- cars at great bargains.
,—.,.—_P._,\
/\/\/\
NUMBER 423-NEW"
or it
N
SERIES,
New on? scene
at
’ This day received
l have now received my full stock of Fall and \Vit.cr Goods, consisting of every article that-
can be called for in an extensiee dry goods establislinient.
bash prices, and many of them at 30 per centlcss than the same goods could have been sold for‘
3 weeks since.
My goods will be sold at the lowest
, For GENTLEMEN I _have real liargaiiis in the way of Cloths. Cassimcros, Satiuctts.
Vestin s, Cravats. Colars, Gloves, Hosier *. Siisoendors. Braces Under Garments. &c.
8 .3 I s
For the LADIES I have Cashmere, Square and Long Shawls.
Primed Casliiiierc,
‘Plaid Long and Square Shawls, Heavy \Voolon do; and they will be sold at prices so low that
‘all will be astonished to‘ see the quality.
I nave the liest assortment of Rich, Plain and Fancy
I)ress Goods ever offered in this State. consisting of Silks, Satins, Plaid and Plain French Mo-
rinoes,»Alpaccas. De Lanes, ljligliland Plaid.-*, F
rencli Lusti-us. and other goods to niiincrous to
inention‘. For 'Ladies’ Cloaks. French Merinoes, Thibel. Cloth, Highland Plaid, Satin Striped
Thibet‘Cloth. Satin Lovantin, &c. with triiiimiiigs in all their varieties to match.
For Ladies’
vening and Party dresses, I have white and embroidered Robes. Jenny Lyude Crapes (an en-
tire new "article, very ricli,3 white Satin Muslins, écc. _
For Millinary Goods my assortment consists in part of Silk Plush, uncut Velvet and Sntiiis of
all colors, with trimmings to match, also Fathers, Flowers, Laces, Blonds, etc.
In Fancy
Goods I have a very heavy stock at greatly reduced prices; in fact my stock is completed, and
all are invited to call and examine for themselves, as all‘will be received and used with polite-
ness and attention, and none urged to buy, as I believe my goods will recommend themselves in
quality and prices.
Norwalk, Nov. 15t.t, 1847.
C. J. GRUMAN.
« HO FOR THE
LAND OF CAN.£-\;...A.Nl
The GREAT fiEE’®'H‘ of
TI.-IE
stock. received this day.
attention of purcliascis in this line is
called to the great additions to our former
Purchased with the strictest care as to Fashionable styles, and at un-
usual low prices, we are deteniiined to make great sales by selling at very small profits. In
fact the great increase of patronage at this 6>l'2tl)llSlll1lelll’. has compelled us (to keep pace with
the wants of the pubblic) to make ai'r:ingeinents to receive new goods every week until January.
1848.
\Ve shall not attempt to enuinorate our large stock of new goods, suffice it to say al-
most cvery desirable article in the Dry Goods line may here be found very cheap for cash or ap-
proved credit.
New Canaan, Oct. 18. 18-17. 36
T. &', \V. E. RAYMOND.
New Goods for the Felt Tracie of 184-7.
At the old stand of S
TI-IE subscribers are happy in being able to annouziceto their patrons and the public gen-
raclly. that their first. invoice of FALL GOODS has just been received.
They would particularly invite the attention of the ladies ofNorwalk audits vicinity to their
beautiful‘ assortment of DRESS GOODS, comprising the following new styles, viz :
Plaid and Silk Strip’d Alpaccas. Caniolion Plaids and Stripes, Orgaiidies, Srrip‘d Clem-
entines, Eglantine Plaids, Mode Alpaccas, Cobourg Cloths, Twilled Ginglianis, California and
‘ Oregon Plaids, Cashmere, M do Lainos, &c. Also, some splendid styles of new 5; fashionable
E-.-;s3,3r't~._.,s-5-.>=; «:99
among which may be found---Plaid and Striped Poult do Loies, Gro do Rhinos, Mattoines,
Satin Striped, \Vatorcd, (Sic. die.
Also an excellent assortment of
‘e:=.T°aenD. cazaucflt ‘C§C‘7‘« fi.ED.GG3E.'r.° fir’-‘sT.‘»a:_c§;*\—.</Trz‘fle.::39
such as Nett. Mandarine, Stradilla, Cashmere, Heavy \Vool, life.
They wouldalso invite those gentlemen who are in pursuit of any thing in the shape of
Cloths. Cassimeres or Vestings, to a full and suberb assortinent of French, English and Air cri-
‘can Broadclotlis and Cassiiiieros, besides a great
variety of Fall mid \Vint.cr Vestings. Also, a
full assortment of every thing usually called for in the Dry Goods lin.
IIARNESSES, &c. (
New E.~.-tnhlishment!
HE attention of the public is invited to the l
\ new Saddlery Establishmcntjust opened;
by the subscriber undei' the Connecticut Hotel. I
Hi: stock and workniansliip he believs to be ful- ;
ly equal to the best. and his at.tention will be;
assiduously given to meet the wishes, and secure _
the approbation of all who favor him with their;
patronage. \Vork done at short notice, and pri- t
cos moderate. l
A good assortment of Harnesses, Saddles,
Bridles, \N'hips. Trunks, Valises, Carpetbags,-x
dcc. will be kept constantly on hand, and for sale
cheap.
