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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.
""jAM ES GARDNER, JR.
TER M S .
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JAN. 4.
The Bill to raise for a limited lime an ad
ditional military force, and for other purposes,
being under consideration, and having been
discussed by several members, among them
Messrs. Tibbatt and McGaughey, the latier
opposing the bill, the war, and every thing
else connected with it,
Mr. Owen said ; It has become very cus
tomary, in these days, on the other side ofthe
House, to quote the sentiment, “Our country,
right or wrong!” I feel that no citizen of
these United States need now, I hope that no
one will ever need, thus to proclaim his coun
try’s shame, even while he professes to her
his devotion I trust never to see the day,
when of our republic and her government it
may. with truth, he said; “Our foreign policy
u rapacious; our national councils look to
aggrandizement, without scfupple as to
means; nur Executive is reckless, bent upon
aggression, committing, or sanctioning,open
acts of usurpation; but yet, unju-f. grasping
as she is, grossly as she violates the faith of
treaties and outrages the peace of the world,
this country is still ours, and therefore we
will sustain her in her career of justice.” I ,
will nut permit myself to doubt, that gentle
men on the other side, unguarded, violent as |
have been their expressions, vvould yet re
ceive with pleasure any sufficient evidence i
of proof, that, in the present juncture of our |
affairs, (to be lamented, because war is ever
t,, be lamented) their country is right. No
good man willingly supports injustice; though
that injustice be committed by one to whom
lie is bound by every tie of gratitude and af
fection. The charges currently made against I
our government in its foreign relations, are
numerous and heavy. It has engaged in a
war—thus we may sum up the accusation —
unjust and unnecessary; a war thrust by us
upon Mexico; having its origin in a quench
less thirst after conquest; to have its end in i
the subjugation of a rival race and the annex- j
ation of a foreign territory. I will ask those 1
who believe in the justice of such charges j
briefly to review with me the circumstances
that have led to the present crisis, and then S
to say where there has been wrong; what we i
have done that we ought not to have done; j
at what step we ought to have arrested our
progress; what measure of peace we have
omitted; bv what uncalled-for act we have
provoked war. And then, if it should ap
pear that our course as a nation is amply
justified; that our object, steadily pursued,
has been, first, the avoidance of hostilities,
and when that was no longer possible, then
the restoration of peace; ii it should further
appear that, while we have sought (hat which
was our right, indemnity, the phantom of
territorial cupidity has not tempted us into
the wild paths of ambition; if up to the pre
sent moment such and so concilatory has
been our course, then I am ready to go a step
further, and to ask whether there be just
ground to infer that the same moderation
which has marked our conduct in the past
will be departed from in the future. 1 pass by
the long list of grievances; borne year after
year with a patience that has misled the
Mexican people; grievances that induced one
President, ten years since, to advise an act
authorizing reprisal.-; and another, some
what later, to abandon all further attempts at
negotiation, and appeal to Congress for the
mode and measure of redress. I will sup
pose the Mexican government up to the mo
ment of this rupture about Texas, to have
been as ju-t and friendly as it has been, in
fact, faithless and inimical; and will com
mence my review of our mutual relations
from a period not two years gone by. On
the Ist of March, 1845, Texas, once a Slate
of the federal republic ot Mexico, but for
nearly nine years then past, an independent
r epublic, was, in accordant e with her own re
quest, (a request made and repealed tears
before.) received into our Union. Texas
was, at the moment of annexation, a sover
eign Power, to whose territory Mexico had
no more right than old Spain then had to any j
of the departments of Mexico, or England to
the free soil s os this republic. Every writer
ofreputeon international law confirms tiiat |
doctrine. The public opinion nf the world
has since acknowledged its justice, and 'as
sented to the rightful character of our act.—
Against Mexico, then, when we admitted
Texas into the Union, we committed no
wrung. We did but that, which the public
law, and the recognized custom, of civilized
nations, permits and sanctions. Against the
decisions of that law, and the precedents set
tled by that custom, no one nation, to suit its 1
own purpose, can be suffered to appeal. This
is the first, as it is the most important point
in the whole case. Mexico’s bitter com
plaints, of which the injustice is only equal
led by the ab.surdity, have, in some quarters,
created sympathy and obscured the trutu j
-—There are minds so constituted, that to
make to them any complaint, it matters not
how utterly baseless, is to awaken doubts in
favor of ihe complainant. To such I advise
the perusal ot Mexico’s own pleas as set
forth by her own official apologists. I espe- i
cially commend to their a 1 tent ion the follow- ;
ing paragraph, setting forth the grounds of j
her claim to Texas, as we ri,id in a letter ad- -
dressed by Castillo y Lanzas, Mexican min- I
eter of foreign affairs, to Mr, Slidell, at the
time the government of Paredes refused to
receive that gentleman as minister:
‘‘Civilized nations have beheld with amaze
ment, at tins enlightened and refined epoch,
& powerful and well-consolidated JStaie. avail
ing itself of the internal dissension of a
neighboring nation, putting its vigilance to
sleep by protestations of friendship, setting
in action all manner of springs and artifices"
alternately plying intrigue and violence, and
seizing a moment to despoil her of a precious
part of her territory, regardless of the incon
trovertible rights of the most unquestionable
ownership, and the most uninterrupted pos
session.— Cast i Hoy Lanzas's Letter if March
12, 1846, Ho. Doc. ] 96, 29th Cong, isi ses
sion,
I pray the apologists! of Mexico well to
note thecharacfer ami wordingof this her plea.
