad e , th e s h ou d ca u pe
to ofl er a p eace to Me xi co u p e
on th a t basi s , a nd , d u ri n g th e
I f th e P r esi
us p end ed
negoti a ti o n , h os ti i ti e s s h o u d be s u
d en t sh a re fus e t o d o th i s , i n th e m i i ta r app rOo pri a ti o n
bi s th e a rm s h o u d b e re q ui re d to ta k e s uch poos i ti ons as
sh all ca rr o ut th e i ew s of C o ngress
Th ese bi s t h e P res
id en t co u d n ot e to , a n d h e w o u d be bo un d by th ei r re
te
Thi s m a y be don e by th e H o us e
q uir em e nts
!
J O H N McL EA N ”
!
n
l
ly
y
:
l
'
.
lly
y
ly
.
v
l
A
l
y
'
.
l
y
y
l
v
v
ll
l
ll
ll
l
l
l
l
.
l
l
v
y
ll
.
l
‘
.
.
.
T h is is perfectly fran k a nd cl ea r , a n d a dmiitts o f
n o d o ubt
I f g e n tl em en a pi r o v e o f th i s do ctr i ne let th em
Th ere it is I w a nt a s i m
subscr ib e to it boldiy
e
r es p o nse —y es o r n o
D
o
o u a pp ro v e o f it ,
l
p
y
a n d th e p eo pl e h a v e , a
or d o yo u no t ? I h a v e
ri
t t o dema nd fro m gen tl em en on th e o th er s i de ,
wga t a re th e i r vi e w s ?
I h a v e n o i dea th a t th ere w ill b e a n y p ea ce u n til
th e Pres i den ti a l electi o n i s o v e r ; a nd i s it to be
s ed t ha t th e p eo l e a r e go i ng to v ot e in t h e
up
p
.
.
.
.
,
h
S pp
I do h op e th en th a t th ose gen t l eme n w h o difler
w i th u s s o m u ch , a nd fi nd s o m u ch fa u lt ,w ill p r o
s
e
a pl a n o f th e i r o w n , o r , a t a lle v en ts , th a t th ey
o
p
L e t th e m
w i ll sa y o n th i s u es ti o n , yea o r na y
n t he b o n d
ere it i s t n u neq u i v o ca l te r ms
w a n t to k no w w h e th e r th ey w ill p r o p o se to
w i th dr a w th e a rmy to giv e u p , no t on l y th e i h
dem n ity o f m illi o n s , w hi ch o u r citiz e ns cl a i m , bu t
sa y th a t all th e bl o o d a n d t rea s u r e w hi ch h a s b een
a pe nt i n th is w a r s h a ll b e th r o w n a wa ; o r w h e th er ,
e h on o r
h
in t h e s pi r it of th e s u gges ti o n m a de b
t
y
a ble S e na to r fro m S o u t h C ar o li n a , g o to M exi co ,
a nd fa ll o n o u r k ne es , a nd e n trea t th a t s he w ill
ma k e pea ce o n h e r o wn ter m s
Mr BU TL ER I beg the S ena tor w il l a ll o w
me t o sa y, th a t I nev er a ss um ed a n y s u ch p ro p o
s iti o n ; a nd I do n o t thi nk th a t m y l a ngu a ge , o n
th e o ccas i o n re ferre d t o , a t a ll us ti fi es s uch a n i n
a m q u ite a t a l o ss
fere nce as h as b een d ra w n
to know h o w th e gen tl ema n co u l d h a v e a rr i v ed a t
I certa i nl y sa i d t h a t I w ou l d
s uch a co nclu s i o n
a ll o w M e xi co th e p r i v il ege o f i n d i ca t i ng a li n e ,
w ith ou t a t a ll pl edg ing m ys el f t o a ccede to i t
I
did n o t w is h t o ex to rt te r ms fro m h er , u nde r d u
res s a t t he m o u t h of th e ca nn on
S o fa r as r ega rds
the i nde mn it
d ue u s , w h a te v er be th e a m o u n t ,
I s ta ted th a t yw ou l d i ns is t o n a n a dj u s t me nt o f it ,
allowmg M exi co , si m l y , fr eedom m th e cond uct
p
'
,
,
.
.
.
,
,
.
.
.
'
.
.
.
,
.
9
a
ffai r, h as been
unfor tu na te
.
O ne o f th ese mis for
tu ne s is , th a t th i s O rego n q ues ti on exi sted a t t he
ti me Mr S li dell w a s s en t as o u r m i n i s te r
Th ere
is e v e ry ro ba bility h e w ou l d h a v e been receiiv
ved ,
a nd th e
is p u te se t t l ed , if Mexi
x i co cou l d h a v e fo re
s ee n w h a t o ccu rred a few m o nth s aft er w a rd s ; if it
h a d n o t been for the i dea th a t we w er e like l y to be
i n v o l v ed i n war w i th Engl an d o n a ccou n t O f th e
O regon q n e tio n, s h e w o ul d h a v e li s te ned to rea
s o na bl e terms , a nd t he co n tr o v ers y w o u l d b
hav e
be en s ettl ed i n 1 8 45
I t h i nk , th e n , th a t th bs e
w h o im u te thi s w ar to the Pr es i d en t O f t he
’
U n ited ta tes , o r to G ener a l Ta y l o r s m a rch to
Rio G ra nde , sh oul d be v er y cau ti o us h o w tth ey
u se s u ch a w e a po n
I do no t k no w w ha tt a re th e i ntenti ons o r pp u r
ecs o f entl emen o n t h e o th er s i d e i n thi s ma t
tter ,
g
Et I ha ve a right to guess ; a nd th ough I cannot
d ivine th ei r ur poses , as tthe k ee p so cl os e o n the
s ubj ect , i f t e
do i u
t
hi
h
nte nd , y
t
h
e
p
i
i
os
o
n
w
c
h
y
they as su m ed y
ere t0
o figh t t h e ba ttl e O f an ne x a
ti o n o ver s in , I s h allll n o t s h ri n k fr om t he co n
tes t , t h e
I did th i nk th a t th a t qu esti o n h a d
been se ttl ed , a nd t h e p eo ple be lliie v ed th a t it h a d
been s et tl ed
It w a s a qu es ttii on a b o u t w h i ch w e
difl ered a nd w hi ch w e fou gh t ma nfu ll y
O ne
ar
re
d
a
a
e
n
d
f
t
p
v
il
o
I
r
ne
as
illi
g
o
w
w
n
to le t
;
,
,
p
y
t h e q ues ti on res t fo re v
ver But i f you t h ro w do w n
n u tlet , I w ill no t h e s ita te to t a k e it u
a
p
hil e o n the s u b ece tt o f t h e O p in ib ns O f d ii s ti n
u is h ed m en , I
i s to refer to a no th er 0 iim
n i on
ga ll ude s ir , to 1ar Ga lla ti n and h is pa mp Ilset o n
t h e M e xi ca n w a r
H e s a ys , too , th a t a n n exa t i on
w as a ct ua l w a r
I ca nn o t view th a t do cu men t in
t he sa me light I fd o th e s eech o r l e tt er O f t h e d is
ti ngu is he d s ta tes ma n o
! en t u ck
I ma y be
i n thi s , bu t so it is , I di er i n o p i n i o n
w ro n
eq ua lIy fr o m th e m bo th ; b ut w h il e I li s te n w i th
res p ec t a nd a tten ti o n t o o ne o f t he m , th e g rea t
! e nt u ck i an , I ca n no t read t he l ucu b ra ti o ns o f th e
o th e r w i t h o u t i nd i na ti o n
A nd th is feel i ng is no t
be ca us e I u nder va us th e a d mon iti o ns o f th e
ed ,
as th e yo u ng a re to o a pt to d o ; l a m m s el old
y
e no ug h to h a v e go t o v er th a t w ea k ness , i f I e v er
I l is tened not l ong s i nce i n thi s b o dy , n o t
h ad it
o nly w it h r es pe c t a nd a tten ti o n , bu t a l m os t w ith
fi li a l re v ere nce , to O pi n i o ns and ar gume n ts o f a d i s
ti n uish ed S e na t or , M r C A L H O U N J to no t o ne o f
g
w h i ch s ca r cel y co u l
I br i ng my m i nd to a s s en t
I s h a ll li s ten , w h e ne ver th ey s pea k , to o th e r ( M r
D h e re l oo k ed to wards Mes s rs BEN T O N an d
W a r r e n ) d i s ti ngu i s h ed S ena tors w i t h lik e feel
i ngs
I feel , i r , a nd I bel ie ve th a t the eop l e of
the U n ited S ta tes feel, th at s uch m en a s I p
a ve j u s t
a ll u de d to , ha ve a r i ht to s ea k , a n d o u ht to be
g
p
g
li s tened to w ith p r ofo u nd respect o n ues tions O f
na tiona l h ono r a nd O f fo re ign w ar
h ey we re
bo rn in th i s la nd , and ha v e gr o w n u p W i t h thi s
co un t r y ; th e y h a v e d o ne t h e s ta te s o m e s er v i ce ;
t h e i r hi s t o r y , fo r a l mos t ha l f a cent ur y , i s th ei r
co un tr y s h i s to r y
‘Th e pa e o f h e r story i s ti ll ed w i
”
t
h
e
i
r
t
h
a
s
m
n
!
e
g
America n geni us has been a pp reci a ted ,a nd A mer
i ca n el oq uence a dm i tted an d ill us tra ted by th e m
! es , sir, to such men , o n a ll s ub ects , I W i ll lis ten
w i t h res pect , h o w e v er I ma y ifi er w i t h th em
N o t s o , s ir , w i th h im w h o co m es fro m o th er l a nds
—firs t breath ed o ther tha n A mer ica n a ir—once
o wed a ll egi a nce to a n o th e r P o w e r—h as a no th er
na tive h o me , and a tta ch men ts , a nd feeli n s , a nd
g
s , nd O pin i ons ,and s y m a th i es more or
i
ce
re
u
d
,
p j
p
a
.
.
.
.
.
x
,
o
.
‘
,
.
.
.
'
.
,
.
.
.
a'
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
'
5
.
’
‘
.
