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VOL. 16.]
.Ki£l.£«6Cri£££, GEORGIA, At .YE 3 , 1846.
CAMPBELL & GlilFFfA,
Ecitoks^Ind Proprietors.
TERMS.
MS S’SDSBAH. ®na©H
Is published weekly, in the Darien Bank Building, at
Three Dollars per annum payable in advance, or
Four Dollars if not paid before the end of the year.
No subscription will be received for less than a year, nor
will any paper be discoiuitiued until all arrearages arc
paid.
The paper wi'l not be sent to any person out of the
St ite, until the subscription money is paid in advance,
or satisfactory reference given.
Advertisements conspicuously inserted at the usual
rules. Those sent without a specification of the number
of insertions, will he published until ordered out, and
charged accordingly.
Sales of land and negroes, bv Administrators, Execu-
ors. or Guardians, are required by law to be held on the
lirst Tuesday in the month, between the houts of ten in
the forenoon and three in the afternoon, at the Court-
House in the county in which the property is situated.
Notice of these sales must be given in a public gazette
sixty days previous to the day of sale.
Notices for the sab. of personal property must be given
in like manner, forty lays previous to the day of sale.
Notices to the debtors and cieditors of an estate must
also be published forty days.
Notice that application will be made to the Court of
Ordinary, for leave to sell Land or Negroes, must be
published for four months.
Citations for letters of Administration, must be pub
lished thirty days—for dismission from Administration,
monthly six months—for dismission from Guardianship,
forty days.
Roles for foreclosure of mortgage must be published i
monthly for four months—fur establishing lost papers./or j
th/ full space of three months—for compelling tides from ;
Executors or Administrators, where, a bond has been j
given by the deceased, the full space of three, months.
Publications will always be. continued according to
these, the legal requirements, unless otherwise ordered.
All b isiness of this kind will receive prompt attention
M the Federal Union Office.
Letters on business must be postpaid to entitle them
n attention.
NO. 1,
Cheapest Side.
CFG1R,—St. Croix, Porto Rico, New Orleans,
LA Loat and Crushed Sugar, for sale by
April 14, 1846. JAMES HF.RTY.
C tOFFEE.—Java, Rio, Laguayraand St. Dotnin-
' go. Tor sale by JAMES F1ERTY.
April 14.1846.
iYf ASSES.—Prime Cuba Molasses, for sale
; ' a b y [April 14.] JAMES HERTY.
B
ACON.—Prime new Racon, for sale by
April 14. JAMES HERTY.
I^LOI R.—Canal and Country Flour, for sale bv
L April 14. JAMES HERTY.
JAA/A. Imperial, Gunpowder and Hyson Tea, for
sale by [April 14.] JAMES HERTY.
AISINS.—Choice Rai sins, for sale by
April 14. JAMES HERTY.
R
S
PSCLS.-Allk ind of fresh Spires, for sela by
Aprii 14. JAMES HERTY.
]\j AILS.—All sizes Nails and Tacks, for sale by
IN April 14. JAMES HERTY
S S*A DES. Ames best Spades and Shovels, for
sale by [April 14.] JAMES HERTY
S FYTIIES.—Ibbotson’s Patent Scythes, for sale
b y [April 14.] JAMES HERTY.
A AES. Collins 1 and W bite’s Axes, for sale by
April 14. JAMES HERTY.
ACES.—Straight and twisted Traces, for sale
POWERS & WHITTLE,
attormes at law.
MACON, GEORGIA.
September 2, 1845.
12 ly
W. T. A A. Si. COLQUITT
AT7TLL PRACTISE LAW in theseveralc
YV* of the Flint circuit.
\V. T. Colquitt, La Grange, \
A. II. Colquitt, Maion. )
(Office iu Macon.)
Dec. 3,1845.
counties
if—26
GINS,
his Old Establishment, in CLINTON,
Jones county, Get.
[ F can offer no better recommendations in favor of
his gins, than the Tact, of having supplied more
, Ticelce Hundred planters with them during the last
years, while no other factory has probably sold in
state as many as one hundred during the same time,
expense will be spared to sustain their high reputa-
. and render them still more perfect if possible,
hey will be warranted as usual to perform well and
re red at the purchasers residence. Engagements can
nade with his travelling agents, or by letter directed
SAMUEL GRISWOLD.
tf—42
arch 30, 4836.
1 OUR.MONTHS after date, application will he
made to the honorable Inferior Court of Baldwin
unity, when sitting for ordinary purposes, for leave to
I two negro women slaves, the properly of the estate
Catherine Harrall, late of said county, deceased.
