POLITICAL HISTORY. ever. Well, sirs! try that if you like! No-one ever before deliberately imposed such body fears your threats or supplicates your duties as to discourage and depress the in mercy. Do as you see fit, so far as you have dustry of his own country by discriminating r! in favor of the rival branches of other napower Although there was a great parade of tions. That distinction was left for a Loco(basing their new Tariff on sound principles in Foco Congress in the middle of the NineSthe Message of Mr. Polk and the Report of teenth Century. his Secretary, with much profound disquisi- We would gladly speak of the uniform Ad tion on the nature and extent of the Revenue Valorems and other details of this Tariff, but principle, the act itself evinces an utter dis-our space will not permit. That the princiregard of all principle whatsoever. The ple of levying duties on the foreign value of Sjumbling in one bill of such duties as 20 per the goods is a bad one, calculated to tempt cent. on Salt and 30 on Sugar, 20 on Flax and and facilitate frauds, who that has examined (30 on Hemp, 30 on Iron and 20 on Steel, 30 can doubt? True, all our Tariffs have had Son Wool and Woolens and 10 to 25 on Silks, Ad Valorem duties, but only because the ar is justifiable on no principle whatever, least ticles so charged were deemed incapable Sof all on the Revenue principle. This would mode was submitted to as a necessity, never of specific assessment. The Ad Valorem dictate, if any difference, a higher duty on adopted as a choice. The New Tariff (Linen and Silks than on Iron and Woolens, sweeps away all others. Since the former are more generally im-land, and as such to be obeyed until it can be But that misguided act is the law of the ported than the latter, and required more modified or abolished. It is calculated to Sexclusively by the wealthy, so that their im-arrest or greatly retard the rapid strides our portation is less likely to be diminished by a all the Useful Arts and the utmost attainable Country was making toward perfection in Shigh duty. But in truth this duty was made cheapness in production. But it cannot, wes higher and that one lower, this raised, that re-think, do all the evil that has been anticipatduced, just as it was thought necessary to gain ed; it can hardly throw the Country back votes for the bill or save States to the dominant branches of Industry, then feeble, have since where the Tariff of '42 found it. Many party. It is notorious that the Loco-foco Mem- attained a strength and maturity which enabers from Pennsylvania were offered 10 per ble them to defy fair competition, even on eent. more upon Iron and Coal-40 per cent. in favor of the foreigner to overthrow them equal grounds; it will take discriminations instead of 30—if they would vote for the bill. now. Many articles are made here as cheap As there may be those who will doubt as any where else in the world; some even that an American Congress can have so ad-cheaper than elsewhere. These will live; justed a Tariff as actually to discriminate advantage of a twenty-five or thirty per cent. so will most of those which have really the Sagainst the labor of their own country and in duty. If the New Tariff gave duties on (favor of that of rival nations, we give a table Printed Cottons, for instance, equivalent to? Sof some of the articles on which this is done the twenty-five per cent. on plain Cottons, and on Iron Manufactures, Rods, Wire, &c. by the Tariff of 1846. (See the provisions on equal to thirty per cent. on Pig and Bar Iron, Spages 44-50.) its evil effects would be much diminished. Materials. Duty. Paper, per ct........30 Hemp.... ....30 Wool, all kinds..... .30 Do. Manuf'd Articles. Duty. It is a wretchedly devised measure, andS Books, gen'r'ly, pr ct. 10 will have to be amended, whether ProtecCables, Cordage, &c. 25 tion or Free Trade shall prevail. Let the Woolen Blankets,..20 friends of Home Industry, then, resolve to Flannels...25 do their whole duty in enlightening the PeoBock'gs, Baizes, &c.25 ple, in disseminating facts and arguments, Copper, Pig or Old... 5 Cables Sheathing, free and in taking care that men of the right) Sulphur,.. ..15 Sulphuric Acid,.....10 &c. &c. &c. stamp are sent to our next Congress, and the dark cloud now hanging over us shall The annals of human legislation, from the quickly pass away. Action! action! is Searliest record to this day, may be safely the duty of all true friends of American challenged for a parallel to this. Fools and it until Triumph shall again gild our banners, Labor let none grudge nor come short of (madmen have often misruled nations, but no Onward! PROTOCOL. [lel of North latitude shall be found to intersect the A Conference was held at the Department of great Northern branch of the Columbia river, the State on the 6th of June, 1846, between Honorable navigation of the said branch shall be free and open James Buchanan, Secretary of State, the American to the Hudson's Bay Company, and to all British Plenipotentiary, and Right Hon. Richard