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PUBLISHED WEEKLY, BY tflM'IAilZ W. HOI.DEIV, EDITOR AJVJ) PROPRIETOR. THE CONSTITUTION AND Tlf E UNION STATES'TliEir "MTJST BE PRESERVED. VOLUME XIINUMBER 642. i 1 iv if- TERMS. rjuE NORTH CAROLINA STANDARD IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT.r , THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM IN AD VANCE. jhoiie persons who remitby Mail (postage paid) Fire Dollars, will be entitled to a receipt for Six Dollars artivo years subscription to the Standard one co- py two years, or two copies one year. v0rfour copies, : : : - - ; $10-00 20 00 I S5 00 ten twenty : : same rate tor aix montns. Iinv person procurinir and forwarding nvesuoscn- k br3'lth tne cash JviU be entitled to the Stand- Md one yearr of charge. y dtEkiisemerts not exceeding fourteen lines, will be inserted one time for One Dollar, and twenty-five cents for each subsequent insertion ; those of great er length, in proportion. Court Orders, and Judici al Advertisements will be charged twenty-Bye per cent higher than the above rates. A deduction of S3 1-3 per cent, will be made to those who advertise by tbe year. Jcj-If the number of insertions be not mark ed on them, they will be continued until ordered out. Letters to the Editor must come free of postage, or they Bir not be attended to SPJGECH OF MR. SMITH, OF ORANGE, Delivend in the House of Commons of te Gen eral Assembly of North Carolina, January 8th, 1S47 On the subject of appropriating $10,000 for the North Carolina Regiment for the prose cution of the Mexican war. Mr. Speaker : The subject now under discus sion is one of great and vital importance, as it is so deeply connected with the honor and character of our State, and that responsibility we owe to our common constituents. I rise, therefore, for the purpose of expressing my cordial and hearty ap probation of the very proper and praiseworthy Resolution upon your table for the aid and support of our Volunteers for the Mexican war, and to enter my unqualified disapprobation ot the first cause of the Preamble " Whereas, by the action of the Executive and the subsequent sanction oj Congress, the Republic is engaged in a foreign war, and our Slate is called upon for volunteers." I confess my astonishment at this wanton and uncalled for attack upon the President of the TJ. Suites; and I have waited patiently to hear some arguments adduced and reasons assigned for so extraordinary a course. " Gentlemen have, indeed, essayed to perform the task, and with ability have conducted the prosecution ; but they have utterly and signally failed to prove any of the counts in their indictment. Why is it, sir, the preamble begins with a charge, by innuendo, that our country is in the wrong, and that the awful responsibilities of war, with all its horrors and calamities, rests on the person of the Executive of the United Slates? Will our constituents expect- and require of us, this day, to be engaged in discussing vague and abstract speculations -as lo the causes which pro duced this war? or do they not rather expect that we are acting boldly and promptly in giving "aid and comfort," not to the Mexican republic, but to our brave and generous.sons who are now volun tarily going to bear all the perils of the ocean, the camp, and the field, to maintain the honor and glory of their country in a foreign land, against a barbarous, faithless, and perfidious foe? Have you any warrant from the people of North Carolina to compromit her noble and gen erous character, in the eye3 of the world, by placing- her in a false position as unfriendly to the existing war, and sympathizing with a public enemy? Have the other States of the Union ac companied the bounty to their sons with such pal try and degrading party qualifications? It is na tural that men should disagree in opinion in mat ters of State, as well as every thing connected with human action. Parties have existed in this re public, and will continue to exist to the end of time. It is in some degree a natural element of free government. It is upon their acting and counteracting influence that a perfect equipoise nnd balance of power will be maintained, and our free form of government perpetuated- But -our observation will prove to us that circumstances will sometimes arise whiqh will imperiously re quire of every friend of his country to sacrifice his own personal preferences and opinions on the altar cf patriotism. I contend, therefore, that the pres ent war with Mexico is one of those great and im portant events which demands of every man who owes allegiance to these States, and receives pro tection in return from them, to surrender his party feelings and come lo the rescue of his beloved country. I shall, therefore, hold the majority here responsible for every obstacle they may in terpose to the free, prompt, and decisive action of this House on this measure, so just and proper, for the aid and comfort of our gallant young men who are making such sacrifices for the honor and glo ry of their country. It i3 true, sir, your resolution proposesto appropriate a small amount of money for the relief of the volunteers; but the generosity of the act