JAMES O'BRIEN, Adm’r.
May 4, 1846. 47
Administrator's Sale.
X7"ILL BE SOLD, oil the fourth Tuesday in JUNE
'V next, within the usual hours or sale, in the town
Monticello, Jasper connty, all the persona! property
the late Alexander N. Buchanan, deceased, late o
d county, for the benefit of heirs and creditors of said
\ Buchanau. Terms made known on the day of
J*' WILLIAM- TOLEFREE, Adm’r.
Pcbontsuon.
Monticello, May 4th, 1846.
MONTHS after date, application will he
to the Inferior Court of Jasper county, sit-
jurt of Ordinary, for leave to sell the real e*-
ate Alexander N. Buchanan, late of Jasper
the benefit of heirs and creditors ol said es-
WILLIAM TOEEFRl.ff, Adm r.
Dc bonis noil.
o, May 4th, 1346. 4irf
Administrator’s Sale.
ABLE to an order of the Inferior Court ot
‘county, when sitting for ordinary purposes,
at the Court house door, in Clinton, on the
tv in August next, between the usual hours
! l-2 acres of land. No. TO, 10th district on
f Ha" creek, in said countv, adjoininglands ol
Billingslea; sold for the benefit of the heirs
Middlebrooks, deceased. -Terms on the day
is.AAC R- MIDDLEBROOKS, Adm r.
1846.
tales District Court, Bank-
TKICT OF Gf.ORGIA. ) ntplCJ.
IPSON, of Decatur, DeKalb comity, Ga„
-maker, a Bankrupt, having filed his peu-
that a full discharge from his debts may be
illowed, and a certificate thereof be granted
:e is hereby given to all creditors who have
debts and other persons in interest to ap
point House in the City of Savannah, on
day of August next, at eleven o clock, A.
cause why such discharge and certificate
ranted.
GEO. GLEN, Clerk.
May 11,1846. 49—lit
by [April 14.]
JAMES HERTY
LAW NOTICE.
It. SAFFOLO & J. M. BOLING, I
W ILL practise in the Courts of DALLAS and
LOWNDES, and in the adjoining countie
also in the Supreme Court. )
Address Satfold & Boling, at Pleasant Hill, Dallas
county, or Hayneville, Lowndes county, Ala. J
Dec. 16, 1845. 6m—27 j
ANDREWS & GARTKELL,
Attomies at Law.
H AVING formed a copartnership in the practice of
the law, will atiend the Courts of the Northern
Circuit, and in the Supreme Court when sitting at Mil-
ledgeville.
Garnett Andrews, ?
Lucius j. Gartrell. )
Jau. 12. 1846. _
GEO. W. FISH,
Attorney at lLaw,
MACON GA.
\T7"ILL attend the Superior Courts of the counties
YY of Bibb, Baldwin, Wilkinson. Washington,
Twiggs Pulaski, Dooly, Macon and Houston.
Any professional business entrusted to his care, shall
he attended to with all promptness and fidelity.
Jan. 22, 1846. “ _
Yludical Notice.
D R. .1. F. BOZEMAN, respectfully tenders
his professional services to the citizens ol Milledge-
ville, and its vicinity.
All calls made at his office in the Darif.n Bank Build-
isg, will be promptly attended to, day or night.j
April 28,1846. 11—40
NOTICE/ ,. ,
I WILL attend to the taking out and forwarding oi
GRANTS and Copy Grants, for a fee ol 50 cents
each. ALFRED M. HORTON-
Milledgeville, Jan. 13, 1846. “‘UtL
Griswold’s Improved
COTTON GINS.
THE SUBSCRIBER WILL
Cositismc Hie Manufacture of these
/.UN'S.—Double and single barrelled Gnn«, for
^ sale by [April 14.] JAMES HERTY.
C OtX KER\ .—Fine and Common Crockery
for sale by [April 14 ] JAMES HERTY
CGAP.—Steam and Turpentine Soap, for sale by
L7 April 14. JAMES HERTY.
P OTASII.—Just received, prime Polish, for sale
by [ApriN4.] JAMES HERTY.
( HANDLES.—Sperm. Stearic, Adamantine and
J Tallow Candles, for sale by
April 14. JAMES HERTY.
AMI’S. A few “Cornelius’ ’ Lard Lamps, for
sale by [April 14.] JAMES HERTY.
ILS.—Sperm. Linseed, Train, and Castor Oil,
for sale by [April 14 ] JAMES HERTY.
L’RPENTSNE-—Pin e Spirits Turpentine,for
sale by [April 14 ] JAMES HERTY.
