Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume], January 07, 1847, Image 1

About Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849

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. ■■■g.ili'iaiJjlj.jl-l - _ ■_ _ _ ,
tontil pectdtor,
AND GENERAL ADVERTISER.
[ VOL. XXIV._STAUXTOX, (VAQ TUYiRSPAY, JAXUAUY 1, 1841. NO. VhT
STAUNTON SPECTATOR.
BY KBNTON HARPER.
T E RMS.
The “SPECTATOR” it published once a
wetk, at TVco Dollars a year, if paid in advance, or
^Two Dollars and Jh'Xf'ty Cents (f delayed beyond the
'expiration of the year. No subscription will be dis
continued, but at the option of the Editor, until altar
rear cages are paid.
Ocj- All communications to the Editor by mail must
be post-paid, or they will not be attended to.
fej- AD VERTISEMENTS of thirteen tines (or
lest,) inter ted three times for one dollar, and twenty
Jice cents for each subsequent continuance, larger
’advertisements in the same proportion. A liberal dis
count made to advertisers by the year.
Mr. V. B. Palmer, American Ncwapaper and Ad
vertising Agent in tliecilieaot Baltimore,Philadelphia,
New York, and Boston, has been appointed Agent for
receiving and forwarding subscriptions and advertise
ments for this paper,at hisoflices in those cities respec
'tifelyi vix 2
Baltimore, Southeast corner of Baltimore and Cal
vert Streets.
Philadelphia, No. f>9 Pine Street.
New York, No. 30 Ann Street.
Boston, No. 14 Slate Street.
NEW GOODS.
gnsnsA? sro® o as is
A. S. KINNEY,
Respectfully informs the public timt ho
lias just returned from the Northern cities, and
is now receiving a krge and well selected stock of
VALL A:\l> WI^TIIK GOODS.
His stock consists i i juirt of
Dry Goods, Groceries, Hard
ware, Hcofls and Shoe;*,
Hats and Caps, &e.,
which he will sell as low for Cash, as they can hit
purchased in tho County.
Persons arc requested to call and examine before
purchasing elsewhere. A. S. KINNEY.
Staunton, November fi. 18-4G.
“REMOVAL.
A. ML SIMPSON
^IfOULD respectfully inform the Ladies of
** Staunton and its vicinity, that he has remov
ed his Shop to the Store Room next door to Mr.
Merrill Cushing’s, where he is prepared to make
LAOXES’ SHOES AND GAITERS,
of the latest fashions and of the liest
Wfcrf^^^inaterials. He thinks that after a long
^^^■Pcxpcrionce in the business he will be
enabled to give satisfaction. All his work will he
warranted to stand.
Misses and Children’s .Slices made in all of their
various forms.—Also, White and Black Satin Shoes
for Weddings and Parties, on the shortest notice.
Ho will wail on Ladies at their houses
and take their measures, if desired.—He will also
take Gentlemen’s measures for Boots, and have them
made to order in the best and neatest style.
Staunton, Sept. 24, 1840.
Q&-A. M. S. has just received a variety of ma
terial, among which is a superior article of White
Kid, for the manufacture of Shoes for Wedding and
other parties. Dee. 3.
NEW GOODS.
6
*|*HE subscribers arc now receiving and opening
their supply of
FALL AND WINTER GOODS,
which have been selected with great earn in the
Northern Cities, and embrace a general assortment
of such Goods as arc suited to this market.
They feel grateful for past favors, and are confi
dent their present Stock will compare in quality and
prices with any in this market. Their friends and
the public generally are respectfully invited to call
and examine their Stock.
MOSBY Sc TAYLOR.
Staunton, Oct. 22, 184G.
X.EE 6c TXNS1EY,
GROCERS AND COMMMISSION
wmowjL'svSf,
NORTH SIDE OF THE BASIN,
Richmond, Va.,
^4 IVE their personal attention to the sale of all
kinds of Merchandize, and of JVheat, Flour,
Tobacco, and other Produce.
BBT* Particular attention paid to forwarding
goods free of extra drayage.
R E FE R ENCES :
DUNLOP, MONCURE & CO., ) n ,
DAVENPORT, ALLEN & CO., S K 0
LEE & ROBERTS, >
BRYANT & TINSLEY, > Lvnciidubo.
MILLER RUCKER, $
August 20, 1810.—Giu
FALL AND WINTER GOODS.
WOOD U DANNER,
HAVE just received their FALL AND WIN
TER SUPPLY OF GOODS, consisting in
part as follows, viz :
10 Hogsheads P. R. 8. N. O. Molasses.
10 do. P. R. Si N. O. Sugar.
2000 lbs. No. 1,2, k 3, Loaf Sugar.
4 Barrels Pulverized and Crushed Sugar.
130 Bags Rio and Gov’r. Java Coffee.
10 Half Chests (inn Powder.
Imperial Yong Hyson and Black Tea.
300 Sacks (». Alum and Ashton Fine Salt.
Cheese, Crackers, and Spices,
with all other artices in the Grocery line.
Also, a full supply of STAPLE and DOMES
TIC
n it v Goons,
allot which they will sell low for cash,or exchange
for Flour, Wheat, Sic., &o.
