The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-19
THE DAILY UNION.

al the Rio Grarde he may not 90 there; until then
he has no Judgment no right IN the matter. HIS
colleague, in arguing that the President should as
sumo the Nueces to be our boundary, argued that
the President should usurP dangerous power,
and presume 10 define the boundary Of State
Mr.. DAVIS interpOsed with another remark,
which was lost nt the LETT OF the chair.
Mr. TIBBATTS, (resuming further contended
that the President had no control over the natter
that the government Of the State alone was entitled,
general principle, to settle the question OF bound
airy; but IN this case the power was expressly given
10 the United States; and II was the duty OF the
President to defend the territory claimed by the
States and Territories.
But his other colleague mr.. ORDER, seeing the
weakness Of his colleagues Mr.. DANs'sl argu-
ment, took another ground, ana SAID me war was
brought on because the President did not send
special commissioner to Mexico Now, Mexico
agreed TO receive u minister plenlpotenuary Mr..
r. read from the correspondence 10 show this fact
but when the envoy got there, Mexico would treat
on nothing but the matter Of Texas. Her refusal
to receive Mr. Shdell was mere suberfuge; GER
talnly minister plenpOtenuary had as full powers
on the subject of Texas as "A special commissioner
would have; but they did not wish to treat about
the debts due from that government TO us. All he
was surprised at was, that the President OF the
United States did not send in war message before
they had gone to numbering our citizens. They
had cOnfscated our property to the amount OF mil
fused to pay. Mr.. T. cited an instance which had
occurred during the present session, Of ship OF
citizen of the United States, Whose name was not
heard which was driven into Matamoras and CON
6scated and the owner thrown into prison. An
s.uniustn war Gentlemen could not convince the
people So The President Of the United States, IN
stead Of usurping power, had only performed duty
Instead Of urging a war, he had done every thing
he could to avoid it-a great deal more than he would
have been justified in doing to any other nation.
Our course towards Mexico had been marked by
continued and ong forbearance. As Tar back as
1899 General Jackson recommended declaration
of war against Mexico for her repeated aggressions
on the property Of our citizens; and no doubt II
would then have been complied with had It not been
for clause in our treaty with her. that when either
government felt itself nggreved, It should apply to
the other for redress instead Of going 10 war ms
government did apply very large amount OF deo'
was ascertained and ackno wledged TO be due from
Mexico; but it was not yet paid These injuries were
not atoned for; and il was because of the weakness
Of that government and because she happened to be
called republic
Mr. r was proceeding to say that by sending
specIal minister TO negotiate about TeraS alone, we
should clearly admit that we had no right to annex
Texas without the consent OF MeNIco' "heh MS
hour expired,
Mr. DROMGOOLE obtained the floor, They
had under discussion (he remarked) an ordinary ap-
preparation bill for the support Of the army but, IN
consequence Of the existing state OF things, and Of
the increase of that army which had been provided
for during the present session, II had become neces-
sary 10 make this Appropriation larger than usual
and hence gentlemen had, appropriately perhaps,
taken this opportunity Of discussing our relations
with Mexico and of commenting with severity on
the conduct Of the President. However the motives
and objects Of gentlemen might be unJusthabIe IN
this attack, yet he and his friends would have no
cause ultimately TO regret it. Their fierce denuncI-
atoms would but the strongly draw public at.
tenton to his conduct and the result Of the eXsml-
nation must be an approval of his conduct, and
condemnation Of his assallants.
The President was hercey and gravey charged
with having unconstitutionally, and on his own re-
sponsbiity involved this country in war IL was
grave charge, and it ought not to be made without
some show at least Of evidence TO sustain IT.
But before going into an examination OF the ques.
ton whether or not war was made by us upon
Mexico he begged leave to say word OF the com.
plants uttered upon the passage Of the bill which
might be called the war bill-that gentlemen
not permitted an opportunity to discuss it 1t was
a grievous cause Of complaint TO gentlemen that
while our army was sufferng-whe they were cut
off in attachments, and were in perl-they could
not be allowed TO postpone and delay action by dis
| cusson. Did gentlemen desire to deliberate for a
moment whether they would furnish supplies to the
army Of the country which was placed in perous
circumstances He was a hating and hesita-
ting patriot who desires to pursue such a
policy But it had been represented that there
no precedent for hasty action. Mr.. d. desired to
| point TO one as far back December, 1907, which
occurred in the Senate Of the United States on the
| passage Of the embargo act. Mr. Jefferson sent a
| message to Congress recommending the passage OF
| an embargo act on the 18th of December 1907 and
bill to that effect passed the Senate of the United
States the same day. There now on this floor
| a venerable gentleman Mr.. ADAMS who at
that time a member of the Senate, and to his honor
l L pH tppnn,
Various efforts were made, and among them prop
! ostion from Mr.. Crawford, of your State, (Geor-
gia-addressng the CHAIRMAN to postpone for one
day, was voted down. 1t met with little more do
Law in the House of Representatives; bat in four
days after its first recommendation it was enrolled
| and became law. Now if this haste necessa-
nv in an embargo, how much more important was ii
| to hasten our legislation when army cut 10
| pieces and in peril
Now as to the charge that the war has been made
\ by the Executive upon Mexico. If the peaceful
\ march Of our army to the Rio Grnnde, with posi-
tive orders to commit act Of hostilitynot to fire
a gun unless in selEdefence--to respect religion and
i property. and everything else (Which orders were
\ comnlied With If this were war, the annals Of
warfare from the creation Of the world furnished
/ parallel to such "war" There no act of wal
| in simply marching army there.
But he maintained further, if the territory haC
been acknowledged Mexican territory, the peaceful
march Of army there, although it might hav,
been illegal and unconstitutional, not in tsel
Il an act OF war. Mr.. D. read an extract from Waite
directly in support of this position. If it had beer
Mexican territory (he sad) with the army in strc
discipline-with the assurance given to the nhab
itants that harm would be done, the Mex
lean army would have right to attacl
them but such attack would be a violation
> of the law Of nations, and General Taylor
without orders from the government, would have
, had the right to "chastise" him. But he would b.
willing to admit if gentlemen could establish that
was clearly, positively Mexican territory, then thu
President while he did not make war, had beef
guilty of an illegal and unconstitutional act
He promised that there were certain politicians
who seem disposed whenever territory is in dispute
, to give it up. When we had dispute about tn
northeastern boundary they would not fight for it
but gave itup There were politicians now VIII
wanted to give up the whole Of Oregon that is ii
dispute; and who wanted the President to essnm
, the responsibility Of giving away Texas. Sucl
politicians had but step more TO take to cap TIT
climax, and that to give up the uchOle counh1
rather than have any dispute about il
The gentleman from Kentucky. Mr.. q. DAVIS