L
O
T
1YL AC'MERE L.—Whole and half Barrels, Nos
J fJL 1 and 2 Mackerel, and Kilts do., for sale by
April 14. JAMES HERTY.
'y7‘INEGAK
w"
Jeveral Barrels c;o«. v;.,c- t
forsate try [April 14.] JAMES HERTY. i
iSITE LEAD.—Pure and Extra No. I,
White Lead, for sale by
April 14. JAMES HERTY. j
C itoCOLATE -Bes1 No. fand 2, Chocolate,
for sale by [April 14.] JAMES HERTY\ j
S hoes.—Lage lot Russet Brogans; Ladies'and
Misses Kid and Morocco Slips. c\:c. .Ac . for sale by
- April 14. JAMES HERTY. I
rpOBACCO-1 -.arge lot fine Chewing Tobacco; j
A also fine cut Chewing and Smoking do., for sale |
by [April 14 ] JAMES HERTY. j
I RON.—Large lot Swedes and English Iron, for j
sale by [April 14 ] JAMES HERTY.
S TEEL.—Cast and German Steel, for sale bv
April 14. JAMES HF.RTY.
C l ASTS NGST—Large supply English and Ame-
/ ricau Castings, for sale by-
April 14. JAMES HERTY’.
C
1C i’LEKY.-
April 14
-Best English Cutlery, for sale by
JAMES HERTY.
SIEVES, <fcc.—Sieves, Coffee-mills and Black-
O ing, for sale by [April 14.] JAS. HERTY'.
( 'lARBS.— Cotton. Wool and Horse Cards, for
J sale by [April 14.] JAMES HERTY.
C l UBBY COMBS.--V arious kinds Curry
> Combs, for sale by
April 14. JAMES HERTY.
S TAKCH.—Fine “Premium” Siarch. forsale by
April 14. JAMES HERTY.
n ] OOllEN WAISE.— Tubs Buckets and
Keelers, lor sale by-
April 14. JAMES HERTY.
“\7 AI6N, —Athens and Eatonlon Y'arn anil
B Oznaburgs, for sale by-
April 14. JAMES HERTY.
B ROOJLS.—Fine and common Shaker and
Whisks, for sale by JAMES HERTY.
Milledgeville, April 14, 1846. 44^
From Charleston via Augusta
"2-
MILLEDGEVILLE TO MACON.
FARE REDUCED!!
From Charleston to Milledgeville, $11 50. To
Macon from do., §14 50. Omnibus included.
Nearest, cheapest, and only direct route daily,
(Sundays nut excepted,) through without delay.
L EAVING Augusta by Georgia Rail Road,9£ o clock
P. M., Warrenton by Stage I2J o’clock, A. M..
thence by Sparta, arriving at Milledgeville at 114
o’clock. A. M„ at Gordon at 4£ o’clock, P. M., thence
by Cental Rail Road to Macon at 6 o’clock, P. M.
From Macon, leaves for Gordon by Central Railroad
at6 o’clock, A. M., thence by Stage to Milledgeville at
K)i o clock, A M., to Warrenton 9 o’clock, P. M., in
time for the carson the Georgia Rail Road for Augusta,
and arrives there in time (or the cars on the Charleston
Road .
Passengers, through, on this line will in a J cases nave
the preference over those on the way.
This line connects immediately at Macon, with the
Macon & Western Rail Road, and with the line of
stages going South and West, to Tallahasse, Columbus,
and Montgomery. Ala. .
Fare at Augusta, received by Agent Georgia Rail Road;
at Warrenton. by E. Hale; at Macon, by YV. A. Mott;
at Milledgeville, by A. Mott.
KN<>X & MOTT, Proprietors.
Milledgeville, March 31st 1846. ^ 42
[EFThe Augusta Constitutionalist, Macon Telegraph,
and Columbus Times will copy until the 1st ol June and
forward their accounts to us for payment. K. Sc M.
In Pulaski Superior Court,
October Term, 1S45.
Alfred C. Bostwick, Complainant,] gj// for Injunc-
rs - \ tiou, discovery
Dennis Perkins, Luctus Hopkins, &. , and relief.
Geokge White, Defendants. J *
I T appearing to the Court by the return of the bhertli
that the defendants in the above cause, cannot he
found in the said county. It is on motion of conn-
sel for complainant, ordered that service of said Dili be
perfected by publication in one of the public Gazettes ol
this State, for the space of four months, in terms of the
law KENAN <fc ROCKWELL,
Sol’rs. for Complainant,
A true copy taken from the minutes of the Court.
JOHN V. MITCHELL, Clerk.