Winchester Depot, November 12, 1840.
ssFa&ik irinsf aaiatiso
DAVIS A, KAYSER,
AS just received an additional supply of Color
ed Cambricks, Bird Eye Diaper, Irish Linens,
Satin Vestings, Black itallian Cravats, Cashmere
Hose, Kid and Silk Gloves, Satin Riblmns, and a
variety of other Goods. Also, another lot of those
Fine Cheap BOOTS and HU OKS.
Staunton, December 10, 1840.
DRY GOODS, GROCERIES, Sic
flOTTON YARNS,at Factory prices; Batting
^ 9d. per lb.; good Sole Leather I*, thin 14 cts.;
Boots, Shoes, Ilats, 8tc. at much reduced prices;
Nails and Brads, also, at reduced prices; Bacon
8 cts.; Corn Meal 40 cts.; Oats 20; Buckwheat
Flour 24 ; Cheese 8 to I2J ; 1 lops 20. or 6 lbs. for
$1 ; Variegated Steam Shaving, and Rosin SoajH,
very cheap. E. MAY.
Otf-Thc subscriber also w ishes to hire of buy a
good female cook without incuinbcrancc, and will
give a liberal price. E. MAY.
Staunton, lire. 10, 1840.
ANCHOR
boltijvg-cj.oths,
OF superior Duality, jnst reecitoO an*l for
by B. CRAWFORD & CO.
SUuitoft, August 20.
Writing t*aprr.
OQ REAMS Cap and I/etter Paper, just receiv
ed and for sale by
ROBERT COWAN
Staunton, Dee. JO, 1840.
LAW NOTICE.
fOHN K. HENDREN, lias removed to
the room formerly the office of Judge Baldwin,
f in the Northern end of the building recently occu
pied by the Deaf and Dumb Department of the
Virginia Institution, and will attend with fidelity to
business entrusted to him in the Counties of Augus
ta and Rockbridge.
As a Commissioner in Chancer)' for the settle- i
inent of accounts, See., he offers his services to the j
public.
Staunton, December 3, 1840.—tf
sums is. wjlesrg„
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
STAUNTON. AUGUSTA CO., VA.
fkFFICE at present, up stairs in the building of j
the Mercantile establishment ol* John B. Breek- !
inridge, Kw|.
October 15, 1840.
FRANKLIN T. GEIGER,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
STAUNTON, VA.
WILL practise in the different Courts liolden at
Staunton.
[jUP* Office next door to the Bell Tavern and
nearly opposite the Court House.
July 2, 1810.—tf
WILLIAM B. JOHNSON,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA,
YXIILIi practise in the Superior, County and Cor
’ * poration Courts of Staunton, and will bo found
at the olliee of C. Johnson, Jr.
December 3, 1840.
1)R. WILLIAM BRUFFY,
HAVING permanently located at Mt.Sidney, Augtis
t a county, Va.,respectfully tenders his professional
services totliccitizens of the Town and vicinity.
May 7, IS4G.—tf
WANTED.
Ortrirk BUSHELS Oats, 2000 Bushels Corn,
which we will exchange Goods for.
PAUL & RIDGEWAY.
Staunton, Nov. 20, 1840.
Groceries.
JUST received 20 hags prime Uio Coffee; 2 hogs
hends Molasses ; 2 do. N. O and I'. R. Sugars;
! Refined Loaf Sugar, Crushed do., Pepper, Alspice, &c.,
&c., for sale low by PAUL & RIDGEWAY.
November 5, 1S4G.
WOOL, MM.ITS.
SIX dozen Men’s and Roy’s, for Servants, at retail
for seventy-five cents. For sale by
PAUL & RIDGEWAY.
Noverubor 5, 1S4G.
SMJLR MM.MTS.
A FEW Cases superior Fashionable SILK IIATS,
at unusually low prices for cash.
PAUL Ac RIDGEWAY.
November 5, 1846.
SALT ! SALT ! '. SALT ! !!
JUST received in store 100 sacks Liverpool Salt
in fine order and condition, for sale low for cash,
i Purchasers are invited to call and see them.
PAUL & RIDGWAY.
October 22, 184G.
Just Received.
ONE Cask only of that same pure CIDER
VINEGAR, for table use.
COWNE & DEAKINS. j
November 10, 184G.
•Must Received,
■ A LBS. LEAD PIPE. Size, 1J inch, 1
i ‘MOXJxJ jnei^ aP(i i inch. For sale by
PAUL & RIDGEWAY, j
Novemlicr 10, 1646,
•Must Received,
FLOUR, Dried Peaches and Apples. For sale
by COWNE & DEAKINS.
November 10. 1846.
■
•Must Received,
: A LOT of prime Shad and Herring. Also, a
notlier supply of heavy upper Leather and
CalfSkins. For sale by
COWNE Si DEAKINS.
November 10. I84G. j
.\ailx an«l Window Glaws.
| Al’l KEGS assorted sizes Nails, GO Boxes 7X0, j
8X10, 10X12, and 12X16 Window'
i Glass. For sale low by
Wood & danker. 1
Winchester, Va., Depot, Nov. 12, J846.
Just Ktcccivcd,
A/t BOXES of Superior Manufactured Tobacco,
| comprising all qualities and prices, which
will fie sold extremely low. Also, a large assort
ment of Imported Segars. of celebrated Brands. ;
Just received by C. T. COCHRAN &. CO.