She denies not, what every publicist declares,
that conquest, followed by years of undis
turbed possession gives territorial right. She
virtually admits that doctrine; and her asser
tion is— let gentlemen read for themselves,
if they doubt whal may seem 100 monstrous
I for belief —her assertion —unmatched forcool
t effrontery, I dure to assert, in the whole an
nals of diplomacy—is, that Mexico lias ever ;
I held uninterrupted possession of her province j
of Texas! And therefore, we have been des- 1
polling her of a precious portion of her terri
tory! Either this Mexican Rip Van Win
kle must have been slumbering for the last
nine years, in some of these old halls of the
Montezumas, of which lately we have heard
j so much; or else the modern world lias been
dreaming strange things during that period.
We have been accustomed to believe that,
in April, of 1836, a certain battle of St, Jacm
to was fought and won; that thereupon the
1 Mexicans were driven forth from Texas, and
a civil government established there; that
n s were rhosen, judges installed, a
| legislature elected, laws enacted, a new re
public built up: that, under the shelter of its
i constitution, a young nation quietly pursued
J its chosen course, and successfully maintain
j ed, year after year, its independence. We had
imagined all this. But lo! forth from the Na
tional Palace of Mexico steps Senor Castillo 1
y Lanzas, to correct such wild imaginations,
and to inform ns, with all the gravity befit
ting an official despatch, tint we are wholly
; mistaken; that Texas has never passed from |
! under the Mexican rule; and that from the ,
I time Santa Anna and Houston fought, ten j
; years ago, even to the present day, the mo- |
; liier country has held her department ot Tex- ;
as, as she had field tiie rest of her depart- |
men’s, in complete, unquestionable—nay, in ,
undi-turlied possession! 1 repeat here, what
once before in a similar connexion I said,
j that if the subject were less grave, one might
! pass by a puerile falsehood like this as a piece
I of national pleasantry. As it is, it is a gross !
insult to the common sense of mankind. I 1
hope those who adopt the cause of Mexico i
will endorse her argument also. Theone, it |
must be confessed, is worthy of the other. |
, Taking leave, for ihe present, of Mexican
I extravagance, I return to the point whence 1
have digressed. The annexation of Fexas
I was an act lawfully, rigid fully done. Mexi
-1 co very naturally regretted her lost province,
I ;i s Spain in former days, doubtless mourned
; over her revolted colonies or England in |
; ’76, over hers. But either of these nations j
has the same right to-day to shut its eyes on i
j the chances of war and revolution, long pa:-t, i
i and again seek possession of what were |
once its American possession- 5 , as Mexico j
; has, or ever had, to complain of ns, because :
j h free sovereign, once a con-titnent part of j
: the Mexican republic, offered to unite herself
o is, and we accepted the offer of aim *xa i >n.
i The right, then, was prefect; can Mt xico
j complain of the manner in which we have
j exercised it? Texas, never recognised us
j an independent nation by Mexico, had, and
! could have, no western boundary fixed by
S treaty. She claimed to the Rio Bravo. On |
i the lower portion of that stream her original
1 claim by conquest and possession to the line
i of the river, could hardly be considered as
invalidated by a bait-deserted village or two, ;
and a few scattering huts,tenanted by Mexi- ;
cans, on i's eastern bank. The case abo»e
the mouth of the Puerto was different. Se
veral small Mexican towns, besides Santa
Fe with her ten thousand inhabitants, were
scattered over the valley east of the upper
river. Upon the wh-o'e, then, the exact line
of boundary might, not unfairly, be consid
ered a debate-able question, and proper sub
ject for negotiation. Such, at least, passing
over the treaty with Santa Anna, the pro
clamation ot Gen. Wolf, and other arguments,
| is the views ot the subject most favorable to !
