The North-Carolina standard. [volume], April 28, 1847, Image 1

About The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850

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THB COSSTITUTION AND THE T75IOK OP THE 8MTESrTHET "MCST BE PRESERVE."
VOLUME XIII-NUMBER-651. '
T E SS 31 S-$ 3PE It V A IV ft'V JKI
Wf LMAilI W. HOI,IEIV5
EDITOR AJVI) PROPRIETOR.
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CIRCULAR
of lion. I. S. Iteitl, of Nortli Carolina,
to his Constituents.
Fellow-Citizens : The term for which I
was elected your Representative has expired, and
I conform to the custom which has heretofore pre
vailed in our district, of noticing some of the ques
tions which have engaged the consideration of the
Congress which has just terminated. The duties
of a .Representative, at all times arduous and re
sponsible, " have been unusually so during the
twenty-ninth Congress. I have met this respon
sibility by giving my support to such measures as
I conceived the interests of the country demanded,
leaving it with you to approve or condemn my
course,
as the convictions of your judgment may j
dictate. Ivnowmg, as L do, that you are not gov
erned by partisan considerations which so often
divide and distract our councils in Congress, I will
not entertain a doubt but that you will arrive at
just and patriotic conclusions in regard to the great
questions which agitate the public mind.
The elections of 1844 brought the present Ad
ministration into power, and whether for good or
for evil, a majority of my constituents, like myself,
share the responsibility of the act In this election,
the only triumph we claimed was the just expec
tation of having the Government administered
upon correct principles. In this, I think, the
Executive has not disappointed us. One of the
-. reforms to which we stood pledged was the modifi-
cation of the tariff act of 1842. This unjust act was
not only enriching one portion of the Union while
it was impoverishing the other, but it was also
taxing a large 'class of our citizens to contribute
to the wealth of a favored few. It was, therefore,
eminently desirable that this onerous system should
be changed ; and, after a hard struggle, we suc
ceeded in passing the act of 1846.
It is not to be expected that this act is perfect,
and it may, from time to time, require such slight
modifications as experience or a change of circum
stances may suggest ; but opon the whole, the
act of lS3t may bVconsFderetrTTS-Tavorubfe td the
agricultural classes as any tariff that has been in
operation since the principle of protection has been
seriously urged in this country. The predictions
of the opponents of this act, that it would fail to j
produce revenue that it would break down do
mestic manufacturers that it would have a dele
terious effect on all the great productive interests,
instead of being verified by the experience of the
countrv. have, thus far. nroved to be fallacious and I
unfounded ; and no matter what may be said of its
effects, if its principles are faithfully carried out,
,i ,, , fM ...Li ;.;t iV,
cannot fail to give additional prosperity to the
ngncultural interests of this country, by relieving .
them from many of the unjust burdens they have .
heretofore borne. It is net to be expected that
cny tariff will ykld a sufficient amount of revenue
to meet the demands of the treasury when the;
countrv i3 eneaed in an expensive war with a !
foreign nation. To raise these extraordinary sup-
j a . f
plies, it becomes necessary to resort to direct taxa
tion, or an increase of the duty on such articles of
foreign importation as will bear it, or to loans.
Direct taxation is not only odious among the!
pcope, but it 13 an inconvenient and dangerous
mode of collecting revenue by the Federal Govern
ment, and I would never resort to it unless it be
came an act of positive and indispensable necessi
ty. In this opinion, I fancy, most of us agree.
With a view to increase the revenue, during the
war, the President recommended to Congress to
impose a small increase of duty on iron and coal,
and on certain descriptions of cotton goods, to re
duce the price of public lands which have been in
maiket for a number of years, and to impose a
duty of 20 per cent, on tea and coffee. I have al
ways been in favor of a just revenue duty ; and
experience has more thoroughly confirmed me in
mc opinion, tnai a iair ana reasonaoie graduation
in the price of the public lands which have been
in market for a series of years, is but an act of
justice to the settler, and to the States in which
such lands lie. Lands which, it is believed, can
never be sold al the present Government price,
would find purchasers in the poorer class of ciii-i
zens desirous of procuring homes for themselves
and their families; and the revenue derivable
from the sales of the public lands would be increas
ed by such reduction. Tea and coffee being ar
ticles used by all classes, and in all sections of the
Union, they were long subject to a duty, and
would no doubt have so remained to this day but
for the fact that a duty on these articles affords no
"protection" it gives no boon to the manufactu
rer. The proposition to impose a duty on these
articles did not prevail, but it received my vote.
A system of taxation operating with perfect equal
ily is, perhaps unattainable ; but the statesman
who regards the interests of his country, and the
citizen who is devoted to his Government, will be
atisfied with the nearest approach to this cquali-
ly; and I am not sure but the same amount of
revenue can be raised as easily and with as much
equality upon tea and coffee, as in any other way.