Repairing done in a neat‘, substantial, and ex-
peditious manner. FREDERICK BRADLEY.
Norwalk, June 21. 1847.‘
0\VDl3R.—Sporting and Blasting, for
V sale by the Keg or less quantity, by
‘ S. E’. OLMSTEAD.
25
NOTHHER large lot of Salina Saltin small
bags, at 0LMSTEAD’S.
Under Shirts and Drnwcrs.
FIRST rate assortment of the above
. ; goods just received and for sale as cheap
as theycanjbe bought in New York. Also,
cravats. scarfs, bosoms, collars and shirts in any
‘quantity, at M. WAI(EMAN’S.__
6 BOXES \Vindow glas,assorted fi:)m
6x8 to 24x30 for sale at manufac-
turers’ prices, by W'ivi. C. STREET.
‘F The Peoples’ Store”
if I IS the place to find a beautiful assortment of
Goods for Ladies’ Cloaks—such as Alpac-
cas. Plaid Merino, Ashland Plaids. Mode Lus-
tres. Bl'k. Royal Purple. Nazarene Blue and
llfodo Colored French Merinos, 6:c. écc.
BISSELL 63 . MOODY.
SE LLING OFF,
' HE subscriber having purcha_sed A. M.
_ Ward's entire stozk of Dry _.Goods will
dispose of the same in quantities to suit purchas-
At the old; stand. Main
Cn-As. C. Bi-;'r'rs.
‘ta ‘, _
Norwallt. Nov. 15- 46
SADDLES, ll.-ll‘-JEN!-ISSIZS, doc.
I HE subscriber would respectfully inform
the public that he has on hand a large
and extensive assortment offlarnesses, Saddles,
Bridles, Martingales, Trunks, Vzilises, Carpet-
Bags. die. which are ready made and on hand.
Also a first rate assortment of Carriage and Ri-
ding \Vliips, which nreqfor sale at a small ad-
vance from factory prices. Harness Collars,
wholesale and retail. A good assortment of
saddlei-‘s silk. purse twist, embracing all colors
and qualities. Every article needed in theline,
may be found here, of the best quality, and will
be sold as low as can be furiiished by any one,
not excepting the groundjloor establishment on
the other side of the Bridge.
Repairing done at the sliortest notice, and in
the best. manner. VVM. B. S\VAN.
Norwalk, June 21. 1847.
OSTON SOAP.—A new supply of very
superior quality of No 1 Boston Soap
Just received and for sale at Bun.-iLL’s,
Norwalk Mach 5. 1847.
LAIVIP OIL.
EVV BEDFORD Lamp Oils ofa very su-
perior quality, for sale by the barrell or at
rctailby \V. C. STREET. _ Nov. ‘ld.
KEGS Pure white Lead, ground in
Oil, manufactured of the best quality,
for sale by
Wni. C. S'rai«;r."r.
“A few more left”
F those black Alpaccas at‘18 and 25 cents
pr yd —call soon or you lose your chance.
Oct. 4. BISSELL & MOODY.
R. HILL ‘will be happy to see his
friends. and respond to all their calls in the
way of his profession.
Guns ! Guns! !
A. new supply of fine wire, damascus, &stub
twist. double barrel Guns, just received.
Aug. 24. 1847. \VM. C. STREET.
an CKERE L,
I N
bbls. and half bbls. at OLMS-TEAD‘S.
Aug..25, '47.. . - ~
l
A-L
\
I concur.
YOUTH AND AGE.
I often think each tottenng form
o.i1.l,“i.-'..i-‘.'.".‘. i.2.'fi-‘Z‘:.."§-.'.'.'.T.§, §i§°.'.'-ii.‘-’...,
As full of idle thoughts as mine.’
Anlqeacli has had fisdcli'eiii1i ofjoy.
is own une na iiire romance -
Comincncing w(l1en tlid blushing boy '
First thrills at lovely wonian’s glance.
And each couldtell his tale ofyoutli,
\Voul(l think its scenes of love evince
More passioiis, more unearthly truth,
Tlinn any tale before or since.
Yes! tliey could tell oftcnder lays
At midnight penned in classic shades,
Of days more bright than modern duys-
Aiid maids more fair than modern maids.
Of whispers in a willing ear,
Of kisses on at blushing check;
Each kiss, each whisper, far too dear,
Our modern lips to give or speak,
Of passions too iiiititiitely crossed;
Or passions sliglited or betrayed-—
Of kindred spirils early lost.
And buds that blossom but to fade.
Of beaming eyes and trcsses gay,
Elastic form and noble brow,
And forms thatliave all passed away,
And left them what we see them now!
And is it thus———is human love
So very light and trail a thing?
And must. youth’s brightest visions more
Forever on Timc’s restless wing"?
Mustall the eyes that still are bright,
And all the lips that talk of bliss,
And all the forms so fair to sight,
Hereafter only come to this?
Then what. are cai'th’s best visions worth,
If we at length must lose them thus!
If all we value most on earth
Ere long must fade away front us?
1117‘. P0!/.:’s Prez,'e.7:z's fix?‘ his l*Var
a.gaz'n Uzfzfcrly Dem.0l2'.s'/zed .’