February 11, 1646. ) 36—4m
rAOUR MONTHS after date, application will be
JC made to the honorable Inferior Court of 1 wiggs
county, when sitting for ordinary purposes for leave to
sell the lands belonging to the estate of Philip R. Jessup
late of said county deceased. ,
YVM. S. C. JESSUP, Adui r.
April 7,1845. 4c>
Utley’s Pateut Straw Cutter.
T HE subscriber has purchased the exclusive right, to
construct and vend this admirable Maclune ; for the
counties of Baldwin, Washington and Wilkinson It is
regarded by those who have examined ii, as far superior
to any thing of the kii d ever before used. Any number
of them can, in a short time, be furnished.
HAMILTON GARMANY.
Milledgeville, April 25,1846. 46 tf
BB
IP DENNETT,
From tie Washington Union.
‘ STAND £,Y YOUR COUNTRY!”
‘‘Leave your frierd and stand by your country. 1 ” was
the emphatic admonition of General Jackson to a dele
gate oi the Baltimoi;: Convention, who slopped at the
Hprmitage, and exf.essed to the old Hero his embar
rassment between h friendship for one of the Presiden
tial candidates, and [s principles in favor of the annexa
tion of Texas. |
“Stand by ytjir country!” Let each word
Sink to tlii soul like living flame,
For, in a Pa^iot’s heart they stirred,
And from ^ Patriot’s lips they came:
From one, io, although in the grave,
Still sends a>- dee to warn and save.
“Stand by y ' ir country!” YVhat are all
The ties ol friendship and of blood.
When they would lure you from the call
To battle for your country’s good—
Y’our country’s rights? Oh, next to Heaven,
Let heart and hand to her be given!
“Stand by your country!” Never sleep,
For many a myrmidon is near,
With bitter scorn and hatred deep
Of all a freeman holds most dear;
Men who would have you bow the knee
Like them, to ruthless Monarchy.
• Stand by your country’” To the sky
Let her proud banner be unrolled,
Nor to one honest heart deny
The shelter of its starry fold;
But hail with joy one added ray
That tells of Freedom’s onward way.
“ Stand by your country!” Let no foe
Pollute her soil or hover near;
And Texas!—ne'er should History show
That England’s “morning drum” beat there.
Or that the British lion’s roar
Was heard on Oregon’s wild shore.
“Stand by your country!” Right or wrong,
Be ready, in the hour of need—
Though countless ills should round thee throng
And homes be wrecked, and bosoms bleed.
To plead her cause, and wield the brand
For Freedom and your Native Land!
JMOIMSMiL _
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, »
May IS, 1S46. f
TIIE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr. LUMPKIN then addressed thecommii-
tee as follows:
Mr. Chairman: 1 feel confident that I will
be pardoned by this committee for occupying
their attention at this time in giving ex
pression to the views I entertain upon
the general topics introduced into this dis
cussion u is welt Known to this body th'at
1 have heretofore contented tnyself with giv
ing a silent vole upon such measures as were
introduced and pending for our consideration
and action. I have been influenced to pursue
this course from a natural and unfeigned re
pugnance, that I have at all times felt, to en
gage in discussions here, which too often per
haps fail to receive attention from any consid
erable number of its members, and which are
frequently made rather for home consumption
than to influence the action of gentlemen up
on this floor. But, sir, the important position
of the country and her relations with Mexico
at d the balance of the civilized world; the
measures we have lately adopted to meet the
existing state of things, and the measures of a
kindred character that we now propose to a-
dopt, involving, as they all do, the honor and
the political welfare and happiness of twenty
millions of freemen, has overcome this repug
nance, and l now claim it as my right and
privilege to he heard on the questions raised
in this debate having reference to the admis
sion of'lexasas a new, independent sove
reignty into our Union. 1 shall nut enter at
length into the history of the wrongs suffered
by Texas as a province of Mexico, nor will it
be necessary for me to narrate in detail the
events of thatcontest which took place between
that province, or department of the Mexican
republic, and the ruthless usurpers who con
trolled the destinies at that ill-fated country.
It will be sufficient for the purposes of my ar
gument to assert the fact, which all the world
admits, and which many ofthe nations have
formally acknowledged by solemn and sove
reign act, that I exas, without the asoUt-
ance or the encouragement of any oth
er power, unaided and alone, by her own
unsurpassed gallantry and the might of her
arm, when all remonstrance had become una
vailing, threw off the iron yoke of her oppres
sors, and achieved and maintained her inde
pendence upon many a battle-field on her own
favored soil. Independence, and liberty, and
redemption from political thraldom were the
watchwords that animated her people in all
their sufferings, and the war-cry that gave
them victory, complete and glorious, over their
oppressors. Do you not remember, Mr.
