American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-30
SPEECH OF col. BAKER ON THE
MEXICAN WAR

Col. Baker, OF the Illinois Regiment Of Vol
unteers, who has been for six months in MOx.
co, resumed his seat in the House Of Represen-
tatives, few days since, but will reioin the
army in a week or two, for which purpose he
has rendered his resignation as a member of
Congress, On Monday, during the discussion
in the House, on the reference of the Pres.
dents message, Col. B. lose and announced
that he was about to depart for Mexico, to re-
1 Join his regiment, and took occasion to make
some eloquent and patriotic remarks in behalf
of the volunteers, which we find reported in
the Union. After some illusions 10 himself,
and the kindness Of the members of the House,
he proceeded:
confess, Mr.. Chairman, that it is with no
little astonishment that | have listened to
portion of this debate. | am sure that at this
moment it Is not imagined by your gallant vol
unteer army that in this the third week Of the
session, the Congress of the United States is
engaged in grave and important discussion
as to mobs in Ohio, and the nature Of the vote
by which representatives in the next Congress
have been elected The men who foug ht at
Monterey; the men who are entitled to all
honor and the hlg hest reward, do not suppose
that such state of things can exist here. The
men who have survived the fierce assaults of
disease on the Rio Grande-the men who have
endured every yrivation for the want Of paw,
clothing, and every comfort-bv whose fault
or whether by the fault of any one they did
not ssy--the men who amid all these suffer
iDgs were eagerly looking to the front for the
foe, and anxousIy awaiting succer from their
friends at home-these men certainly did not
anticipate such a state of things as that of
which must inform them as existing here.
have been sometimes led to believe, since my
arrival in Washington, that the Congress of
1 the United States ls not perfectly informed as
to the true condition of things in Mexico
Whether that be so OF not, shall do myself
the honor to make few statements Of fact.
do not design TO engage for moment in any
. partisan controversy on this floor. Where my
sympathes are now, and where they have
been, is we'll known. Where they have been
they still are; and there, through good OF evil
fortune, they will remain forever! But at the
present moment | cannot understand that
''whig" or democrat" has any thing to do
with the question which now is, or ought to
be, before the House; and design, if il be pos
sible, without anything of partisan feeling,
to urge upon the members of this House to act
immediatel y-effect aly-at once-now-ior
this gallant army, laboring, toiling, bleeding,
suffering in foreign land. In the first place,
then, take this opportunity to say that the
army in Mexico needs more men and more
money; and they need it aop. | have been
informed that the forces now operating in Mex
4 leo, including Wool's column, TayIors col
] umn, and Buffers and Patterson's divisions,
/ did not exceed II 500 effective fighting men,;
excluding possibly, and yet net certainly,
Gatess artillery battalion, and two new reg-
ments called the Oregon regiments, recruiting,
H and some of the companies of which have per-
haps already arrived at Tampco. With that
army there is an area 10 be covered which
can hardly now attempt to describe. The
gallant and honorable speaker here briefly
sketched the vast area at present occupied by
the United States forces in Mexico, and also
D described the numerous places that were TO be
garrisoned, and the heavy demands which
must be met in consequence of the great ex-
tent OF lines of communication to be kept up |
4 All this, Che proceeded cannot be done with
an army of IL ,000-l2 ,000-l4, 900 men.
\ doubt-yet express this opinion with great
difidence-l doubt whether it be possible with
the best troops America ever sent forth to ac-
comPlish all th9aand am sure America never
1 did send forth an army more skiful, gallant,
unfinchng than that in Mexico to-day But
recolect that this army OF $4,000 men is 10 be
scattered over an area extending from east to
west five hundred miles, and four hundred
miles from north to south, where the modes OF
communication are doubtful and the popuIa-
ton hostile. When all this is remembered,
ask how is it to be expected is it possible
that the advance can continue to be, as it has
been, marked with glory and honorl have
heard it said, sir, not often, but yet decidedly,
that there is no use in reinforcing 30 any great
extent an army IN Mexico; because, even il
you advanced 10 the city OF Mexico itself you
will be no nearer peace than you are now. fl
that be true, they should have thought of it be.
fore they declared the war, and certainly be.
fore they adopted the plan of invasion am
one Of those, who, without attempting to dis
hcuss al thls moment whether we were rirht OF
wrong III Lhe manner in which the war wa,