Staunton, Nov. 10,1846.
niankelH.
1/~W \ HEAVY BLANKETS, suitable for Servants,
, 1 V*Vr at a great deduction for cash. For sale by j
PAUL k RIDGEWAY.
November 5, 1816.
Wanted Immediately.
! A JOURNEYMAN CHAIR-MAKER,ofstca j
i dy habits.
HENRY R. MATTHEWS. I
Deeemfier 3, 184G.
Clieapsule.
WOODEN Clocks for &2 00. Very mysterious--!
yet some things can be done at
C. C. LEWIS’S.
Staunton, Oct. 15, 1816.
Mints and Cups.
A LARGE assortment and at reduced prices, just rc
. ceived and for sale by A. S. KINNEY.
Novembrr f>, 1816.
Roots / Roots ! !
A LARGE stock just received and for sale unusually
*ow }>y A. S. KINNEY.
November 6, 1846.
•Must Received>
C1 LO rilS, (.’assimeres and Tweeds, just received and
/ for sale by A. S. KINNEY.
November 5, 1846.
•Must Received,
BOOTS AND SHOES of every variety, at reduced
prices, and for safe by DAVIS A. KAYSER.
October 22. 1846.
•Must Received.
| 'pEAS. One Chest, warranted superior, just reeeir
J ed and for sale by A. S. KINNEY.
November 5, 1846.
Wanted Immediately.
I rp\\ o Journeymen Shoe Makers of steady habits, to
A work on Ladies’Shoes. A M. SIMPSON.
' Staunton, Sept 24, 1*16
POUT!0 Vt.
nON the UOUtMD wiuo.
ORIGIN OF THE WAR
THE MESSAGE REVIEWED.
j Messrs. Editors:—! have read with much in
j terest several able reviews (among others your
■ own) of tlte President’s defence—tor Message it
, can hardly lie called, in the constitutional sense in
j which we undeislaud that term.
By the Constitution, he is required “togive ta Con
• grass information of the state of the Union, and rc
I commend to their consideration such measures as
| he shall judge necessary and expedientbut
I whether it was ever contemplated, that, in giving
information of the state of the Union, and reoom
1 mending measures necessary end expedient, he was
j to hold forth in a deliberate set speech of defence of j
what he had done, and Jor what he had been over- '
i whelmingly condemned in all those States where
j the opportunity had been presented, of expressing
an opinion—a sjieech, which was far more befitting !
! one of his partisans on the floor, or one of his conn- j
I sel in his defence under an impeachment, than the
I dignity of a Chief Magistrate, conscious of a faitli
j ful discharge of his public duty—is a question about
I which there might be some difference of opinion,
and concerning which I am not disposed to bandy
words. I will only say that, to my mind, it lietray- j
i ed the workings of a guilty conscience, and llio
• conviction of a desperate cause.
Rut, in other respects, it must strike nil coiisid
; erate and well informed men, as a most remarkable
! production. I will not deny that it is written with
: a reasonable degree of ability and ingenuity : hut
j to say that it is hollow-hearted,deceptive, hypocrit
: ieal ami false, is, in my judgment, hut fi'cbly ex
: pressing its true character. It deserves to lie plac
ed, and will sooner or later find its level along side
of ils predecessor of “54 40,” “clear and unques
tionable tille,” “the whole or none” document,
that, just twelve months ago, was ushered to the
world, with about as many nourishes of the pen,
from the, democratic press, as has accompanied this
miserable, abortive progeny.
Mr. Polk evidently feels that a great issue has
been made lietwcen himself ami the country, upon
I which, as I before said, he has been signally con
demned ; and it appears to me that the whole tenor
and drift of his late annual communication to the
; people, through Congress, has been to mystify and
I mislead the judgment of those, not well informed
upon that particular subject, and to present new is
sues, and (if I may use the expression sometimes
indulged in) rely upon false facts.
In the first place he takes occasion to sav, that
Mexico forced this war ii|miii us, by her own act,
(which is repeated some twenty times, in different
forms ; that she had invaded our territory, attacked
our forces, and shed the blood of American citizens,
on our own soil; whilst all honorable means were
resorted to by him to avoid war. YVc shall sec in
the sequel whether this be true or false. And yet,
strange as it may be, instead of undertaking IjsIiow
why it was that Mexico, the weaker power of the
two, influenced by no hope of conquest, with no rea
sonable expectation of success, torn to pieces by her
I civil commotions, crippled in her resources, desti- i
tute of credit and the means of carrying on the war,
. with .everything to lose and nothing to gain, in
I stead, I sa)^ of showing why Mexico thus madly
i and blindly forced us into a war, by invading the
territory of the United States, (which if Mr. Polk
1 knows anything, he knows was not so, as I will pre
sently show,)and attacking our forces,launches forth
intoa most extravagant exaggeration of the many in
sults, wrongs and depredations our coos* y had sus
tained and submitted to, for years and years past,
and reflects upon the character of our government,
and his predecessors, for not having long ago
forced ,Mexico intoa war, lit/ an invasion of her ter
ritory and an attach upon her forces.
