Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-05-16

drawn up and reported from the COMMITTEES soms weeks aao
II consequently did not recognise state Of did
provide for such On the contrary il authorized only
defensive measures and did warrant any departure from
Of that character but in the this
day received the committee would remember that distinct
recognition made Of the present existence state of
war; and distinct recommendation that the House. on lis
part, should make the like recognition. The amendment
Mr. b. had prepared intended to supply the deficiency Of
the bill to recognise state Of actually in exist
ence, and 10 authorize its vigorous prosecution by the Ex-
ecutve.
And here Mr.. b. would ask whether ii possible that
any gentleman could be shortsghted 10 wish to conne
the military operations the Mexican frontier those of
purely defensive character. Did they that should
stand strictly upon the defensive and allow Mexico
when where and how she pleased war so conducted
would be expensive vexatous and disastrous in its charac
ter II must be war long continued it would allow the
enemy to choose his points of attack and would consequently
oblge US to cover whole frontier No our policy
once to proceed with vigor and decision, and conquer
peace on the Mexican SOIL On any other plan should
have but second edition Of the Florida As choosing
whether we would so to not, the time past for
that War actually existed it had been commenced by
Mexico guns had been fired !; American blood had been
she'd For himself, he held it to be part of his duty to
inquire how wherefore the had originated who
in fault whether any in fault one it was
enough for him to know that his country attacked
he knew would be enough for the patriotic constituency he
had the honor represent.
Under the circumstances in which we placed the only
wise course to conquer by vigorous prosecution
of the He should think that if the Of 1912 had
taught this country one lesson it she insanity
of a great country making twopenDy He was for
such Let strike at with all force and
bring the enemy to our feet Let at blow compel her
an honorable and permanent peace With these views of
true policy, he had prepared the amendment subs-
tute for the first section Of the bill.
He wished also to offer further amendment which had
been drawn up, in great part, by the chairman Of the Military
Committee, Mr HARALsos, though not reported from that
committee because, when had prepared and reported this
bill had not been of what would be the tenor Of the
Executive message.
Mr.. BROCKENBRoUGH interposcd and wished to offer
the following amendment to the amendment Of Mr..
BRINKERH0FF, and also substitute for the first four
tons Of the bill
Whereas has been declared and made upon the United
States by the Republic of Mexico
therefore enactedbyf the Senate and House Of Represel-
taues e United States Of 4nersca IL, Congress assembled
That all the respective countries, Governments citizens and
and their respective and duties with regard each other
and all neutral nations to he regulated accordingly
SEc. And be enacted That the President Of the Uni
ted States and requested retate the Mexican
invasion, and take and hold much ofe Mex
territory be In his until peace be concluded
volunteers not exceeding fifty thousand to as cavalry
artillery remen, until the end Of the unless
discharged and the said volunteers shall furnish their
coes and if cavalry, shall furnish their horses and,
when mustered service shall be armed and equipped the
expense Of the United States and said volunteers SHALL when
actual service be subject to the rules and articles OF
and in all respects clothing and pay be placed the
footing with similar corps Of the United States army
and lieu clothing officers priyates
shall receive in equal to the of such clothing
of the regular troops of the United States
Mr.. JACOB THOMPSON gave notice that if the amend
ment moved by Mr. should be rejected he
would move the following
"1hat same hereby declared to exist be-
tween tho enbc Of Mexico and the United States and their
authorized the whole land and forces of the
United States to carry the same into effect
Mr. BROCKENBROUGH resumed He wished that the
bill should contain distinct recognition Of state of This
necessary in order to in foreign rela
on the rights of bellgecn The BILL at first reported
from the committee had heen drawn up long SINCE and
attitude merely defensive. But the blow
had been struck the here the country invaded
and Mr. B. for immediate and distinct declaration
Of war OH our part And he equally desirous that il
should be begun with vgo This would avoid greater evils
that must inevitably accompany snal made by pow
erfnl country We must compel Mexico to do that JUS
ice which had long and with much orbearance sought
her hands.
Let open wide the gates of war let Congress take the
nitatory step in worthy Of ITSELF with sound and
clear views of true policy let begin with raising fifty
thousand men and let adopt another amendment which
ne had alluded Iheb it stood spoke accepting the
vices OF volunteers for six twelve months He had
much of this sort of force Men would the for
hree and six MONTHS and just they had been little drilled
and began to be prepared for useful service their time expired
and they gone Let them at least for twelve
months, or 10 the end of the
He hoped something decided would be DONE BY half
measures should only invite invasion and sacrifice the lives of
people Let not Congress sit waiting and watching events
and hoping they would take favorable turn let them put
their shoulders vigorously and manfuly the wheel
Mr. HOLMES, OF South Carolina, spoke in the midst of
much uproa The Chair repeatedly called order. Mr..
H. was understood to that he agreed in the sentiment that
Tho House ought to act with vgor but let the
time beware while it acted csoutely and boldly, be
betrayed into false position Mr. H. willing to vote to
raise the proposed regiments but he prepared
cognse the existence Of state Of actual war, authorize
this time declaration OF war; He denied that there had been
any declaration Of by Mexico. Acts Of hostility had been
committed but he denied there had been any positive dcca
ton of war her part The armies had into col
sion but not necessary result Of this Mexican
General had ordered advance Of hostile troops upon soil
but his Government might review his apologize to the
American Government for them. 1t said soil had
been invaded True, but in what capacity As of
war Who did not recolect what had happened in the
Chesapeake hay before the last war; when the American fri
part of our territory yet that sateof between
The two countries. The invasion of national ship was,
under the law OF nations equivalent to invasion of the
country whose flag she bore yet not The feel
ngs Of the nation reused them they now but
could take all the necessary meet and epe
he invasion which had taken place. and thus every
sental advantage, without incung the disadvantages Of
state in which actually declared Let gentlemen
remember the immediate injury that would fall the
nerce of the country the moment il known abroad that
declared Let suspend the formal declaration of
war till merchants should have opportunity of calling
n their ships from the horde Of prvateers would
warm in every lurking place. ready, the moment
declared, to pounce decncecss commerce. and
ums would thus be lost to the nation which might otherwise
De secured
Mr.. GENTRY here incrposed, by leave and, observing
hat he agreed with the gentleman from South Carolina Mr.
HOLINESS that could not constitutionaly exist until
declared by Congress- gave notice that he should movc when
order, to strike the LIST and I'd sections Of the BILL
Mr.. BOYD also gave notice that he should tho fol-