is blurred and stained, by the grudging and grumbling manner of the donors. I appeal to the dominant party in this House, to piuse and reflect in their mad and unpatriotic career. I know that they feel deeply incensed, and cherish a spirit of revenge and haired to the President, because, in his last annual message to Congress, he, declared to the leaders of their party that a course precisely such as a majority of this House propose lo adopt was calculated lo "give aid and comfort to the enemy. Mr. SDeakcr. it would be an idle and useless ! consumption of the time of this House, to enter into an elaborate and detailed review of the many causes of complaint which this country has suffer ed at the hands of Mexico; of the long catalogue of aggressions .and insults which she has heaped upon us: of her open and flagrant violations of our treaty stipulations; of her murder,' robbery, and imprisonment of our countrymen. These re peated injuries ' have been borne with christian forbearance, with the hope that the day was not distant when the necessary reparation would be made. It has been the characteristic of our coun try to be magnanimous in her intercourse with foreign nations ; to cultivate with them the rela tions of peace, when it could be done without a sacrifice of the national honor. But, sir, owing Jo the weak and distracted condition of Mexico, "na her want of the necessary means ana re sources to contend with our country, she has been permitted to pursue a coarse of policy towards us that has weakened her resnect for our government and produced that proud, arrogant, and insulting lone'of conduct that became so offensive to our People, and which can do longer be brooked with patience. Why, sir, in the administration of Gen. Jack on he brought this subject to the attention of Con fess in a special message, in which he declared that "ihe wanton character of some of the out rages upon the persons and property of our citi zens, upon the officers, and "flag of the U. States, jpdependent of recent insults to this government and people, by the late. extraordinary Mexican minister, would justify, in the, eyes of nations, im mediate war." At the next session of Coqgress, Mr. Van Buren called its attention to the state of our affairs with Mexico, and recommended letters of marque and reprisal in case the necessary and proper satisfaction was not made. This was some years before the annexation of Texas to the United States. In 1842, the Hon-Waddy Thompson, our min ister to Mexico, in an able and eloquent letter ad dressed to the diplomatic corps at Mexico, in which he complained in the strongest terms of the injuries the United Slates had suffered at the hands of Mexico, said : "Not only have we never done an act of an unfriendly character towards Mexico, but- I confidently assert that, from the very mo ment of the existence of the Republic, we have allowed no opportunity to pass of doing Mexico every kindness. I will not now enumerate the acts of that character both to the government of Mexico and the citizens, public and private. If this government chooses to forget them, I will not recall them. While such has been our course to Mexico, it is with pain-1 am forced lo say that the open violations of the rights of American citizens by the authority of Jvlexico have been greater for the last fifteen' years than those of the rest of Christendom united. Yet we have left the re dress of all these multiplied and accumulated wrongs to a friendly negotiation, without intimat ing a disposition to resort to force." Mr. Speaker, it cannot bedisguised that our recent difficulties with Mexico have ensued from the annexation of Texas to the U. Slates, which so deeply exasperated the feelings of the Mexican people. No one can, who gives an impartial con sideration to the subject, doubt that Texas, as a free and independent republic, had a perfect and indisputable right to merge -her sovereignty into our Federal Union without violating the settled and established usages of nations, or of giving just cause of offence to Mexico. Sir, Mexico was once a province of old Spain ; she revolted from the mother country, and by a successful revolution threw off the Spanish yoke, and declared her independence. In a General Congress in" 1824 she established a republican Constitution upon the mould of our own. Texas constituted a State of the new Republic ; . she com prised that vast extent of country between the Rio del Norte and the western boundary of the United States, and was formerly a part of the State of Louisiana, having been purchased from France by Mr. Jefferson, and afterwards ceded to Spain by the Florida treaty. Possessing a delightful climate and fertile soil, it soon attracted the atten tion of our people, nnd drew a large population from the American States on the gulf and the great west. The federal constitution guaranteed to Texas a republican form of government, nnd the central government ottered the most liberal . ... inducements to settlers from all paits of the world and especially from the United States. The policy of relinquishing our claim to a country of such great extent and fertility so favor - ably located for settlement