Let us see what all this (which 1 will undertake
I to show, from Mr. Polk’s own pen, is unfounded,)
j has to do with the war—now existing, and made
j by Mr. Polk and not by Mexico—for which he
1 should bo held to a proper accountability, and about
; which no man who is free, or deserves to be free,
| will have his mouth muzzled by the clap-trap words
i “of aiding and comforting the enemy!” I am no
| Mexican, and akin to no Mexican ; I am no Tex
an or Mexican land holder or stock-jobber; but an
i American citizen, devoted to my country, my country
men and the Constitution:—Truth is truth.and right
is right; and when I know it. I will speak it out,
fearless of the denunciation of a hireling press. I
; say then, what has all this to do with the existing
I war? Suppose Mexico to have commenced it!—
Does Mr. Polk mean to say that Mexico undertook
to make war upon us because she bad committed
depredations on our commerce, (for which she bad
already agreed to pay an equivalent.) or that she
wanted to fight us, because we would neither whip
her. nor make her pay for it? If not, then this had
no influence with Mexico in making war, if she
did make it, and is not therefore germane to the
matter. Or supjxise. Air. Polk made the war!
j Does he mean to sav that, l.x marched the United
! Stales Army to the IIio Grande, not even then in
■ dispute between the two governments, but in the
| absolute and undisputed possession of the Mexican
! authorities, to force the payment of the indemnities
agreed to he paid by Mexico, for the wrongs and in
! juries lie lias so piteously related ; or to punish her
for her former transgressions, for which she had al
; ready been held responsible, and for which she
agreed to make reparation (as will be shown ?) If
so, then I ask by what authority lie undertook, at
the point of the sword, with Congress sitting at Ins
own door, to make a war for any such purpose ?
And, if it was not for this purpose that lie ordered
Gen. Taylor to march his army from Corpus Chris
ti to the Rio Grande, then I ask, why it is intro
| dueed in this communication, except to mislead and
I entangle, to hoodwink and blind, to mystify and
i deceive? You yourselves, Messrs. Editors, have
! already tix> clearly shown (as well as many others.)
i the fallacy of Air. Polk’s pretensions to our clear
and unquestionable title to this territory, on lhe.
East bank of the Rio Grande, to require any con
flrma'ion. Rut I will here ask the question : Sup
■ pose it had properly belonged to the United States,
as a bart of Texas: Congress, by its joint resolution,
admitting Texas, had done so ujxin the express con
dition , “th/it the Stntc should he formed, subject to
the adjustment. by this government, of all (pteslions
of boundary that may arise with other governments
And now I ask, by what authority, from what
1 source, or from whom derived, did Air. Polk tinder
take (and Congress in session too.) to settle this
Unsettled boundary question, left open by Congress
for adjustment by ibis government, and not seizure
by the President; by taking military possession and
pointing bis guns upon a Mexican town on the op
i posilo tmik—from which this wicked,Unnecessary,
uncalled for. unchristian, unconstitutional, expen
sive and bloody war has ensued ? He has not tin
I detlaken to show any such authority, which was
j his first duty, and until he does, he should be held
! ' to a just and strict accountability lor all the money
| that shall lx- expended, and all the American blood
! that has been, or may lx- spilled, upon the plains of
Mexico. Is it not monstrous, to see (his govern
! inent of ours, borrowing money, issuing treasury
notes, straining its credit, creating a great national
debt, enlisting soldiers, asking for volunteers,sacri
ficing our people, degrading itself in the eyes of a
civilized world ; our people sending off front time
t to time committees to bring home the lifeless body
of their most cherished citizen ot favorite soldier,
that his lv>ne< may not whiten, as his Mood has
! moistened the plains of Mexico; women made wid
i own, and children orphans; all at the bidding of one
: man, w hose folly or knavery has plunged us into
! 11> is disgraceful var; and lie go unwhipt of justice?
| Give aid and comfort to the enemy forsooth ! That
; is to be the slang of the day, is it ? Give men and
j money to any amount, say I, to get the country lion
i orably out of the difficulties with which it is sur
j rounded ; but at the same time, and in the same
1 breath, inflict constitutional punishment upon whom
soever shall, by his recklessness and presumption,
| have made it necessary to vote these supplies, so
1 freely bestowed.
Give aii! and comfort to the enemy, eh ! Well?
: when the jxirty upon whom it has chiefly devolved
to fight these battles of Mr. Polk, shall give; “aid
and comfort to the enemy,” by giving safe conduct
int«> tb^/xinutry of the ablest generals and states
men, io iie Ibid id at the head of their armies and
councils, they may be charged with giving “aid and
comfort to the enemy but in the mean time that
shall not prevent an exposure of the knavery and
trickery that have attended this whole business, <>s
pecially so far as that knavery ami trickery can lie
established from circumstantial evidence and public
documents coining from under the hands of the
President himself. Muzzles w’ore made for dogs,
and rtrtjrs only wear them.
I think then it must he conceded, that these Mcx
ican outrages, long since allcdgcd to have been per
petrated. did not induce Mexico to undertake the
punishment of the Gnited Slates, in the war she is
charged to have made; and I think it will Ik! diffi
cult to show that Mr. Polk had any authority to or
der the army of the United States into what was
at that time indisputable Mexican territory, in their j
possession, and never yet claimed by the United
States Government, who alone had the power and |
the right to settle the question of boundary ;—for it
is idle to pretend that our revenue laws bad been ;
extended, or were intended to be extended over that ;
part of the territory betw een the Ncuces and the !