In giving the vote to imposaa duty on these arti
cles, I expected to be assailed by demagogues and
partizans, who care but little for the good of the
country. If it comports with their sense of duty,
I am willing it should be so; and I am free to
say, that if the proposition had been to impose a
duty on these articles to be expended for some un
necessary object, that then the complaint might be
well-founded.' But if this, proposition had pre
vailed, I am sure I do not mistake the patriotism
01 my constituents when I say. that, instead of
complaining of my vole to impose the duty, they
would have congratulated themselves that they
Were contributing their means for the pay and
support of ih,e brave soldiers who have volunteer-
fid their services and left their hemes to defend
the rights and - honor of our country in a foreign
land. If there is one to be found who would
grudgingly sip his tea and coffee under so moder
ate a contribution for the support of our gallant
sons who are 'fighting a merciless foe, I would
scorn approbation from the lips or sympathy from
the heart of such an individual.
The independent treasury act has been passed,
and is in operation ; and although the time for its
commencement is unpropitious, yet it is hoped that
the predictions of its enemies will fail, and that
the experiment will prove that the Government
can manage its fiscal affairs without the aid of
banks.
As the war with Mexico is a subject of deep
interest to the. whole country, I will advert to it.
Although for years there had existed other good
and sufficient causes for the United Srates to de
clare war against Mexico, yet I am free to admit
that its commencement at the time it occurred,
grew out of circumstances' connected with the an
nexation of Texas. I am equally free to say, that J
it annexation had not taken place, a war with
Mexico, growing out of other causes, would have
been inevitable at no very distant period. In sup
port of this opinion, I will state a few of the many
outrages committed by Mexico against the Uni
ted States prior to the commencement of theSvar.
They are believed to be correct
"No. 9. . Brig Calo. This vessel was boarded
at Alvarado, on the 26th of August, 1824, by. some
twenty men, who rifled her of $2, 701 in specie, and
of numerous other articles. After threatening the
life of the captain, and wounding two of the crew,
they set the vessel adrift by cutting her chain ca
ble," which, with the anchor, were lost. Thexlaim
in this case is for $5,544."
"No. 13. Brig Delight, of Philadelphia. .4
double claim.
This vessel, in March, 1S35, touch-
ed al San Bias, where the officers of the custom-
iiuusc iuuijcucu iuc tvuvcyaucc ui iter vargu uyci
a mile to the custom-house stores, and its reship
ment. The damage to the owners was estimated
at 3,716 4S. The same vessel entered the port
of Sisal, in September, of the same year, where
she was siezed by the collector with an armed
force, part of her cargo forced on shore, her hatch
es broken open, and the cargo taken to the custom
house. Estimate of damages arising from the con
demnation and sale of the cargo, &c, $15,692 50."
"No. 14. Schooner Fair American, of Balti
more. This vessel arrived at Refugio, January
4th, 1S26, was admitted to entry, landed her cargo
under permit, and in part removed it to town, when
the whole was seized by the Mexican authorities,
and confiscated and sold. The Mexican consul at
Baltimore afterwards requested of his Government
that the property might be restored, and the owner
indemnified. Mr.i Wilson's claim for damages is
$50,225 21."
"No. 27. John Baldwin, an American citizen,
complains of gross and outrageous treatment at the
hands of the alcalde of Minotitlan. in Guazcualco.
T T accprta ftiof tho alalsto W9 intprpcf pil in A '
suit which was brought against him by one of his constitution broken, his bearing destroyed, and
creatures. Some altercation occurring at the pro- sinking under a hopeless consumption. It isprop
ceedings before the alcalde, be was ordered to the er to remark that the British Minister demanded
stocks. He refused to submit, and, in attempting ; and obtained liberal damages on behalf of three
to escape, was shot at, and severely injured, by a j British subjects who were imprisoned with Mr.
fall. H wai nntnrp1 mnrfn fii eland in thf slnrks. Tifarlrtll
and afterwards imprisoned. The Mexican gov-
mnmt were informed subsequently that the Uni-
ted States government 'would regard this a na-
tional questiou.' The reply of the Mexican Exec-
utive was, that it was a matter of judicial iavesti-
gation," &c.
"No. 2S. Schooner Topaz. The master ol outrage to the present time. ' ihe President had permitted her army to have in
this vessel contracted, in 1832, to transport one "2d. This claim is for illegal duties extorted ; j .j m ,i i: -3 . r
hundred and fifty Mexican soldiers from Matamo-
. - . . .1
ras to Galveston. During the passage, the master
and mate were killed by the Mexican othcers, and
the crew were forced to run the vessel into Ana
huac. Here they were imprisoned, on a charge of
kll,i,D captain and. mate, and attempts were
made by the officers above mentioned to make
lhem at
,iberalej. OD lheir agreement to be bound to the or-
ficerSi to serve lhem for three years. One of them
subsequently escaped to the United States, and
testified to the facts above stated. He states
that the Mexican officers divided the captain's
money between them. He thinks he had three or
r. .u i n
lu"r ' A u. . . t t
stranded near Matagorda, in 1835. While in this
situation she was fired upon by a Mexican schoon
er, and her captain, crew, and passenger carried
to Matamoras and imprisoned."