was justly questioned by many enlightened and patriotic citizens at the time of the ratification of the Florida treaty. Hpnrv CAnv when Recretarv of State, discovered of what vast imoortance the acauisition of Texas . wii j a would be to the United States and especially to the great western valley. He made great efforts to purchase it from Mexico, but failed. General Jackson also made, during Jm administration, similar efforts to acquire lhe territory, but was alike unsuccessful. After a few years of experi ment in Mexico, it was discovered that her rxoplo were incapable of self government; the country became the theatre of civil strife and intestine feuds; one revolution succeeded another in such rapid succession that the constitution of 1824 was soon abrogated. Santa Anna was soon declared Supreme Dictator of the Republic, and. the pow ers of the government, both civil and military, were concentrated and consolidated in the person of this military usurper. The people of Texas revolted upon the overthrow of the federal consti tution, and resolved no longer to wear the yoke of Mexican bondage.. They met in convention and declared their independence, formed a constitution and government, and declared the Rio Grande from iis mouth to its source her southern bound aryrand the Sabine and the United States bound ary on the rasi to be hers. It was "then that Santa Anna, the blood-thirsty tyrant of Mexico, resolved upon the subjugation of Texas. He marched with a large mercenary army to the frontiers of Texas, for the purpose of potting to the sword a small but gallant band of patriots who were rallying around the standard of liberty. At Goliad, Conception, and the Alamo, the Texans were overpowered by superior num bers, and were put to the most horrii and igno minious deaths. The annals of Savage barbarity will hardly furnish a parallel for such scenes of coldblooded butchery and slaughter. But, sir, Providence smiled upon the good cause of Texis; and on ihe plains of San Jacinto her liberty was sealed a glorious and victorious battle was fought between Gen. Houston's army and Santa Anna's on the Slslof April, f836, when Santa Anna was captured and the Mexican army annihilated 1 Then it was that Santa Anna became sL beggar for his life, at the feet of Gen. Houston ; and, to save his own lite and initoi tne remnant oi nis army, he signed a treaty acknowledging the in dependence of Texas and recognizing the Rio Grande or the Rio del Norte as the boundary. Texas trom that day was a free and independent republic; her independence was recognized by the United States, by France, England, and Hol land, For eight years Mexico made no effort to reconquer the country. It is true she made many and pompous paper manifestoes, containing serious threats of an invasion, but no hostile Mexican foot dared to tread upon the soil of Texas. The resources of Texas had however, been much exhausted and her treasury embarrassed, by causes arising out of iho. war. . Her people felt the peculiarity of their position, and wanted the aid and support of some great power. They hnA nil their attachments for their native land their feelings and sympathies were with the Uni ted States. With great unanimity, thereiore, tney asked of our government to be incorporated into the American Union. Their overtures were again and again repulsed., . Finally it was discovered that England and France were intermeddling with tbe affairs of Texas and Mexico, for the sole pur pose of defeating the annexation of the", former lo. the United States. So far had this interference gone, that Mexico proposed to relinquish any title she might bare claimed to Texas, qpd to rccog- nize her independence, if she would refuse alL connection with our government. It was then that the attention of President Tyler was called to the importance of the subject. . He moved at once in the matter; and with the aid of the democratic party, the cunning devices and intrigues of. old England were defeated, and this vital and import ant acquisition was made to the United States Texas was solemnly, by due constitutional author ity, incorporated as a State of the North American. Union, with the Rio del Norte as the true boundary. Mr. SpeaTcer, as soon as the Mexican Minister Gen. Almonte perceived that the intrigues of crowned heads had been defeated, he entered a solemn protest in the name of his government against the annexation, asked his passports, ter minated his mission, and left the country. Im mediately the Government of Mexico withdrew her Consuls from our ports, and refused to have any fuither intercourse with the United States Government She became deeply exasperated, and resolved upon an invasion .of Texas. She commenced raising -a large army lo carry-this resolution into effect. Texas was then a State of this Union. She appealed, as she had the. right to do, to the President of the United States, the head of the naval and military force of the country, to interpose on her frontier borde Such a force as would protect her from invasion.' The President promptly, as he was bound by his oath and official duty, sent an army headed by a distinguished General, west of the Ncuces. to act as an