10
I
Rel a ti ons , in th e name O f his G o vernment . ad
l o wii ng
dress ed to our minis tter in M exi co th e foll
la nguage :
mt wi ll consi der eq ui valent to a
me n
Th e Mexi can Go ve rnth
sage
passe
d eclarati on of w ar agai n st th e Mexi can Republi c th e p
p
y
O f an act for th e i nco r ora ti on of Texas W i th th e terri tor o f
l or
ru e
fltrea!
o th e f act bei! n
the U ni ted S tates ,the cert a inty 0
to
the
d o n a ti on Of w ar , ea i n to th e c i vi z e w or
deteri i n e w i th rega rd to th e j us ti ce of t h e cause of th e
Mexi can natio n i n a struggloe w hi ch i t h as been so thr from
”
o
r
k
i
n
o
p
g
wg
l!
gT
f
!
l v
l
v
.
cr
i
l
s
fl
1 2th of J une 1 8 44 ,j us t tw o month s a
a
lhh o u n o f th e treat y fo r th e
th e s ig na tu re b Mr Ca l
ex es , S an ta A nna , th en th e P r es i
annexa ti on O f
dent O f M exi co , an no unced to t h e G o v ernme n t of
res o v ed
thha tt MeXt iico
a
cO
w as
th e U n ited S ta tes ,
l
s
n a am
ns t
eu
] tth e ca m a iw
i
in t o un derta k e v i a r o
a s1
g
p g 3
e
ss a m
larg
exas , for w hi c h 8 e h
h ell dy iin r eadine
i eg
g
”
t
i
t
ar m , a n d fur th er eX pre s ed th e det
na
at
i
i on o f
erm m
y
M ex ico u p on th e p a i ntt , as fo ll o w s :
O
th e
n
.
fi
3
ii
.
Th at i n no man ner w ill sh e consent to dis member h e r
rr th e w a r to an y e xt rem e w h ich
terri tory ra th er wi ll th e ca n
"3
—
y to sus tai n yer r igh ts ; an d tha t as nati ons
do n ot di e , r m t R I G H T o r R
sQ
sR
sG
i r oa x
sC
co
O N
uB
n Ii N
a rnx
u r rs x
nn
ar
aE
cU
EN a
D o
N pD cC m
A Nn
O ua
H IIL D R BN
UR c
Bu
RA s
HI L
m u " MA IN TO O U R C B
n s s s ; r m r T R IS w a s wa s O P IN IO N or wa s Go v
ent
vse m
rnm iut
”
w
M
E
X
C
A
S
I
N
r
m
o
r
a
s
a
ta A nna fo ll o w ed up thi s decl a ra ti o n by i s
ss
su
th e sa me m on th (J mm
u ne, 184 4 ) a req
qu ii s iiti
ti on
r ty th o us and m en ,an d $4
to
ca rr y
”
x as
on th e w a r ag a i ns t T ex
Genera l s Cana l izo
a nd W e ll w er e pl a ced i n co m ma nd of th e fa
o rce
m
i eon , a nd h a vi ng advan ced
raised u p o n th is r e qu i s i t
t o M i er , on th e Texa n fro nti er, W e ll, a t th e h ea d
a rm
t
o f h is i nvadin
u
f
th
o
r
a g en era l 0
o rder
p
u nde r da t e o f u ne
1 8 44 , m enaci ng ev er y in
d iv idua l w ithi n o ne l eag ue of the l eft ban k o f t he
’
”
Ri o del N or te wi th the tra it or s do orn
M r Bo ca n egra , t h en the M exi can M i ni s ter O f
F or eign Rel a ti o n , s tyl ed the a ct o f Co ngress p ro
y i d i ng for a nnex a t i o n , i n h is ci rcu lar l et te r to th e
var i o us E uro p ean m i n i s ters t h e n res i de nt i n Max
i co , under da te O f Ma y 3 1 , 1 84 4 , a decl ara ti on O f
”
w a r b e t w een the t w o na ti o ns
O n th e 6 th of M arch , 1 84 5, the Me xi can mi ni s
ter pr o te ted aga i ns t th e act o f a nnexa ti on an d
d ema nded h is as s po r ts
O ur m i ni s ter i n M e xi co
w as r efus ed a l i n te rco u rse W i th t h a t Go v e rn m en t
a nd w as to l d o n t h e 2d o f Ap r il , by th e M ei t i ca n
M i n i s ter of F oreign A ffa i rs
Th at th e Go vernmen t of Me xi co canno t co nti nue di pl o
ma ti c re l ati ons w i th th e Uni ted S ta tes u pon th e p re s umpti on
t h at s uch rel a ti on s a re reco ncilabl e w i th th e la w w h i ch th e
P resi d ent of th e Uni ted S tates h as a proved i n rega rd to th e
ann e xati on o f th e de part ment of
e xas to the A me ri can
Uni on ; th at this de termina tion i s founded u pon th e neces
may be
ne cessar
'
'
'
'
'
-
.
'
'
.
.
'
-
'
.
.
.
,
.
,
‘
,
.
,
o
.
w h i ch M exi co i s unde r o f m ai ntai ni ng n o fri e ndsh i p
w i th a rep ub i c w h i ch h as i o ated h er b igati o ns, us ur ed
p
a po rti o n of terri tor w h i ch b e o ngs to Me xi co by a ri h t
g
w h ich she w i mai ntai n at wh ate er cost ”
si ty
l
y
ll
O
t h e 4 t h of
v l
l
O l
v
.
J une , 1 845,
P res i dent H err era
i ssu ed a p rocl a ma tio n ,a nn ou n cing th e in ten ti on o f
M ex ico to res i s t by arms the a nnexa ti on of Tex as ,
n
.
a nd afli r mi ng
Th at th e law o i th e U ni ted S tates i n reference to the
an n exati on o f Texas to th e Uni ted S tates d oes i n no wise
,
d estro y th e righ ts th at M exi co h as , and W i ll enforce ,upon
tha t depart ment ”
!
.
A fli xed to th i s p rocla m a ti on ,and publi sh ed w i th
i t , w ere two decrees o f th e M exican Congress
O ne set t i ng forth th a t ! the M exi ca n na ti o n ca ll s
u p on a ll her ch ildren to t h e defence of h er na ti o na l
”
i n dep end ence ;
a nd th e o t h er a nnou n ci n
th
t
a
the
g
Go v ernmen t w ould
ca ll to a r ms a ll the forces
i
i
L aredo,are sugges ted fbr you r consi deratiion ; bu t you ar
are
te ll to yo ur be tte r know l e dge to d
d etermi ne th e ppost or posts,
w hi ch yo u ar e to occupy,as w e ll as th e q ues ti on o f d
di vi di ng
os i ti o ns
you r fo rces w i th a v i e w to occ upy
pying t wo or m ore p
p
!
I n th e posi tio ns yo u m ay ta k e i n carry i ng o ut th
h ese i n
s tr ucti o ns a nd oth er m o v e m e nts th
h at may bi e madd e, th e uuse
o f th e D e l N o rte m ay be very
y convv eni ent, i f not necessary .
rc u
is e th e ri gh
S h ou l d you a ttemp t to exere
h t whi
h i chh th e U
U ni ted
S ta tes h a ve in common w i ith Mexico to th e free na v
viga ti o
n
o f th i s ri v er i t i s
robable th
h at Mexi co w ouldd i nterppos e re ,
si s tance
o u w l not attemp
pt to enforce thh iis righh t w i th outI
furth e r i nstructi ons
I t i s n ot d e s ig ned ,i n our p
present rela ti ons w i thh M exi cco,
th at yo u sh o ul d t re a t h er s
n e nemy
l d sh e as
but, sh
h ould
m
u u
)
su me tlih t c h aracte r by a d ec l
l a ratii on o f war,or an y op en act
of hos ti l i ty to w ards us yo u wi ll no t act mere ly o n th e d efe n
,
si ve , i f yo ur re l ati ve me ans e n ab
b l e yyou to do otherw ise ”
’
'
'
.
k
l
fi
.
.
.
Th es e o ider s
w ere rece iv ed
d on the 4 th of F eb
r ua ry, 1 8 46 , a nd w ere ex ecu t
ted acco
cco rdiing
g ttoo tthh ei r
-
s
pi ri t, as
d e s pa t ch
th e
Feb
b rua r y sh
h oo w s :
16 th F
to rep
present to some ci ti zens
O f
o
I h ave tak en occas i o n
of
Matarnnros, w h o w e re h e re w ith a arge n umbe r oif mules
for sa e , an d w h o a re rep rese nted to h a e consi d era ble iln~
fl uc nce a t h o me ,th at th e ni ted ta te Go ern ment, i n 00
c u pyi n g th e Ri o Gra n d e , h as no mo ti e o f h os ti i t
to w ar
n dé
Me xico , a nd th a t th e arm wi , i n no case,
be ond th e
ri e r, u n ess h os tili ti es s h ou l
be co mm enc
d h
by th e Mexi
ca ns th emsel es ; th at th e Mexi cans lii i ng on th is sii de w il
not be d i s t urbed i n a n w ay by th e troops ; th at the w i lbe
y
usages ; and tha t e ve ryth m
i ng
p rotec ted i n all th ei r righ ts and usa
w h ich th e arm m ay nee d w i
he p ur
rc
c hased from th e
at
fai r prices
I a lso stated , that unti l th e ma tttt er sh ou h
be
fi na
a dj usted be t w ee n t h s
e t w o Go ernm en ts th e h a rh
b or
,
o f Bru ce
an ti ago w o u d h
bo
e o pe n to th e l
fr ee use o r
f th e
Mexi c a ns as h eretofo re Th e sa m e i ew s w ere i mp ress ed
u pon th e M e xic an c usto m-h o use o fii
ffi ce r at Brazos a nti ago ,
by Ca pt ai n H a rd ee , w h o co
o mman d ed th e es cor t w hii ch cov
er ed th e reconn ai s sa nce o f P ad re I sla nd ”
l
v
U
y ll
l
h l
h v
S
G v
v
h
l
l y
y
q
v
v
p
y
y
ll
p
h
h
h
h
S
G v
v
l
.
h
h l
O
th e
Ma rc1h1 , t he
’
p
h
S
h h
B
d
l
d
y l
v y
.
lly
d
.
h
m
ar
c
e
d
from
y
C or p us Chri s ti ; a n d on the 24 i h , Genera l Ta lor ,
¥
w ith a p a rt o f his co m ma nd, a r r ive d a t I O i m
I sa be l ; a nd o n t he 28 th , he a r r i ved wi t h the m a i n
bo dy on th e b a nk o f th e Rio G rands o p os ite
p
Ma ta mo ros H ere I w il l rea d from the mi nutes
o f t h e i n te r v ie w be t w ee n Ge ne ra l s W o r th a nd L a
Vega o n t h e sa m e d a y , s h o w i ng h is refusa l t o
a ll o w hi m co mm un i ca ti o n w it h o ur co ns u l :
n
1 1 th
a rm
.
Ge n
!
W or t L —I
.
th e
Am eri can
co ns ul
in
arres t, or
p r ison ?