C From the rN'a£ional Infelligcnccr, Doc. 11.
'1' it E r1iissiDi~.‘i\"r's ME.~.‘S.\GE.
Several days have no w elapsed since our readers
in this city, and generally e.sewlierc, were put in
possession ofthe Annual Message of the l’resideiit
of the United Suites to both Ilouscs of Coiigrcss.
Until to-day we luivc purposely forbornc from coni-
Gxznrri.
Published Every Wednesday Morning, by JAMES REED, at Two Dollars Per Aiiinuni ‘in Advance.
./\/\/\/\/\
NORWALK;(fl1'WEDNESDAY.DECEMBER2Z Hflfil
which, all lavish as they were, there would,
perliaps. but for the Preamble, notliave been a
disscntiont voice.
\Vhatever alarm we and our readers felt at
this beginning. has been fully jiistificd by the
progress of events. Even that precipitation in
the action of Congress—tliat preamble, zaffirming
two cli tinct falselioods——tliat. tyranny by which
a vote was extoi-ted from the two I'1o1u-res, have
been continually appealed to by the Executive
organs as evidence oftlio unanimity of the na-
tional will in approbation of the war. In the
Message before us. that appeal is repeated, ac-
companied with u statement, in terms, that the
tl('Clt!l'all0n that “the \Var exists by the act of
Mexico" was passed “with great unanimity" in
Congress: though it must be knowii to the Ex-
ecutive that but a small majority in‘ either
House of Congrrss approved that declaration,
many mcinbcrs declaring their rcpugiiance to
it some their utter abliorrence of it. Votes ta-
kcn in both Houses of Congress at the second
session of the Slllllc Cozigress plainly established
this fact, laid there before been any reason to
doubt it. The popular elections which have
intervened _cert:iinl_v leave no excuse for a doubt
upon any man’s mind that a nnijority of the
People of the United States are against this
war and its authors.
Instead of i'elinquishing, in (lcfcrerice to the
popular will, thus clearly expressed, any part of
his original scheme of conqueriiig and aiiiiexing
ll considerable portion of the tc:'rltoi'y of hfcxico,
the President comes to Congress and deiiiaiids
its cl'mcurrence in ii plan for colouizzing and an-
nexing almost one half" of Mexico, with a rt.-coin-
mendution to continue the war until hc, the con-
queror, conquers all the residue of that uizhappy
Republic, in the event of her not willingly scr-
ering from her body her most valuable prt,-vinccs
instead ofadvising a Peace. which this Govern-
ment iiiight. have at any day on terms of honor,
he infoiiiis Congress, in a sanguinary strain,
and almost in the dialect. of the shainbles, that
he is persuaded “that the best; nic-ans of -L':f21(li-
costing the iiatiortal honor and interest, and of
bringiiig the war to an honorable close, will be
to prosecute it trill; i~ncrm.sccl energy mzcljsotccr
I-N 'riii~: v1'r.-ii. PARTS rf (lie enemy's country; I”
He knows that he and his war stand condemned
by his own countrymen. He cannot, if he
would, mistake the sentiment of the People;
and yet he craves more conquest, more butcliery ;
he demands a deeper_penctration im.. the vitals
of our advei'sary, and yet farther waste of the
blood and trcasuresof his own country.
Before he take captive our senses by the se-
ductive incitcmeiits,in which his Message abounds
to a yet widorco-.irse ofrasli ambition and suici-
dal aggraiidizemciit, let us stop for a moment to
meat upon it, from an unnll'ccted de.-ire not to inter-
fcre witti their free digestioii of its coiitents. 'l‘liat_
opportunity liaving becii fairly afforded, we now 5'
pioceed to state with )_)lilltl|lC::S, but we hope without =
offence to any \\ ell-Lli.-'po.~‘cd reader, our views upon 3
its lczidiiig topics; and first, be-can.-'c it is first in the’:
‘vzcssagc, and uppermost in \:\‘a_‘l‘_y nian’s mind, upon -
so much of the document as relates to
The ll"'ar tcii/z flfzxico.
\‘i"lien, on the 13th day of May oflast year,l
the passage of the Act of Congress l'(,'(:()glllZlllg‘
me o~;isteiico_o-1' War with tflexico was announ-
cc;l to the i'cotlei's of the ixational lntolligci c ‘.l', |
ll. was accompanied by the expression oi it bi.-l.cf'
that by the largest portion of its readers the in-if
ikzi-iiiaiioti would be i‘ccei\'e'..l with alarni-—alai'm
justly excited by the wilfulness and recklcssiicss
\\‘ili1 which the Nation had been pluiig-ed into a
forcagii war, which, as the People were in no
particular prepared for, they were in no way-
iV(.'l‘l;)\V'.-Ll'tlU(l of. for ourselves, we were not In-
l\'(:Il wholly by surprise by the news. in the
sLi:lG$l1'ltHlslll[) of the Executive, whatever conti-
denco \ve were disposed to place, had been sha-
ken by the almost daily demonstrations by its"
otiicial organ during the first year of its existence. 1
We had watched its successive dovclopiiieiits,
gradually disclosing a. settled purpose to make
war upon Mexico, in the event of not succeeding
in iutiniidatiiiig her into a prompt sumiissioii to
the deinau-.‘ls which the President intended to
make upon her. Tliat organ (the Government:
paper) was hardly a week old before its readers
were transpoited in iinagiualiioii, to the “Halls
ofMoiitezuiiias,” which were to be ‘occupied by-,
. he has already embarked our country.
glad that the Prc.sident; has in his Message. pre-
.ol'.~ucli an :1,-_r_.-;i‘:i\'aitetl cliaractcr as would have jus-
,lil‘lc(.l us before the whole world in resorting in mi,
-justice.