1 Mexico; and such was the views taken by ;
[ the Congress tiiat consummated annexation, j
I With an evident desire to avoid all cause j
of offence, the annexing resolution was so i
worded as to include “the territory properly ;
included within, and rightfully belonging to, j
the republic of Texas.” And the second sec- j
fion provided that the State of Texas he |
formed, ‘‘subject to the adjustment, by this :
government, of ail questions of boundary j
ti at may arise between this and other gov- |
eminent?.” The desire of Congress tiiat
the boundary que-tion might be settled ami- j
cablv, by treaty with Mexico, was here cleat • 1
Iv indicated. The manner, then, of cousiim
mating the act of annexation was as consul- j
erase and conciliatory as the act itself was j
lawful and right. In what manner has Mex
ico, on tier part, come up to .meet tins spirit
of moderation on ours ? flow has .-lie re
plied to this our offer amicably to treat with ]
her for a boundary ? In le?s than a week j
after the passage of the annexation resold- ,
lions, Almonte, the Mexican minister in this ;
city, addressed a communication to our Sec- 1
rotary of State, in which after characteriz- j
j ing the law annexing 'Fexas as “an act ot 1
aggression the most unjust tint can be found I
I recorded in ilie annals of modern history,” ;
; he solemnly protests, in the name of his gov- j
J eminent,‘’that the said law can in nowise in- 1
j validate the rights on which Mexico relies
. to recover the above-mentioned prov ince of
Texas of which she now sees herself un
justly despoiled; and that she will maintain >
and uphold these rights at a'l limes, by every j
means which may be in her power.” He
concluded by declaring, that his mission here
1 was at an end and demanded his passports. ;
1 This was the position openly taken by Mex
i ico at the first, and which has been strong y
; maintained by her throughout, in proclaim:-
■ lions, manifestos, and otherwise, even to the
i present day; that Texas was her revolted
I province and constituted a part of Mexican
' tenitetry, of which we had despoiled her; and
that she would employ every means, includ- |
ing force of arms, to recover it. Not awo d |
with reference to boundary—-not a syllable |
about the Nueces or the Bravo; the iSabine ■
was the line beyond which we had invaded ;
! her territory, and from every lout ot land
i west of that stream she declares her deter
j initiation to dislodge and eject us, it she can.
j Any government in the least disposed to be 1
j cautious would have resented a course and ■
! a language like this as a national insuL and j
j a plenary cause for war. Unprovoked by j
any breach on our part of the law ol nations, 1
without the trivial excuse of a failure in in
ternational comity, Mexico arraigns us as
guilty of an outrage unheard of in modern
times, avows her design to recover even by
the strong hand, a country soon lawfully to
become an integral portion of our Union;
I and finally takes that step, which, among
; civilized nations, is commonly followed
I up, at once, by an appeal to tlie sword.—
; What, under these exasperating circum
| stances, was the course of our Executive?
While in language firm and mild, he asserted
the right of our cuuulrv to Jo what she had
done, he added an assurance, that “our most
strenuous efforts* should be devoted to the
amicable adjustment of every cause of com
plaint between the two governments.” Al
monte departed; and in less than a month,
onr minister near the government of Mexico
j was formally notified that all diplomatic rela
i tions between the United States and Mexico
: were at an end. Still,we abstained from any
j hostile demonstration; we augmented not our
forces; we made no advance, even into Texas.
Mexico, on the contrary exhausted herself
; in military preparation. Slie increased and
fitted out tier army; its destination, openly
j and boastiugly avowed, being the banks of
| the Rio Bravo; its object, as freely declared,
j ihe re-conquest of ’Texas. ’Texas, then on
the eve of consummating her union with us,
took alarm at this threatening aspect ot
things. She remembered, doubtless, tiie
famous orders, not then a year old, issued to
General Woll, when about to invade her
territory, whereby there was commanded the
| murder, without distinguishing age or sex,
of every human being guilty of being found
i there. She remembered Goliad and tiie
I Alamo; and her Congress and her convention
: un led in an earnest appeal to our government
to send into 'Texas a force sufficient fur its
: defence. If, under such circumstances, the
| President of the United States bad turned a
1 deaf ear to that appeal, Ins conduct would
j have been grossly culpable, and would have
furnished just ground lor impeachment. But
| le saw Ids duty, and performed it; and in
June, 184 G, General Taylor, then at Port
Jessup, was ordered to advance to Corpus
Chrisli. Here, again, moderation was pushed
| to the utmost limits consistent with public
honor and safety. Mexico, by breaking offal 1
| diplomatic relations with us three months
! before, had refused to treat of a boundary.
; Site made no secret of her design to sett le t lie
j question bv tiie sword; and yet our govern
ment, in tiie hope that siie might still recon
sider her rash resolves, abstained from taking
possession, as. alter such refusal, most right
fully she might have done, of the debateahle
land. She contented herself with a position
! on this side of it. And tins she did, oven
1 while the enemy's troops were r nging over
it, and the Texans, through their Secretary
of Stale, were pressing y urging that she
should “‘proceed at one" to occupy positions
upon the Rio Grand-'. ’’ And then she ie:iew
; ed her ctT rts to decide ail difficulties in a
; peaceful maimer. Oik consul at Mexico was
I instructed j in October, 1 Bi 6, to assure the
| Mexican government, then under Herrera,
i of our unchanged desire to maintain relations
| of friendshipjand further to say, that if Mexi
| CO wot 1J receive ““an envoy entrusted with
j full (o.vers to adjust all quesionsi in dispute
| between the two governments, such ‘an one
| -mould be immediately despatched. 'The
j answer was favorable. Tiie minister, Psuay
i Pena, replied:
‘•My government is disposed to receive the
i commissioner ot tiie United States who may
come to this capital with full powers from
his government to settle the present dispute
in a peaceful, reasonable, and honorable man
• ?
aer.
[To be Continued.]
[From the Xcw Oilcans Picayune, 3.i ins'. ]
FROM MEXICO,
els of a l*io.racted War.