"No. 42. The brig Jane and four other vessels
were detained at Matamoras, in 1836, contrary to
express treaty stipulations."
' "No. 44. Mr. Coleman, acting consul of the
United States at Tabasco, was summoned before
the authorities, in 1836, and publicly insulted and
ill-treated, because he refused to legalize certain
documents, the result of which would be to de
fraud." "No. 45. The schooner Aurora was stranded
on the coast of Mexico in 1836. A part of the car
go was landed by the crew, when it was immedi
ately taken possession of by an armed body of
Mexicans. On the crew remonstrating against
these procedings, they were insulted, maltreated,
and the mate seriously injured."
" No. 47. It was proposed to sell the brig Fourth
All. M. II S UJJ LI - I 1JOIII&I 1 i lliBUl. iu .
of July to the Mexican Government; but while
the negotiation was going on, she was taken pos
session oi dv th; Mexican autnonues anu me
Mexican flag hoisted."
"No. 49. In 1S36, William Hallett and 2al
mon Hall, citizens of the United States, were ar
rested in the streets of Matamoras by an armed
force, who struck one of them on the face, and
took both to the Drincinal barrack. Here they were
confined, while a guard -was placed at the door of
the house ot the American consul to prevent nis
interference in the matter. The house was search
ed for the cousul himself, and much of his proper
ty was stolen."
"No. 51. The American citizens at Tampico
having requested that a man-of-war might be sent
for their protection, Lieut. Osborne, with a boat's
crew from the revenue cutter Jeflerson, proceeded
there, when he was arrested by the authorities,'
carried off, and examined. On his return, he
learned that his crew had also been arrested, and
held for a long time in confinement."
" No. 53. The Schooner William A. Turner,
of which James O'Flaherty was master, was seiz
ed off Sisal, in 1834, by an armed Mexican force
The vessel was released after Captain O'Flaherty
had driven bonds for her value. ' In 1836 his vessel
was again seized, himself confined, liberated, and,
after entering into bonds for $1,200. his vessel re
leased. Soon after, the vessel was again seized,
and the captain confined in the cabin, from whence
h wae sent ss rtrisoner to Tabasco."
"No. 67. Mary Jlughes, widow of George,
Hughes, master of the brig" John,1 of New York.
The brig 'John,' lying at anchor in the river Ta
basco in" 1832, was boarded and captured by an
armed force, on pretext altogether unfounded.
Captain Hughes was knocked down, cruelly beat
en with the butts of the muskets of the boarding
party, carried offand imprisoned and the cargo and
stores of the vessel plundered. Captain Hughes
subsequently died from the wounds received on
this occasion.
"Mary Hughes claims reparation therefor."
"No. '68. James Cochrane, engineer of the
steamer Hidalgo, was impressed into the Mexican
service, together with the boat, in 1832 cruejly
and ignominiously treated, and compelled to do do
ty as engineer for two months." . .
" No. 70. Claim of Samuel Baldwin. '.Mr.
a citizen of the United States, settled ia Mexi
co some years since, and had acquired .considerable
property. On the most frivolous pretext, he was
seized and thrown into the public prison with the
vilest criminals. While there, additional charges
were fabricated against him; he was loaded with
irons, poison was given him in his coffee, and he
endured the most unparallelled sufferings from the
brutal treatment of, one Gomez, bis jailor. From
Acayuacan, where these barbarities were commit
ted, Mr. B. was sent to Vera Cruz, and cast into a
wet and filthy jail in the Castle of San Juan d'Ul
loa. "No. 71. Claims of Henry B. oron, Wal
ler IV. Adam, and James' Kelley. The claim
ant:, (seamen on board the American bargue ' Ro
ger Williams,') having been paid off and discharg
ed at Monterey, California, in 1840, were waiting
for an opportunity to return home, when they, to
gether with other Americans were seized, and con
ducted to prison. They obtained their release, but
were a second time arrested, robbed, and cast into
jail, uo cause .for their commitment ever having
been assigned."
" No. 72. Claim of William Lord Etheridge
Thompson. Thompson, an American seaman,
was wrecked near San Bias, ia 1838. In 1840, he
was twice arrested, and thrown into prison no
cause whatever being assigned for his detention
in either case. After suffering the most cruel
treatment, he was released ; but found on bis re
turn to the farm where he had labored since his
shipwreck in 1833, that all his property had been
taken from him.
" No redress has ever been granted by the Mex
ican Government."