Chairman, the achievement of that gallant and
intrepid band of Texans, who on the memora
ble 21st of April, 1836, on the plains of San
Jacinto, met and opposed the Mexican forces
under the command ofthe President of that
republic? Can you sir, forget that these htave
Texans numbering in all hut 7S3 men, led on
by an able and experienced general, now a
distinguished member of the other branch of
the national legislature, encountered in dead
ly conflict 1,500 Mexican soldiers, under the
lead of their favorite commander, Gen. Santa
Ana? Sir, you cannot forget it, nor can the whole
world fail to remember, that on that eventful
day 630 of the Mexican troops were killed
20S were wounded in the conflict, and the
whole of the remainder of the Mexican forces
numbering 730, were made prisoners of war
and among these was the President of the re
public himself. But the best of this great and
wonderful achievement remains to be told.—
This victory, unparalleled in modern warfare
was accomplished against such featful odds
with the loss of two men, who were killed,
and twenty-three others only were wounded.
The faithful historian who recorded this con
flict, and who will perpetuate the memory of
that bloody field and brilliant deed, has taught
us, and all those who will come after us, to
regard that day as the birthday of a nation,
and that field as the grave of Mexican denomi
nation east of the Rio Grande. It is now, sir
well known as a historical fact that all the
great powers of both hemispheres, including
the United States, England, France, and
Russia, acknowledged the independence of
Texas, entered into treaties with her, and paid
all respect to her national flag. It is well
known, too, sir, that from that memorable day
Texas had, without molestation or interrup
tion ftom Mexico, maintained an organized
system of government similar to that of the
United Stales, securing to the people the full
enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, and
all thd benefits and privileges of a well balan
ced and properly established constitutional go
vernment. For eight years Texas continued
to grow, increase, and prosper in the full en
joyment of the blessings of peace, u nmolested
by any hostile invasion by the armies of Mex
ico, or by any hands of organized troops from
the Mexican borders. She was independent
and was recognized as such by the world, and
no effort had been made on the part of Mexi
co to reduce her to subjugation. 1 ask in all
candor, how have we done wrong to Mexico
and with what justice can she complain of out
rages committee by the United States upon her
territory, when we gave ourconseui that the
independent rebuhlic of Texas should be ad-I
mitted as a new State into our Union? Mex- j
ico, torn and distracted by factions, without
the ability to maintain any organized system ,
of government had no hope of reducing Texas j
to subjugation. This was not attempted by !
Mexico, and candor and truth require us to ad- j
tnit that no attempt would be made with the .
expectation of accomplishing such an object
after an absent <>f «ight years, during which !
Texas had been dc facto independent, eii- j
joying all the rights and exercising all the !
acts of sovereignty, and independent, also, de j
jure, by the solemn recognition of the nations, i
No reasonable man anywhere believed that
such a result was in the remotest degred even l
possible; and it was universally conceded that
Texas, as an independent soveteign power,
had greater claims to consideration from the
civilized world that even the self-styled repub
lic of Mexico herself. In the honesty of my i
soul, I do most solemnly believe—and such, I '
think, is the opinion of a large majority of the
American people—that Mexico, unaided by
any foreign nation, relying exclusively upon
her own soldiers and resources to catry on
a war, should she have attempted, by an inva
sion of that territory, to reduce Texas to sub- ,
mission, would have hazarded her very exist- .
ence as an independent government. This was
the condition, and such was the relationship i
existing between Texas and Mexico at the
time the late overtures were made for the an- ;
negation of Texas to the United States. Be- 1
fore this measure was consummated, so desi
rable to both governments, it was placed in is
sue befure that greatest of all tribunals in all
free governments—the whole body ofthe peo
ple. It was discussed, canvassed, considered
and solemnly determined hv tl>~ **r~f*~
both governments, with a full knowledge oi
all the facts that the union of the two countries 1
should be completed by the performance of [
the rites appropriate to a political act of a
character so important and sacred. The peo
ple of this country were, to some extent, di
vided at that time as to the policy of admitting !