Gen L a Vega —N o
Gen W or th —I s h e no w i n th e exerci s e o f h is ro er
funct io ns 2
Gen L a Vega , aft e r a pp are nt cons u lti ng w i th th e L i cen
c i ad o C as a res fo r a mo men t , rep i e d t ha t h e w a s
Gen W or th —Th en , as a n me ri ca n o tli cer , i n th e name
o f my Go ve rn ment and my co m ma nd i ng ge nera
,I
o f my cou nt r
an i nte r i e w wi th th e consu re p
)
W or th —Bas Mexi co d eclared w ar agai nst th e U ni
t ed ta tes ?
Gen L a Vega
No
?
—
Gen W or m A re th e t w o co untri es still at eace
Gen L a Vega —! es
Gen W orth —Th e n I agai n d e mand an i nte r i ew w i th
th e co ns u of m y Go ve rnme nt ,i n Mata mo ros ,i n th e p resenc e ,
o f course , o f th es e e ntle men , o r a ny oth er tha t th e corn
m o d ing eneml in ata mo ros may b e eas ed to d es i gna te
Ge ne ra L a V a re i te ra ted t h at th e consu wa s i n th e
o pe r e xe rc i se 0
o
f
nc
hi
s
u
i
r
t
ns ; th at h e w as n o t i n a rre st
p
,
n o r w er e a n ot h e r
meri cans i n arres t at Mata mo ros ; th at
h e w o uld an m i t th e demand to Ge nera Mej i a, addi ng th at
h e th o ugh t th e re w ou d b e grea t d iffi cu t
T h i s dem and w a s rep eat ed made i n th e most e mph atic
m a nner ,and a re ly req uest ed ; Ge ne ra L a Ve ga st ati ng t he
c o n s u m ot i o n
i n t h e e xe rc ise of h is functi ons , a nd th a t
G en e ral W o rt h ’s d ema nd w o u d be s ubmi tted to Gen eral
.
.
.
.
p p
.
ly
l
A
.
.
a:
v
ly
.
l
y
l
.
.
.
S
—
.
.
p
.
.
.
.
.
v
.
l
pl
A
l
'
a
in
l
Me
d
l
ly
ly
.
ly h avi ng
l
.
l
l
rece i v ed
in
.
l
fro m Gene ra L a Vega
be e n
re a ti e to th e de ma nd fo r a n i nt e r i e w w i th th e
meri can
c onsu , t h e q u est i on w as agai n i ntrod u ced by Genera
W o rth , a nd th e de ma nd fo r th e as t ti me re i te rate d
Gen er a L a Vega th e n p ro m pt
re fu s ed to co m p
w i th
t h e d e m a n d , re plyi ng, w i th o ut w a i ti ng for th e i nte rp reta
! N O
o
n
!
,
, 11 0
Gen W W
I h a e no w to sta te th at a refusal o f my
d emand to soo th e A ineri cgn consul is regarded as a hei liger
i
s
re p
l v
l
l
l
.
—
v
v
ly
A
.
l
qmp ml’a " P ly
wa s No a m , S econd Gener a l i n C hi ef
9
ly
‘
D i Vi s i O
v
it o r
'
y
.
v
F ro m a ri ous s o urces w ort h o f c on fi dence , I h a e
lea rne d th at some es se s , bou nd ib r th e mou th o f th e ri ver,
have not been able to s heet an entran ce in to th at ort ,i n
!
v
l
p
l2
h ou ld be cond ucted
Th e cargo 0 o ne o f th em is com
t o B ra z os S an ti a go
pose d i a grea t par t and o f t h e O t h e r e nt ire ly of pro vi s i o ns
w h i ch th e c n tra cto r c h arge d w i th pro v id i ng fo r t h e ar my
u nd e r my ord ers h a d p roc ure d to tulfi l t h e o bl igati on s of
’
t h ei r c o ntrac ts
! o u h a v e t ak e n po ssessi on o f t h ese p ro vi s
i on s by fo rce a n d a gai ns t th e w i l l 0 ! th e p ro pri e to rs o ne o f
w h om i s vi ce cons ul of h er C ath o l ic M aj es ty a nd th e oth er
o f h e r B ri ta nn ic M aj esty ; a nd wh o se r igh ts i n p l ace o f
bei ng r l igio us ly re pected , as w as rofi ered an d as w as
to be llo ll d fro m t h e o bs er vance o th e pri nc i pl es w h i ch
go vern amo ng ci vi l iz ed nati o ns h ave o n th e co ntra ry be e n
vi o l ate d i n th e m o t e xtraordi na ry man ne r O p pos ed to th e
”
ar
gu antee a nd res p ect d ue to p ri va te p ro pe rt y
O n th e l6 th o f Ap r i l, G enera l A mp ud ia re c og
n iz ed a s ta te o f w a r i n his l et ter co nce r n i ng colo nel
C ro ss i n th ese ter ms :
I n reply t o your note w h i ch I recei ved yes te rd ay , I h ave
th e h o nor to st a te t h a t i f C o l one l C ros s Q uar term as t er
Genera l o f th e fo rces u n d er yo ur comm an d h ad been found
a t an
o f th e mi l i tary po st s u n de r my o rd ers h i s lot w o u ld
h ave s o t h at of a pri son er o f w ar treated w i th th e con
si d era ti o n d ue h is ra n k a nd accordi ng to th e r u l es p re scrib
e d by t he la w o f n ati o ns and of w a r, w ell co ns i d e re d i n h is
si i tua ti o n as a p ri so n e r ”
O n th e 24 t h o f Ap r il, G eneral A r i s ta a r ri v ed
,
ass u m ed th e co m ma nd , a nd n o tifi ed Genera l Ta
y
lo r of t h e e xis tence o f w a r ; a nd o n th e s a me d a y ,
iving t he w o r d a nd the b lo w a t the sa me ti me,
a ta i n Tho r n to n a n d h is co m m a n d w ere a t
ta c ed a nd d e fea ted , a s the fo llo w i ng d es a tc h
p
w ill s ho w :
cons eq uence o f
your o rd ers th at th e
s
.
,
,
o
,
s
,
.
,
,
,
‘
,
‘
s
e
,
e
n
,
,
,
s
,
.
d
c ommuni cati on
d by
h
w oul h e answ e re
m e w en op posi te
Mat amoros,w ic w as o ne i n re s ect fu terms O n reac
i n g th e ri er, I espatc e a n offi ce r , i g i n ran ,to con ey
to th e c omma n i ng gen e ral i n M ata mo r os th e e x res si o n o f
my esi re for a mi ca b e re a t ions ,a n d m w i li ngn ess to eave
o rt o f
o en to th e use o f t h e c i ti z e ns o f
a ta moros th e
an ti ago , un ti th e q uesti o n o f bo u n ar s ould be
raz os
se ttle
T i s o tii cer rece i e for re l , from
e fi ni ti e
th e o fii ce r s e ect e to c o nfe r w i t
hi m, t at my a ance to
th e Ri o ra o w as co ns i e re a s a erita b e act o f w ar ; and
h e w as a so u tely refus e an i nt e r i ew w i t th e meri can
co nsu , i n i ts e lf an act i nco m a t i b e w it h a sta te of
eace
N o tw i t stan i ng t es e re e at e a ss u rances o n the pa rt of
th e Me xi ca n a ut o ri ti e s , a nd n o tw i th s ta nd i n the mos t obvi
os ti e
o us ly
re a ra ti on s on th e ri g t bit it o f th e ri ver
abstai n ed
accom a nie by a ri gi non i ntercourse , I carefu
d ete rmi ne t at th e onus of p ro
fro m a ny act o f osti i t —
d uc i ng an actua s t ate o f osti i ti e s s o ul not rest wi t m e
O ur r ela ti o ns rem a i n e i n t i s s tate u nt i I h ad th e ono r to
recei e o ur note o f th e 1 2th i nsta nt, i n w h i c you
e no unce
As
w ar as th e a te rnati e o f m y re m a i ni ng i n th i s pos i tio n
I cou not,un er my i n structi o ns , rece e from my os i ti o n,
I acce te th e a ternati e yo u offer e , a nd ma e all my
Bu t ,s ti wi i ng to a opt
di s os iti ons to meet i t s u i ta b
mil er measures before rocee i ng to orb e re , i co ntented
m se f, i n th e fi rst i ns t anc e,w i t o r e ri ng a b oc ad e of th e
mo ut of th e Ri o r a o by t h e n a a fo rces u n e r my ord ers
con s o n a nt w i t
th e st ate o f w a r so
a rocee i ng erfect
o ft en ec are to exi st , a n d w h i c
yo u ac no w le g e i n ou r
no te of the 1 6th i nsta nt , re a ti e to th e ate C o o nel C ross
I f t i s meas ure s eem o pp ress i e , I w i s i t ho m e i n m ind
ave
t at i t h as een force u on m e by th e cou rse you
s e en fi t to a o t
I a e re o rt e t i s blo ck a e to my Gov
cr a me nt,and s al n o t r e mo e i t u nti I recei e i nstructi ons
to th at efl e ct, un less ,i n e e ,yo u esi re an armi sti ce ,pen
i ng th e fi nal se ttle men t of t h e q uesti o n et w een th e o ern
e c are
b e i t er ; i n
me nts, or unti w ar s a b e forma
o e n th e ri e r
w i c cas e , I w i l c ee rfu
n rega r to
th e conseq uences yo u m en ti o n as res u t i ng from a re fusal to
r em ov
th e b oc a e , I b eg yo u to un ers tan t at I a m
for t e m, be t e w a t t e m ay
re a re
I n c o nc usi on, I ta e e a ve t o state , t a t I consi der th e
ig
e xc e ti o na b e , w ere
to ne o f o ur co mm un i ca t i on
you s t igmati z e t h e m o e me nt o f th e arm un er my or ers
‘
’
se
a
r
i
h
e
a
o
f
e
w t t
as m
un i e rsa
ou
re pr bati o n
!
o
mus t be aw are t at s uc a ngua ge i s n o t res pectfu li n i ts e f,
e lth e r to me o r my
o e rn m e n t ; a nd w i e I obs er e i n my
o w n co rres po n ence the co u rt e s d u e t o o u r i g
osi ti on
,
a nd to th e magni tu e o f t h e i n te re s ts w i t
w ic w e are
r especti el c arge , I s a
e xpe c t th e s hi n e i n re turn ”
h h
d
d
v
p
B
d
d
S
v ly
l
B v
b l
l
h
d
d
h d
l l
l
d
d
.
h
l
h h
.
k
l
v
p
p
h
l
d y h
v d
py
h
dv
l
h
A
p
h
h
d d
v
d
v
p l
p d
.