" No. 74. Claims of Isaac Graham, W illiam
Church, Joseph L. Majors, Charles Brown, and
others. These Americans, with six others, were
seized in California, where they were engaged in
business, in April, 1840, by the Mexican Authori
ties, without any just cause or provocation, and
thrown into prison. It also appears that at the
time of his arrest, the house of Mr. Graham was
surrounded, Gred into, and $36,000 in specie plun
dered therefrom."
" No. 75. Claims of A. C. Bredall of New
Orleans. 1st. The schooner Lodi, with a valu
able cargo of lawful goods, both belonging to Mr.
Bredall, sailed from New Orleans in May, 1S33,
bound for Matamoras in Mexico. On her arrival
there, without any allegation of offence committed
or contemplated, she was seized, her cargo landed,
exposed, and pillaged."
"2d. In 1843, Mr. Bredall arrived at Vera Cruz
with passports granted him by the Mexican consul
at New Orleans. He presented them to the proper
authorities, but was arrested and imprisoned on the
charge of a design upon the life of Gen. Santa
Anna. During his detention, he suffered the most
wanton, cruel, and humiliating indignities and pri-
vations: and nnnn hi relpase. he rearhed New
HrlAqn. In IiaUIa... n n .1 .k.iid.afl Annlltinf, . Lie i
"No. SI. Claim of Capt. Jonas P. Levy. lst!be commatider-in-chicf of the army and navy of
In JS43, the store of the claimant, with all its con-ilhe United States," and that "he shall take care
tents, was forcibly taken possession of with the con-
nivance of the public authorities, and never return-
ed. Amount of property lost, 6,846 02. Repara-
tion has been refused from the commission ot the
from Capt. Levy by the collector of the port of La-
. .
min in 1Q43 nnilor fa leu nn'lpncpc
""" " I - o
, amounting to
" 3d. The third claim is for ffoods belonging to
. . ... .
the claimant and his brother, thrown overboard by
the captain of the steamboat Petrita, amounting to
$7,483 25, for which relief has been denied by the
Mexican, vovernrneni.
"4tb. Capt. L. also claims reparation for being
imprisoned after the commencement of hostilities
.,, tt;. . .,t. , Aront
between the United otates and Mexico, in direct
violation of the treaty, provid.ngfor the occurrence
of such an event, and for being compelled to leave
Mexico, without time to arrange his business, also:
n violation of treaty stipulations."
The conduct of Mexico towards the United
States called forth the following strong language
rom Mr. Forsyth, Secretary of State, in a letter to
the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, in 1837:
These wrongs are of a character which can-
oot be tolerated by any Government imbued with a
just self-respect, with a proper regard for the opin-'
lons of other nations, or with an enlightened con -
cern for the permanent welfare of those portions of
its people who may be interested in foreign com- Grande produced the war; but it must be rccol
merce. Treasures belonging to citizens of the Uni-; that Corpus Chrisli is on the west side of
ted States has been seized by Mexican officers, in he Nucces and no one pretends that there is any
its transit from the capital to the coast. Vessels ,-rr L, . . ...
of the United estates have been captured, detained,
and condemned upon the most frivolous pretexts.
Duties have been exacted from others, notoriously
asainst law. or without law. Uthers have been
employed, and in some instances ruined, in the
Mexican service, without compensation to the
owners. iJiitzens 0 me unuea oraics nave oeen
imprisoned for long periods of time, without be
ing informed of the offences with which they were
charged. Others have been murdered and r eb
bed by Mexican officers, on the higi seas, with
out any attempt to bring the guilty to justice." 1
It was in reference to outrages of this character,
that Gen. Jackson used the following emphatic
language in regard to Mexico : 1
. "That the length of lime since some of the in
juries have been committed, the repeated and un
availing applications for redress, the wanton char
acter of some of-the outrages upon the property
and persons of our citizens, upon the officers ayid
flag of the United States, independent of recent
insults to this Government and people by the late
extraordinary Mexican Minister, would justify, in
the eyes of all nations, immediate' war."
The sum of two millions twenty-six thousand
one hundred and thirty-nine dollars and sixty
eight cents, of these claims were liquidated ; but
Mexico has refused to pay the instalments as ihey
have become due, agreeably to her promise. The
remaining claims have not yet been liquidated. .
Thus it will be seen that we bad borne insult
after insult, and outrage after outrage, from Mexi
co. The peaceful injunction which we are com
manded to obey, does not go farther than to require
that, when we are smitten upon one cheek, we
turn the other. We had even gone further than
this for the sake of maintaining peace with Mexi
co. But when she came on our soil and shed the
blood of our citizens, every consideration of honor,
of justice, and of patriotism, required that we
should repel her. The right of Texas 4o annex
herself to the United States has been too often de
monstrated to need anything from mo on this point.