Paken- the said branch meets the main stream of the Cosubjects trading with the same, to the point where ham, the British Plenipotentiary, when the negotiation respecting the Oregon Territory was resumed. lumbia, and thence down the said main stream to The British Plenipotentiary made a verbal explana-said river or rivers, it being understood that all the the ocean, with free access into and through the tion of the motives which had induced her Majes-usual portages along the line thus described, shall ty's Government to instruct him to make another in like manner be free and open. In navigating the proposition to the Government of the United States said river or rivers, British subjects, with their for the solution of these long-existing difficulties. goods and produce, shall be treated on the same The Secretary of State expressed his satisfaction with the friendly motives which had animated the footing as citizens of the United States; it being, however, always understood that nothing in this (British Government in this endeavor. Whereupon, the British Plenipotentiary submit-article shall be construed as preventing, or intended ted to the Secretary of State the draught of a Con-to prevent, the Government of the United States from making any regulations respecting the navivention, (marked A) setting forth the terms which he had been instructed to propose to the Govern-gation of the said river or rivers, not inconsistent ment of the United States for the settlement of the with the present treaty. Oregon question. JAMES BUCHANAN, THE TREATY. ART. 3. In the future appropriations of the terri-) tory south of the 49th parallel of North latitude, as) provided in the first Article of this Treaty, the possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and of all British subjects who may be already in the occupation of land or other property lawfully acquired within the said Territory shall be respected. ART. 4.-The farms, lands, and other property of every description, belonging to the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, on the north side of the Columbia river, shall be confirmed to the said Company. In case, however, the situation of those The United States of America and her Majesty farms and lands should be considered by the United the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain States to be of public and political importance, and and Ireland, deeming it to be desirable, for the fu- the United States Government should signify a deSture welfare of both countries, that the state of doubt sire to obtain possession of the whole or of any part) and uncertainty which has hitherto prevailed re- thereof, the property so required shall be transierspecting the sovereignty and government of the red to the said Government at a proper valuation to territory on the North-west coast of America, lying be agreed upon between the parties. Westward of the Rocky or Stony Mountains, should ART. 5.-The present Treaty shall be ratified by be finally terminated by an amicable compromise the President of the United States by and with the of the rights mutually asserted by the two parties advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by over said territory, have respectively named Pleni-her Britannic Majesty; and the ratifications shall) potentiaries to treat and agree concerning the be exchanged at London at the expiration of six) terms of such settlement; that is to say, the Presi- months from the date hereof, or sooner if possible. dent of the United States of America has on his part In witness thereof, the respective Plenipotentia(furnished with full powers James Buchanan, retary of State of the United States, and her Majes-ries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto ty, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Bri- the seals of their arms. Done at Washington, the fifteenth day of June, Stain and Ireland, has on her part appointed Right in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hunHonorable Richard Pakenhain, a member of her dred and forty-six. Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, and her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, framed in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles: Sec JAMES BUCHANAN, IN SENATE. [CONFIDENTIAL.] ART. 1. From the point on the 49th parallel of YEAS.-Messrs. Archer, Ashley, Bagby, Barrow, North latitude, where the boundary laid down in existing treaties and conventions between Great Benton, Berrien, Calhoun, Chaliners, Thomas ClayBritain and the United States terminates, the line ton, John M. Clayton, Colquitt, Corwin, Crittenof boundary between the territories of her Britan-den, Davis, Dayton, Dix, Evans, Greene, Haywood, nic Majesty and those of the United States shall be Houston, Huntington, Johnson of Maryland, Johncontinued Westward along the 49th parallel of son of Louisiana, Lewis, McDuffie, Mangum, MilNorth latitude to the middle of the channel which ler, Morehead, Niles, Pearce, Pennybacker, Phelps, separates the Continent from Vancouver's Island, Rusk, Sevier, Simmons, Speight, Turney, Upham, and thence Southerly through the middle of the Webster, Woodbridge and Yulee 41. NAYS.