I We tre indebted to a commercial friend for the
| use of the following Idler, which is confirmatory
of the intelligence which has reached us Dy vari
I ous ways, us the disposition of the Mexican Con
°ress, in recard to the war. It is by no means
surprising that we have not had news direct from
the city us Mexico, since tiie meeting of Con
gress, as there are no American vessels trading to
Vera Cruz. The letters of Santa Anna to Gen.
Taylor prepared ns for such a line ot conduct as
is riovv ascribed to tiie Maxi- an Congress, ft was
sea reel y probable that I; • would have spoken so
positively of the iittei . -ssness of ail attempts
i ,uk'- peace, till i» c lean i irces were u-iin
drawn from 3lex --o and our vessms from her coast,
unless he had g grounds f r judging the temper
of the m> inl«-rs of Congress. On both oi-casions
of w riting to Gen. Taylor he distinctly announces
what • w appears to have been adopted by Con
gress; and we rather suspect that this course has
been dictated by Santa Anna and Almothm and
■ that his declarations in his letters to Gen. 1 ayior
I were designed to forestall Congress w ith the peo
j p!e. Before Mmonte left the f nited States he
I pointed out tins as tiie only course for Mexico to (
I pursue, and since ins .-uni lie lias c.Vn stated
j that it would he preferable to light the I nited
i Slates, father than even give up Texas, as the oniy
I means of creating a wholesome national feeling.
1 Had there been any indication of a pacific turn j
1 0 f public affairs, otir squad run would, in all likeli- |
j pood, have heard of it, and the Government of
the United Suites been made acquainted with the I
i fact, through that channel. Apart from the rumors ;
! heretofore prevalent upon tiie s Cja-t, ami such |
j confirmation as i.- now had of them, it seems to
: ns that all indications are averse to peace. If the
j Mexican pe pie area tithe as bellicose as the Mex
; jctlh press, there is much for the sword t >do be
j fore the pen of the diplomatist is called in fequisi-
Tampico, Dee. 23. 181 G.
Gentlemen —Tiie unexpected detention of the j
| packet till this late hour enables me, to give the 1
i follow ing important inhumation. just received by
me from ft reliable source. The information is
1 contained in a 1 eiter to a commercial house here,
; and is dated Mexico, the Ifitli inst.
Tiie siilrstance of it is. that tiie Mexican Con
j gress have decided that the pvar shall not cease,
i nor will they receive commissioners to treat for
j peace until every hostile foot has left the soil of
I Mexico andevery ship that lines the coast is with-
I drawn. They have further resolved that they will
accept of no foreign intervention whatever to bring
! about a peace.
j The letter further states that the £330.000 loan
guarantied by the clergy is exhausted, and no new
loin is vet authorized, nor does the writer know
where it is to come from.
I This action on tiie part of Mexico will nt once
j determine the public action of our Government,
i anil we may look out for a protracted and perhaps
bloody war. 1 predict it, w ill end in die conquest
|of all Mexico north of the base of 11 1 i< eiiy—the
: line extending west to the Pacific—and that this
will become an American town. If so. tins w ill
be a great place for business, and a safe one fur
investments in property. The resources of the
country north ot' this are inexhaustible. When
mare at leisure I will refer to what llie.se re
sources are. Yours, very truly, &c.
Ijjj'alj- finpoi'lant Xcw* from ftif Army.
i Advance of Santa Anna upon Saltillo con firmed —
j Probability of a Battle having been Fought—
i Despatch of Troops to Saltillo and Monterey —
Anticipated Attach upon Cumargo and Matamo
j ros.
Bv the arrival at a late hour last night of the U.
S. steamer Edith. Capt, Couillard, we have three
day’s later dates from Brazos Santiago. Site left
Brazos on the 30th lilt, and brings confirmation of
tiie reported advance of Anna with a large
! force upon Saltillo. It was reported that the 3lex-
I ic-au army was nearly 3 ',OOO strong.
When Gen. Worth's express reached .Monterey,
Gen. Taylor had only gone six or eight miles on
his march to Victoria, and the troops under Gens,
i Twiggs and Quitman were but twelve miles in
! advance. Orders were immediately issued to this
| division to retrace its steps and proceed at once to
Saltillo. .
Gen. Butler, who was left in command of Mon
terey, had already marched with at? the troops he
could collect to join Gen. W onii at bkiltiilo.
Before the express reached CamargoGen. Lane
had started for Saltillo with his command—this
was on the 20th. Gen. Marshall setoul nextmoru
j in«, taking with him the remainder of lim forces,
i with the exception of Capts. Hunter and Swart.
: wouts’ commands, which were left to protect that
! point. The troops from Camargo were on a forced
march, to reach Saltillo in time lor a battle, re*
ports having prevailed for several days before pos
itive ail vices were received ot tiie movements ot
Santa Anna. ,
1 Gen. Wool was ninety miles from halulloat the.
i last advices from him,' and it was supposed he
would join Gen. \\ orth in season to assist in repel
ling the enemy.