Texas had been one of the States of the Mexican
confederacy, and was an equal of the other States,
but did not- belong- any more to them than they
belonged to her. In the revolution of 1836, she
successfully resisted the usurpations of Santa Anna,
and at the time of tier annexation, had for nine
years maintained her . independence as a separate
and distinct sovereign State.. Mexico had even
herself acknowledged her independence during
this time, and proposed to do so again upon the
condition that Texas would not annex herself to
the United States. For one, I am free to admit
that I did not believe (hat Mexico would declare
war against the.United States in consequence of
I . - r m i ,
iue annexation oi aexas; ana l am now mciinea
to .the opinion, that if certain politicians and news
papers in the-. United States had not promulgated
sentiments calculated to deceive and mislead Mex
ico in relation to the state of public opinion in this
country, that she would not have declared war
against the .United States in consequence of annex
ation. It has been alleged that the war with Mex
ico was brought about by the President, without
the sanction of the constitutional authority of the
Government. The Governor of North Carolina,
in his last annual message, in alluding to the Mex
ican war, says :
v "In this posture of affairs, without consultation
with Congress, though in session, by the authority
of 'tnVlwiecttive, as rai!iUrycoam)aadermerely,
our army was made to take possession of the whole
territory in question. Resistance was attempted,
hostilities ensued, and we are thus involved in war
on a point of honor the constitutional department
of our own Government never having authorized
an appeal to force for the country in dispute,, nor
defined any objects, for the attainment of which,
it should be waged. While our arms are signalized
by victories worthy .of the nation's renown, and
the spirit of the people is ready to uphold the honor
of our flag at any sacrifice, it still remains a mo
mentous question under our institutions, whether
Congress can be superseded in .he power to make
war, and the authority given to the Executive, only
to effectuate the will of the Legislature, can be
used to determine and settle the policy of the coun
try, in matters ot boundary; or any other."
This assertion was followed by the declaration
of the Whig members of the Legislature, that the
war with Mexico existed by the action of the Ex
ecutive, and the subsequent sanction of Congress.
Thus it will be seen that an effort has been made
to throw the responsibility of the war upon the
Executive, and not upon Mexico. I cannot envy
the patriotism of the man, who, when his country is
engaged in a foreign war, will seek to hide the
wrongs ol the enemy, by attacking the President
who is endeavoring to maintain the rights and
honor of the country. Suppose the President had
erred which I do not admit docs justice or pa
triotism require that that error should be heralded
from one end of the country to the other, while
the wrongs, the bloody wrongs, perpetrated by
Mexico are passed over in silence? Why has this
spirit manifested itself? Is it because the Presi
dent is a Democrat? or is it because Mexico is
against our country. Let us advert to the facts,
and see how they stand. Texas was lawfully an
nexed, and became one of the States of this Union.
The President proposed to treat with Mexico in
relation to the boundary, but Mexico rejected our
minister, and refused to treat, declaring that she
would invade Texas. The 'Constitution of the
United States declares, that " the President shall
that Ike laws Do Mnhfully executed." Tbi army
of the United States was removed towards the
point where an altnck from Mexico was appro
j hended. For if, 3fter the declaration of Mexico.
I , ' 5."" -uu p.y
I ntir Milton tvitnnuf nemn nvnrtr r flnrt In rrnn I
, . . -... j w'v v..
I . I ; U . ..A I " J:..l ,1 t
I . 1 l r r .t n t
amy as commanaer-in cniei or tne army oi tne
' United States, nor would he have discharged the
further duty imposed on him by the Constitution,
0f taking care that the laws be faithfully executed.
If n fnrrtcm rnrmv were marchintr nn nrmw in in-
,i ,,nir r.rl ,nn ,;, :i,r,
,i - r ' ' , , '
on their own responsibility, to assemble at the
. . - . . , e .- . . .. , . .
P f invasion to defend their lives and their
property, 1 could not take it upon myselt to say
mat tney nad done wrong, or mat tney were tne
authors ot the war, or that they had vioiutid the
. Constitution; and much less can I undertake to
say that the President, who is commander-in-chiel
. - ofthe Army of the United States, and whose duty
it is to " lake care that the laws be laithtully exe-
cu,tc2 " e,lher ,v,oIated the Constitution of the Um-
ted atates, or oecame rrsponsioie iot tne war, Dy
marching Ihe army to a point at which the coun-
! try was aooui to De mvauuo. it nas occn said re-
. moving the army from Corpus Chrisli to the Rio
! , . , . . - . t.t , . . . - .
east bank of the Rio Grande. At the time of an
nexation, Texas claimed to the Rio Grande, hnd
that stream has always. been regarded as the an
, cient boundary between Texas and Mexico, par-
licularly the lower Rio Grande, which was occu
pied by our army. But it must be borne in mind,
that Mexico not only claims tho country lying he
tween the Nueces and the Rio Grande, but she
claims the whole of Texas; and she has never
pretended that her claim to lhat part of the terri
tory lying between the Nueces and the'Rio Grande
differed in any respect from her claim to the rest
of Texas. Such distinction is only made by the
enemies of the war in this country, for Mexico
herself has never demanded of us anything less
than the whole of Texas. I cannot well imagine
how any one can oppose ihe war, unless such per
son Is in favor of the surrender of the whole of
Texas; and I cannot believe that any individual,
whose mind is not warped by party madness, or
whose feelings are not alienated from his country,
could be in favor of such a surrender. It has been
asserted, lhat this war was brought about by the
action of ihe Executive ; and by this it is either
meant that the President is in the wrong and Mexi
co in the right, or lhat, although the war . was
right, yet ihe President ought to have suffered the
Mexicans to cross the Rio Grande and murder
our people, and take possession of the country,
without resistance, until the news could have tra
velled two thousand miles to Washington, and un
til Congress could make a formal declaration of
war and have sent it back to the scene of action.