Uio Grande, where Mexican custom houses were
established, and from which they were then deriv
ing revenue.
iSow all this, 1 say? was known to Mr. Polk ;
and it I do not convict him of the knowledge and
acknowledgement, that this territory now claimed
as a part ol Texas, and admitted into our Union,
was greatly beyond the “ Western limits of Texas” '
and recognized by him as Mexican territory, until
he had involved the country in war in resentment
ot a jxiiiit of etiquette; I say if I do not convict
Mr. •lames K. Polk of this knowledge and recogni
tion by Air. James K. Polk himself, then i ain wil
ling to stand charged with giving “aid and comfort
to the enemy ;” lint if I do, then let the Represen- !
tatives ot the jicople hold him to the responsibility
he has assumed, and punish him as the organic
law of the land demands. Father let them d(”tliis, ■
or declare at once that all constitutional government
is at an end ; or that whatever constitutional ristric
tions may bo imposed on the power of the pooplo, j
through their representatives, to incorporate a Hank, !
protect labor, encourage industry, improve harbors, j
and protect the lives and property of American citi- 1
•zens, that the powers of the President are absolute,
sovereign and supreme; and then we shall know j
what sort of a government we live under.
That this claim now set up by Air. Polk to the
territory on the Fas tern bank of the Rio Grande as
belonging to the United States, wasau after thought, 1
and designed to smother his unjustifiable oceupa- ;
tion ol Mexican territory, may, in the absence of
all other proof, positive and circumstantial, be es
tablished, beyond all doubt, by bis own Message to
Congress at the commencement of the session of 1
184r>, in which lie says :
“The moment the terms of annexation offered by
the United States were accepted by Texas, the lat
ter became so far a part of the country, as to make
it our duty to afford them protection and defence.
I therefore deemed it proper, as a precautionary
measure, to order a strong squadron to the r oast of
Alcxico, and to concentrate an efficient military !
force on the Western frontier of Texas.”
Mark that! “On the Western frontier of Tex
as!” We shall see presently, by his next Ales-1
sage, sent to Congress on the 11th of Alay follow
ing, what he then considered the Western frontier
of Texas, and by that means ascertain where Alex- !
ican territory l>egan. That point was Corpus
Christi, on the banks of the Neuccs. 1 le proceeds :
“Onr army was ordered to take jxisition in tin
country between the Neuccs and the Del Norte,
and to repel any invasion of the ’Texan territory
which might be attempted by the .Mexican forces.”
The distance from Corpus Christi to the Rio
Giande is 1(',0 miles, and yet our army was rtipped
at Corpus Christi to repel any invasion Mexico
might make of the Texan territory by crossing the
Rio Grande. That was a military movement wor
thy ol the great irresponsible commander-in-chief,
as ho has been lately ascertained to he. in Congress, i
if the Texan territory extended to the Rio Grande.
What would he thought of a military commander
who would station his forces at the city of Rich- j
inontl to protect U.w.timork from any invasion that
might bo made by the good people of Pennsylva
nia? But lie continues:
“Our squadron in the Gulf was ordered to co-op
crate with the army. Uni though our , lrmy and
Navy men placed in a position to defend our own,
and the rights of 'Texas, they were ordered to com
mit no act of hostility against Alcxico, unless she
declared war or was herself the aggressor by strik
ing the first blow. The result has been, that .Mex
ico has made no aggressive, movement, and our mil
itary and naval commanders have executed their or
ders with sueli discretion that tlm peace of flw two
llepublics has not been disturbed.”
Now, is it not worthy of enquiry, if onr squad
ron in tho Golf, and our army at Corpus Christi,
“on the western frontier of Texas,” were placed
in a position (as Mr. Polk declares to Congress) to
protect our own, and the rights of Texas, and to re
pel any invasion of tlie Texan territory which
might i>c attempted by the Mexican forces, and
Alcxico making no aggressive movement—I say, is
it not worthy of enquiry, why was that army
marched from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande l
And why were our guns mounted and pointed upon
a Mexican town,on the opjKisitr bank ! Why was
this state of peace not allowed to continue ? And
yet. when he thus proves himself to be the aggres
sor, he declares that Alcxico has forced a war upon
us. has invaded onr territory, and murdered our cit
izens on their own soil: and finds a ready resjxmso
froni his well trained and disciplined cohorts in Con
gross,and obtains front them a preamble to a bill of ap
propriations. declaring “whereas by the act of the
republic of Mexico a state of war exists between
that Government and the U. States; therefore,”
&e.—n statement protested against by evorv man of
the \N big party in Ixith Mouses, as a wilful false
hood, and protested against in the Senate by Air.