-Messrs. Allen, Atchison, Atherton, Breese, said channel, and of Fuca Straits, to the Pacific Ocean; provided, however, that the navigation of Bright, Cameron, Cass, Dickinson, Fairfield, Hanthe said channel and straits, south of the 49th par-negan, Jenness, Semple, Sturgeon, and Westcott allel of North latitude, remain free and open to both parties. འ -14. [Mr. Jamnagin of Tenn. alone declined to vote, on ART. 2-From the point at which the 49th paral-lacecunt of Instructions. The Senate was full.] 1846. THE WAR WITH MEXICO. THE aim of the following is to present ajral received another dispatch from the War simple narrative of the origin and progress Department, in which he was directed to of our War with Mexico up to Sept. 1st, avoid all aggressive measures toward Mexico, while he was "expected to occupy, pro-S At the time of the passage by Congress of tect, and defend the Territory of Texas to the Joint Resolution, (March, 1845,) admitting the extent that it has been occupied by the Texas as a State of this Republic, she was people of Texas.” Gen. T. was also di-S and had been for several years at war with rected to extend his protection up to the Rio Mexico. The Whigs (as Mr. Van Buren had Grande, "excepting any posts on the eastern previously done,) predicted as the result a side thereof which are in the actual occuWar between that country and the U. S.,pancy of Mexican forces, or Mexican settleand their opponents cried "bugbear;" but if any well-informed man doubted that war would follow the act of Annexation, his reason for such doubt was founded on the fact that Mexico was weak, distracted, and not able to defend herself. ments over which the Republic of Texas did not exercise jurisdiction at the period of Annexation, or shortly before that event." The Army of Occupation remained at Cor-> pus Christi for about six months, entirely unmolested and unmolesting; but this state of Texas, through her State Convention, acthings was not at all pleasing to our peacecepted the terms of Annexation proffered by loving Executive. He desired war, and had this Government, on the 4th of July, 1845. waited six long months for the Mexicans to Gen. Taylor, who had been ordered by the Secretary of War to advance with the troops waited in vain. Something must be doneprovoke our troops into a fight; but he had under his command, from Fort Jessup to some point on the Gulf of Mexico whence he could most conveniently march to the Western frontier of Texas, sailed from New Or leans for Western Texas immediately after being informed of this event, and arrived at St. Joseph's Island, (Aransas Inlet,) July 25th, at the head of a considerable force, and Boon after established his camp at Corpus Christi, on the west side of the Nueces, and then the farthest point West to which the Texan population had extended. On the 8th (of July, the Secretary of War, in a dispatch Gen. Taylor, says: "This Department is informed that Mexico has some Military Establishments on the east side of the Rio Grande, which are, and for some time have been, in the actual occupancy of her troops;" and that the Mexican forces at the posts in their possession, and which have been so, will not be disturbed, so long as the relations of peace between the United States and Mexico continue." some new indignity must be offered to Mexico by which her people and ours should be induced to commence cutting each others throats. So, on the 13th of January, without consulting Congress, which was then in Session, he ordered Gen. T. to march his army through the uninhabited region between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, and take possession of Point Isabel, Laredo and points opposite Matamoros and Mier, the very places and occupied by the very persons he had six months before directed Gen. T. not to molest. The only provocation or excuse he could offer for this act was, that he had "received such information from, Mexico as rendered it probable, if not certain, that the Mexican Government would refuse to receive our Envoy." On the 9th or 10th of March, Gen. T. took "On the 30th of the same month, the Gene-lup his line of advance for the Rio Grande. THE WAR WITH MEXICO. On his way, in the vicinity of the Sal Colo-remain; and in the mean time he placed his rado, he met several small bodies of Mexican troops in the best possible position to resist Stroops, but neither offered nor received any an attack. He also blockaded the river, thus molestation. As he was approaching Brazos cutting off the supplies of the Mexican army. Santiago or Point Isabel, (now Fort Polk,) On the 10th, Col. Cross, Commissary Genon the 24th, he was met by some fifty citizens, eral of the Army, rode out some two miles at the head of whom was the Prefect of the from the camp, when, as is supposed, he was State of Tamaulipas, who protested against killed by a party of Mexican rancheros. His his