' minister of peace sent to Mexico was insultiiiglv re-
'tlic first blow and shedding the blood of our citizcna
consider upon what grounds he places and jus-
tifies the career ofcruclty and conquest in which
\Ve are
faced his reconiineiidatioii as to the future with
a summary st.-itciiieiit ofthe causes of coin-ilaint
heretofore alleged by him as being ofprior date
to the war, together with his ,undcrstaiiding of
how the ‘war liogiiii. A single paragraph iii-
cludes tha whole story; and, as we propose to
examine it with some pa l'llC‘Lll1ll’ll_}', we here
rcpublisli it: -
“It is siifficii-iit on the present occasioii to say.
that the wanton violation of the riglits of person and
property ofour (.‘lll'/.ell>‘ comiiiitted by llluxico, licr
repeated acts of bad faith tliroiigli it long surics of
_vc:ii's..niid hcr disrn.g:ii'il ofsolcniii treaties stipiilzztiiig
for iiidcmnity to our injt!I'ctl citizciis. not only con-
.-titutcd ainplc can.-‘e of war. on our part. but were
extreme lPllH‘(l_\'. \\"itli an aiixious dc.<irc to avoid
a rupture bctu can the two couiitric.s, we forbore for
years to assert our clear rights by force, and comin-
ucd to seek redress for the wrongs we had siifti-i'cil
by ainicalnlc negotiation. in Elie hope that Mexico
might yield topacilic counsel: and the demands of
lu this lit:-pt: we were ili;-iippoiiitcd. Our
jl_'CU_’(l. The M cxicaii Goveriinieiit rcfiiscrl even to
hear the terms ol'ailjiistiiii.-iit which he was authori-
zed to propose; and fiiiall_v, iiiiizcr wholly unjusti-
finlilc preiexts lll\'()l\'(_‘(l ll c in o countries in war. by
iiivading the territory ofilie State of Texas. -strikinig
on our own soil.”
Referring to his last annual communication to
lb’-5 Umted bulb?” ‘b5 ‘be ‘ff'°“:b“’l=' “bb °f ,"“ Congress for particulars of his bill of arraign-
seeond conquest in .L.l.e.\‘l(:O. lli_e tocsin being ,m,,,,, the 1)l.e3ide“t ,,gui,, ,.cCimS alleged
sounded, \-'olunt.eeis were toflockfronithe \Vcst; “.,.0,,,,S by .uc\.;C0, ,},,.0ugh on long s()rieQ
» - 1 'l- . I .. - - . , b ‘ . I I‘
W bbe '~“-9"" bl r“‘°“°*‘=‘““d lb ‘«*1”.Y 9"-"‘)’ lbbba’ of years,” &c. as being such as not only to
before "l""m' lb“ (’°Vemm‘””‘ lmbe" mugbl’ coiistituto ample cause of war, but as would have
“5v_"l5°v ]‘_"w tb° “'3” ‘W5 lb be b"°b_gbb °b by justified the United States before the whole
which this conquest was to be enacted. lt “.0,”;n,.eS0”.mgmthiS ex,,.em0,.emedy_ This
1-°1'°‘5“Wo by “"“‘.V blbbtbsv lbb mllbbb Ofbu" 31'‘ i ever)’ one. at all actluaiiitod with liistor)’. knows
my hm“ Umbu” Christi’ lwbebe "5 e"e"y ‘me A to be gross cxaggeiatioii. The long existence
l“’°“’S' Mexwo "em" lmbbded lb disbbbb ill lb of claims for wrotigs now alleged to have been
' V . . ' . r .' .. . . .. - ' '.
the Rb’ (“ubde ' mlesllw ‘bill the M‘’’‘”'‘‘‘‘3 so enormous is of itself proofoftlie fact that they
\J\/K/\/\.-\/\z\/\_/\_,\_
VOLUME 3o-Nuhnnai
ad‘-._/s/\4\.4‘ ‘ -~ - rx- .‘ -}/-’- r .- —_ . ’
all-‘
circumstances, bejust and necessiiry? Or was
it, whether a crime ora mistake, the auttliorr/.od
act oftlie President, to whom the Constitution
had denied all power overtlie question of \Var'!
T/zis is the true quest ion : nor can all the wire-
drawn sophistry and special pleading of the
Prcsideiitfis Message oflast year. referred to in
that which is befoio us, deceive 1!. single individ-
ual, be he \Vhig or be he Democrat, ofcomiiion 1
sense or common inforniation. against the well
known and well antlicnticiitcd facts in the cast-.