Calhoun, ot his own party, who said, "it irnuhl lc
as impossible for him to vote for Hud preamble, ns if
motdil be to strike a dagger to bis hettrl” Yet
the W Itigs Voted for the bill, with that protest a
ffainst the preamble, because they would not with
hold supplies necessary to cnTry on the Avar : and
the Administration forced ttjxm them the umvel
conte choice of the “avhoi.k or xorcfc;” and this is
now most inf prudently claimed as his vindication
and acquittal by the \\ bigs of Congress .from the
charge of making Avar! It was in his Message of
the 11 th of Alay, announcing the existence of hos
tilities, that hr points out. distinctly what be had
I* ! ,rr regarded as the “ ffestern frontier of Tex
as.” He says;
“in my message at the commencement of the
“present session. I informed v<-u tint up-*! the earn
„cst appeal, both of tho Congress and Convention
j “°l I exas, I had ordered an efficient military force
"*o take a position between tho Neuces and the
"I)(‘| ^orte —[Here lie leaves out the Western
frontier, and thereby uiis<|uolcs his own message*,
as by this time In* hud lelt Corpus Christi,and was
fighting on the lianks of the ltio Grande for "the
tc/iole or none. ’ I “This force,” ho savs. “was
concentrated at Compos Chkisti, and remained
, “there until after 1 received such information from
' “Mexico as to render it prolnble, if not certain, that
“the Mexican government would refuse to receive
“our envoy.” Here the gentleman lets tho cat
out ol the wallet, and shows the true origin of this
war ; which was to resent an indignity suppised to
have been offered either to himself or his tmaeorc
i minister, Mr. Slidell, that ho boldlv grasp'd, ;
within one mile ol tho Capitol, under the very nose 1
of Congress, then in session, a responsibility,’ from '
which his sober second thoughts have shrunk back
in terror and dismay ; and is now endeavoring to 1
screen himself from the punishment that an indig- j
nant people will demand, as an atonement for a vi- !
olated constitution, by a misrepresentation of the
whole affair. We shall sec anon. Hectoring and
bravado, in the hour of intemperance, is usually j
succeeded by pusilanimity and eowardicc when the !
senses are calmed ; and so we find it lu re—and '
yet, every man who docs not look upon Mr. Polk
as a demigod, and his conduct as irreproachable, is
to Ik; stigmatized as a traitor, giving “aid and com
fort to the enemy,” as well by the President of the
l . States as his official and officious organ. //!>/,
tones these! Let them learn, that while wo will
protect the flag of the country, we will not suffer
them to sacrifice the constitution, or the honor of
the nation. And when Mr. President wants to as
certain w hat pnvers he may exercise, cither in ma
king war or in governing a conquered territory, ei
t her as President or Commanderin-Chief, instead
I ol looking into \ attel for the rights of sovereigns,
! we will point him to a written Constitution, under
which his duties arc limited and prescribed ; and if
he wishes them to be enlarged, he must look to us,
the People ; and that, as far as the law of Nations, j
relating to the rights of sovereigns over conquered
territory, is concerned, it appertains,so far asappli- !
1 cable, to the government, and not to James K. Polk, !
in the one capacity or the other. But I am getting
ofl' upon another branch of his conduct not less re
prehensible, but which is undergoing review in the
proper place—I mean, by the representatives of Un
people ; where I am disposed to leave it. There
j are enough there able to do it justice. Now, does
1 he stand convicted or not by bis own solemn decla
rations ? It he does, shall be not be impeached ? j
: A violated Constitution, an abused people, tin- na
• tional honor, and the blond of our citizens, all de
mand it. It he does not stand convicted, then 1
; confess I am ineom|>etent to sit on any jury, or de
eide a question of "mourn and tuum” between man
and man.
1 will now undertake to show, first, that there
i was no well founded ground of complaint even,
| much loss for war, against Mexico, at the time this
war was commenced, growing out of the spoliations
and other injuries we had sustained ; and, secondly,
to show how this war was brought, about—which
was perhapsas much the result of folly as wicked
ness but none the less culpable on that account, as
tar as the consequences are concerned, it being at- i
tended with a gross usurpation of power, justifying
the infliction ol the severest punishment known to
; our form of government.
By an atteuiiy; perusal of Mr. Polk’s communi
cation, it will he found that, whatever might have
been tin- provocation for a resort to hostilities a
| gainst Mexico at any former period, for the wrongs
and injuries, which Mr. Polk mourns over as if
now existing, they had all been settled and oblite
rated. Let it be borne in mind that all that had
been asked or expected of Mexico, was that she
should indemnity, in money, our citizens for the
losses they had sustained at her hands. Well, a-!
Unit the close of Mr. Van Btiren’s administration,
to wit. on the 11 th of August, 1839, Mr. Polk him
selt tells us, the negotiation between Mexico and
the L. S. resulted in “a convention for the adjust
ment of claims of citizens of the United States of
America upon the government of the Mexican Re
public.” Moreover, “that the joint board of com
missioners created by ibis convention was not or
| ganized until August, 1840. and that under the
terms of the convention they were to terminate
their duties within eighteen months;”—a provision
1 for which the United States government was quite
as responsible as that of Mexico, and it was proba
bly inserted bv the U. S. negotiator, to hasten the
settlement, lie tells us, furthermore, that at the
expiration of the eighteen months they had not got
ten through with liie;r business, “but has ascertain
ed the sum of two million, twenty-six thousand,
one hundred and thrity-nine dollars, and sixty
i eight cents to be due;” which sum the Mexican
government promptly recognized, and agreed to pay
, by instalments, as stipulated by a second conven
i tion, concluded on the 30th of January, 1813; and,
in compliance with that agreement she paid, on the
30th of April 1843, all the interest due on the a
| wards whn h had l>een made in favor of the claim
ants, and three of the twenty instalments. Two
j other instalments, due in April and July 1844, were
paid by Mexico to the American agent, whose re
ocipl was given for the money ; whereby Mexico
was discharged from all farther responsibility, he
having taken orders on an English house iu Mexi
co. in high credit, but which afterwards failed._
The circumstances were such that the U. .States
felt themselves under an obligation to assume the
debts, and paid tlic-.n over to (he claimants. It ho
I mg manifest to both parties that the time allowed
(of eighteen months) under the convention of 1839.