army of observation. He sent a fleet into the Gulf of Mexico, and one to the Pacific ocean, to guard our interests in that quarter. They were merely fleets of observation, with large powers to act if our rights were invaded. ! it soon became apparent that Mexico intended ! to invade Texas. Corpus Christi being too re mote from the threatened point. ofUnvasion, the President otdcred Gen. Taylor vith his army to advance lo the Rio Grajide, nnd to station it oppo site to the Mexican town of Malamoras. This order was promptly obeyed, ffnd Gen. Taylor posted his army at the point designated. The wisdom of this course soon became evident, for the Mexicans were assembled in great force on the south bank of the Rio Grande. The Ameri can Commander sent over the river a distinguish ed American Officer, under a flag to inform the Commander of the Mexican forces, that the army was not there for the purpose of hostilities, but as an army of observation. To this polite nnd pa cific note, the American General received in re ply, that if he did not break up his encampment and fall back east of the Neuccs, he would attack him in full force. With this understanding the Mexicans cross over the river to the American side, and attack the encampment of Gen. Taylor, situate on our own soil. Simultaneously hey has ten to Point Isabel I, and attack our troops in full force ; they -were bealen, and driven back lo their (own side of the river. , M7. Sneaker, I have thus endeavored to give a i l t . . i , snort nistory oi tne causes mat produced our pre- .sent war with Mexico. x When hostilities com- nienced, was lexas a Stale of the American Union? No one will deny this proposition. Was ; Gen. Taylor on soil claimed by the United States! 1 when attacked by the enemy, and known to the j Government of Mexico to be so claimed 7 This ! must also be conceded. The President had peace- : fully, in good faith, offered to treat on the question ; .of boundary. Ihe Mexican government had : - . . ' promptly ana onensiveiy reiuseu nu overtures oi peace, liut, sir, it is said mat tne executive is to blame for the war. If so, I demand to know in what particular ? Should he have permitted our Army to have remained at the Neuces nnd suffer- ed the people of Texas to have been overrun by an exasperated savage foe? Should ha have broken up our encampment opposite Matamorns at the command of the Mexican ueneral, and fallen back north of the Neucrs, and left an open field lo savage and barbarious Vandals lo glut their revenge upon our innocent and unoffending rnnnl rumrn 1 Vnn mnv tnL'K either hrtrn nf llie that war exists by the action of the Executive. Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time in ihe history of our country when we have had a party opposed to war. when a In our last strugglewith Great Britain, foreign army was landing on our const, and the Republican, parly was sustain- ing the honor and character of the nation, there was found a class of men who burnt blue lights, and refused lo sustain the flag of their country; who assembled in the old Hartford Convention under the -silence of midnight, plotting treason against their government. Sir, this is not the first investment that has been made in a political party Bank. The old blue light Federal Bank of 1812 was founded on just this sort of capital; Josiah! Q.uincy was President of the Bank, and Daniel Webster, Rufus King, nnd others were directors. Able officers, notwithstanding which, the scheme failed, and blue light Federal Bank and Nick Biddle both died, the former in its childhood ihe latter in advanced life of that slow and certain dis-! ease Marasmus. From the character of this infamous,, Mexican preamble, and the pertinacity and obstinacy mani fested by our political opponents in adheiing to its present form, and rejecting all and every modification of it, I fear that they propose t'o make a new and enlarged edition of Whig capi tal, in war or Mexican stocks. . If that is your purpose, I will apprise gentlemen that I will not subscribe, as it is certain to be a bad investment But, if not political capital, what else does the paity expect to accomplish by this preamble-? Is this your mode of aiding those patriotic and gal lant spirits who have stepped forward to fight the battles of their country in a foreign land ? Where are they nowJ Are they not assembling in their different counties, preparing to leave their homes for the theatre of war? Do you not expect to see among them many whose lot has . been cast in poverty? Perhaps, this day, hundreds of them turning their faces to this capitol, hoping and ex pecting at our hands a generous return to their call for immediate nid. . Many of them without hats, coats, and blankets, to protect them from the peltiogs of a wintry storm. I call upon the, ma jority of this house to say whether they appreciate the gallantry ol these poor men. it they do, .1 beseech them lo forget party, and join me and my political friends in a prompt action for their relief. I. tvar thai this call upon the majority will bei in vain. I fear that : this is part and parcel of the caucus bands of the Whig party at the beginning of the session The deed - has been