Need we add, that. whoever the Presidciit be,
who. ti‘ampling down the l)t1l'l'l(‘l'S which the
Constitutioii has erected for the protection of the
security of the life, liberty, and property of the
citizen, of his own mere will and ple.'isui'e
plunges the country into a \Var, with or with
out cziusc—-that man is a Dcspot ! The Nation
that quietly folds its iirms and permits this to be
done with impunity, may dolude itself with the
fancy that it lives under a written Law and
Constitution, lint it is an idle drcafi‘. That Na-
tion is a Nutioii of slaves, and lives under a Des-
potisin. .
To pi'occed, however, to the main point, upon
the l'C€l:-‘Sel'tl0li of which alone 11.9 President
relies to justify liinisclf before his own fellow
citizens for his ageiicy in this \Vnr, viz: that the
Mexican Governnient. “ finally, under wholly
unju-:;t.ifiable pretext.~;, involved the two countries
in war. by invadingthe territory of Texas, striking
the first blow, and shedding the blood ofour citi-
zr-.ns on American soil." Pu’.-2t one ‘word of this
-is true. \Ve regret the necessity, but the
Pre:-";drer;t iniposos upon us the obligation ofre-
oexvfug the demonstration of the utter falsity of
tlrc whole of it. Mexico did not. involve the two
t.'{.li.llEll'l(*,'S in war: Mexico did not invade tlicter-
i-itoi'_v of Texas: Mexico did not strike the first
blow : Mexico did not shed the blood of our citi-
zens on our own soil. .
This whole question, it will be seen, resolves
itself into one ofterriloi'i:il boundary.
Did, at the breaking out ofthis war, the ter-
ritory between the Nucccs and the Rio Grande
[Del Norte] belong to Mexico or to the United
States 7
It did not: belong to the United States. The
Republic of Texas had no title to it. Slio laid
not even ii respectable claim to it. She preten-
(led to no such title when she called a Conven-
tion to fin-ni her Constitution; for not a ineniber
was called to that Convention from any portion
oftlio territory l,-onnding on the Rio Grandi=,.———
Nor wheii. in her Constitutioii, she apportioned
the prcseiitation in her Lc_'_'i.~l:.tu1'e among the
several districts of her territory, did she enu-
merate any distiicts lying upon the Rio (:il'll!lLlC
as entitled to l'0lll'0S(‘{llttlZl0ll iii the Texan Gone-
ral As<r-iiilily. The whole country on the Rio
Graiide, and indeed the whole country west of
she Nuccos. except the small settleziient of San
Patricio. was exclusively in p()S;-‘t‘.S.\‘l0ll of the
Z‘-Icxicans, until the army of the United States
Slates ll‘i.‘ti‘(:lle(.l into it, driving before it the
M exican civil officers and the peaceful iiili:1bit—
ants. Texas having no title to the tei'i'itoi'y, the
annexation of Texas to this Union could confer
none 1l}.‘0l] the United States. \Vere a peace
to be made to marrow on the basis of leaving
things as they were before the war. the tcrrito-j
ry bctivcoii the Nizoccs and the Rio tlriindc
wotild .-"till constitute a pait of the M.cxic-aii
States of Tiiiiiiiiilipns, &c.
This state of fact is none of our first discover-
ing. much less of our imagiiiing. \Ve derive
nearly all our infoiwiiatioii on the subject from
the liigliest Deniocratic authority. \\''hen the
Treaty with ’l‘r~xas. by which she undertook to
convey to the United States a wt-.stern boundary
to the Rio Gi'ar.do, was depeiidingin the Senate,
Mr. Senator llentoii (high authority on the sub-
ject) indigiiantly denounced it as an attempted
fraud and outrage.
“ l wasli niy biiiirls," said he, “ of all attempts to
l)l'SM}~IMBF:R THR Mizxzcxx l’.;:i'i.'ni.ic. by sciziiig
her new doiiiinions in P{ew Mexico, Lllllllllllillil,
Couliuila and Taiiiaiilipa.-2. The treaty, in all that
relates to the boiiiitlarv of the Rio Grande, is in
ACT or UNPAR-l.l.l~2U 0U'[‘1~AGE on Mexicri. It is the
seizure of two tliousaml miles of her territory. with-
out a word ofexplaiiiiiioii u iili her, and by virtue of
a treaty \\'llll 'l'cxas, to which she is no party.”
Mr. Benton farther declared that the claims
set up by Texas by the Treaty, if niaintnined.
would cut. off “ The capital and forty towns and
vzllages of New Mexico, now and always as ful-
ly uiid-or the dominion of Mexico as Quebec and
all the towns of Canada are under the dominion
of Great Britain.”