Texas as a State into this Union. This I ad- *
mit, was an honest difference of opinion; and I
the measure was one about which the most I
patriotic might with propriety at that time dis- I
agree. No mm hail a right to assail the mo
tives of those who differed from him at that
time as to the wisdom of the policy. But, sir,
the question now assumes another aspect.—
Texas has been admitted into to the Union,
and the people of both countries have been
consulted, and they have solemnly determined
to unite their destiny under the broad and
ample folds of the American banner. The
deed has bsen consummated and ratified by
the action of both governments; and Texas
has as much claim upon our protection as any
other State in this confederacy. 'I he boun
dary of the United States is now extended to
the western limit of Texas; her soil is our
soil, her people, our people; and her resour
ces contribute to our greatness in peace, atid
to our defence in war. She is already rep
resented in the other branch of Congress, and
has recently, by authority of law, elected two
members of this House. We have extended
over the whole of her territory the laws of the
United States and made provision for their
regular and proper administration. We have
established within her limits districts for
the collection of revenue, passed laws for
establishing post-routes, and all other laws ne
cessary to afford them equal rights and privile
ges as a component part of the American U-
nion. We have done all this, and it is now
too late to urge objections to the policy of this
measure; and at a time like this when our
country has been invaded by hostile troops —
when our soldiers have been captured, wound
ed, and killed in unequal and desperate con
flict, and our army is exposed to peril from
the overpowering numbers of the enemy, it is
treasonable to withhold the supplies necessary
for their relief; ar.d no good but much evil
must result from a prolonged discussion upon
the policy of annexing Texas to the United
States, and the propriety or impropriety
of the conduct of the President in direct
ing the occupation of th® country between
the Neuces and the Rio Grande. What if
Mexico did protest solemnly against this act,
and did announce that she would consider it
a declaration of war on the part of the United
States? What if she did unceremoniously
withdraw her minister in consequence of the
action of the general government in giving its
consent to the annexation of Texas? What if!
she did claim Texas as an integral part of the 1
Mexican republic, the right to reconquer which j
she never would relinquish? These declara
tions and act occurred before the measure 1
were consummated, and they did not influence |
our action then; much less should they control j
us now, when these menaces have been car- •
t ied out by the invasion of Texas and the j
slaughter of our citizens. And we have been |
called upon to furnish men and means to chas
tise these invaders of our soil, and speedily to
terminate the war they have commenced.—
But, sir, some of the opponents of the admin
istration on this floor have voted against the
measures recommended by the President in
bis special message in relation to the state of
things on our southwestern frontier, and pass
ed by both branches of Congress a few days
ago by an overwhelming majority. I was
glad to see that this number was so small, and
I sincerely regretted that there should be any,
even one solitary man, who, on an important
occasion like this, should feel constrained by
his sense of propriety and regard for the con
stitution, to withhold from the Executive the
whole power and resources ofthe government <
if necessary to repel invasion from our soil, j
and to punish the aggression made upon our
territory.
Sir, if these fourteen members had content- J
nwn
ed themselves with giving a silent vote, or tf j
in their attempts to justify themselves before; t jj at [t <] oe3 exist whether any declaration has
the country, they had not made a studied at
tack upon the Executive, I should have been
contented that their votes and their speeches
should have gone before the world without no
tice or remark from me. But the small band
who voted in opposition have gained an acces
sion to their number; and have been assisted
in their assaults upon the administiation by
others who voted for the measure, as they
now assert, with a mental reservation as to cer
tain exptessions contained in the preamble,
and against which they both then and now en
ter their solemn protest. The act of Congress
asserts that the war actually existing was com
menced by the republic of Mexico, and then
makes provision for raising 50,000 volunteers,
arid appropriates ten millions dollars to pro
secute this war already existing to a success
ful termination. I will do these gentlemen
the justice to say that they are the advocates
on ibis floor of all the necessary supplies of
men and money for the defence of the coun
try. They have so declared, and I am unwil
ling to believe that there is an American citi
zen of any party or section of this Union who
would withhold the means for defence against
a hostile invasion from any quarter. It is e-
nougli for us to know that our soil has been
desecrated; that our country has been invad
ed, and that a hostile band of armed soldiers
have killed and wounded our citizens, and
that the American army, under Gen. Taylor,