There was a rumor that Santa Anna had thrown
I a body of 17.0‘d0 men between Gen. Worth and
deu. Taylor, to prevent a junction of the Ameri
can forces. This report was nut credited, nor
does it seem probable that it is true, as the maui
road to Monterey passes through Saltillo. 1 here
is a circuitous mountain road which avoids oallil
lo, but it is not favorable to the march of an army,
and is impracticable for ordnance.
It was the impression of gentlemen who came
passengers in the Edith, and with w hom we have
conversed, that a haitlt was fought about the 251 h
ult. It was thought, however, that lien. Taylor
had reached -Saltiiio before that time, and also
(Jen. Tw ggs’, Gen. Quitman’s, Gen. Butler’s and
Gen. Wool’s commands. It was likewise hoped
| that the troops from Camargo would also arrive at
Saltillo in good season, if these expectations
1 were realized, Gen. Taylor had about 7.03:) men
to oppose Santa Anna. Our informants think San
ta Anna’s army was overrated; but no positive
i knowledge was had of his exact numbers.
'Tiie valley of tiie llio Grande was in a state of
i great ferment. Apprehensions of an attack were
j entertained at Camargo, Matamoros and oilier
: points, from I tie ranckeros under Canales. The
I withdrawal of so many troops from the river left
I the valley exposed to danger. At Matamoros, Col
Clark had called upon the citizens to enrol them
| selves for service, and at the Brazos Gen. Jesup
1 had done the same thing. Both these points were
sadly deficient in both men and arms, il was
I thought ( armies had 2000 men under him,and that
i the large supply of goods at Matamoros, and I lie
| exposed condition of that city, might quicken his
j courage.
Gen. Scott arrived at the Brazos on the 231 h ult.
i The following day he proceeded to the mouth of
i the RioGrande and was yet at that point when the
Edith left, waiting tiie arrival of tiie horses be
longing to tiie regiment of mounted riflemen, wten
it vv.is understood lie would proceed immediately
up t lie river to Camargo.
Capt. Wayne lias been transferred from the staff
of 31 aj. Gen-Jesup to that of Gen. Scott, and was
to accompany him on his tour of observation.
The steamship Alabama was off tlie Brazos
w hen the Edith sailed, and will probably bring us
more definite intelligence in a few days the En
dora was aiso there, so that we may count upon
an arrival very soon.
The Edith brought over a large mail; but ow ing
to the. lateness of the hour of her arrival, it was
| not sent to the post office. She encountered great
! gales from the south east, and yet made the pas
! sage in fifty-two hours. Amongst her passengers
were 31.ij. E. S. Hawkins, 7th Infantry; t’aot. J.
j G. Todd, of Texas; Lieut. .1. 31. Cowan, 2d Ken
tucky Regiment, and Capt. Twitchell, of the same
j regiment; Messrs. Clements, Harrison, &c.
, The news leaves a painful anxiety to learn tiie
j progress of events. The impression amongst the
j passengers that a bailie had been fought was so
i strong that we have almost imbibed tiie belief.
it was believed that ae express had been esnt
I to Gen. Patterson, countermanding his march in
| the direction of Victoria.
«w-t rvac - :j». •xrzjxwrrzr wrr vm •mr+rz* j. ****■*-*— *~ff
AUGUSTA, GEO..
SUNDAY MORNING, JAN. 10, 1847.
“We do most heartily desire to see the coun
try sustained, now that it is nr’olved in a disas
■ irons and unnecessary war. Where, when and
in what respects have tiie Whigs failed to render
all necessary assistance? 'They have swollen the
I ranks of the army upon tiie soil of the enemy, and
1 they have voted all tiie supplies which have been
: called for of men or money, to give tiie war, th
! must vigorous prosecution.” —Chronicle ij- Sentinel.
The above is tiie language o r the Chronicle in
ah editorial which seeks to palliate—perhaps to
defend the course which it, in common with a
large portion of the Whig press, and of the Whig
leaders lias seen proper to pursue in tiie midst of
this war w ith .Mexico, in which our country is in
volved. That the war is a disastrous one, is an
I assertion of tiie Chronicle. This is perhaps its
■ sincere opinion. It is disastrous, as lime will
1 prove and as the Chronicle no doubt apprehends,
1 in some respects. It Is disastrous to the political
1 prospects of those who have done their utmost lo
' place their country in a disgraceful attitude before
i world, and in the eyes of her own citizens.
| Tim disasters to the Federalism of 1812, are but
tisc type nml the shadow of the disasters which
awaits the Federalism of ISlfi. But in no oilier
i respect i- this war disastrous to our country. It
lias been highly honorable and glorious to her
j arms, and lias greatly enlarged tiie field of her
| prosperity and power. For years and generations
1 after the unseemly gashes of war are healed, and
| when nature again smiles in her loveliness over
i fields now stained with carnage and ploughed by
( cannon shot, the benefit*, to result from this war
will remain to our country and our race. There
has been nothing so far to justify the epithet, dis
astrous! to this war in any of its national hearings.