Mr. B. closed his speech by offering the fol-
lowing resolution : '
Rcsolictl. That the iiicorporatioii of the left bank
oftlie Rio del Norte into the Aiiierican Union. by
virtue of a treaty with 'l'e.\'as, cuininaiiding, as the
said iiicoi-poratioii would do, a portion of the Mexi-
might cross the Rio Gl':1,l](l0, and that, if they did, were not M ,,,,j,. ,-,,,,e deemed by CO,,g,.ess ,0
"blood would be Shed? “ml “_“"“' ‘bust e'_‘Sb°° ’ constitute a sufficient cause of war. t'\lo:'-at of;
W119": lb""el°'°e= the Pbefblibbb “"3 re_bbZed"" them had beside been actually adjusted by it ,
when the catastrophe ari'ived,1ioweveritshock- n.e,,,§ b,.m.e,,,, the two Countries, which was in
ed’, ‘t W." .5(.m‘°elY be Slbfil 50 UHVG 5W'.’l’T_Z3cd ‘ls’ the course offaithful 8.‘3('C11ilOll by Mexico when t
Ol tbé ii“-"l_"'.l' ‘mfl l7"eb_‘lbl“bCy with wb"-'b tbe the hostile demonstrations of our Adiiiinistration 3
purposes °t.me.Lxecum'e cum“ lo be sbsblblbd suspended the payment of stipulated indemni-
by ‘b9 Le“é'5l“b"° ““lb°l'li)'s W0 Cannot 53)’ “'9 ties. As to wliatremained of unadjusted claims. i
5‘”b‘’- we “"3” bblb 5b"l”'l5“d bbd “l““b‘-"d lo there was nothing, until the occurrence of this
llbd bow 935")’ °b bbe bbbblse bf ‘be lbbmeblv war, to prevent their poaccable and oven satis— .
bllbdllold "bd gilggeds C°"z‘s’1'e55 Cmlld be dbl"e" factory adjustment. As to the refusal byMexi- 3
1° lbbd its cbbbleblmce to “"1059 Pu"P°5e5-"‘ co to receive our Minister being, as the. Presi-l
Blbldlbld “bd gbgged We 1'3l’ebt- N‘-’b ls lb“ dent. intimates, a sufficient cause of war, it is :1
°Xl’beS5l°b too 5“'°"z‘-Ii lb”: bf/bf“ ‘be ‘laws bl. sufficient answer to the Prosideiit that the arm)’ A
the dtlbgembs Posltlml 0f0Ul‘ Amly "V“~" °°mmb' was ordered to march to the RioGmnde (where, r
Hlcamd by lb“ E-‘ieblmve l0 C°"z‘§"b35v Commlt‘ .according to the programme of the government
“395 bf bblb Hbbsbs bud bee“ 8°‘ together» 0" l popes, the war was to bcgin) two months l)efo:'(3 '
lb“ Silbbbibs “bd mellsbms Pl"’P*“'°d lb bbbéebb our l‘vlinister was finally refused to be received I
with the Executive, which, the nextqclay on_re- by the G0‘,-emmL.m_ of M,_.xic0_
<:'e"'“lg_bbe P"e5“-leblis Message 01 10”“: Wlivlki But let it be adiiiitted, for the sake of m'gu- ;
Obi’ Wm‘-“'5 to b‘“’_° ‘be l’“P°l'3 flccbmlmbylbg '3 meat, and for that sake only, that, accordiiig toj
read over for the Infoi'mat.ion of Members. “'‘*|'9 the customs and laws of nations in less civilized, 3
f01'C9d bhmbgb ‘be H0059 Of R3l"’e-W-"l‘1bl"e5-A less moral, and loss enlightened ages than the:
NOV: “V9” to 3 bbdl’ excited 35 “*9 “GU59 “'33 present. we really had cause of war with Mexi-
by the stirring news from the Rio Gi'anLlL'. did i co, so far as war between two C-liristian Nations
the ruling party in the Houseveaturo to propose
the false and obnoxious Preamble of the Bill
until after all deliberation and dobiitc had been
precluded on ii question as momentous certainly
as ever came before Congress. - Had there been
nothing else alarniing in this Declaration of
\/Var with Mexico, the despotism thus exercised
over the minority of the Representative body,
repeated on the following day in the Senatorial
body, (tlieretoforo exempt from such sharp prac-
tice,) was of itselfsufficient to appal the hearts
of those accustomed, as we have been, to regard
the rights of minorities as not less -sacred than
those of majorities, and, among them, the right
of proposing amendments to or r_einonsti-ating
against any proposition-coming before them.—
The niiuority in each House was thus subjected
by a most arbitrary and malignant . exercise of
party power, without beingullowed a moment
for deliberation, to the alternative of voting fora
bill with a‘ preunible, the falsehood of which
they saw and detectedfor of refusing to vote for
enactments (supplies of men and money) to
is ever just or necessary: yet war with Mexico,
distracted, weakened, and iinpoverished as she
had long been and then was, with intestine fac-
tions aiid divisions, was neither necessary, inag—
nanimous, nor honorable on our part. Such a
war, oven for just objects, being unnecessary——
the only inevitable effect, indeed upon the claims
for which it would be waged being to fasten them.
upon our own Treasury instead of the Mexican
—could never redound to the glory of the coun-
try, and much less compensate’ for the rivers of
blood and heaps of treasure which have been al-
ready wasted in this war. '
But, to pass all this by, whether the existing
war be just or unjust, necessary or unnecessary.
‘is not the question now at issue between the
President and the People. \Vas this \Var the
States, declined‘ in their name, in the only inan-
uer known or acknowledged‘ by the Co_nstiI.ution
-‘——by the Senate and House of Representatives
in Congress to whom alone it belongs to deter-
act of the Sovereign. People of the United-
"mine whether \Var, at any time or under any
J
can tlt-piirriiieiits of New Mexico. Cliiliualiuni. Coa-
liulia, and 'l‘nmaulipo.s, would be an o.ctol'dii'cct op-
pression upon ilicxico. for all me consequences of
wliicli toe United States would stand responsible.