Suppose the President had not ordered the army to
move until all this had taken place, whata burst of
indignation would have rung from one end of this
Republic tb the other I Even at. the time that
war was declared by the United btates ogainsU
Mexico, it was denied by many, of those who now
say the President caused the war, that war existed
at all; for they look -ihe ground that the acts of
hostility which had been perpetrated by; the Mexi
can army would not be .recognized as a war by
that Government ; but when brought -to. vote di
rectly on the declaration of war, only fourteen
members voted against Tt in the House" tf Repre
sentatives; all the Whig members from North
Carolina as well as the Democrats, voting in the
affirmative. The preamble to that declaration of
war asserts, that " whereas, by the act of the Re
public of Mexico,, a state of war exists between
that Government and the United Stafrs: Be it
enacted," &c. - Thus it will be seen, that while
the Whigs in Congress, on the 13th May, 1846,
declared that' the war existed by the act of Mexico,
the Whigs in our State Legislature, in less than
one year thereafter; declared that the war existed
by the action of the Executive!. In asserting that
the war existed by the action of the Executive,
they were either mistaken or wilfully wrong.
Wow do the lacts stand The President proposed
to treat in relation to the boundary, but Mexico
refused, and claimed the whole of Texas. Mexi
co declared war against the United States, and
proceeded to execute the declaration by crossihir
the Rio Grande, and shedding the blood of our
citizens before a blow was' struck by the army of
the United States. After it has been shown that
Mexico first declared war and was the first to shed
blood how can it be charged that the vnf was
brought ahdut by the action dflhe PVesidtrial l As
well might the highwayman charge his own guilt
upon his faultless victim. I have been pained to
see the opposition that has manifested itself to the
war. I have already adverted to the course of the
Governor and the Whig members of the Legisla
ture, as being calculated to disparage the war.
The Greensboro' Patriot, a paper of- high stand
ing among the Whig party, on the 28th of No
vember, 1846. in the same number which contain
ed the Governor's message, published a communi
cation, from which I take the following anti-war
and unpatriotic sentiments. Read them :
' Pause I call upon vou as American citizens.
as freemen, not to lend your countenance, much less
your aid, to gross violations or your Constitution.
" Whigs of North Carolina : this is the Presi-
dect's
war. not the people's war. He is not the
man 01 your choice, xou are not bound to sup
port him right or wrong ' only when right. The
sage ot Ashland, the man of your choice, two years
before the. event, foretold that war would ensue
from the annexation of Texas. The President
proclaimed in his message its annexation, and glori
fied himself upon it, as a bloodless achievement
and a short half year found the ensanguined plains
of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma reeking with
the blood of the slain, and a soldier's grave closing
over the remains of the heroic Ringgold. Short-
sighted man! What delusion possessed you 7 Had
the giddy height to which you had been so unex
pectedly raised addled your brain and destroyed
your vision ? Can you now tell what countless
woes you will inflict on your country before anoth
er year rolls round ? Are you able now to tell what
you intend to do with your twenty thousand vol
unteers? or where they will be six months hence ?
" Democrats of North Carolina : you lent your
aid to place this dizzy man on his tottering pinnacle.
If you believe you werd right, now is the time to
show it. He calls unon vou now to ioin hi stand
ard now is his time of need j surely you will not
desert him ! Wheel horses of Edgecombe come
to the rescue ; a long pull and a strong pull ! Game
cocks of Nash, on with your gyves ; give an. ever
lasting flutter and show your pluck ! Ye braves of
old Martin, rush to the command of your lieutenant-colonel,
and pluck bright honor firw tko-swar-thy
ranchero! Will the trumpet voice of Sleepy
orees s orator De stilled, and Wayne's courageous j
iiemocracy be deaf to the call of thir Irader?
Will the Unterrified of Caswell, and Rockingham,
and Stokes, and Mecklenburg, with their noisy
chieftains, turn away their ears unheeding from
the alarum 7 Surely nof.
" Democrats : your gallant leader not your coun
try, nor your country's interest calls you to the
tented field 1 during the war? Make your testa
mentary dispositions, and obey the call. Surely
you will not have o hers to follow him whom you
have appointed and decline to follow yourselves !
