Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-05-21

I z,
terminate hostilites speedily, but to bring all mat
tiers in dispute between this government and Mex
| leo to an early and amcable adjustment: and, in
this view, will be prepared to renew negotiations,
whenever Mexico shall be ready to receive propo-
stlons, or to make propositions of her own.
transmit herewith copy of the correspondence
between our envoy to Mexico and the Mexican
minister for foreign affairs; and so much of the
correspondence between that envoy and the Secre-
tary of State, ard between the Secretary of War
and the genera in command on the Del Norte, as
are necessary to full understanding of the sub
ject
JAMES X. POLK
Washington, May It'll, 1916
Mr.. Speight moved TO print 10000 extra copies
of the above message and Mr.. Sewer moved to
refer it to the Committee on foreign affairs.
Mr.. Calhoun hoped the printing would be copied
to the usual number, and that the Senate would
act calmly and deliberately upon so important
subject lie pointed out the distinction between
state Of war and a state OF hosttles. According
to the constitution, war could not exist without
action on the part of Congress. The President
may rcpcl invasion but cannot make war without
the advice of Congress- Mr. c. said his objection
to the motion 10 print was made with view to
prevent any precipitate action, or by the printing
| OF large number Of copies to give the endorse
ment Of the Senate TO the sentiments of the mes
sage, before the whole subcc had been thoroughly
! examined.
Messrs. Morchcad and Archer agreed that there
IS distinction between legal war and mere col.
lision Of armed forces
Mr.. j. NJ. Clayton said the Military Committee
was In his opinion, the proper one to refer the sub
Ject to. The President had informed US that war
existed, ana he was not going to stop to enquire
whether we are at war according to the constitu.
ton or not, but to- vote for money and supplies of
men ana money at once, and by so doing he did
not indicate any approval of the course of the
President in bringing about such n state of things
Our first care should be to adopt measures to de
Tend the honor of the country, and to inquire into
causes afterwards.
Mr. Benton (oco) said that two distinct questions
were presented in the message. One involving
the voting of supplies and recongizng the call
made Tor volunteers, and the other in reference to
the political relations between the two countries
lie moved to refer so much Of the message as rela-
ted to the former subject to the Military Commit.
tee, and so much as related to the latter to the
Committee on Foreign Relations
Mr.. Sewer accepted the modification.
MR.. Cass said he approved highly Of the senti-
mehts expressed by the Senator from Delaware,
(Mr J. NJ Claytonl They were sentiments which
ana honor to him as man and as a Senator. In
reference TO state of war he said that it took but
enc country to make war, although it took two TO
make a peace. There were recent occurrences
IN the East which showed that war could exist
without formal declaration on either side.
:. Alter some further remarks from Mr.. Allen and
Mr. Calhoun,
MIR. Morehead expressed his surprise that the
senator from Michigan should have made the sen
tments expressed by the Senator from Delaware
the SUBJECT OF special congratulation. The senti-
Inents were highly honorable in themselves, and
were well expressed, but they were sentiments, he
would venture to say, common to every Senator
upon the floor. As to being in state Of war, Mr..
NJ said that if we at war, in the proper sense
OF the term then the President had the power of
bringing about state of war without the action of
Congress.
Mr.. Cass said he certainly could not have been
understood, in congratuatng the Senator from
Deieware upon the expression OF his sentiments,
as intending to cast any imputaton upon any other
Senator lie repudated any such idea. and said
That he was well assured that there was not Sen
ator upon that side of the Chamber who would not
60 as far as he (hr. Cass) would in defending the
honor Of the country.
After proraCted and highly interesting debate,
the motion of Mr. Sewer, as modified by Mr. Ben
ton was adopted.
The motion to print 10000 extra copies was then
adopted.
The bill from the House, to increase the rank
and lle OF the Army, was slightly amended and
passed.
EloUsE.--Afer some routine business the Pres.
ldents Message was received and ordered to be
printed, when the House went into Committee of
the Whole, and took up Bill No. AS, authorizing
the President to call out $4,000 volunteers, and 10
appropriate $l0000000 of money for their support.
The bill was read in Committee Of the Whole,
when motion was made that the Committee rise,
which was agreed to.
Mr.. Brnkerholf offered a Resolution TO end the
debate upon the Bill in two hours, which a
greed to, and the House returned to the Committee
of the Whole, Mr.. Hopkins cf Va, in the Chair
The Correspondence called for in the House
was now read, and occupied long time-nearly
all the time given to the debate. The correspond
ence covered letters between the Executive De-
partments and the officers of the Army and Navy I;
and also between the officers at Head Quarters and
the Mexican authorities at Maamoras.
A halt hour was given to the discussion only,
when Mr.. Brnkerhoff, of Ohio, said he presumed
that no one would wish to carry on defensive war
alone. 1t would be a second edition of the Florida
war, but far worse in its results. A state of war
existed and he would not inquire how the war be.
gum or who was responsible for it.
He was for a vigorous prosecution of the war,
and for at once crushing the enemy fully, instantly
and vigorously.
Mr.. Brockenbrough, of Florida, and Mr.. Thomp-
son, of Miss, were for Bill which should declare
war upon the face of it, and which should require
enstments to the end of the war.
MIR. Holmes, of S. c., (oco) was opposed to
"cSlaldtluh Vi war winch TIC Regarded as unneceS-
sary. The Mexican Government might repudiate
all that had been done by the Mexican Generals.
Mr. Rhctt, Of s. c., (loco) said there was no war
existing between the two countries. There were
hostitles, and the difference was broad and mark.
ed.
The time for closing the debate now arrived, and
score OF amendments were offered to the original
Bill.
The amendment to raise money and men passed
by vote of 1913 to 81.
The bill was read a third time and passed, by a
vote Of Ia to H.,
The title Of the bill was amended so as to read
An Act to provide for the prosecution of the ex-
lstng War between the United States and the Re.
public of Mexico"
The amendments of the Senate to the bill pro-
vdng for the increase Of the rank and file of the
Army were taken up and concurred in. They in
crease the number of men in each company from
40 to l00-and extend the term of service from
three 10 five years. The House then adjourned