occupying the country. Gen. T. told body was subsequently found about four them that he would give them an answer miles below the camp, entirely stripped, and Swhen he reached Matamoros. Gen. Garcia from wounds it appeared that he had been was stationed at Point Isabel at the head of murdered. Gen. T. made a formal demand 280 Mexican troops, mostly Infantry and Ar- on the Mexican General for the murderers, tillery. On receiving this reply, he set fire but they were never found. Lieut. Porter, to the Custom House and some other build-(son of Com. Porter,) while out with a fatigue ings, and immediately evacuated the town. party of ten men near the camp, on the 19th, The place was surveyed with a view to its de- was fired upon, and himself and three of his (fence, a work thrown up, a small garrison men killed. These, and such as these. were left under command of Major Munroe; and fast preparing the way for the open hostiliGen. T. proceeding, reached a point opposite ties which followed. Indeed, it would be Matamoros on the morning of the 28th, and absurd to suppose that two such armies could soon commenced intrenching himself within occupy adjacent (and one of them disputed) short cannon-shot, and in sight of the bayonets territory for any considerable time, even unand banners of the Mexican forces under Gen. der more favorable circumstances, without Mejia. As the army was approaching what coming to blows. is now Fort Brown, two of the advance On the 22d, Ampudia again addressed guard were taken prisoners, but were subse-Gen. Taylor, stating that he had been informquently feleased, when demanded by Gen.ed that the River was blockaded, and that Taylor. two vessels laden with stores for his army Matamoros is the capital of the State of Ta- had been captured by the Americans, and maulipas, containing about 10,000 inhabit-taken into Brazos Santiago. This he comants, and at this time about 2,000 troops were plained of, as an act under the circumstationed here under Gen. Mejia. Gen. Am-stances, unauthorized by the Law of Nations, pudia, who had succeeded Gen. Arista in and requested that the blockade be raised, or command of the army of the North, was soon serious consequences might ensue. To this? expected to arrive with as many more. Gen. Taylor replied-reviewing at some General Taylor's force was about 2,300 length what had occurred since his departure strong. In this state of things he sent Gen. from Corpus Christi-by saying that "the Worth to bear to Mejia his answer to the de- blockade of the River was the least offenputation who met him at Point Isabel. Gen.sive act of War that he could have commitWorth did not succeed in obtaining an inter-ted under the circumstances; that the blockview with Mejia, but communicated with Laade had been reported to his Government, Vega, the second in command. Nothing and that he should maintain it until he recame of the interview, however. Our little'ceived farther orders.". Gen. T. would raise Army were now as busy as bees in preparing the blockade provided the Mexican Comworks of defence; and, by the 8th of April, a mander would agree to an armistice until this small field-work had been completed, in difficulty should be settled or War declared? which were mounted four eighteen-pound---not otherwise. He was equally prepared Sers. In the mean time the troops were ac-for Peace or War, and Gen. Ampudia could Stively engaged in throwing up a field-work take his choice. The next day Gen. T. reSof six bastion fronts, calculated to hold two ceived information that 2,500 Mexican troops regiments. had crossed the river above his Camp, when On the 11th, Gen. Ampudia arrived at Ma- he immediately dispatched a squadron of tamoras with 1,000 Cavalry and 1,500 Infan- Dragoons under Capt. Thornton for the pur-S try. On the following day he sent a commu-pose of reconnoitering and ascertaining their nication to Gen. Taylor, ordering him to quit position. Capt. T. proceeded on his march) (his position in twenty-four hours, and retire about twenty-six miles, when he was sudSto the Nueces, there to await the settlement denly surprised and surrounded by an overof this question by negotiation, in default of powering Mexican force. He made a bold which Mexico would look upon his attitude but unsuccessful attempt to charge through as a declaration of War. On the morning of the enemy's lines, in which Lieut. Mason and the 13th, Gen. Taylor sent a reply to Ampu-nine men were killed and two wounded. The dia, in which he said he had been sent bere balance were taken prisoners of War and by order of his Government, and intended to marched to Matamoros. This command of THE WAR WITH MEXICO.. Captain Thornton's consisted of Capt. Har-lout much effect. The cannonading had not dee, Lieuts. Kane and Mason, with sixty-one lasted more than half an hour, when Major (privates and non-commissioned officers. Brown's Artillery silenced the enemy's guns, While Gen. Taylor's forces were engaged having, greatly damaged three of the embra(in fortifying the Camp opposite Matamoros, sures, dismounted