is in a hazardous situation, and in need of as
sistance. At a time like this shall we be strug
gling for a mere party triumph? Can .no cir-
cumstauces or condition ofthe country, no per
ils however great, induce gentlemen in the op
position to cease their cavilling against the ad
ministration, or postpone their hostility to the
President? Is not this an occasion when, for a
time, all party distinctions and differences
shall be forgotten, and with one voice, with
one heart, and with one hand, we all shall
mate i forward in defence of the soil, the
rights, and the honor of the country? Admit,
for uie sake of the argument merely, that
the President has mistaken the duties of Ins
station, and has committed att aggression up
on Mexico by ordering the army to occupy a
position on the left bank of the Rio Grande
opposite to Metamoras; is this a time for us
to institute an investigation of his conduct? fs
this the proper time to be weakening the mor
al force and jv.iw ffp administration, upon
wnnm the responsibility of prosecuting the
war necessarily devolves? Does patriotism re
quire at your hands, as the faithful represen
tatives of the people that you should now, in
your elevated position, denounce the Presi
dent for a violation of the constitution by mak
ing an unauthorized and unholy invasion on
the soil and territory of Mexico? Does your
regard for the constitution of the country re
quire you to denounce this war with Mexico
as unauthorized, unjust, and damnable? YVhat
can gentlemen who assume such positions at
a crisis like this promise themselves or their
country ? Will you promote the success of our
arms by destroying, if such a thing were pos
sible, the influence of the President? Are you
encouraging enlistments for the service of the
country by proclaiming to your countrymen
that your government is the aggressor?—that
the President has, in violation of the constitu
tion, without authority of Congress, made an
aggressive, unjust, and damnable war against
an unoffending sister republic? I beg such gen
tlemen to pause and reflect before they give
utterance to such sentiments in this place, at
a time like this. Retrace your steps, and
withdraw, for a time, these charges, perhaps
inconsiderately and too hastily made, and j
come forward with the same ability you have i
displayed against the Executive, in support of |
all the measures necessary to the efficient and j
successful prosecution r.f the war against j
Mexico, and, my word for it, the result will ;
be such as to rejoice the patriots of all parties. \
If these charges are to be investigated, and if ,
gentlemen will insist that they ate made in j
good faith, and that they are prepared to stis- j
tain them Before the greatest of all human ti i- i
bunuls—the enlightened public opinion of the
civilized world—I call upon them, in the name
of my countrymen of all parties, to postpone
these bickerings and discussions until the rain- j
bow of peace shall again span our country’s
horizon. The country cannot appreciate the
patriotism of gentlemen who will, in the midst
of a conflict, long stop to inquire whether
their country be right or wrong; and I can as- j
sure such that the denunciations made by
them against the President, and the charges ;
they have preferred that he has, by commit- j
ting acts of aggtession on unoffending Mexico, ,
plunged the country into an unjust, unrighie- j
ous, and damnable war, will not be respond- j
ed to by any considerable portion of the peo- j
pie. Nine-tenths of the people, of all parties, !
have approved of the preliminary measures j
taken by the President for the defence of l
Texas and our southwestern frontier. And j
with the lirst news of the invasion of our ter-
ritority and the murder of our citizens upon j
the banks of the Rio Grande, with one accord i
we find the great mass of the people, of all i
parties, volunteering their services and march- j
ing to the scene of action to repel the inva- I
ders, and to punish the aggression. Politi- j
cians and members of Congress attached to !
particular interests may forget their country* j
and leel no indignation at the treachery and j
outrages committed on our own soil, and a- j
gainst American citizens, by the Mexican sol- I
diary; but the people—the honest, jatiiotic, I
and industrious people—at home and by their ,
own firesides, are always for their country
right or wrong. But, Mr. Chairman, there
are two classes of protesters and cavillers ,
whom it becomes my duty to notice before I
close my remarks. The first class deny the
truth ofthe proposition which asserts that war
actually exists between the government of the
United States and Mexico; and the other ad- ;
mit that either formal or informal war may ex- ;
ist, but deny that it has been commenced by
Mexico, and attribute it to the unconstilution- j
al and aggressive action of the President in
ordering our army to the Rio Grande. I shall
notice each position briefly, in the few remain
ing remarks that I propose to offer for the con
sideration of the committee. That any official
information has been received that Mexico
has formally made a declaration of the war a-
gainst the United States has not been asserted
by the President in his late communication,
nor have any of his friends on this floor con
tended that such was the fact. But the exist
ence of the war is asserted. They contend
[NO. 61.