; There is nothing in the future to dim the hopes or
. to lower the pride of the patriot.
i But there is another epithet—unnecessary. 'The
| Whigs delight to charge this war upon the Deino
j orals, and to say it was unnecessary is tiie mildest
i term in their vocabulary. Unjust—disgraceful—
damnable, are tiie other expletives quite as freely
used. It is a little singular that the Whigs never
contributed anything byway of advice or legisla
i tion to a-void this war. If it were, unnecessary, it
j is so heeaiise it might have been avoided. How
; is inhat 31 r. Webster did nothing to avoid it w hile
I Be was Secretary of State’ One cause of the
: war is alleged to be the pertinacity with which the
j Democrats insisted upon the Rio Grande, as tiie
Western boundary of Texas. Did not Mr. Weh
* ster do the same, tiling? That great gun of Fede
: ralism was completely spiked by the President’s
j message, which quoted from the quondam Secre
tary’s correspondence with the. Mexican Secretary
I for Foreign Affairs. Had this claim not been in*
j sisted on, and our army moved forward to main
; mill it, it is alleged that IHe war would not have
1 ensued. Mr. Webster then should be silent, fur
a portion of the responsibility is with him. But
: he dared not abandon the claim. Such an aban
| donmenl of the rights of the country would not
I have been tolerated. Neither would the Presi
dent have dared to do it. Yet for not doing it,
: ] ie is charged forsooth, with having brought upon
the county an unnecessary war.
We have before us published in the New Hamp
shire Patriot, ninety-five cases of Mexican out
rage upon the persons and properly of American
citizens for w hich our government holds the gov
ernment of Mexico responsible. They are taken
from documents of file in the office of the Secre
tary of State. Th ‘se show good causes fur war.
Some of these elicited the message of Gen. Jack
son in 1337, declaring that they were <>f such a
nature as “ would justify in the eyes of all notions
immediate war.” Yet with thesestill unreuressed
fur years, and many others accumulated upon
i them, and a haughty refusal even to treat on the
| subject, it is asserted that war was unnecessary
j and unjust. But we do not propose to argue that
! point now. We propose to contemplate the posi
lion assumed by the Chronicle, “We do must
heartily wish to see the country sustained.” How ?
Bv defending our soil from invasion—our unques
tioned soil within the admitted limits of the Union
only. No, we presume the Chronicle desires the
country to be sustained by the supply of ample
: means in men and money for a vigorous prosecu
tion of the war. It asks too, with great apparent
simplicity, “Where, when and in what respects
j have the Whigs failed to render all necessary as
j si,stance?” We answer by pointing to the Whig
1 Stale of Massachusetts. There they have failed,
i for up to the last accounts, they have failed lo fur-
I nish the Regiment called for by the government.
We point also to the Whig State of North Carol i
j na. Site too has so far failed to respond to the
call. Now we do not impugn the spirit or the
patriotism of the Whigs—of the mass of tiie
party. They have just as much of both as tiie
i Democrats. And thi war exhibits it. But we
point to these Whig States to show the ma
lign influence of Whig counsels, of Whig speech
es, and Whig editorials, in prejudicing the public
■ mind against the w ar. It is thus they have biased
the spirit and the patriotisn of tiie Whigs against
the government—against tiie war—have rendered
the war odious; and thus have they thwarted our
country’s cause. They have thus not only failed
to render assistance in our country’s need, but
have thrown every possible obstacle in tiie u.tv.
Such Whigs must expect to be execrated when
the deliberate opinion of the country comes to be
passed upon their conduct.
It may be asked, “Have they net the rig it to
their opinion also; and if they really do think the
! war unnecessary and unjust, have they nut the
right to say so? Is not freedom of opinion and
freedom of speech tiie tight of every citizen.
Granted. No one denied lids right to the fede
ralists in the late war. There was no law to pun*
hh treasonable sentiments, or good wishes express
ed for the success of British arms. 'The Whigs
may sympathise with the 3lexicans with impunity,
j at ,d abuse the course of their own country as un
just and disgraceful; but il will be ter the people
I calmly and soberly to examine the grounds of this
’ sympathy —the motives of this abuse, and to award
j its decree hereafter.
j If it shall appear that it was the phrenzy of par
; tv feeling, dt the vile hope of promoting party
views that have induced Whig leaders and Whig
presses to decry their own country and .seek to dis
grace it—if it should appear that it was lo excite
popular odium against a Democratic [’resident, be
i cause he urns a Democrat, that the most extrava
i gant and absurd charges have been rriace, and thb
most out rage ous misrepresent at ions been circulated
' against him, and in reference to the causes of the
1 war.then their political doom is sealed. They can
not plaster over the factious motive, or conceal the
: ignoble scheming; they cannot win a name for pa
■ triotism by now advocating supplies of men and
money for the war. '1 hey have done more to
thwart the government already than they can re
pair by a life-tune of repentance, and reluctant
ad.