Can you decline? will you faher7 The slightest
hesitation will be construed into an abandonment
of your chieftain, for self preservation and your
country's interest. "What Democrat dare do this ?
'Traitor, coward, turn and flee' like Haywood.
'''Citizens : Bashness is not patriotism the
fear of the charge of cowardice, is nut bravery
sustaining your President right or wrong, is not
prudence to abandon your wives and children
' during the war1 is not affeclivh to desire to kill
a distant people who are fighting for their coun'
try, their homes and their firesides, is unchris
tian. " Beware, that the w'ickedness of the rulers
does not fall vpon the pcBple " .
The Patriot of the same day endorsed this com
municalion in the lollowing enditorial article: -
" We admire the straight-forward honesty and
' K
boldness of the annexed communication. Its sen
timents are those of the bluff candid citizen, un
hackneyed in the paths of political trickery, who
has no faculty to perceive how thai which is moral
ly wrong can be metamorphosed into political right
eousness. The burlesque appeal, which it contains,
to the Democrats, is perhaps too tart and sarcastic
especially as lo those among them who hav-e been
deceived and who honestly disapprove of Mr. PoIk's
war measuses ; but for those who yet approve let
them take it! Let the fearful responsibility of
treasure and of blood rest where it belongs upon
the shoulders of Mr. Polk and his approving friends!"
Although the democratic counties of Edgecomb,
Martin, Caswell, Rockingham, Wayrro, Meek
lenburg, and Stokes, were taunted in this commu
nication, yet, when ihe hour of . trial came, they
were not found wanting. They nobly volunteer
ed their services, thereby showing that their De
mocracy is not of that kind which flinches in
the hour of lheir country's need. Opposition to
this war has not been confined to North Carolina
alone. It has been denounced on the floor of Con
gress as "unholy, unrighteous,- and damnable."
The New York Tribune, a leading Whig paper,
uses ihe following language in regard to the war:
" What means this war? The House of Rep
resentatives has virtually declared war against
Mexico What is implied in that 1
"It means that, so far as our Government can
effect it, the laws of heaven are suspended, and
those of hell established in their stead. It means
that the commandments are to be read and obeyed
by our people thus i Thou Shall kill Mexicans;
thou shall steal from them, hate lhem, burn their
houses, ravage their fields, and fire red hot cannon
balls into towns swarming with their wives and
chifdren.. It means that we are to stop producing
food, clothing, and comforts, and turn to making
swords, bullets, chain-shots, shells, and all the devil
ish enginery df human carnage.' It means that we
are to exhaust our . treasury, multiply taxes, incufi
public .debts, and mortgage the sweat and blood'of
honest labor for untold years to cbnie. ' It' means
security, quiet, and gladness, are to be driven from
earth-and ocean, ana their places usurped by butch
ery, rape, devastation, and horror. It means that
improvement is to be arrested, the blessed arts of
peace neglected, and the world -recede toward the
midnight of barbarism." . , ;
The State Journal, a leading Whig paper in
Ohio,' adopts the foilovying language in condr uih-
ing the war : ' ; : " ;',''. : '; ; ' ;- V '-
"Mr Polk and his advisers, who brought IhU
war upon us, begin 10 repent of the madness anit
folia that have characterized their proceeding
They are anxious to throw upon Mexico the respon
sibility 'of bringing about the war. TUey vrould
represent our Government. as kind and forbearing'
under long-continued provocations and aggression
They would proclaim -Mexico the aggressor, and
charge upon her the butchery of American citizens
on American soil." -
The Whigs were willing, to a man, to vote
means to 'defend our soil, and rescue our gallant
army, endangered by the weakness and wicked
ness of tue President, but they were not willing
to expose the country to all lb? horrors of a protract
ed war by declaring the war already commenced,
when thty had received no official notice tual thq
war-making power of Mexico had authorized an'
assault. If rhe blood of
gallant men. is to be spilled ; if the treasury is lobe
impoverished, our vessels plundered and scuttled,
and their crews butchered ; if our coast is to be ex-.
posed, and ihv nation made 10 feel the horrors of.
war : they wished ihe country to remember who
brought about these things." !
GorfrndrBt-bb,of : Ohio,v who Whig,, ia
his inaugural, says4!.v -M '. '" ;
' " And how, with the Constitution of the United1
States in our hands, proclaiming that Congress'
alone shall have power to dvclare war, can we be-
hold a President of the United States trample that
sacred instrument in the dust, deliberately, and
without the advice of Congress, then in session
involve the country in a foreign war of conquest',
and yet not dare give utterance to our indignant
condemnation of his unconstitutional acts ? Where
is the man who does not know and feel that thitf
Mexican' war is a Presidential war? a war
which, before its commencement, Congress would
not have declared ? a war.begun without adequate
cause, and without any great, Justifiable, and com
mensurate object, couipatable with the interest aad
integrity "of the Union." t
These arc only a few of the many instances irr
which the' war has been denounced and bitteily
assailed, by Whig presses nnd Whig politician.