l p p
h
d
d
lly
h l y
d h
l
h l
h d
h
d h
l
h
v y
h
d
l
v
ld
d
d
p
p d
l
v
d
d
p
ly
ll ll
d
d
p
d
y l
h d
l k
h
B v
v l
d
—p
d p
ly
h
d l d
h
k
d
y
l v
l
l
h
v
h
h
b
d p
h
d p
h v p d h
d
h l
v
l
v
d d
d
d
b
G v
H aa
u s a n n s A nn ! o r O c cun ri o n
l
h ll
lly d l d
h
Ca mp ne ar M i a m
Team ap r i l 26 1 846
h h
l h
lly p
v
d
S i n I h a ve re pectfully to re po rt t h a t Gen era l A ri s ta
l
a rri ve d i n M ata mo ro s o n th e 2i t h i ns ta n t and ass um ed th e
,
l
k
d
d
d
h
ch i e f co m ma nd o f th e M exi ca n troo ps
O n th e s a m e d ay
h
h y h h y
h e a dd re ss ed me a co mmuni ca ti on co ncei ved i n co urt eo us p p
l
k l
h
t erm s b u t sa yi ng t h a t h e co nsi d ere d h osti li ti es co mm e nced
y
h
hly
p
l
h
a n d s h o uld p ros ec ute th e m
A translati on o f h is n ote a nd a
v
y d
d
co py o f my re ply w i l l b e tran sm i tte d th e m o m e n t t h ey ca n
k d
h
l
v l
b e pre pa re d
I d esp atc h t h i s by a n express w h i ch i s now
h
hl
l
w ai ti ng
G
v
h
l
v
re
r
e
t
t
o
r
e
a
o
r
t
t
h
t
a
o
f
ns
I
p
party d ragoo sent o ut b are
g
d
y
y
h
h
p
on th e 24th i ns t ant to w atc h th e co urse o f th e ri ver
o ve
d
h h h
o n t h is ban k be ca me e ng
ed w i th a very la rge fo rce o f th e
v y h
d h ll
e ne my a n d a fte r a s h o rt a ai r,i n w h i ch so m e s i xte en w ere
k i ll ed a nd w o u nded a ppe a r to ha ve been surrou nd ed a nd
N o vo luntee rs w ere ca ll ed fo r except t w o co m
com pe ll e d to surren e r
N ot one of th e p arty has re tu rned ,
n
e
t
a
i
e
s
m
e
a
u
n
t
h
h
o
o
T
til
Ap
f
r
s
2
f
ri l tho ug h
6
p
x
e xce pt a w ou nd e d ma n se n t i n th is morni n
by
M
t
h
e
e
i
x
g
full a u tho r ity h a d a l rea dy been giv en for th e sa m e
ca n com man d er s o t h a t I cannot re po rt w i th co n fi d ence th e
p art i cu l a rs o f t h e engage me nt or th e fate o f t h e offi cers , S e e d es pa tch o f th a t da y :
e xce p t t h a t C a p t a i n H a rd e n w a s kno w n to he a p ri o ne r
H os ti l i ties m ay no w be cons i d e re d as com menced a nd
a nd un h u rt
C a pta i n T h o rnton and L i e utena ni s M aso n an
I h a ve th is d ay d eeme d i t n eces sa ry to ca ll upo n th e Go v
! an e ti er s th e o th er offi cers
Th e party was s ixty th ree e rno r o f Texas tor four re ime nts o f vo l unteers t w o to be
g
,
g
s trong
m o u nte d a n d t w o to serve as foot A so me d e l ay must
’
o ccu r i n co ll ecti n
N ext co mes G eneral Ta y lo r s letter t o A m p a
th es e troo ps , I h a ve al s o d esi red the
Go vernor of L o ni ana to se nd o u t fo ur regi ments o f i nfant
d i a , o f th e 22d of Ap r i l, exp la i n i ng h is co urs e u
p ry as soon as p racti ca bl e T h is w i ll o n t i tu te an auxi l i ar
y
to thi s t i me
forc e of nearly fi ve th o usa n d m en w hi c h w i ll he req ui red to
0n break i ng up my ca m p at Co rp us C h ri sti a nd movi n
ros ecute th e w ar w i th e n e rgy a nd ca rry i t as i t sh o uld be
p
forw ard w i t h th e a r my un d er my ord ers to occupy th e Is t
i nt o th e en em y ’s c ou nt ry
I
t ru s t th e d e partme nt w ill
han k o i t he Rio B ravo i t w as my ea rnest d esi re to e xecute a ppro ve my course i n thi s mat ter a nd w i ll i ve th e neces
g
my i ns tr ucti o ns i n a paci fi c manne r ; to o bs e rve th e u tm os t s a r
o rd ers to th e stafl d e pa rtm e n ts for t h e supp ly of th is
y
re
d fo r th e perso n al ri h ts o f all ci tiz ens resi d i ng on th e la rge add i ti onal force ”
le ba n k o f t h e ri ver an t o t a k e car e th at t h e re l i g i o n a n d
Fr o m thes e fa cts , I th i nk it res u l ts clea r] th a t
c ustom s o f t h e p eo pl e s h o u ld s ufi e r no vi ol a tion
W i th t h i s
Vi ew a nd t o q ui e t th e m i nd s o f t h e i nh a bi tants I iss ue d t he wa r did n ot co mm ence by th e a ct o f th e
r es i
ord e s to th e arm y e n e i ni ng a s tri ct o bse rvance of th e ri h ts
r
g
e n t ; th a t i t w as c o m me nce d by M e xico as s he
d
,
a nd i n tere ts o f a ll
exi ca i i s resi d i
o n th e ri ve r a nd
h
d
a
d
e
e
r
m
n
e
d
f
ro
m
t
h
t
i
e
fi
t
t
t
o
hi
rs
a
n
t
d
a
n
n
h
s
e
sa
i
ca u
r
o
e
d d d rs to be translated i nt% pan ish a nd ci re n
lated i n th e s e ve ra l to w ns o n t h e B ra vo
Th ese o rd rs an w ou ld ha v e p r ev ented it , oone r o r la ter Bu t i f
n ou nced t h e s pi ri t i n w h i ch w e pro pos ed to occu py t h e
th ere was any ca use w h ich b rough t o n the c r i s i s
n d I a m pro u d to s a
co u ntry
y th at u p to th is mom ent th e a t thi s
,a
t
r
i
cular ti m e , it w as , fi rs t t h e block ad e
d
p
same s pi ri t h as co n t ro ll e d th e o e ra ti ns o f t h e a rm y
O n
p
o f the m o u t h o f h e R io G ra nd e , w h i ch , i n t h e
rea ch i ng th e A rro yo C o l o ra d o I w as i nfo rm ed b a M e xi ca n
t
y
o ffi cer t h at t h e o rd er i n
la ngu age o f Genera l Ta y l o r m us t n ecessa rily co m
q u es ti on h ad b een rece i ve d a t M ata
mo ros ; b ut w as t o ld a t th e sam e ti me th at i f I atte m pt e d t o
el th e Mexica ns eith er to r e tr ea t o r to c ros s th e
,
p
cros s t h e
i ve r i t w o u ld be rega rd ed as a d ecla rati o n o f
r
er a nd fi h t h i m ; an d s eco n dly th e fa il ure o r
iv
r
w a r Aga i n on my ma rch to F rontone I w as m et by a
a t g e neragto ca ll fo r v ol u nt eers , a s h e w as nu
th
d e putati o n of th e c v i l a u th o ri t i es of Ma ta moros p ro tes t i n
g
a ga i ns t my o cc u pati o n o f a o rti o n o f t h e te r ri to ry o f T a ina n
t ho r iz ed to do , a fter h e a r r i v ed o n t h e Rio G ra nd e ,
li pas a nd d e c l ari ng th a t i t h e army wa not at o nce w i th
a nd was i nfo r med o f t he h os t il e i n te n tio ns o f th e
d ra w n w a r would res ult W h i l e thi s co mmun icati on w as M exica ns H e a r riv ed th ere n ea rly a mon th b
e
s
a
m
n
h
i
o
in y
d t w as d isc vered th at th e vi ll age of F ro ntone
h ad been s et o n fi re an d a bando ned
I vi ew ed t h i s as a fo re t he a t ta ck o n C a pta i n Th o r nto n a nd if h e ha d
direct act of war, and i nformed th e d eputation th at th eir th en called on Tex as and L o u i s ia na for volun
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
'
,
'
,
!
,
ir
,.
,
,
.
h
p
h
p
-
.
.
.
'
.
.
.
'
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
.
.
.
.
'
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
s
,
.
-
.
-
.
s
.
.
c
.
s
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
‘
.
,
‘
.
,
,
,
s
,
,
,
e
.
.
,
o
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
i
,
,
s
,
.
.
,
.
,
~
13
teers , t he
w ith
h wh
h ich th ey flew to h is
h a vve
a fter wa r d s s h o w s th a t t h e y m igh t h
ra
pid i ty
i t c
of
a r r i v e d a t th e s c ene o f a ct i on b efo re t h e 24 th 0
It ca n ha rdly be an posed if t w o or th ree
A p ril
tho usa nd addi ti o na l t r oo pps ad b een w i th Ge ner a l
T a yl o r th a t th e M ex icca ns w o ul d h a ve cross ed th e
r i ver
Th es e e v en ts occccu rr edd w itho u t th e k no w l
ed e of th e P r es id en t o f t he U
U n i ted
d S ta tes , a nd
be o re th e fa cts co uld be com m u n iic
ca ted to h im a nd
an y o rd er giv en
N 0 o rders o r a uth oo r itty wa s
e v er gi v en to block a d e th e m o u t h o f th e r iiv
v er ; o n
th at co nt ra ry , G enera l T a yl o r w a s i ns t r u cted no t
to i ns i s t o n th e j o i n t n a viga ti o n o f t h a t r iv er i f it
s ho uld be o bj ec te d to by th e Me X
x iic
Genera l
ca ns
Ta yl o r w as re ea tedl y re mii nd
d edd o f the a m pl e aeu
im to c a
g
ll fo r v olu n teers , a nd h e ,
th ori ty gi v en p
a n d no t the P res id en t , w as th e bes t j ud ge o f w h a t
w a s nec es sa r y
H e h a d a genero us co nfid e nce i n
h is a rmy th a t it w as a ble to w i th s ta nd the fo rce
w hi ch t h e M exica ns co uld b r ing aga i ns t it ,a n d s u b
se qu e n t ev en ts ha l
ve p ro v ed th a t he was co rre ct
But
t he Me x ica ns d id no t k no w it a t th a t ti me
Th ey
h ad n o id ea of o u r ) ro w es s ; but I do n o t th i nk th e y
w o u ld h a v e cr os s edt h e r iv er a a i ns t a la rge fo r ce
I d o n o t b la me Genera l Ta ygo r fo r t he co u rse h e
adopted
I t m a y h a v e recipita ted t he w ar a littl e
s oo ne r t h an it w o u ld a t erw me h a ve occ urred ; bu t
s till , as it m u s t h a ve oc curr ed a t l as t , an d as w e
ma d e a lori o us b e nu i ng o n the fi eld s o f Pa lo
A l to an d fi
lesa ca d e g Pa l ma , I see no ca u se to re
e t it
All I w is h to es is , t h a t for th es e e v ents th e
gres id ent o f the Uni te Sta tes is no t res pons ibl e
B efore I cl os e , th ere is a noth er fa ct w h ic h I w i s h
as s s a n e
.