j The Chronicle would shelter its course under
1 the hallowed names of Charles fox, and Burke,
J and Chatham, anil Barre, and W likes, who raised
their manly voices in protest against -the war ot
j George the 3d against the American Colonies.—
I The parallel will not serve his purpose. That was
a civil war. It was a war between a government
; and a portion of it* subjects. It arose trom the be
lief on the part of the colonists, that ibe mother
country sought to oppress them, arul to impose on
them unconstitutional burthens. Many of their
1 fellow subjects in England thought with them,
j sympathized with them, and that sympathy found
I expression in the noblest strains of parliamentary
| eloquence, from tiie lips of some of England s
i must illustrious statesmen. 'Tiie eloquence of tiie
Chronicle and its compeers would find a more lit -
: ting place if uttered in the Mexican Congress, and
i approach nearer tiie parallel sought lor. But it
would then be incomplete, unless it could set forth
among the causes of gr .ance. ninety five ca
ses at least of spoliations upon Mexican commerce
—imprisonment and murder ot Mexican citizens
in a dependent province, and confiscation and rob
bery of 3lexican property by tiie patent govern
ment of Mexico. If such dependent province had
: been so and oppressed, arm tne ( lironi
: cle and other Whig denouncers of the war been
tiioir advocates in the 3lexican Contrress, then
j might they study British eloquence with advan
! tage, and quote it with effect.
£7"I). Kirkpatrick, Esq. was, on Saturday,
elected a member Os Council fr<>Ri Ward No. I, to
j supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation
j of Foster Blodget.
i'ity iltnica-*.
The following gentlemen were elected to the re
spective offices named, by the ( ity Council, on
Saturday evening.
Collector and Treasurer. —John Hill.
Clerk Council. —\\ . 3liloOiin.
City Marshal. —Foster Blodget.
Cit't Constables. —Jacob Si.Mrunk, L. L. Antony.
lindge Keeper. —ll. H. Frazer.
Watchmen —Samuel Lindsey, J. R. W ilson, John
j C. Caldwell, Edward Murphy, VV. R Hadley,
Dennis Collins, 'I li#s. L. \> illiams, V\ m. Ke«s
--| tier, Jr.
j Superintendent of Streets, Tamps and Water
I For At. —John Reiley-
Keeper of Jail. —W. f>. Broom.
Clerk JjOine.r Market. —H. U. Fhilpot.
Clerk Upper Market —Win. Keener, Sen.
Keeper Magazine. —Wm. 31. Pickering.
Keeper City Hull.—Mm. O. Hargroves.
Keeper City Clock. —Charles Catlin.
Keeper Hospital. —Peter McMahon..
City Surveyor. —Wm. Phillips.
City Sexton. — B. Abrahams.
I endue blasters. —W . E. Jackson & Co.
Clerk Court Common Picas. — H. Robert.
City Sheriff. A.C. Caldwell.
Charter St 1 ction.
John J. Gresham inis been elected 3layor,and
3lcssrs. James B. Ayres, J. H. R. "Washington,
Thomas P. Stubbs, Elijah Bond, Daniel F. Clarke,
Albert 31 ix, and Wm. B. Watts, Aldermen.
The Macon 3lessenger of the 7th inst. says,
the remains of Capt. Holmes were to leave .Mon
terey on the ‘Jlh ult., in charge of a friend.
I Isl ami fact lire* in A n gas 1 :\— The Rail iu
Ulotlon.
We have seen an agreement signed by
1 some of our most substantial citizens, pledg
; ing the subscribers to subscribe for stock to
1 the several amounts attached to tl eir names,
when the books shall be opened for subscrip*
i tion lo a Colton Manufacturing Company,
; to be established in Augusta. The amount
j already subscribed exceeds one hundred ihou
! sand dollars. It is designed to raise tiie
amount lo two hundred thousand dollars,
i As comparatively a few have already sub
scribed so much, the list beingabout twenty
in number, and as we hear of considerable
capital from a distance coming here to be in
vested in like manner, we have no doubt of
the early organization of the Company. It
will go into operation under the most favora
ble auspices, and be the Pioneer to many
others. It is a business yielding a better
I profit on the investment than any other in
the Southern States.
A letter from Mexico in one of the Balti
more papers represents female patriotism
in the city of Mexico as running very high.
One of the Mexican ladies offers tosupporta
soldier during the whole war. Probably site
i means to marry him afterwards. Another
1 says, that if nobody else can be found to take
cbmmandof a privateer against the United
I States, she will do it herself. If this last lady
| is pretty, and if she has really made up her
mind to cruise against our bold merchantmen*
i *=*
| we have no doubt but that she will succeed
l in catching a few smacks.
Tha Ae« Vork Anhore.
The Charleston Courier of the 9th inst
savs—“We 'earn that a letter was received
inthis city yesterday, dated at Ceauforl, (N.
j C.) from the mate of the packet ship New
I York, Hull master, which states that this
; fine ship, on her passage from New York for
I this port, went ashore south of Hatteras on
Sunday morning, the 271 h ult. The letter
savs they were discharging the cargo at low
tide, and that the ship might be got off*when
lightened. \e* Vork was probably the
vessel 'eon by Cap. Bedell, of the sclir. Le
Roy, ashore S. W. of Hatteras. on Tuesday
last, as mentioned in our paper of yesterday .’