several guns, and killed a the communication with Point Isabel-their number of men. The Mexican batteries openSentrepot whence supplies were received-ed a fire early the next morning, which lasted was cut off by the Mexicans, who were now an hour, and was promptly answered from in force upon either flank, and in rear of the an eighteen-pounder battery, and a sixarmy. Reinforcements for the Mexican army pounder howitzer. Both batteries ceased at were constantly arriving, and several Ameri- the same time., The Mexicans now surcan scouting parties had either been cut to rounded the Fort, and established a battery pieces or taken prisoners. It was a dark in its rear. At 5 o'clock the next morning hour. The strongest fears were entertained the enemy opened from their several batteries that Point Isabel had fallen into the hands of and continued with slight intervals, to pour a the enemy, in which case the supplies of our perfect shower of shot and shells among our Army would have been cut off entirely, and brave and devoted little band in the fort our fortifications, if not the Army itself, must until 2 o'clock, P. M. In the mean time the inevitably have fallen into the hands of the signal-guns had been fired as directed by enemy. Thus on the 1st day of May, while Gen. Taylor, and the gallant Brown had redarkness and doubt brooded over the fate of ceived a mortal wound from a falling shell.) his companions at Point Isabel, Gen. Taylor, At half past 4 o'clock, a parley was sounded, leaving a small garrison of less than 300 brave and the Mexican General sent a summons to hearts, with Col. Brown at their head, in the Commander of the Fort to surrender" for? charge of the Fort, marched with the the sake of humanity," offering him one hour (main body of his army to the Point to reopen to return an answer, and threatening to put a communication with his stores, and bring the whole garrison to the sword in case bis back ammunition and guns for the Fort. He demand should not be complied with. This expected to be obliged to cut his way through was a most trying emergency. What should Mexican troops; but such was not the case. be done? The garrison numbered scarcely He met no enemy during the whole march, 250 men; their enemy several thousands.) (twenty-seven miles,) and found all safe when Their brave chief had been struck downhe arrived. their ammunition was nearly exhausted.) Previous to this, on the 28th day of April, The probabilities were that the Mexicau Capt. Samuel Walker, at the head of a small General would be able to carry his infamous (company of Texas Rangers, left Point Isabel threat into executio Men less resolute, less with the hope of opening a communication brave, would have sunk under this accumuwith Fort Brown. But when he had pro-lation of difficulties, and surrendered Not Sceeded to about midway between the two so the heroes of Fort Brown. Capt. Hawposts, he was attacked by a large Mexican kins, who succeeded Maj. Brown after his force, and his command routed and dispersed. wound of the 6th, called a Council of War, When Gen. Taylor left Fort Brown, his composed of the several company commandorders were to defend it to the death; and if ers, in the Fort, and laid the subject before the enemy should surround it, to fire signal-them. They had neither time nor disposition) guns at certain intervals to let him know it, to deliberate. "Defend the Fort to the As was anticipated, the Mexicans took ad-Death!" broke forth almost simultaneously? vantage of the departure of the great bulk of from the lips of that devoted band; and with the Army, and at daylight on Sunday morn in a few minutes they had returned the la Sing, May 3d. opened their batteries upon the conic reply that they didn't understand Fort. The holy quiet of that day," says a Spanish; and another shower of shot and writer in describing the attack," was broken shells was raining down upon them from the by the thunder of cannon, and before the sun Mexican batteries, while they were constant had risen on the scene, that little fort was in ly anticipating a storm, and nerving their a blaze, as gun answered gun; and in twenty hearts and whetting their blades for a last and (minutes' time, one of the Mexican twelve-death grapple with their powerful enemy. pounders was seen leaping twenty feet into The cannonade was continued for the next? the air, accompanied by arms, legs and man- and last three days with even more spirit Sgled bodies." "This cannonading on the part than during the four preceding. During most Sof the enemy was kept up with slight inter- of the memorable seven days, a number of Smission until near midnight, and returned men were constantly engaged in completing with effect. Major Brown lost one sergeant, the works. The American loss was only two and one artillery soldier wounded. The next killed, (Maj. Brown and Sergeant Weigart,) morning the Mexicans opened their batteries and thirteen wounded. But we must now) again, sending both shot and shells, but with-look after Gen. Taylor. |