.
'
'
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
'
.
.
A P P EN D I X
.
’
I n co ns equ e nce o f th e r eco mmend a tio n of ou r
rties a re p re p a r i ng to try ea ch o th er s s t re ngt h
a
fr iends g ener a l ly i n the S ena t e l a s t w eek , th a t a fte r
he d ecl a ra ti o ns ma d e o n t hi s ta pi c a s yet a llon
th a t t ime ,d uri ng t h e d eb a te on th e ten reg imen t bill , th e W hig s id e—ma y be ta k e n as a n i n d e x o f t he
no me m b er s h o u ld o ccu py t h e fl o o r m o re th a n o ne n a tio na l w i s h s
Mr C l a y h a s u n rese r v edly de
‘
da y , I ha d no t ti m e , w ith o u t co nti nu i ng the sess i o n cla red a a ins t th e M exi ca n w a r , a nd a a i ns t a ll
g
to a n u n us u a lly l a te h o u r , to d i s c u ss a few o th e r te rr ito r ia a cqu i s itio n by i ts m ea ns
Th i s pro fes
oi n ts w h i ch I ha d i n tended to e mbra ce i n my s peech s io n has b ee n fa vo ra bl recei v ed by t he s ec ti o n of
0 a v i ng , h o w ev e r , revi o u s ly co ll ect ed s o me fa cts p u blic O pi n i o n in t h e
n i ted Sta tes w h i ch co r re
s o nds to Exete r H a l l in t hi s c o u nt r y ; bu t th e r eal
a nd d oc u me nts o n t ese po i n ts w hich I thi nk ma
y
b ig p a r t dem urs to it
be use fu l , I s u b m i t th e m h ere , a s a n a pp endix
Th e w a r y p ra ctical
I n rep l to the ch a rge of th e Sena to r fr o m D el l ea ders o f
e p a rty , i ndeed , to a vo id th e da n er
o f s chi s m i n t h ei r ra n k s , pr ofess to a d o pt
r
a w a re , lI r Gu n m an] th a t i t w o uld be di s ho n
’
C l a y s ma ni fes to , o nl y w ith a m o difica ti o n Th e y
es t , a n
a m o u n t t o r o bb er y , to t a k e by co n ques t
y
t err i to ry fro m M ex ico , I s ub mit th e fo llo w i ng a s k no terr i to r i a l a cqu i s iti o n b ey o nd a na rro w s lip
doc umen ts , to s ho w th a t neith er the la w o f na tio ns of l a nd a lo n the Pa cific , to c o n nec t t he h a r bor of
"
S a n Fer na n 0 w i t h O rego n , a nd i n co r po ra te t he
n o r t h e p ra cti ce o f na t io ns is i n c o n fo r m ity w ith
Fo reign na tio ns , p o rt i nto t he A merica n t er r i to r y Bu t s o me mo re
t he p o s i t i o n w hi ch h e a s su m es
fi ery s pi r its d ecl a re aga i ns t th i s a tte m p t a t co m
a n d e v e n E ngl a nd , t he mo s t g ra s pi ng a nd th e m os t
ro m i es , v o w th a t M r C l a y m u t be t h r o w n o v er
w a tch fu l a nd j ea l o u s o f th em a ll, n ot o nly loo k s
o a r d , an d
e n e ra l Sc o tt
t
e
m
o
v
G
o
er
t
o
s
e
s
I
o n thi s co n ue t o f M e xi co a s an e v e nt lik ely to
g
ha ppen , a n no t co n t ra ry to t h e la w o f na ti o ns , p re t t cl ea r th a t Mr Cla y has o v e rs h o t th e m a rk ;
bu t a thi ng d es i ra bl e i n i tsel f,a nd a dv an tageo us to t h a t is Q ua k er pol i cy w il l no t go do w n w i th the
”
H ere is w h a t t he p res s o f el ecto rs o f the U n ite d S ta tes
t h e w h o l e w o r ld
En gl a nd , th e m os t ta l ented a nd th e mos t in flu
Al s o , by the las t s tea mer , same L o nd o n pa p er ,
en t i a l i n t h e w o r ld , a nd o ften , i n a n i n fo r mal a nd
on t h e war a nd a cqu i s itio n of terr it o r y s a y s :
u n o fli c ia l fo rm , s h o w i ng t he o pi n io n s o f th e G ov
Th e do ~i n th e ma nger ch a ra cter o f t he tena
e rn m en t , s a y s u p on th e s ubj ect :
ci o u s g ra s p a id u o n T ex as by M exi c o s oon be
—
o
l
N
ca me a ppa rent
r o s i i c O P I N I O N A BR O A D a s r o ova c on
h e M exicans , u na bl e to co l o ni ze
Te xa s , i nvite d cit i zens of the U n i ted S ta tes to do
QU E S T O F ME XI C O
it fo r th em Th e ca lcul a tio n o f th e M exi ca ns w as
[ F rom a Bri ti sh p a per by l as t s tea me r, Ja n uary ,
0
P olicy of Mr Cla and the W ig s
th
a t A mer ic a n energy w o uld do wh a t th e y co ul
y
The polic of th e U ni o n wi th rega r d to Mex
th e ques tion on wh i ch the r i val
ico seems to
I ntended fo S an F rancisco
g
—
.
'
-
.
.
.
‘
.
h
.
y
5
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
y
.
.
.
‘
-
-
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
'
r
.
I
l4
—
d er a v a ilable th e natural wealth o f T
Tex
xas
—a nd th a t the th r ivi ng ! ank ee s et tl ers w o uld r e
i co
xic
ma i n c o ntented s u bj ect s and t r ib u ta ri es of Mex
a men t a t M exico b
beg
n
I n thi s bel ief, th e Go v errn
a
s
g
ply , to th e s tu rdy se ttl e rs it
ra th er to o s o o n to a pply
i c e it ha d b een i n
ha d ca l led i n , the m eas u re o f j u s ttic
lyi ng to i ts Span i s h and I ndi an
th e h a bit o f a
h
e re s ultow as a n i ns ur rec tio n , i n
o p u l a t i o ns
p
the co urs e of w h ich t h e alm o s t e x cl u s iv el y A ngl o
A m er ica n o pu la tion of Tex as ema ncipa ted ii ts el f
w ii t h , th e
fro m all e pen dance o n , or co nnect io n W
C en tra l G o v ern me n t i n Mexico T ex as w a s recog
n iz ed a s a n i nd ep e n d en t Sta te by F ra n ce a nd Eng
lan d
N o w t he ti me ha d co me for w hich th e go v
ernment a t Wa s hi ngt o n , as re p res en ta tiv e o f the
A merica n p eo pl e , ha d so p a ti e n tly w a ited Te x as ,
free fr o m fo r m er t i es , w as a t lib er ty , i n vi r tu e of
ctt n ew I ts a d ult cit
citi
i ts i n d ep end ence , to co nttra c
zen s ha d almo s t to a ma n , been bo rn citi z ens o f
d es i r o us of
the U ni ted Sta tes ; th e y w e re na tu ra lly d
rela p s i ng in to th ei r old ch a ra cter ; a n d T ex as w as
i nco r o ra ted i nto th e U nio n
t ill M exic o h a d n o t reco gni z e d the i ndepend
ence o f T e x a s , a nd d rea ms o f r ea nne xi ng it to th e
gh
rep u blic h a d no t c ea s ed t o h a un t its ru l ers T h oug
w a r n ed by th e G o v er n men tt at Was hi ngto n tth
ha t
Tex a s , h a v i ng no w bec o me a n i nteg
grall pa rt o f the
United S ta tes , w o uld be d efe nd ed by th e tr0oop
0 ps o f
th e U ni o n a a i ns t a ny fo reig n i nv a s i o n , th e Mex
g
i ca n a u th o ri t i es l evi ed t roo s a nd co ncentr a ted
t h em i n th e di recti o n o f the
e xa n fro nt i e r
Th e
red i s o s i t i on o n b o th sid es to d ecid e th e d i s p u te d
p
p
r igh t t o t h e s o il o f T e xa s by a rm s , w as s ti m u l a ted
by a w h o l e h os t o f gr i e va nces , m o re o r l ess rea l ,
o n b o th s id es
M ex ica n s a nd A me r ica ns w e r e
a lik e ea g e r fo r w a r , a n d w a r w a s i ne v i ta bl e ; w hi ch
th e agg re ss o r , may be
a r t y w a s d e m o ns tra bl
to d ecid e
eft t o t h e p ed a n ts o f d i p o m a c
I n thi s w a r the M exi ca ns a ve b ee n bea te n a t
all h a n d s , i n a w o n d er fully sh o r t ti me , w i th s eem
ingly m o s t i na d equa te mea ns , t he A me rica ns h a v e
ma d e th emselv es mas ters o f fo u r no r th er n S ta tes
l th e Mexica n sea
of th e M e xica n U ni o n , o f al
boa rd o n the G u l f of M ex ico , a nd o f the ca pi ta l o f
th e re p u blic
Th e M e xi ca n a r m i es ha v e been
T h ere is
ag a i n a nd a gain b ea ten a nd b ro k en u p
Th e A mer ica ns
no r ea l Mexi ca n gov er nmen t
are , by a ll th e la ws
eo r uer o rs i n a re ul a r w a r—
x rot i u , en ti tl
to d icta te the te r ms o f
s ec
of p
Th ey h a v e fought w ell, a nd th ey ha ve o ugh t
fa i rly H a d the y no t o bta i ned a fi na l a nd uneq ui v
O ca l recog ni t io n o f th e i r s over eig n ty i n O rego n ,
a ugh t t h e m to be co n ten te d
a
e
olicy
w
o
ld
h
v
t
u
p
But as
w ith th e fro n ti er o f th e Ri o G ra nd e
sov er e i ns o f O rego n th e an nex a tio n of S a n F er
g
na nd o i s an c h ee t to th e m ; th e y hold , a nd ca n
th a t h a rbo r a nd th e in ter ven i ng
co nti nue to h o l
terr ito ry t o w ar d s th e i r fr o ntie r ; and th e re ca n be
little do ubt th a t t he w il l ex a ct thi s cess i o n , a t
leas t , o n the p a r t o f
exico , as a c omp e nsa ti o n
fo r the expens es t he w a r has e nta i led u pon t hem
W e do not ta k e u p o n u s to sa y t h a t th ere has
been nothi ng i n t h e co nd uct o f the U nited S ta tes ,
t h r ough ou t th ese tr a ns a cti o ns , o f w h i ch Mexic o
h as no t ca u s e to co m l a i n ; b u t w e co uld s h o w th a t
Mexico has repe s te ly g iven j ust ca us e of co m
n t t o th e U ni ted S ta tes
e xic o , i n the
l
a
i
A
n
d
M
p
w ill fu l i no ra nce of v a n i t y , h as
ro vok ed a c o l li
p
sio n w i tga po w e r fa r i ts o v e r ma tch i n s t rength
Eden ye t, th o u h d r ubb ed i n a m a n ner o f w h ic h
w o me n m ig ht be a sh a med , t he r u l e rs of M e xi co
i
f
an
(
y there be) appear una ware of h o w entirely
not
r en
.
