The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-26
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE,
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 90. ls40
HOUSE OF REPREsENrATIvEs.
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.


Mr. STANTON having obtained the floor next adj
dressed the committee He said that few remarks made
by him the other day had been much msrepresented
in some quarters he had sought the floor now to set
himself right, whilst al the same time he should avail
himself OF the opportunity OF replying 70 some OF the per-
sonal assaults as well arguments, il there any
in the speech Of his honorable colleague, Mr. GENTRY
The personal aspersions had however been success
fully repealed by gentlemen who had preceded him. that
they demanded little notice at his hands. He would
therefore conne himself on the present occasion to those
objections which had been made 10 the course oil the
President and especially portions oil the argu
ment of the honorable gentleman from Massachusetts,
[Mr HUpsoHl in reference 10 facts stated by the
President in his message and in his Mr SD opinion
incorrectly put forth by the honorable gentleman TO
whom he alluded There were two important and quite
distinct questions involved in the discussion The justice
Of the war had been fully proved by the gentleman who
had Immediately preceded him, [Mr. BAYLY,l But the
question to the conduct OF the Executive had become
one perfectly distinct from the other The question IN
his (Mr So Judgment had not yet been fully discussed
He desired to show that far from the war having been
produced by any act OF the Executive, all possible
means OF Cancellation had been employed in order TO
avert war. The course and determination OF Mexico
had made the inevitable + acts fully sustained
that position. Negotiation had been repeatedly at
tempted on the part Of the government OF the
United States and il utterly impossible 10
fasten on those efforts the charge Of insincerty.
The condition OF Mexico was such, that no admInlstra-
ton there at all favorable TO peaceful negotiation with
the United States could have retained Its position II was
true that in ordinary circumstances, when no wrongs
were be avenged, injuries TO be redressed, Just
OF diplomatic relations not IN itself cause OF
But such not the condition OF affairs between the
United States and Mexico and hence il that the
fusa OF diplomatic settlement made war inevitable. The
action OF the government OF Mexico thus produced the
war. Wrongs had been heaped up mountain high be-
tween the two nations. Ii clear, them that the
lay at the door OF Mexico lie read letter of Castillo
Lansas declaring that had been resolved upon by
Mexico OF her voluntary act and not IN consequence
OF the advance of the American troops TO the Rio
Grande The information thrown into their hands by
the fortune OF war; (he papers OF Arisa) cOroboraed
that view OF the matter They had full and positive proof
that the Mexican government had issued orders for
attack in the absence Of any such provocatons to
had been urged by gentlemen the opposite side lie
recoected the argument OF an honorable gentleman from
Georgia last sesson-an argument marked by ability in
which he contended that although that territory might
have belonged to the United States although the title
might be clear, yet the act OF taking up position oPpo
site Matamoros, and pointing the against it,
duced the Mexican attack But did not military officers
usually act from orers' The Mexican general had his
orders. General Taylor in advancing to that post de-
cared his intentions to be pacific He expressly in
sruced to refrain from attacking any Mexican forces
any post that might be in the possession of Mexico
designs Of the United States government were Of peace
full character Till the last they ready TO enter into
amcable settlement As well might IT be contended
that the appearance of the Mexican forces the other
side of the river constituted a Just ground for attack on
the part OF the United States troops But the
the disputed territory could not have been the provoca
uon because from the first Mexico had declared her title
TO be good TO the whole of Texas and therefore, il
OF Importance whether the army of the United States
was at Corpus Christi the Rio Grande-n each case
the offence equal the eyes OF Mexico. lie then
proceeded TO euloglZe the sagacy and oresht of the
President All his conduct had been marked by the
rarest sagacty, results had fully demonstrated. Aware
that Mexico had resolved upon attack the President had
wisely gone TO the spot where 1t would best be met
War; then, was inevitable The efforts OF the gentleman
from Massachusetts, Mr. HuDsoN to show that there
Mexican troops this side of the only went TO
strengthen the argument in favor of the wisdom and fore
sight OF the President in sending troops of the United
States to that very spot If Mexico had indeed advanced
that surely there additional
reason for its occupancy by the United States. Even
supposng for the sake OF the argument that the Pres
dent had overstepped his powers and committed
in transcendng the limits OF legitimate Executive author
y yet did not rebound to his credit for prudence and
good Judgment IN placing adequate force there to meet
the contingency which did actually occur? friend of
his country should not be very capous in such matters,
even il mistake had been committed But the President
did not need such defence The ground occupied actu
ally belonged to the United States, and, that point he
r 81 deed the utmost severity of attack the part
OF the opposition. 1t had been said that from 1903
down, to their cession of this territory to Spain,
the Rio Grande had been acknowledged as the
boundary of Texas. He granted that that not
elusive as to the boundary of that territory the present
time yet 1t Eaforded, at all events strong presump
hon IN favor OF the argument; for until pal pable
act OF alteration should be adduced the unity and dent-
y of that territory be retained and its own bounda-
ry be understood to belong TO it. Still that matter
Of no consequence The message OF the President stated
what had been the claim of Texas The President show
ed that by the treaty OF San acnto the Rio Gande from
Its to its mouth claimed its boundary by the
government of Texas. Well that claim on the part of
Texas had only this effect itdd settle absolutely the
right of Texas but far the President of the United
States and executive action concerned it did mpart
absolute right, ad the President bound regard
IT. But they were not under the necessity OF standing
that principle. He went farther, and assumed higher
ground He assumed that upon the lower Rio Grande,
beyond all the operations of the army, Texas frem the
time of her independence had actually occupied and gov
erned that territory. He did not claim this in regard the
territory in the immediate neghborhood of Santa Fe By
the treaty of San Jacinto Texas had right to that por-
ton OF the territory, but she had obtained actual pos
session OF it. was not de acto part of Texas though
was de Jure and being de tacto part of Mexico, the
government of the United States had right to take mil
ary possession OF it and hold it, He quoted that part
HUDsoNl which charged the President with untruth in
saying that Texas had extended her jurisdiction beyond
the Nueces, and by implication to the Rio Grande and
reply he Mr 81 cited several of the Texas lecis-
ature organizing counties, MAY "a, 1879 establishing
colecora district June H. 1897 and sationing regi
nent OF soldiers, June H. 1879 These acts and their
execution were sufficient to the assertions of
the gentleman from Massachusetts, They completely
turned of the anathemas Illuminated against the Pres-
dent In this case the courses had gone home to roost"
The barbed arrows, glancng from the polished shield OF
truth, had rebounded and quivecd in the breasts of
those who had sent them forth.
MIR. HUDSON here rose and said that it was only a
paper jurisdiction.
Mr.. STANTON. The acts were executed-the COL
lectora officer stationed there The representative
from Texas would sustain him in that declaration
Mr.. HUDSON. There dispute that there was
officer at Corpus Christi.
Mr.. STANTON. That did not affect the question It
not important where the officer resided He was the
officer for the district extending to the Rio Grande, and
did exercise his functions in that district The point was
indeed settled that Texas had exercised her jurisdiction