«To the same effect. that great Democratic
leader, Hon. Silas Wright, (whose death has
been so justly lamented by men of all parties,)
who was present during the whole debate upon
the Texas Treaty and gave his vote a'=ainst its
ratification, declared to his constituents, in a
speech delivered at Vi-"atcrtown, as follows:
“I felt it my duty to vote against the ratification of
the treaty for-the annexation. I believe that the
l.i‘FéiJ.!‘,’, from the bouiidaries that must be implied from
5-,‘ ,.,‘,,i,,-med ;. com-.u—y to which Texas had no claim,
«wt.-i' whicli she had never asserted jurisdiction, and
\'.'l1icf: she had no right to cede.”
But, many years before the date of this de-
bate. the records of the United States had borne
testimoiiy to the true boundary of Texas. In
1t-531;‘ an Agent was dispatclied by the President
of the United States (Gen. Jackson) to examine
and report upon the condition of Texas, which
had then established an independent Govern-
ment; and in his report, dated in August oftltat
year, he reported that " the political limits of
Texas proper, previous to the last revolution,
were the I\‘ueccs Iiivvzrr on the west ; along the
Red Rivcroirtlie north; -the Sabine on the east,
und the Gulf of Mexico on the south."
At the time of the consuination of the act of
annexatiori,‘.VI r. Donelson being-the Charge d'Af-
faires of the United States to that young Repub-
lic, communicated freely with his Government
as to the position of things in Texas. From his
-letters we extract the following-_ passages, show-
ing what was the fact as to the limits of the ter-
ritory actually occupied by ’.l‘ex8s. CVBH 815 thllt
time: _
“Corpus Christi is’ said to be as heallbl’ 39 Pt‘!!-
s.-icola, a convenient place for supplies. and the most
western point now occupied by '1 exas.”
" Letter to Secretary of State, June 30, 1845.
--']_‘he occupation of the country be'ween the Nuc-
ces and the Rio Grande, you are aware, is a disputed
question. Texas holds Corpus Christi, Mexico holds
_.._..A
“The jnintfreusolntion of our Congress léf! tliéi
qucstion an open one, and the prt~li'ini’nary proposi-
of the Briti.-sli and Freticli ‘i()Vt'l’nlll(‘Dl..~‘, us the lt«'lSl§
in the same state. And although this Goveriinu,-nt
(the Gu\'criiiiicn_t of Texa.-‘) has since indicated it
point on the Rio Griiiizle for the occupation of our
troops, I did not consider this circiiiiistaiice a.-'-v:n_v-
ing the question, since the l’ri~sident (of Texas) but
a few weeks before issued a porclumation suspending
hostilitios lictwer.-n Texas and Mo.-xico,'thc practical
effect of which was to leave the question precisely
as it stood ‘when our joint resolntsoii pas.-:ed—l\li;x-
ICU IN POSSESRIHN 0]’ ONE PORTION (IF THE IXZRRP
'roar,Axn Tux \s Ul-‘ A.-o'i'iir.a.” "The proclama-
tion ofa truce between the two nations, liiuiitlcd
on propositions niutuull_v acceptable to‘ tht.-in, lcav-‘
ing the qlleSl.l(‘ll\0l- boundai'_v not only an open one,
but Mexico in _possc sion of the cast bank of. the
Rio Grande, seemed to be inc-onsistciit with the
expect-.uioii_tliat in defence of the cl-'lltll of Tl'c.\:i.-:
our troops should march lllllllc(ll:lll'l_Y to that river
\\"liat the Executive of Texas htul determine.-d not
to fight for,but to settle by negotiation. to say tl:e
least of it. could as well be left to the United States’
on the same conditions.”
“The question was wbellier. under the circ'.:m-
stdiices, we should take a po;-‘itioii to iiiake war for
this claim in tlie liice of an {tCl{ll0\‘il@tlg1l)0lll oi: the
part oftliis Governmciit that it could be settle-:l by
negotiation. l at once decided that we sliould " "
no such position, but slioiild regard only as w' l
the limits of our protection that portion of tcrritorv
actually possessed by Texas, and wliicli she did not
consider as subject in iii-gotiation.” V ‘
Letter to Mr. Buclianan, July 11. l8rl3.
“Your purpose will be the dc-feiice of Téxa.-2, if
she is invzuled by Mexico. and you will be in position
at Corpus Christi. San Antonio. and other points
on the Nueces ready to act according to circuinstau-'
ces."—’l‘o Gen Taylor. .lul_y 7, 184.’).
These extracts together establish, upon the
evidence of our Governiiient itself, through its
Diplomatic Reprcseiitativo in Texas, that Me-xi-‘
co was in 320.5-session of the territory '20:‘-.95 (f the
N.-(cces (except t.lio County of Patrice)
Texas oftlie territory cast of the Niicces, x ..
tho addition of Putrico; that Mexico was adznzt-'
ted, by our own Envoy to be in );o.«;sr.:=.:ion o;"z'.7:e
east ban/: of Rio (r'r(zmIc, and that Coi';‘us
Christi was the most western point than occu;:i»;~zl
by ’1'c.ras. 'l‘liese adniissioiis from a source so
well-iiiforined, so free from bias in favor of any
iziterest but that of the United States. (includiiig
Texas,) are fatal to every pretciisioii of t.ei'ri1o-
rial right, on the part of Texas between the .l‘i:o’_
Grands and the Nueces. the small County of
Patrice perhaps excepted.