deereed by party drill, and cannot be revoked. Mr. Speaker, it cannot be disguised, that it is the purpose of ihoso who advocate this preamble to censure the Chief Magistrate of our country, and through him the great Democratic parly, who placed nim in bower. ' Will this promote' the good of our nation 7 Will the Mexican leaders have reason any the sooner by y our censure of the Executive? Let your preamble be read at the nead or tne columns of Santa Anna's legions. Will it not aid the cause. of the enemy, by showing to them that your President is guiltp of high crimes and misdemeanors, and bad faith in the administra- talion of your government? Will your volunteers be the more zealous or ardent in your service, by saying to them that they are going in an unjust cause; that the war is thje President's and not the country's; that they will have to shed the blood of an innocent people? Then be not shocked that we say to you that your cause is unpatriotic and injurious. What 1 send your bravo volun teers to battle in a foreign land, and say to them at the same time: you are going in an unrighteous war, under the direction of a wicked and faithless traitor I This is certainly to discourage them, and to aid and assist the enemy. But, Sir, it was the purpose of the authors of th is Preamble to place the democratic" party in a false position -either to deny aid to the volunteers, or censure the Executive. Shallow device nnd small game for the decency party. But it is the game of the party here; and they have received their cue from the North. Yes, gentlemen walking in the footsteps of the old blue light federalists illus trious models for your guide 1 The great stipen diary and personification of old federalism, is your Orderly. . He proclaimed in the Senate of the UnHf d Slates that the war cost the nation a half a million a day, which is utterly false and destitute of-jfoundation. But gentlemen do not love the cognomen of federalism; the term is pretended to be offensive to some. I do. not intend it to be such. Butjiow can you escape from the dilemma? Your course is similar and parallel with the old anti war fideralists. ''They were opposed to the pur chase'of Louisiana from France, and against the extension of territory, and for surrendering tbe Mississippi and its great advantages. You were against tne acquisition ot Texas, ana lor giving- up the great North River to Mexico. They took sides with Great Britain, and denounced Mr. Madison, as author of the war with England. You denounce the Mexican war, and lay all the blame to Mr. Polk. The parallel fails in one im portant feature. The old federal party was con sisti nt and firm ; they said a thing and followed it up by acts; they opposed the purchase of Louisi ana to the last. Your party opposed the annexa tion of Texas, but when whipped in by the forco of public opinion, they voted for it. You first advocate the war and then throw it on the Presi dent The federal party was more liberal to Mr. Madison than you are to Mr. Polk. The old fed eral parly was opposed to the war with England j fclJJ VUUVUl , till UUIIIQb UIIJT uuu crvi J 'measure lo carry it on they iound fault all the ' . -w -r i i a time, xou nave aaopteu tne -same course, ana hope to -obtain tali the offices and honors of your country by degrading your own government in the, eyes of the world, in the person of your Chief Magistrate, Your predecessors, the old federalists, hoprd for and obtained the same re- Uvarcfc, for the villificution of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison, for the purchase of Louisiana and the declaration of war against Great Britain.. Mr. Speaker, if you believe that the Executive has brought this war on the country by his wick- ca and mischievous councils, why.not give him . t and the world an evidence ot sincerity by request- i ing- our .ppreseiuauves in congress 10 move anu jjien.T urucies 01 niipeuuimieiu ugainsi nun xi n n-1 i fn.. r . u tt:.j o. r . I r : I . r . i - n ye ; army were thus charged he would have a right to ! have a court martial to try him. Now, if the' Executive be guilty of a violation of the laws "of ll is country as you allege, he ought to be impeach- ed, and the Whig party are bound to proceed in jl I hey cannot acquit themselves of a duty . this war will be prosecuted with vigor ; and not without such a course it is but an act of justice J withstanding all the abuse that has been lavished to the President and the whole country. But you upon the Executive, he has manfully defended (fire not to venture the impeachment, for the rea- i the honor and character of his country, and entitled son that such a course would elicit tbe truth, nnd 'himself to the lasting gratitude of the nation. such a prompt acquittal as would make a final dis - j position and end of the hopes and prospects of j the Whig party. The leader of your party who would have the boldness to venture on that remc- 'dy, would find himself where Josiah Cuincy did, . after offering articles of impeachment against Mr. Jefferson he, alone in tbe affirmative, and the ! whole. House of Representatives in the negative. Why, Sir, has this assault been made upon the I President without