The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-12
TUESDAY, May II, 1916.
IN SEN ATE.
The journal having been read
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
| A message was receivedfrom the House of Rep
resen taves, by Mr.. French their clerk, announcing
that said House had passed "An act providing for
the prosecution Of the existing war between the
United States and the republic Of Mexico" in
which the concurrence of the Senate asked
The bill was read a first time, and there being no
objection raised, it was Immediately read a second
time.
Mr.. SPEIGHT called for the reading of the en-
tire bill, which ordered, and the bill was read
lby the secretary.
Mr.. ALLEN moved that the prior orders of the
day be postponed, and that the Senate should at
once proceed to the conslde ration of the bill.
Mr.. CALHOUN. | hope that we will be allowed
TO deliberate at least one day. If understand ii
arght the bill is tantamount to declaration of
have no objection to any preparation which this great
emergency requires; but | am not at all prepared
to pronounce that war exists between Mexico and
the United States On question of such magnitude
1t is surely proper that gentlemen who may have
any doubts on the sub jet, should be afforded an
opportunity for deberation; that those whose
minds not perfectly satisfied should have time to
think upon it. would thank the President to or
der the reading of the first section of the bill
The first section of the bill read by the
tary.
Mr.. BERRIEN. The motion of the senator from
Ohio Mr.. ALLEN is to take up the consideration
of the bill by postponins the prior order Do right
| ly apprehend the purport Of the motion!
The PR RESIDENT. You are right.
Mr.. BERRlEN then inquired if the bill had been
read second time1
The PRESIDENT replied in the affirmative, and
was about to put the question on the motion to take
up the bill, when
| Mr.. ALLEN rose and said The news advising
our government of the commencement of hostilities,
on the part of Mexico, on the banks Of the Rio del
Norte arrived in this city Saturday evening last
about FIVE o'clock. IL this government had any
other form than that which reposes in Congress
alone that power, forces would have been despatch
ed, or means taken by the Executive, within one hour
after the news arrived in order to rescue the army
from the perous condition in which it is placed,
But system of government requires the action OF
Congress. 1t was impossible to act till Congress
met on Monday morning. This necessity of delay,
however, no longer exists. 1t is removed now that
Congress has met; and the matter now comes to us
with the additional necessity Of acting with the ut
most expedition. That is the ground on which
to proceed to the consideration Of this measure
no ", because there is no time for delay because
forty eight hours Of procrastinaton may lead to
events which may protract this twelve months
longer than it would otherwise have occupied
ask the yeas and nays.
| Here there were cries OF "what is the ques
ton !"
| The PRESIDENT again stated that It was or
proceeding to the consideration Of the bill.
| Mr.. BERRIEN. The rules OF the Senate re
aure that the second reading Of a bill must be By
the unanimous consent Of the house. Although