All that remains, tliereforc, to sustain the‘
position of our Adiuinistration that the boun-
dary of Texas extended to the Rio Grande, and-
that by her annexation the Rio Grande became
the boundary of the United States, is the act of
the Legislature of Texas declaring its bouiidaiy
to. extend to the Rio Grmidc. lf that act could
be considered of any effect whatever, it would
at. most leave ground for controversy and nego-
tiation, as was assumed by Mr. Donclson.~ But
that act itself was a more nullity.
To that effect we have the opinion of Senator
\Voodbui-y, (now an Associate Judge of the Sn-
preme Court of the U. States.) in his Speech in
favor of ratifying the Treat'y of Annexation :'
" 'l'ex'is, by a mere l:i'.v," said he, “ could acquire
no title but what she conquered from Mexico. aunt
iictiially governed. Ilciicc. though her law includes
more than the ancient 'l‘ex:is. she could lioldand con-
\'e_v only that, _or, at the utteriiiost, only what she
exercised Clt.‘tll’jlll’l.-€(llCll!)ll over.”
Texas never had exercised jurisdiction of any
sort over any territory on the Rio Grande, and
could not, tlierefore by possibility convey to the
United States any title to it. , ,
To the same elfe'ct we have the authority I f
Mr. Gallatin. which saves us and oui' readers
the trouble ofsearching farther on the subjecti-
“The Republic of Texas did, by an act of De-
ceinber, I836. declare the Rio del Norte to be its
boundary. It will not be seriously contended‘ that
.'l nation has a right. by a law of its own, to deter-
mine what is or shall be the boundary between it
and another country. The act was nothing more
than the expression ofthc wi.=lics or pretensions of
the Govornnieiit. Asregurds right, the act of 'l‘exas
is ii ptrtcct xvi.1.irii.”
It is thus conclusively demonstrated that the
territory between the Nucces and the Rio
Grande never had passed out of the possession"
or right; ofMexico, and was in no sense “ Ameri-
can soil," or territoryof the United States. The
fact is, moreover, too notorious to need to be
here dwelt upon, that the army of the United
States, when it neared the Rio Grnnde, chased‘
the Mexican custom officers out of their houses.
and. when it cncamped on the bank ofthe river,
found itself in tlie'mi‘dst of a Mexican populatiini‘,
and occupying the corn and cotton fields which
they had fled from in dismay. The flag of the
United States was planted by our army, as in
defiance, under the guns of a Mexican fort, and
at the same time the vessels of our navy blocka-
dcd the mouth of the Rio Grandc-——a river rim-
ning. from its source to the ocean, altogether
between Mexican banks, without. a Texan it
tlement ofany sort within a hundred miles :«._:t.
Nay, Gen. Taylor himself, after literally obnyiizg
the Executive orders by occupying a position cp-
posito’ M‘atanioi'as,' thus reported to‘-the 'W.:r
Department, under date of April 6, 1846, his
proceedings:
“ On our side a battery for four eiglileeri poiiiid
ers will be completed. and the guns placed in baits
ry to day. These guns bear directly upon the pub
lic square of Matainoras, and within good range for
deinolisbiiigtlietovvii. Tin-:in oaJi«;c'r cxxxor Bi-2
MISTAKI-ZN in nu: iwi-:.\ii'.”
The Enemy! IV/zat enemy? Does not tlii;-."
language prove that ilie brave old General un-
derstood very well what. he was sent there for?
VVur did not exist until he had planted a bat.io:'y
of guns bearing directly upon the public equ:-are
of Matamoras, the object of which, aslie very
truly reports to Mr. Marcy, could not be mista-
ken! _ ' “
And’ by t'his'invasion of Mexican‘t‘orritory. un-
der pereniptary orders from \Vashington to the
Commanding General. was the war began by
the President (f the United States, without the
knowledge of Congres, though then in session.
Nor then nor since has there been &, drop of
American [United States] blood shed by 1'-’l‘exi‘-
co on American soil: nor th‘en nor since lies a
Mexican soldier or armed man set liisfoot upon
American soil; [Texas proper included.]
The foundation of the Presidentfs first, sec-‘
ond, and last \Var Manifestoes against Mexico
-being thus withdrawn from under them, what is‘
there left: to sustain any part of the recommen-
dations, in the Message before us. of a farther
and more vindictive prosecution of the war ?
But to proceed: The ground upon which the
President placed the \Vur, when, having got in-
to it, he was obliged to call upon Congress to
sustain him in it. is, as we have shown, so far
from being solid or true. that it is directly the
reverse. So far from Mexico having invaded
1
l
I
the Brasos de Santiago.”
Letter to Gen. Taylor, June 28, 1845.
the United States. our President invaded Mexi-
co; and, so far from the war having “-existed”
tion made by this Goveniiiient, under the aii.-npiccs.
of a definitive treaty with Mexico,.lv-ft the questinir
Norwalk Chronicler