an iota of proof to sustain it? We ioin issue with the advocates of this preamble, and challenge them to show, in any one particular. that the Executive has violated the laws and con stitutibn that he has not maintained the honor and the welfare of the country. It is true, he has rebuked the unpatriotic acts of your party, in so very unjustly espousing the Mexican cause, put ting your enemies in the right, and your country in the wrong, thus raising the expectations of the enemy that a change of rulers would better their prospects. In this you nre inflicting an injury on your country, and deceiving (he enemy, holding out to them false hopes and colours. Suppose our political opponents had the power, and the administration was transferred to the whig party, what would your President do? Would he call n new Congress, and . say to them this country is now engagnd in n war with aforeigrt nation by the action of the Executive and the sub sequent sanction of Congress, then fore, the war is uniust, and must be terminated.. Suppose further, that Congrrss was made out of the material to suit the action to the word, and would advise overtures of peace to Mexico. Now let us figuro the result. A national vesssel is despatched with n minister to Vera Cruz; a flag of truce is sent in with this letter; To his Excellency Do?$ Lopez de Santa Anna, P resident of the Mexican Republic : The President of the U. States of-America who has succeeded to James K. Polk, who had unwise ly, wickedly, wrongfully and unconstitutionally, waged a cruel, and unjust, and unrighteous war, against the sister Republic of Mexico, assures your Excellency of the high regard he entertains for you personally arid the - Mexican people, and in this he is confident he bespeaks the sentiments of the whole whig party, who have elevated him to his present, high station- With the hope of re viving those friendly relations which should exist between sister Republics, he has appointed a dis tinguished citizen of tbe United States to reside as minister at the couit of Mexico, with full powers to settle all tbe matters of dispute and difficulty between the two nations.'' I will now give you what might be expected as a reply to this overture for peace, if the past is to shadow forth the future :: To the P resident of the United Statei of the North: The President of ihe Mexican Republic is t gratified to see that the Mexican cannon and bayo nets are beginning to bring the arrogant and perfidious rulers of the North to their senses they begin to review their scandalous conduct to this government. I hope our victorious arms will show to the' civilized! :world the justice of. our cause, and our ability to maintain it .Your proposition cannot be entertained at ffiis time. If you will withdraw your fleets from the Gulf and the Pacific, aod yofrr armies beyond the Sabine, and retain them there; then, and not till then, will the brave Mexicans lay down their arms, or listen to anything coming from a nation whose course has been scandalous, and so well calculated lo dis turb the peace of the world by their avaricious and grasping disposition. God ana Liberty I I candidly believe that this is a fair picture of what might be expected in such a posture of our affairs.. What would you doin such an event? Would you notappea-1 in the strongest terras to the valor, the honor and patriotism of the country, to come lo your relief, and to punish and chastise such a foe ? Suppose, Sir, the Democratic party had a majority in the North Carolina Legislature, and in their turn they resolved that, . Whereas, war with Mexico has been proIong6d, and the nation disgraced by the imbecility and whining subserviency of the Executive, and the subsequent sanction of Congress, Resolved? therefore, that the sum often thou sand dollars is hereby appropriated to the vol unteers, to aid in the prosecution of this iininst war. and to get our our. country out of this disgraceful contest. . In thi3 case, you would certainly be most thankful to. us for our bounty, nnd especially grateful for the very polite and obliging terms in which it was tendered. Mr. Speaker, this is a most unkind, unfair, and unjust course, so far as the democratic party is concerned. It is carrying out all lhat was shadow ed forth by the organ of the party, in this city, soon after the August elections. Ho urged the party, as they had the power, to make clean work of it T to show no quarters. Sir, you are like the Jacobins of the French revolution, in your intoxication of power ; you have forgotten liberty, and siaggend on despotism. But, if this war is so unjust, why did Congrrss sanction it ? In May last, the President informed Congress that Mexico had made war on the Uni ted Slates; had crossed the Rio Grande, and-had attacked the United States' forces on American soil : that Gen. Taylor had orders to repel the in- vasion: that, from the acts of Mexico, war existed. The facts to sustain this message, of a true official character, was laid before Congress at the tim'p. What did Congress do ? Did they disapprove of the course of the Executive? By no means. They, with unparalleled unanimity all parties, with very few exceptions concurring