.
.
.
'
.
.
,
.
,
.
.
,
-
.
.
!
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
,
'
.
,
.
.
o'
5
1
r en t of
w hich
a ll oth er arg
Co m pa re d w ith th a t ,
other res ults s h r i nk i m
n to
o
ig
y
m
r
pie s?
d warf th em selves i n to co m pa ra ti ve
con tempt
”
.
I
N
am
sa
o
.
2
.
xs n o s o r A L L u n i c
'
o
.
id
F ro m th e N O
.
le ts
commer e
c
refo rm th e ad m
in d eed ,do
such
of a n
o rganiz ed
cond itio n o f thi
lea d to i n th e
course
Mexico
.
y
P i cayune,J anuar 8, 1 84 8
.
u
18
D
ch a me as ure o nly to
a nd giv es eigh t i nh abita nts to th e
by the u ncer ta i n ty w hich ch a ra cte r i z es ou r 0 ’era s qua re m il e ; but th e m os t co mpl ete , a nd p rob ab ly
t ions i n th a t co un t r
a nd t h e a pp re h e ns i o n ti a t a
t h e mo s t a ccu ra te , o f th e r ecen t ca lc u l a t io ns ,i s th e
t rea t y o f pea ce , a n t he w ithd ra w al o f o u r a rmies , o ne w h ich wa s ma d e by the Gove r n men t its elf,
w i ll l ea ve th e m exp os
d to th e m os t fea r fuil cco nac ( w it ho u t s pecia l en um era tio n ,) a nd s erved as a
s ed
u ence s ; a n d i t is w elll k no w n t
r m a ne w co n
t
b
n
r
s
o
th
t
ea
s
h
h
e
d
dl
y
a
n
b
i
s
o
c
l
o
g
e
to
f
a
e
a
s
f
a
C
f
t
h
a
l
o
r
e
q
"
‘
o f th e
t ripl e c ro s s h as a l rea dy b een p la ce d op s titu tion , u nd er the pl an o f Tacuba ya , i n 1 8 42 :
os ite th e na mes o f ma n y o f th e b es t citiz
izens i n D a rtmen ts
eXiCO
e x ico , i n co ns eq u ence o f th e i r fr i e nd s hip
p a nd i n
t erco u rse w i t h o u r c o unttry m en , a nd t h e ex
xp res
s io n s o f ki nd ness a nd c
co nfi d en ce i n w hicch th ey
h a v e i nd u l ged t o w a rd 8s thh em
A s a n ill us tra ti on o f th i s fact , iitt iis k no w n th a t
o n a la te o ccas io n , w h e n a b enefit w a s g iv en by
th e A m e r ica ns t o a di s tii ng
gu ii shh ed a ct res s in th e city
o f Me xi co
en t
ag ents w ere s e n t fro m t h e
res e
M exica n sea t o f G o vv ernm entt , ( Q uereta ro ,) aan d
e v e r y M e x ica n fa m ily w ho a t
t
t
th
b
e n d ed t
t
b
ene fit ,
e
a
h
y
w a s mar k e d fo r fut u re p u n i s h m en t
Th ere exis ts , th erefo re , a mo ral o bliga tio n o n
t h e a r t o f o u r co u nt r y to p ro tect t he l a rge nu m be r
y
p
o f Vi rt u o u s a n d i n te llii en t
t
ci t i z e ns of M e xico ,w h o ,
o
g
m o urni ng o v er the eV
ls w h ich h a v e so lo ng tdi e v as
vid
ta ted th ei r c o u nt ry , a nd a pp reci a ti ng t he s u per i
or i t
o
f
o
n
r
r
e
a
l
e
p
b
li
f
o
r
o
Gov
e
t
u
c
e
n
r
u
n
m
f
m
a
r
s
y
h a ve ca s t in th ei r lo t w i th ou r a r mi es , and h a i le
th e i r a d v en t i n to M ex
xiico as the precursos of a
b e tter s y s t em , th e h a rb
bi nger o f bbetter ti mes A
A nd
t li é s e a re t h e be s t p eo pl e i n M e xico
x i co To ea b a nd o n
t h e m n o w t o the t end e r m er ci e s of t he d em ii sa v
v ag
ges
i vh o s ur ro un d th e m ,w o uld be i ncons i stent w ith t he
s pi r it o f h il an t h r o py
p
y
w ith w hich w e h a ve p
r o fe
ess ed
p
”
to be a ni mated in th e co nd uct of thi s w ar
b
t
u
,
y
ae
deterred fro m
a re
su
.
.
O
O
O
I
O
O
0 0 0 0 0 O
O
O
0 0 0 0 0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O
0 0
.
,
O
0 0
O
O
O
0 0 0
O
0
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
0 0 0 0 0 0
O
O O
O
O
O
O
C O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
.
'
'
O
.
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
.
o
-
.
N
P
O P U L A TI O N
3
o.
.
A N D r s a a r r o a r or
ma xi c o
.
A ga i n , M r C L A ! T O N sa ys :
W h a t w i ll b e th e co nse q ue nce of th e anne xati on o f
tw e n ty M e xica n S tates to th e A meri can U ni o n ? O f all
m en i n th e U ni t ed S ta tes th e mos t i nterest e d i n ma k in t hi s
i nq u iry o l e m n ly , a nd e xa mi n i ng i t p ati ently an d careg
u lly ,
are t h e gentl e me n o f th e S o uth
T h ere a re i n M exi co no t
less t h a n ei gh t m ill i o ns o f h uman bei ngs , men ,w o men and
a col
c h i l d re n of a race to t ally d i l
or ed
lerent fro m o urse lves —
pa l ati o n , h a vi ng no f e l i ngs i n co mmo n w ith it s—no p re
o n t h e co n tra ry w i t h p rej ud i ce s di
d
i
c
es
l
k
b
u
t
i
i
i
e
u
r
;
J
rec t ly th e an t i po d es o f a ll o f o urs, a nd e s p ec i a lly bi go te d on
”
o
s
er
s
b
a
th is ve ry u j ect f l v y
Th e id ea of th e colo red pop ul a ti o n o f Mexico
n di a ns b e i ng a b o l i t io n i s ts , a nd o verth ro w i ng
I
t
h
e
(
)
s l a v e r y , i s a mo s t o r igi nal id ea , c er ta i n ly
W ho
e v e r hea rd o f a n I n d i a n b ei ng a n a b o li tio n i s t ?
T h e y ar e the l as t p eo pl e in the w o rld to thi nk o f
Ma n y o f th e m ( t h e
o r a ct o n s uc h a s u bj ect
Peo ns ) are i n a w o rse con ditio n of sla v er y t ha n o u r
neg ro es , a nd w o uld be h a p p y to ch a nge pla ces
w i th t h e m
”
!
A s to th e t w en ty Me xica n S ta tes a nd eight
”
m illio ns o f h u ma n be i ngs , exa m i ne th e folio wm
s ta ti s ti cs :
’
er
s Mexi co ]
a
y
F
ro
M
m
[
A ccord ir
to th e b es t a u tho r iti es , the terr i
t o ry o f the ifie xica n Rep ublic co n ta i ns a n a rea of
sq ua re mil e s , a nd th e U n ited Sta tes o f
A m er ica
I f w e allo w , a s is calc ul at ed ,
t h a t t h e s qua re m il e w ill c o nta i n , u nd er o rd i na r y
ca reful c u lti va ti o n , a p o p u l a tio n o f t w o h u nd re d
rs o n s , w e s h a ll h a v e t h e s um o f
f
or
e
p
t h e t o t a l u lti ma te cap a b ili t o f th e M exica n s o il ,
—
t
r
h
e
f
a
l
o
t
e
es
t
t
n
L
h
i
d
o r 1 30,
d
a
S
l es s in Mexico th a n i n our Un io n
A noth er estimate, in 1 839, red uces the sum
.
s
.
‘
,
e
o
s
,
.
.
.
0
0 .
O
1 000000
Mesti zos , hdii
.
ch as
!
b
am os ,
.
.
!
g
.
.
Total able to
re ad and
wri te
out o f a
populati on
e s s e e e o e s o s
dh
e e o s s e s
of
I?
Th is w o uld a p pea r to be a s tart li ng fa ct , in a
Republi c t he b as is o f w h os e sa fe t is t he ca pa city
of th e p eo l e for a n i nte ll ect u a l s ey
o vem m e nt
f
g
p
L e t u s h o w e v er , ca rr y thi s ca lcu l a ti o n a littl e
fli t th e r
I f w e s u ppo s e th a t ou t o f t he o ne m illio n
of w hites fi ve h u n d re d t h o u s a nd , o r t h e h a l f o n ly
a re m al es a nd o f t h a t h a l f m illi o n bu t tw e nt
e
r
p
ce nt , o r b u t o n e h un d re d th o u sa n d ,ca n r ea
a nd
w r ite , w e w ill no lo ng er be s u r p ri s ed th a t a po o
p
la ti o n o f m o re th a n se v en m illio ns h as b ee n b i th
er to co n t ro ll e d by a h a n d fu l o f m en ; o r th a t , w ith
th e s ma ll m ea ns o f i m p ro v emen t affo rd e d to th e
few w h o ca n re a d the selfi s h na t ures o f the s u pe
rio r cl as s es w h o w i eld th e phy
ic
l
i
t
ll
ct
l
a
h
s
w
l
a
d
i
n
d
n
e
e
c
a
l
t
u
p y
fo rces o f t h e na ti o n , h a v e fo rce
rc ed th e m a ss e
es to be
co me littl e m o re th a n th e sla v e8
s o
o f t ho se w h os e
w it i ves th em th e ta l en t of c
coont ro
roll
n a d diti o n t o thi s
ob s erve
v e hh ow lit
yo u w i ll o
tle h a s b ee n d o ne hith ert o fo r th e ca u se o f lea r n i n
g
by th e Go v ern men t w h eint yo u ex am i ne a ta bl e o f
the expe ns es o f th e n a t i o n , b
b wh ichh i t w iil l be
seen , th a t i n t h e y ea r 1 8 4 0 w y
l
i
e
w er e
,
s p en t fo r h o s pit a l s
fo rt ress es , a n( p r ii s o ns a nd
fo r t h e ar m y , ( W
w ii th o u t a fo r e ig n w ar )
w ere g iv e n to all th e i ns ttittutio
o nly
ti o ns o f
”
lea rn i ng i n M exico
A nd i f yo u co ns id er , th a t o f th i s
m ales
w h o ca n r ea d a nd w r ite
ldi
a re s o l
d ers , a b o u t
one h a l f o f t h es e b ei ng o ffi c ers a nd 200 o f th em
ene ra l s , ( a s W a ddy Th o m p e
s o n s ta tes i n h is
go ok ,) h ow d epl o ra ble m us t be th e s i tua tio n o f
th a t c o u nt ry !