been made or not; and this is shown most con
clusively from the despatches accompanying
his message. In the early periods of the
world it was customary to proclaim a state of
war by heralds, and war was always preceded
bv an open, formal, and official declaration.—
Biit such has not been the custom in modern
times; and even as far back as 1778 the with-
dtawal of a British minister from Paris was
considered and acted on as a declaration of
war by France. And in 1812, although we,
by a solemn act of Congress, declared war to
exist between the United States and Great
Britain, yut we did not wail to communicate
that fact to the British government, but com
menced hostilities at once, and without a single
day’s delay. The ablest and most approved
modern authors on international law all agree
in the same thing, that war may exist without
any previous forma! declaration, and the facts
connected with the present difficulties with
Mexico only confirm to establish the great fun
damental truths that they have asserted and
maintained. What is war? It is tire exercise
of violence on the pait ofthe supreme execu
tive of one notion on the soil, the citizens, or
the property of another nation, and this is
manifested not by the declaration ofthe sove
reign power formally made according to the
forms of the constitution, and officially com
municated to those against whom the war has
been made, but by any direct and positive tes
timony that will satisfactorily prove that hos
tilities have been commenced with the con
sent or approbation of the sovereign authority
of a State. And what is the evidence af-
fotded to us that a state of war i xisted ante
rior to the passage of the act of Congress to
which reference has been made? In 1S44,—
while Congress was in session, and consider
ing the propriety of giving their consent to
the admission of Texas into the Union, Gen
eral Almonte, then the minister of Mexico at
the city of Washington, in advance of our ac
tion, protested in the name of his government
against the adoption by this government of
any such measure, and solemnly declared that
if it should be consummated it would be con
sidered by Mexico as a declaration of war by
the United States. And Congress not regard
ing this protest, and having given its sanction
to the act of annexation, the minister demand
ed his passports and immediately returned to
his own country; and from that day to this Mex
ico has been without any diplomatic agent or
minister resident in this city. But all this,
with certain opponents of the administration,
amounts to nothing. Again they have, under
authority ofthe government, issued proclama
tion after proclamation denouncing the gov
ernment and people of the United States as
robbers and plunderers of their territory, and
have, by all means in their power, attempted
to heap reproach and infamy on our charac
ter as a nation. They have long been indebt
ed to our people several millions of dollars;
and although they gave to our-government a
reluctant admission of the fact, and entered
into a solomn treaty stipulating and promising
to make payment honestly and in good faith,
in violation of their faith, honor, and reputa
tion, they have refused to pay their just obli
gations, and repudiated the stipulations of a
solemn treaty. And still, sir, all is peace.—
With assurances from their ruling authority
for the time being, of that unhappy country,
which had just been invested with the admin
istration of its affairs, of a sincere disposition
on their part amicably and by negotiation to
settle all the questions of difference and dis
pute between us, a plenipotentiary was sent
to the city of Mexico. Him they with treach
ery and perfidy refused to accredit or receive,
and sent him fiom ihe country with indignity
and insult. Add to this the fact, now well
known to the whole country, that Mexico, un
der the lead of het ablest generals, commenc
ed the concentration of a large force at Mata-
moras, on the Rio Grande, avowedly for the
purpose of invading Texas, and making war
upon the United Slates, and you will have
some satisfactory testimony iu regard to the
■ ■■tentions of the Mexican government towards
Texas and the other States of this Union. But
this with gentlemen is nothing, and furnishes
no evidence of the existence of a war on the
part of Mexico against the United States.—*
But again; the general in command of the
Mexican troops at Matamoras, orders the com
manding general of the United Slates army,
stationed on the left bank of the Rio Grande,
to remove from his post to a point on the left
ofthe Nueces, in twenty-four hours, or hostil
ities would be commenced immediately after
that time. Shortly thereafter, two thousand
troops, a detachment of the Mexican force,
cross the Rio Grande, invade the territory of
Texas, encounter a company of American
troops under command of Captains Hardee
and Thornton, who are killed, wounded, and
taken prisoners, and our little army of Occu
pation and observation in danger of being cut
iff entirely from their supplies, and with no
nope of relief but in an increase of the milita
ry force at that point; and still statesmen, and
patriots, aud well-informed men are contend
ing that no war exists with Mexico, and are
even refusing to vote the supplies of means
and money for the defence of the eountry, be
cause they assert that they have no satisfacto
ry information of its existence. Is it necessa
ry that the enemies on our southwestern fron
tier shall march to the very gates of the Capi
tol, and direct the fire of their artillery against
the walls of this building in which we are now
deliberating, to satisfy these gentlemen that
war has commenced? The admission of Texas
into the Union, or the passage of the resolu
tion by Congress giving its consent to her ad
mission as a new State into the Union, not on
ly imposed an obligation upon Congress to
guard and protect and defend the rights ot the
people of Texas; but the constitution impo
sed the same obligation upon the President of
the United States to defend and protect them
against any invasion from foreign enemies, as
well as from deraestic insurrection. But the
political opponents of the President charge
him with making an aggressive war against
the republic of Mexico, in violation of the con
stitution of the country. I deny that such is
the fact; and a few words will enable me to
satisfy the committee that this accusation has
no foundation in truth, and justice, and sa
vors of chagrin and of the disappointment of
high political hopes and aspirations. The
President of the United States commence a
war with Mexico! Where, and under what
circumstances? Was it when he signed and
approved the act of Congress of the present