Strange, and unnatural as such sentiments may np-
pear, yet they are not wilhout'prccedrnt. DuringT
the last war, kindred sentiments and similar de
nunciations came from the Federal' prrty. Persons
were violently abused, even for loaning their mo
i nry to the Govern merit, to enable it to prosecute
the war. 1 will give a lew examples, to show
the bitterness with which the Federal party of thai
day opposed the war of 1S12 r
"It is very grateful to find rhat the universal sen
timent is, that any man who lends his money lo
the Government at the present lime will forfeit all
claim lo common honesty aud common courtesy
among all true friends to ihe country. God forbid
that any Federalist should ever hold up his hand to
pay Federalsts for money, lent to the present rulers
and Federalists can judge whether Democrats will
tax their constituents to pay interest to Federalists."
Boson uuzetle, April 14, IS 14.
" No peace will ever be made till the people tay
there shall be no war. If the rich men continue to
furnish money, war will continue till , the moun
tains are melted with blood till every field ia
America is white with the hones of the people."
Discourse delivered at Byfield April 7, IS14, by
Elijah Parish, D. D.. . . ,. " -
" Give ear no longer to ihe syren voice of DcnTotf-'
cy and Jeflersonian libeity. It is a cursed delusion,
adopted by traitors, and recommended by syco
phants. Jefferson a man who, with the dagger of
public confidence, first gave the stab to your liber
t ies." Extract of a circular hand-b ill, published
at Newbury port. . , J;
" Let no considerations whatever, my brethren
deter you, at all times, and in all places, from ex
ecrating the present war. ll i's a war itijut, fool
ish, and ruinous. It is unjust, because Great Biitain
has oifered us every concession short of what-She
conceives would be her ruin. As Mr.'Madison
has declared the war, let Mr. Madison carry it
on." Discourse of Ret. J. 6.- J. Gardner' Hector
of Trinity Church, Boston July 23, 1812.
"If, at the command of weak or wicked rulers
they underiake an unjust war, each man who vol
unteers his services in such a cause,1 or loans nij
money far its support, or by his contentions', hi
writings, or any other mode of influence encour
ages its prosecution, that man is an accomplice ia
the wickedness, loads his conscience with thw
blackest crimes, brings the guilt of blood upon his
soul, and in the sight of God and his la-, is a mar
derer." Discourse of the Rev. David Osgood
delivered June 27. 1812.
A report of the Massachusetts Legislature" in
1814, de clared that "the war, so fertile irr calami-,
ties, was waged with the worst possible Jfrrewa, and
r!,rr;PA nn ;n ihn ivnrt nnssiM manner, fnrminor
..MB.. - , - ..... ............ M
a union of weakness and wickedness which defies
for a parallel the annals of the world." , It is un-
necessary to trace the parallel further between lft9
Federalists during the last war and the Whigs
who oppose the present war. Public sentiment
has long since consigned the opposrrs of the last
war to the condemnation they justly deserved;
and the day is not far distant when ihe opponents
of the present wa'r wit! share the same fate.
No one can dread the consequences resulting
from the war more than myself, nor would 'nny
one more highly appreciate the blessings of peace;
but with all my love of peace, 1 can never consent
that the lights and honor of my country shall bo
comproinitted, aad that a foreign nation shall in
vade our territory, and murder our citizens, 'with
out repelling the aggression as bcconies a great
and free people. Believing Mexico to be' in the '
wrong; and my' own country in the right, I voted
for such supplies of men and money as were deem
ed necessary to enable the Executive to prosecutor
ihe war to an honorable termination. As on rn
couragement to our soldiers, we passed an act giv
ing to each one who volunteered for five years or
during the war, one hundred nnd sixty acres of
bounty land. In voting to sustain the war, I bc
licved I was acting right, and at the same tima
executing the will of my constituents. If, inf lhis,r
I was mistaken, I have only to say, that while I
hold a public trust, I never will refuse to raise
men to defend. my country against the atticks of a
foreign enemy, nor will I refuse to vote to raise
moncr to feed and clothe our soldieis while they
tire exposing their fives in defence of the? rights'
an 1 honor of our country. Were 1 to refuse to
vole for such supplies I should feci lhat I hadfiot
only forfa ited the confidence of my constituents
but also my claim to me name 01 a citizen 01 mis
Republic. ; " r::" ."i
The bailies of4 Para Alto, Resaca de fa. Palma
Monterey, and Buena Vista, have shown ourol
diers to se wbrihy of their country, Their daring
deeds and invincible courage will teach other na
tions that our rights are not to be assailed 'with
impunity; and their bglliant victories and gallant
sichievements will have nn imperishable place in
the memory of their -grateful countrymen.
The iiimts of this circular "will not permit me to
allude to many other subjects which weie acted
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