A nd h o w ca n t h ey be ii nj ure d by
ch a uge 0 f r u l e rs or b
as s ii ng u nd er th e u ris dii c
g
jJ
tion o f the U nite
d S ta l
eg
?
H ere is the w a y Mr T ho mpso n tells us th e y
enli s t th e i r s o ldiek :
Th e so ld i ers o f th e M exi ca n a rmy a re ge ne ral ly co ll ected
by se nd i ng o u t r em ai n d eta ch m ents i n to th e m o u nta i ns
w h e re t h ey h u n t t h e I n i nns i n t h e i r d e ns a nd ca ve rns , a n d
bri ng th e m i n c h ai ns to M e xi co ; d ro v es a re s ee n d ai ly ”
Fro m th e fo regoi ng ta ble of pop u l a tio n , it ap
p ea r s th a t
.
-
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
'
p
,
,
,
.
'
p on and b rok en u p ma n y of th e settlemen ts o f th e
S p a nia rds , th a t th ere is a m u ch l a rg er p r opo r tion
o f I n di a ns th a n i n o th e r p a r t s o f M e xi co
I thi nk , t h en , it ma y be s afely a s s u m ed , th a t
in th ese s i x Sta tes th ere is a pop ul a tio n of no t m or e
th a n fi fty th o us a nd w hi te per s o ns , a n d i n N e w
M exico a nd t he t w o Ca li fo rn i as no t m o re th a n ten
th ousa nd A n d i f w e ta k e one fi fth o f th ese nu m
b ers as the r a t i o of tho e w h o ca n rea d a n d w r ite
w h ich i s t h e r a t io g iv en by t h e a u th o r fo r th e w hi te
popu l a ti on in M exico ge ne ra lly—i t w ill giv e ten
t h o u sa n d w h o ca n rea d a nd w r ite i n th e th ree fi r s t
S ta tes , a nd t w o th o usa nd i n N ew Mex ico a nd the
C a li forn i a s
u
.
-
.
.
No 4
.
r a m s or r a n i
mrr s n
.
ara ras
'
'
w rr n m xt c o
O u r ci t izens h a v e b een i m p ri s o ne d i n Mexi co
o n fr ivol o us p r et e nc es
Fo r ced lo a ns h a v e b een
w r es te d fro m o u r m erch a n ts T r ib u na l s h a v e b een
d eaf to d ema n d s for res tit u ti o n , and a m u tua l dis
t r us t h as a r i s en , w h ic h h a s p ro ved fa ta l i n ma n y
i n s ta nces to t ra d e a nd i n ter co u rse The e ffects o f
thi s w ill , h o w e v er , be m os t s tri ki ngly exhibite d in
t he fo ll o w i ng ta ble , c o m pil e d chi efly fr o m th e re
p or ts of th e Sec re ta r y of o ur na tio na l Tr eas ur y :
.
.
.
Trade wi th
,
Mexi co for
tw elve year s
-
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0
0
0 0 0 0 0
0
0
0 0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
0 0 0
0
0
0 0 0 0 0
0
0
0 0 0 0 0
0
0
0 0 0
0 0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0 0
0
0
O
O
O
O
O
O
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0
0
0 0 0 0
0
0
0
O O
O
O
O
O
'
0 0 0
0
.
0 0
0
0 0 0 0
O O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
.
N
L e on
ew
co n tai ns a
pe pu la ti o n
of
O
h l
C oa u i a
N ew M e xic o
C ali fo rni as
Mak i ng i n
h S tates
O n e se v en th of w h i c h i s
W h i te s
a nd ta k i ng o ne s e v enth o f
w hich i s th e p o p
u la tio n o f N e w M exico a nd th e C a li fo r n i a s , gi v e s
a w hite p o p u l a tio n o f tho se las t na m e d Sta t es o f
a ll i n
t es e
-
,
-
-
1 1 ,63 7
.
T h i s is the pop ulat i o n to th e b o u n d ar y of w h at
is ca ll ed th e Si e rra Ma dre a nd ( co ntai n ing ,I th i n k
w h ites a nd as m a n y I ndi ans a s y o u pl ea se )
cou ld n o t i nj u re u s m uch
M o s t ce r t a i n ]
”
!
bei ngs ( a s a n h o n o ra bl e S ena to r ca l
ls th em )
i n the C a li fo r n i as a nd N ew M exico o f w h ich o nl y
a r e w hit es , a ll t h e P res id e n t i n h i s me s sa e
g
”
see ms to th i nk w e w a nt co uld not
ru in
us
mu ch
T h i s ca l cul a tio n of w hi tes a nd I nd ians i n th e
S ta tes a b o v e n a med i s m a d e on the r a t i o giv e n by
the w r i te r of o ne w h it e p e rso n t o e v ery s e v e n I n
di ans o r m ix e d bl o o d s , w hich is th e ra t i o i n M
ico a t l a rge ; b ut th er e i s s tr o ng rea son to beli ev e
t h a t th ese S ta tes b ei ng m o re r ec e nt l y a nd m u ch
m o re s pa rs el y s ettl ed by E u ro pea ns a nd Sp a n i ard s
and a l s o fr o m th e w e ll k n o w n fa ct
th a t i n th i s
u
r
t
e
f
e
a
r
o
M
x
t
ico
e
n
di
e
o
c
d
h
h
v
n
r
a
I
an
s
h
a
c
e
e
q
,
,
,
.
,
!
,
.
-
,
,
,
-
,
.
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
0 0
0 0
0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
.
18
Br iti s h is la nd s
It is th e w a n t o f thi s vv ig
gi la nt
a
e
l
l
r
a
u
ly ch a r a c teriiz es o u r o wn c
o
icy
th
t
p
c
i
co un
p
.
tr
aI n the
m id s t
of a
v a s t terr it o ry , w ithh a m pl e
r oo m fo r th e ex p a ns iio
o n o f ou r i n h a bita nts fo r h u n
d red s o f ye ars , w e a re ca rel ess o f t h e fu t u re , a n d
we do no t lo o k w ith w a ri ness to tho s e g
ge og
a ph i
gre
ca l p o in ts of va n ta e ar o u n d th e ea r th
th o f w hi ch
E ng l a n d is g r a d uail
l
s
s
s
n
ly
o
h
l
s
e
i
h
rs
e
e
l
f, fo r t h e
g
yp
ex te ns io n an d g ua rd
ip o f h er co m merci a l in
dii a nshhip
t ercets
W e th us perm it a gras pi ng a nd a mbi tio us
r i va l to m o no p o l i z e pos i t io ns w h ich , i f th e y d
d o n ot
d ir ectly a ffect the p eo pplle o f ou r 0o w n geneera tio n ,
can not fa il , es p eci a lly
ly i n th e e v en t o f w ar , to i h
j ure a n d a nn o y o u r po s te ri ty
W e h a ve s een G rea t B ri ta i n a dd A ffghan is ta n ,
S ci nd e , a nd t h e C hii nes e E m pi re , to h er co n t rol
w ith i n the la s t t w o y ea rs ; a t th e sa m e ti
t i me fifixi ng
h e r p o w e r s tea dil y i n C a na d a , by th e su p
ppp ress io n
o f e v er y s y m pto m o f re
re b elli o u s s i r it
W e h a v e s een h er fi rm ly p a nted w iithi
h in h er
fo rt re ss es a t B ermu d
d a , es ta bli s h i ng h ers el f a t the
Be liz e , a nd en c roa chi
hi ng o n G ua tem a l a ; w e h a v e
s een h er holdi ng t he k e
t
f
o
h
e
M
d
it
e
er ran ea n a t
y
Gib ra l ta r , a nd t he p o w er o f the St ra its a t M a l ta
an d t h e Io n i a n I s l e s ; w e fi n d h e r i n t h e So u th er n
Atl a n t i c a t S t H el ena , a nd ii n the I ndi
d i a n sea s a t
n u m b er l ess i s l a n d s ; a n d w e l ea rn th a t s h e a t l a s t
n
o
t
u
e
w
o
w
u
a
rn i ng , o n
c
d
i
h
t
H a w a ii a n
th e H
,
p
g rou p ,w i th th e sa m e s ppi rit th a t a n i ma ted h er co n
‘
ues ts i n C hi na , (a l th o ugh s h e h a s s i n c
ce o fii cia lly
flisa vow ed the acts of he r o fifiii ccer ) B ri ta i n has th us
en ci r cl e d t h e
o
e
w
t
l
b
i
h
e
p
hi
h
r
o
e
w
r
a
t
n
d
i
n
s
;
g
re e d
a
s
t
o
u
n o f t e r r i t o r y a nd
cq
i
i
i
ro d en t h us
y
ga nd ry o f res ou rces , o ur s ta tes me n s o u ld a t l ea s t
e rce i v e a w a r n i ng o f d a n e r fr o ri ; a b o ld a n d a m
g
pi tio us r i v al if th ey do n o t lea rn a l ess on w hi ch ,
u n d er s i m il a r c i r c ums ta n ces , th ey w o u ld be s tu
dio ns t o em ul a te
Th e te m er o f our Re p u b lic is en ti rely too
m u ch d e v o te to th e i nte res ts o f th e a s s i ng da y
p
W e w r ith e u nd er d ebt , a n d w e rus h i n to r e p ud i a
W e s u fi e r u n d e r fi na n ci a l di s tr es s , a nd w e
ti o n
a da p t s o me p a lli a t iv e e x p e di e n t t h a t s a v es us fr o m
m om en ta r r u i n
W e islike th e p o lic of th e h o ur , and w e
to
xecu ti ve m i sr u l e ; a nd
a ttr ib u t e i t excl u s iv el
y
t h e c o n ti nu a l di s t ra c ti o n s o f th e w h o l e s ch eme o f
our p a u l a r go v ern me n t s eem b u t t o n o ur i s h a n
p
u ncea s i ng ne r v o us ness as to w h o i s to ru l
e a nd
w h o to c o nt ro l th e n a ti o na l p a t ro nage
H o w i s s he to pa y E ngl a nd ? To liqu id a te a
r tio n o f h er de bt a nd th e i n ter es t d ue t h e U n i
o
p
ted S ta t es , ( o f littl e m o re th a n
s he w as
o bliged to re s or t to a fo rced l oa n fr o m h er ci ti z ens ,
as yo u h a v e re ce n tly obs er v ed
S u pp os e th a t a
di smem be rm ent ta k es pl a ce , o r t h a t E ngl a nd a fter
a cc um u l a ti ng h er cl a i m s a n d w ra t h , u n til s he
t hi nk s the a m o u n t a n d energ y s u fii cie nt fo r a ll e x i
genoi s e , s udd e nly o rd ers h er mi n i s ter i n M e xico
to d em a nd p a y m en t , o r h is p as s p o r ts , w h a t m u s t
i ne vitably be t he res ult ? I w ill tell yo u i n th e
’
r
o
f
o
n
a
la gu ge
F b es , i n o rd er to s ho w th a t th i s is
n o va i n i magi na ti o n o f t he m o m en t e xci ted i n o ur
A m eri ca n fa ncy T he v a l ue o f Ca l ifo r nia is k no w n
”
i
n
and a pp reci a te d
E ngl a nd
Ca li fo rn i a , s a ys
o ur a u t ho r , a t p age 1 4 6
is q u i te a dis tin ct co un
'
ar
o
.