had not been sufficient to ascertain all the claims
due to American citizens, Mexico promptly agreed,
by the convention of January. 1843, to enter into
another convention tor the settlement of all other
claims due to the government and citizens of the
I . States from the Republic of Mexico, and vice
versa ; and, accordingly, in November, 1843, “pro
vision was made for ascertaining and paying these
claims.’ In January 1844, this convention was
presented to the consideration of the Senate of the
U. States, who did not ratify it. (as Mr. Polk says
they did, with two amendments.) but who refused
to ratify it. by adopting two amendments, which,
owing to various causes that might be deemed rea
sellable and sufficient, have never yet been acted itt
on by tin- Mexican government. By the bye, it is
left for Mr. Polk to discover that a treaty or con
vention ran he ratified iritli amendments; they
must ratify or reject, or they may offer amendments,
in which case they refuse to ratify ; but still do
not re,;cct, alisolutely : lor if they did ratify, there
would he an end of the matter. Thus, it apjwars,
it was owing to the action of our own Senate that
this convention fir final settlement of al* claims
was not concluded, and not the action of the Mexi
can government. But if the blame can properly
be laid at the door of Mexico, it becomes a question
whether our relations with her, growing out of the
annexation of Texas, then in progress, was no: suf
fieient cause, (she believing it to he her territory,
whether so or not.) for a suspension of payment
and negotiation, to say nolbing of the distracted
state of her public councils from that time to the
present: Sin bad shown every disposition to skt
Tr.r. fur. if she never jniid—and i wish wr eutild
lioast as much fivr some of our own Stales.
But would it not have been well for Mr. Polk to
have fold ns something of the nature of these two
amendments before In- asked us to condemn thn
Mexican government for not adopting them ? Must
wc not know something of their ehar.lcU r be fore we
I can indulge in reasonable speculation upon the obli
; gal ion or Mexico to adopt them I Is* or must wc
j lorget that intercourse between two nations, at re
i jnoto distances, cannot be carried on with the same
facility and dcsjKiteh as between individuals. And
in this case, we hud first to wait until the meeting
I of the Mexican Congress, whiclt might have con
: sinned many months; then, it may ho supposes!,
: the Mexican functionaries would probably claim
; some liberty of discussion—as sometimes happens
1 with our S'nators; and then, by the time they
j were prepared to decide, and perhaps favorably,
; their entire government was overthrown, by one of
i those civil revolutions so common in that unfortu
j nale country. Ur it might be (as it was) that all
; intercourse between the two governments was sus
! pended about that time. These tilings should all
be borne in mind by a generous and magnanimous
nation, before they pass seuteuco of condemnation
, upon a people, against whom the utmost pains have
: been taken by our misguided rulers, to excite the
prejudices of our citizens, in order to sustain them
, selves. “Let justice be done though the heavens
full,*’ is a sound moral maxim, that cannot bo too
strongly inculcated among tuitions as well as indivi
duals.
Now, then, where is the individual that will
say there existed ut that time just cause of war
with Mexico ! Site recognizing the debt ascer
tained to be due ; paying to the extent of her abili
ty, and up to the time of our negotiation for what
j she claimed as her revolted province, all that teas
, due; suffering under extreme pecuniary embar
rassment ; irritated by the treaty of annexation ; la
j boring under intestine commotion and civil revolu
tion ; or, asking indulgence at the hands of a pow
erful people and staler republic t Who', 1 say,"will
' answer, that these relations furnished pro Vocation,
“to let slip the dogs of war” upon her ! No; what
ever had been Iter error, she had atoned for it, by
fair and honorable settlement, and we should not
let any prejudice, resulting from exaggerated state
ments or from our present relations with her, affect
our judgment and our justice, even in a state of
war. A strict investigation of facts is the only
way to arrive at truth, and ascertain where the
blame lies.
I have nothing to do with the annexation <ff,Tcx
as, or her claims to independence. 1 am inquiring
into the causes and propriety of this war. I will
only say, it is extremely ridiculous in Mr. Polk to
rely u|h>ii any treaty or acknowledgment of its inde
pendence made by Santa Anna in 1836, whilst in
duress, a prisoner of w ar, (as the condition of his
release.) and of course no longer President of Mex
ico, and especially when that treat)-provided that
it was to be laid Indore the Mexican Congress, by
whom it was promptly rejected :—it only shows
the weakness of his cause. ,
\\ hat, then, was the real cause of tho transfer
of the army from Corpus Cliristi to the Rio Grande,
which brought on this war • Was it an aggres
sion on the part of Mexico or not ?