I'roiu tlic Army.
We give in another column all the addi
tional particulars regarding the operations of
our army in Mexico that have come to hand.
In connexion with the rumors afloat, it. may
be well to state, that the New Orleans Bulle
tin of Saturday evening, publishes a letter
from Tata mores dated the 23d ult., and
vouches f r the responsibility of the writer,
which t . ■ discredit upon the reported ad
vance ot Santa Anna upon Saltillo. It de
clares that no such despatches as have been
described were received at Matamoros, and
adds with emphasis: “One thing is certain —
Gen. Patler.'on has not changed his route to
wards Victoria, u ith the force under his com
mand, as he would probably do if Santa Anna
was advancing towards Saltillo with the
force represented. The rear of his column
■ left to-day with the exception of a few wa
< ~
, gons.”
A Stealing Lady.
We see by the New Orleans Picayune,
| that a ladv. Mrs. Mary Stirling, the owner
of “Desert” plantation, in West Feliciana,
recently sold her entire crop of Cotton in
New Orleans m fourteen cetils per pound.
Appointments by the Protidcnt.
j By and with tke ndoice a,id consent of Ike Senate.
Samuel McGowan, of South Carolina, to
be Assistant Quartermaster, with the rank
j .
of Captain.
Janies D. Blanding, of South Carolina, to
be Assistant Commissary, with the rank of
| Captain.
James Davis, of South Carolina, to bo
j Surgeon.
Elbert Bland, of South Carolina, to be As
sistant Surgeon.
Pi’anvylvatiiu i.cgi-lntnrr.
j The whigs have elected Charles Gibbona
speaker of the Senate, and James Cooper
Speaker of the House.
iTlacou aud W r t»U*ni Ituil Stontl.
j The annual Election lor President and
Directors of this work u held on the sili
inst, when the following gentlemen wero
elected for the ensuing year.—
DANIEE TYLER. President.
J) Irectors. — Edward Wl. tehouse, Theodore
Dehon, Rufus H. King, Adolph Rodewohi,
Az riah Boody. Ker Boyce, Andrew Low, Jr.
C .1. McDonald, N C. Munroe, Clus, Day,
; Washington Poe. J. G. Forbes.
The Macon Mes-enger of the 7lh isnt say? •*—
“We understand that a dividend of Seven
dollars per Share was declared, and made
payable on the first of February next, out of
the profits of the road aud an unexpended
balance on hand after its completion and
equipment, with all the necessary
cars, &c., cy , Ail this in less than one year
from the lime the work was commenced, ! *
A Divii n>i from the 'Svlogrnph.
The Xtr.V York and Buffalo .Magnetic Tele
i r-aph Co. declared a dividend of 3 per
cent, for the five months ending 7.ii Febrn
j arv. This is the first magnetic dividend
1 e\ r declared. The earnings of the line have
been about $1 1,090 since 7th Sept, of which
the expenses have absorbed about one third.
Os this dividend the patentees get §2760,
which may be considered the first pnctical
result of this great discovery - This line has*
j now established the fact that magnetic tele
graphs, when well marram J, are a safe and
; profitable investment.
We are authorized (remarks the Hamburg
Republican) to say, that the appointment of
Brigadier General over the Southern Volun
: *
, teers has not yet been made. The Cheraw
Gazette has stated that Col. James Gadsden
had the appointment, which is not the case.
. > e*-lanal.
In the Senate , a hutiori was offered by
Mr. Cameron calling on the Secretary of the
Treasury to report to the Senate in what
articles embraced in the tariff* of 18-16 the
duties can he increased with the view to pro
i duce additional revenue. This resolution
1 lies over till the day as er to-morrow.
The bill granting ailernate sections of
1 land to Michigan for the completion of works
I of internal improvement, was. after some de
bate, ordered to a third reading, by a vote of
’ 1 twenty-six to sixteen.
The pre-emption bill was made the special
: order fur Mi
The bill • mete the national road,
&c., was mu; no special order for next
Tuesday.
In the House, Mr. P. King made what he
termed a “personal explanation” in reference
■ , to the bill which he attempted to introduce
yesterday. This manifesto will be found at
length in our report of the proceedings of to
-1 da v.
In Committee of the Whole on the state
: of the Union the consideration of the in
crease of the army bill was resumed. Mr.
Andrew Johnson occupied his hour in a nice
dissection ot the speeches of Ids colleagues,
Mr. Gentry, and Mr. Hudson, in opposition
to the administration anil the existing war
with Mexico. Mr. Hilliard followed, avow
ing his determination to unite in a vigorous
prosecution of thefwar; controverting the posi
l linns assumed by Mr. Bavlyand others with
i regard to the rights of conquest; and com-
I meriting on the declarations and movement
: of Mr. King this morning.
An unsuccessful effort was made bv Mr.
1 Haralscit to carry a resolution closing debate
r in committee on the hill increasing the army,
r on the ground that those who had participat
-1 ed in fiie discussion had not directed their
attention directly to the bill, whilst speedy
1 action on it was absolutely necessary.—
1 Washington Union , bth inst.