.
.
,
.
'
'
.
,
.
.
‘
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
,
F orbe s w as a Bri tis h s ubj ect , a nd s cons ul or agen t for
his Government on th e western coast of Mexi co
.
9’
fl)
w h en w e in
h ard , th e w ise
d
o
s
a l o u r e y es ; i n ou r o w n filth d
se
r
o
p
o
0
u
cl
d
ea
r
r
g
p
j udg men t s , m a ki ng
g au s a d o re o u r erro rs
Th ey
d eem t he c ou ntr y e v er o n th e b r i n k o f d
d es tr uc ti o n
u nco r rect ed by e x
Xpe r ii e n ce , w h i ch is co n t i nua lly
t ea ch i ng t h e m t h e fa l s i ty of p r ecedi ng p r ed i cti o ns ;
for , l i k e o t he r m o no ma n ii acs , th ey i m u te t h e fa il
ti res to a ny ca u se b u t t h e i r di seas e
r eco nce
p
p
t io ns
W e h a v e s een th a t w h e n th e w o rld w o u ld
n ot b u rn u p , a s h a d b een p re d
dii cted by M ilill er th e
fa i lu re o n ly o cca s ii o ned
d t h e a s s i g n me n t o f a n e w
e
r
f
o
t
iod
r
h
e
di
d
i
c
t
t
e
d
t
e
c
t
r
e
a
s
m
S
o
w
e
h
a
d
p
p
p
pos
s es s , e v e r y w h ere , m u l tit u d es o f p o li tici a ns w h o
th o ugh o ld , h a v e n e v
v err k no w n t h e Go v er n me nt
r fo r m a w o r t h
e
a
t
o
c
io
o
th
y
n
c
t
f
r
m
a
w
o
r
a
r
y
p
m o ti ve
The w h o l e p o li t i ca l c ou rs e o f o u r na ti o n
t h e y d eem a se ri es o f m i sd e m ea n or s fo r tt h e e r
p ;
t
t
i
o n o f w hi ch
e
ra
t
n
i
h
p
h
h
e
o
d
e
s
s
a
f
f
e
n
e
r
s
e
u
c
p
p
m ent by o nl y s o m e s tra nge i n fa tua ti o n o f the
eo pl e—th e v er y d o ctr i ne o f ev er y L u na ti
tic A s y
pu m w h os e i n ma tes d eem th emselv es sa nne a nd
o ur
vici o us ne ss
w
r
o
g
,
’
.
,
.
,
.
,
~
,
.
,
,
o ld
,
W h en ,
las t y ea r , E ng l a n d a nd o ur
co u nt r y , t i r ed o f t h e o ld ex p e r i m en t o f t r yi ng
wh ic h cou ld m o s t h a r m t he o t h er , bega n to try
W h et h e r t h e y ca n no t recipr o ca te bene fi ts s h e by
re l a x i ng i n o u r fa v o r t h e q u a lifi e d m on o p oly e n
j o yed by her agricu l tur i s ts a nd w e r el a xi ng i n h er
fa v o r th e q u a l ifi ed m o no po l
y enj o y ed by o u r ma n
t h e b e ne v o l e n t ex pe r i m e nt w a s a s
u factu re r s
sa il e d by t h e m a d n es s o f p a r t y , a n d , a s u s ua l ,
r ed i cte d fr o m i t
e v er y c o nc e iv a bl e ca l a m i t y w as
p
Bu t ag a i n , a s u s ua l , th e p re dicti o n s a r e fa l s ifi ed
M a nufa ctu r es , w hi ch w er e to pe r i s h , i ncr ea se
d es pi te o f p r o ph ecy , till e v en o u r U t i ca , n o t ea s ily
s t i m u l a t e d to ne w e nte r p ri s es , i s a ll u r ed by t he
t
s o f s u ch o p e ra ti ons , a n d r es o u nd s
e
r
e
a
t
p
ro
fit
y g
w ith ne w facto ri es W hy s h o u ld no t tw o ki nd re d
?
co u nt r i es reli e v e ea ch o th e r
O u r ag r i cu ltu r i s ts
w er e be co m i ng i m po ve r i s h e d by t h e o v e r a bund
’
a n ce o f na t u r e s b o u n t i es , w h il e E ngli h m a nu fa c
t urers w ere be co m i ng i m p o v e ri s h e d by a n e xcess
W h y s h o u ld not th e
o f th e p ro d u ct io ns o f a r t
fu ll b rea s t o f ex u b eran t y o u th fu l A merica be
f its a ged m o t h er ?
t u r ned to t h e fa m i s h ed lip s
p
a nd w h y s h o u ld w e n o t r ece i v e fro m h e r s u p er
a b un d a n t w a rd r o b e t he ar ticl e s o f w h i c h w e a re
d e fi c i en t ?
!
All the even t s o f h i s to ry w hich co ns tit u te epoch s
i n o u r ca re er of gl o r y w ere u s h er ed i n to b ei ng
A nd i f
u n d er de n unci a ti o n s l i ke th e fo r ego i n g
W e t u rn fro m t h e e v ent s o f o u r hi s tor y t o t he h is
t o ri ca l h e ro es a n d s ta tes m e n by w h o m t h e e v e nts
w e re a ch i ev ed , w e s h a ll fi nd th a t th e y s t ruggl ed
aga i ns t t h e d enunc i a ti o ns o f c o tem p o ra r y p o li t ic a l
m o nom a n i ac s N o thi ng , i n d eed , i s m o re i ntell ec t
u a ll h ea l t h fu l th a n t o n o te h o w th e M r P o lk s o f
i
a
v
e
a
e
m
s
ho
e
r
e
ok
d
t
e
a
n
d
op
o
n
the
w
t
o
h
w
,
p
y,
.
on
ly
'
—
—
.
.
‘6
.
-
.
.
.
.
‘6
21
i on
to v er ify M iller s p redict
dictio
To
this ba d i n flue nce w e m u s t , in ch a rity , a tt rib u te
nes s d i s la ye d by p o liti ca l
much o f th e d es tr ucti v ene
p
W h en t he de ost tes w ere rem o v ed
m i nor iti es
a nd ru ii n h a d bee n
fro m the U nite d S ta tes Ba n
red ic ted a s a res u l t , m a nu fa c t urers clo sed th ei r
a n d di s m i ss ed th e ii r w o rk
a cto r ies vo lu nta r il
m en ; sh i o w ners dis ma tin tl ed th ei r s h ips , a nd d is
ch a rged t eir sea m en ex u ltingl a ll eg i ng th a t the
h e s a me ma d ness
Go v e r nm e n t h a d r u i ne d t h e m
u rer a
s b ega n to e vi nc e i ts e l f
o n th e pa r t o f m a nu fa c ta
O ppos it
itii o n ne
oew s
apa er s
i n th e ea rly pa rt o f 1 8 4 6
hii chh
ch r o nicl ed a fe w i ns ta n ce8s lik e t he fo r egoi ng , w p
t hey h a il ed as th e w elco m e h a rbi nge r of th e p re
d icted uni v ers al blight A nd la ter s till , a fter m i
vili l ed the P res id ent for
n o r i t y s ta tes m e n h a d r ev
cla i m i ng th e w h ol e o f O rego n—a cla i m w h ich he
s u b sta nt i a te d t o e v er y u n p rej u dic ed u nd ers tan d i n
—
th ey mo v ed h ea v en a nd ea rth to p re v ent Engla n
fro m y ield i ng h er co nflicti ng p retens io ns ,a nd to in
th
tim ida te th e P r es id e n t , b
rea ts of w a r , fr o m
y
’
a dh e ri ng to h is co u n tr y s ri h ts
g
But ,fi na lly , thi s a r ticle is w r itten not to i r r i ta te
by c ri mi na ti on , but to c u re, by holdi ng n a k ed u p to
v i ce its ow n i mage W hil e i ntellect a tta ck s i ntell ect ,
t he enc o u n ter is a l w a y s s a l u ta r y
C o nt ro v ers y i s
ne v e r pe rn i ci o u s bu t w h e n th e feel
i ngs enli s t i n
t he fight
E ng l an d , fro m w h o m w e d eriv e m uch
o f o u r k no w l edge , a nd m os t o f ou r e r ro rs , is fas t
freei ng h ers e l f fr o m th e politic a l e vil s of fa ctio ns
m i no r iti es , th ou gh th ey a re s ti ll i n fu l l b loo m w ith
us
H er L eg i s l a tu r e n ever exhibits no w a pa r ty
I n h er
i n co nflic t w i th t he i nte res t o f h er em pi re
O rego n co nfl ict w ith us , her co unci l and p u blic
d
t
e
ra
g
’
th e w o r ld
.
.
,
.
'
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.