Air. Polk takes occasion frequently to remark,
that the Mexican government had solemnly agreed
to receive an Envoy, and that she afterwards vio
lated her plighted laitli ; that he had directed tho
American Consul, at the city of Alexieo, to enquire
“whether the Mexican government would receive
an Envoy from the l titled States entrusted with
full power to adjust all the questions in dispute be
tween the two governments and, ho says, “the
Alinister of Foreign Affairs of the Mexican govern
ment, in a note toihe Consul, gave a favorable re
sponse.” Whereupon, Air. John Slidell was ap
jKiintod, anil despatched to Alexieo, just altoul the
lime of the meeting of Congress—and he w as not
received, This is Air. Poliv’s statement of the case ;
and while, if true, it does not furnish just cause of
war, in itself, yet, from the frequency of the repe
tition, that the Mexican government had agreed to
receive an Envoy, and had afterwards violated her
promise, it is evident Mr. Polk attaches much itn
jtortance to it, as having a strong bearing on our
present relations. It becomes inqiortaut, therefore,
to ascertain the actual state of the case; to see whe
ther, in point of fact, it is, or is not, truly stated.
To receive a resident Minister is a recognition of
friendly relations. When Air. Slidell was sent to
Mexico all intercourse between the two go veil mien ts
had been susjtendod ; Con. Almonte had returned
to Mexico ; Guv. Shannon had also returned to the
l nited States; our licet was hoveling around Vera
Cruz, and our army stationed on the “western fron
tier of Texas,” and consequently on the confines of
Alexieo.
Eet us look at facts and documents to sec whe
ther Air. Polk has presented a true state of the ease
to his country, and whether any such solemn aerce
ment had been entered into ami violated by Mexico;
as he represents. And if he has misrepresented it,
what epithet is loo harsh to be applied to him ?
The reason lbr this most gross and manifest mis
representation, lies in the fact that the whole diffi
culty in which wo are involved grew out of his sil
ly blunder, upon a point of etiquette, relating to
this very matter. It was impossible but ho must
have known better; and here let me ask, if it cun
Itc shown that the President of the United Stales,
in communicating official information to Congress
ot the state of the. Union, for their action upon a
subject alTecting the question of peace or war> has,
with a full knowledge of tin* facts, and the docu
ments before him, made it deliberate misrepresenta
tion, in order to justify his own conduct, and throw
the adversary in the wrong. 1 say, let me ask
what is the judgment an honest, intelligent and vir
tuous jteople will pronounce against him ? Now
let us proceed to ascertain whether, in relation to
this envoy and his (Mr. P/s) efforts to negotiate a
peaceable settlement of our difficulties, he has or
has not represented the matter as it was, fairly and
truly.
By reference to the documents submitted to Con
gress in tlio month of May last, accompanying his
war message, it will l»e found that Mr. Buchanan,
Secretary of State, in a h-ttcr datud. Sept. 17, 1815,
to Air. Black, our Consul at Alexieo, directs him
“to ascertain from the Mexican government whe
“tlicr they would receive an envoy from the Uni- *
“led States entrusted with full power to adjust ail
“the questions in dispute between the two govern
“monts,” w hich was communicated by Mr. Black
to Mr. Pena y Pena, the Minister of Foreign Rela
tions in Mexteo, on the 13th of October, 1845.
Now let us see what was the answer to this pro
|K>s;tion. On the 15th of October, -Mr. Pena y
Pena, in a letter to Air. Black, answers this propo
sition by saying: “In answer, I have to say to you,
“that although the Mexican nation is deeply injur
“ed by the United States, through the nets corn
“initlcd l»y them in the department of Texas,
‘■which belongs to this nation, my government is
“disposed to receive the Commissioner of the United
••States who inay come to this capitol with full pow
"cr to settle tl>e /iresrul dis/mlc, in a peaceful, rca
“sonnhle, and honorable manner and to call the
attention of oiir government more emphatically to
what they proposed to do, this whole sentence i3
underscored.
" bother Air. Poik understood fur difference be
tween a rI'Ll mInisti.is to reside near the court,
and a commissioner to settle an existing dispute
iiIkhiI boundary, I will not undertake fo say. i
think it probable he did not, and this comes from
takiitg a President out of the woods, because no-*
hotly knew enough about him. to say any thing a
gainst him. But surely Mr. Buchanan ought to
have known it. fluring the kite war between the
United States and Great Britain, each government
appointed commissioner* to treat for pence, and they
negotiated the treaty of Ghent, hut it would have
Ik.< n something of a novelty indeed in diplomacy;
it either bad received a minister resident near the
court of the other, while hostilities existed_but 1
suppose Mr. Polk had not then learned the di/To
renec. Be this as it tnav, however, on receiving
this answer from the Mexican AJinisfcr of Foreign
'fairs, what dues Mr P„Ik do7 lie forthwith
appointed Mr. John Slidell, and despatched him to
Alexieo with his credentials tn the f-llowing lan
guage :
‘•Great and good friend :—I have made choihe of
“John Slidell, one of our dtstirtgnicbed citizens, to
*"reside, near the (jfrbrrhtuent of I hr. Mexican Ur.
ptddir. in the rptaliti/ of Uuroi/ ll.rlrru/rdinarti
"and Alinister Ulcni/ oten/ 'an/ of the United State*
“nf •America," 8w.. £*-<•., on tod Washington,
10th of November. 18 4 5. s gned James K. Polk,
countersign* J .Tame*-- Buchanan. Sr-crefary <,f State