voted, the j first sweep, to raise 50,000 volunteers, and ten I milllnnc nf rlnlLii-Q In niil In n nrnmnl nnrl ofR(irnf prosecution of the war. Does any believe that if Congress had thought the President had un constitutionally and unlawfully involved the coun try in war, that they would so promptly and so speedily have furnished him with so large an amount of mm and money to carry it on ? No, Sir. The federal members would never have J come into the measure, if they could have avoided it. They knew that the voice of tho whole Amencan people would have denounced them, ifj they had dared to pursue any other course Mr. Sneaker, how unpitriotic and treasonable has been the course of those who have attempted ! to make this war odiousand unnonularr who have . . . . exerted themselves to th patriotism of their counti 1 1 .- U. J .1 1 iuw a uu inner unuu inn ntry; who have been fina- , ing fiult with the action of their own government. and furnishing arguments and weapons to be used ; by their enemies against our free institutions! Sir, . When this war shall have been terminated, and j our volunteers return to their naiivelanl, covered with scats ond glory; whea they shall recount their glorious achievements in b itile, and the tri ' umphant success of our arms in many a sanguin- ' ary engagement; of how proudly the star spanghd banner floated over the walls oi Mexico; and of what hallowed associations clustered around the ! name ot an American in foreign land; when they shall tell of their trials and dangers, of their many sacrifices of the comforts of home and kin !dred. and of friends, to preserve untarnished the honor and liberty of our country, then Sir, the authors of this preamble will blush for shame at the foul blot they have attempted lo affix upon the proud escutcheon of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that if this pre amble receives the sanction of this House, it can long be permitted to disgrace the arcfiives of the State. The pcopley, in tones of thunder, will de mand that it shall be expunged from the public journals; that black lines shall be drawn around it, as a badge of everlasting mourning for an act of such base partizan servility and folly. We are now engaged, for the third lime, in war with a foreign country. OuY country has claims upon us. and ifan' one is found so base as to raise a parricidal voicengaist her, he is guilty of an act of moral treason, and is unworthy of the proud name of an American citizen. Sir, I am no prophet, but I think the day is not fir distant, Avhen the authors of this preamble will hide their heads for shame; when ihey will wish "that the recording angel that registered this black deed in Heaven's chancery on high, would drop a tear upon it, and blot it out forever." . Sir, if I am not mistaken in my estimate of the genius and charac ter of the people of North Carolina, this foul and unholy altcmpt. to cast censure Cpon our country by attempting to make this an odious andTmconsti tqtional war, will meet the burning indignation of an, outraged people. Go home and tell your con stituents that, to effect a party triumph, you etruek a blow, through their Cfyief Magistrate, at the hon or of your country; that for electioneering pur poses, you endeavored to put a damper upon the patriotism of your fellow countrymen - that while thousands and tens of thousands of gallant and in dignant spirits were rallying to the standard of their country, ready. to sustain it, or perish on the bed of honor, you were here, far. from the field of danger, comfortably seated within the walls of this magnificent capitol, discussing vagtre and abstract propositions aS to the Causes which produced the war f Gm, Sir, and mingle in the crowd j hear the hisses and scorn of a Brave and generous peo ple: wilness the burning indignation,- the wither ing contempt, that awaits you, for a: course ofj conduct so unpatriotic, unnatural, and alien to the character of the American people 1 ' Mr. Speaker, I have too" long trespassed. upon the attention of the House I know that I hare" but fitile experience in public affairs, and less per' sonal influence than I could wfh. But as the old North State i the land of my birth and the home' of my affections, I hold her fair fame as dear to me as any eannry treasure in tne worm, in our early struggles for independence, she was the first Sliie to unfurl ihe flag of freedom upon the soil of old Mecklenburg. Sir, thanks to God, the fire; of lib erty yet gloriously kindle in the hornet nest of tbe' revolution! . Her patriotic sons, through evil and! through good report, haverlung with filial fond nrss to the cause of civfr liberty. Deeply imbued with the patriotic zeal and spirit of their sires,' ibh best blood of the revolution courses' in fheif veins and stimulates them to action. Those of her sons' who have volunteered in this war want but a fair field and an open fight, to cover themselves wiitf immortal honor they will be found in the fore' most rank, where blows fall fastest and thickest sustaining the stars and stripes" of our glorious Union. - - - - ' Mf. Speaker, what a sulum'e rno'raf spectacfe was witnessed the other d iy, in another end of the capitol I I, allude to the departure of General Wilson for the theatre of war.: A man Who ha grown gray in the public service surrounded by every comfort which' weahhr could bestowthtf cherished representative oi his county flie firide and one of the chief ornaments of tho Senate of his native Stfjte 1 He rrsigns his seat in that body, lo fead a smalt but gallant band of patriots fo'tntf " burning sands of Mexico. Gof gallant General i the blessings of Heaven attend you ihe prayers of thousands of your countrymen will ascend to the God of bailies, that he will neive your hand, and balhe yotir sword in the blood of the enemy t BY AUTHOlllTY - LAWS OP THE UNITED STATES,' . PASSED AT THB S&COTSD SESSION OP THfi TWENTY-NINTH CONORSS.' M-l fPcBxte No 1.1 I An Act for the admission of the State of Iowa ?nto Abe Union Whereas the people of the Territory of to va' dfid, on the eighteenth d ty of M ly, anno Domini eigh'een hundred and forty-six, by a con vent fori ofdelegates called and assembled forthnt purpose,--form for themselves rr constitution and State gof-' crnment which constitution is tepublican in it character and features and said convention bars, asked admission of the said Territory "into" tho I Union as a State, on an equal footing with the original States, in obedience to " Ah arffor th admission of the States of Iowa and Florrdaf fit to the Union," approved March third, eighteen hundred and forty-fire, arid 4f Anact to. define the boundaries of the State of Iowa, and to re peal so much of the act of the third of Marchy one thousand eight hundred nnd forty-five, ajf relates to' the boundaries of Iowa', which said last act was npproved August fourthj-janno Domini eighteen hundred a"nd forty six : Tber fore Be it enacted by the Seridle and lttiv.it cf Rip- j reienlatives oj tne Unite a stales of America tit Congress assembled, That the State of Iowa shall j be one, nnd is hereby declired to be on, of thtf United States of America, and nd mined into the on an eona! footinar with the OTicrrra! Union Stales in all respects wltttsover. Sec. 2. And be it further enaced, That alf the provisions of " An act supplemental to the net for r1fniQinn nf ih Xt.itpe nf Fnw Cli.. into the union," approved xvnrcn third, eighteen hundred and' forty-five, be and the same nre here by, declared to continue and remain in full force as applicable to the Slate, of town,: as hereby admitted and received into the Union. JOHN W. DAVIS, Speaker of tho Houso of Representatives. GEORGE M. DA LAS. President of the Senate, Approved December 28, 1846. - JAMES RL POL& Ppblic No. 2 . An Act to cttcotfragc cfllisfmch'fs in ihe regflfa'l! ' " ' . army. Be it enacted by the Senate and' House of Rei- riserilatires of the United Stales of America in Congress assembled. That during the contirruanrn of the war .with Mexico, the term of enlistment of the men lo bo recruited for the rcgimems ofdra goons, artilcry, infantry; and riflemen, of the pres ent military estabfrshmcnl,' shall be "during the" war," or five years, at the option of the recruit! unless sooner discharged. , :. a Ska' 2. Aii be it further endcted, That ihcfp shall be allowed and paid lo every able-bodied man who shall be duly enlisted to serve in the artillery or infantry for zhe term of five years, or during the war, a bounty of twelve dollars;' but the pay ment of six dollars of the said bounty shall be de ferred until the recrnit shall hare joined for duly the regiment in which he is lo serve, ' Approved January 12, 1847. Public No. 3 An Act deelaringthe assent pf Congress to cer tain States to impose a (ax upon all lands here after sold by the Unftcd States therein from and after the day of such sale. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep' resehtatives oj the Ignited Stales of America in CdrtgreSs assembled, That the assent of Congress is hereby given to the several Slates admitted into the Union prior to Ihe twenty-fourth day of April) in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun dred and twenty, to impose' a fax or taxes upon all lands hereafter sold by the United Slates, irt skid States, from and after the day of such sale: Prov'' ded, 'i hat the assent hereby given shall in nowise impair that provision of the compact with the saiol States which, declares that all - lands belonging 49 citizens of the United Stales residing without tbe said States shall never be taxed higher than lands belonging to persons residing therein. i- ; Approved January 26, 1847. '. " LpbliCNo. 6.J ' An Act to raie, for a limited time, 4n additional military force, and for other purposes , -Be it enacted by the Senate ami louse of Rep rcsenlalives of United Slates of Amej tea in Con gress assembled'. That in addition to the present military establishment of the United States,- there shall be raised aod organized, under the direction of the President, for and during the war with Mexi co, oue regiment of dragoons and nine regiments of infantry, each fo be composed of the same num ber and rank of commissioned and aon-coromis-siooed officers, buglers, musicians and privates, &.C., as are provided for a regiment of dragoons and infantry respectively, under eiistin laws, and r