The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-10


territory which may be acquired.
| Mr. HUNT, Of New York, was opposed to the
bill, but in favor Of peace. He wished the Elk
ecuye not TO throw over his actions and designs a
false colorng. He referred to the Presidents acon
in the conduct Of the war, charging him with hay-
/ ing intended war and commenced action towards
II, before he heard of the commencement OF hos
Titles. This message confirmed the impression that
the object Of the Executive the extension of our
| territory south by fair means or by foul. Was II
supposed that Mexico intended 10 night US, and that
this 81 900 900 was necessary bring her termsl
| IL the President desired peace honorable terms
with reference the difficulties that then existed
| Mr.. ii. would support him, but he opposed to
the acquisition Of California unless upon the terms
proposed by the Gentleman from Pennsylvania; the
attempt TO bring IT in as slave territory would tend
| to a dissolution Of the Union. He concluded by
| giving notice Of amendment.
Mr.. SIMS OF South Carolina, then Obtained the
| floor, and said That when the Presidents 'commu-
nication, asking for appropriation TO enable him
TO open negotiations with Mexico, and TO facilitate
the conclusion Of hostlities, was presented TO the
House, he thrilled with delight-that he hailed
as propitious omen the rainbow of peace which
again was Frightening on our horizon and promised
the restoration Of peace between the two republics;
that these feelings not the result Of those con
| siderations which the gentleman from Kentucky
Mr.. GRIpER seemed to imagine had actuated the
President in asking the appropriation. That gentle
man professed to think that the government had
grown tired of the war, and had discovered that II
unpopular, and hence his disposition to sue for
peace.
Mr.. s, said that the gentleman was mistaken both
in his supposon Of facts and motives. The war
| was not unpopular nor had the government any
reason to be tired Of its prosecution. No measure
ever more popular, and the impulses OF the peo-
pie, II unrestrained would sweep Mexico like tor
nado. The motives Of the Executive were 9TH
err than those supposed by the gentleman. They
Il u a - e
what had been supposed The Executive was de-
sirous Of restoring peace.
MIR. s. continued his remarks, urging consdera-
lions why the appropriation should be made; deny
ing the policy Of secret sessions Of the House Of
Representatives that the President should not
suit the House questions of negotiation upon
terms Of proposed treaties. He regretted that the
gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. WmMoTl had
chosen TO mnge with the question the exciting topic
of slavery by the amendm mt which he had intro
ueed that he (Mr. 81 regarded the agitation of
hat subject as premature and not properly connect
ed with the appropriation asked for AT this time. II
this amendment should be adopted, he would be con-
strained to vote against the bill. He feared il was
offered to defeat the appropriation. He regretted
the factous opposition manifested. Those who had
denounced the war as unjust, unnecessary, and I'M
constitutional, but had nevertheless voted millions Of
money and thousands Of men for its prosecution,
and lntrusted these preparations Of men and money
TO the discretion Of the Executive wage war,
now unwilling TO vote two millions for the purpose
VI peace. IL seemed TO be hard matter to please
gentleman. When war is proposed, they are for
peace; and when peace is proposed, they strenu
Gus for the prosecution Of the war.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Kentucky, said he had as sincere
a desire for peace the gentleman from South
Carolina Mr. SIMs;l but he desired not only an
honorable peace but, at the time, peace Just
| to Mexico. This war (said Mr.. d. was begun
wantony and in violation Of the constitution by the
preatH ant- hat ~ rh.tM .x.nn
owed our citizens money, which she would not pay,
and refused TO receive minister settle and
tablish the proper boundary line between her terri
| tories and the State of Texas. Now, sir, am, and
have been at all times, for peace upon the basis Of
the satisfaction Of these claims and the recognition
Of that proper boundary line by her. When we
made war upon Mexico the country between the de-
| sert, west of the Nueces and the Rio Grande, was
exclusively in her possession governed by her laws
| and officers, and rghtfally hers as Matamoras
itself. We have despoiled her Of it in this agrees
| sive war; and now hold possession Of it by the
| sword. ! am for the purchase, upon full and fair
consideration, ofthe country east of the Rio Grande
which belongs to Mexico, if she refuses to sell it,
for its restitution to her. At the time for
requiring her TO pay to every claim which is valid
by the lava Of nations, and for holding possession
up to the Rio Grande urt she makes this satisfac
| tion. When the President indicates purpose to
| make peace upon this honorable and Just basis,
will vote him all sums necessary to enable him to
| negotiate III and think it is his high duty to take
| the initiative towards it, In the settlement Of the
| terms of such peace, the President might, think
wisely and justly, stipulate the assumption Of the
payment of the claims Of our citizens against her, in
consideration Of the cesson by Mexico of the
try east of the Rio Grande which rightfuy belongs
to her. For this proper adjustment of our difficult
ties with Mexico, the President would not require
| two millions of dollars, or any other sum.
We negotiated peace with England to terminate
the last without the extraordinary measure Of
voting the President large sum of money TO pro-
| cure it; and no such preliminary has ever been re-
sorted to for the obtainment Of peace from any
ton or people with which we have been at war.
What prompts the President now to propose IL
What are his purposes, and how does he intend to
| use iI He asks us to clothe him with this large
and certainly somewhat secret trust and yet he does
not deign to inform Of his objects, and how it is
| to be expended. Thathgh functionary has as much
confidence in me as have in him, and if he desires
my vote to invest him with such large money pow
er, he must inform me how he intends to use it.
There is in this matter, Mr.. Chairman, more than
meets the eye. The true line Of policy is below the
surface but is paipable enough when the matter is
| explored. The President quotes two presidents.
| The first was, believe voting money to the Presi-
dent to enable him to buy peace by the payment of
| tribute to some of the Barbary powers, when we
were feeble as nation, and sorey harassed by both
England and France Does Mr.. Polk intend to fol-
low this precedent If his object be to pay money
to Mexico to purchase peace, am against ii. That
| would be an gnoble peace, and the proud spirit OF
my countrymen would revolt at peace so meanly
obtained. il would be an ndelibe stain upon the
nation.
The other precedent quoted by Mr. Polk was the
| voting of large sum of money by Congress to Mr..
| Jefferson to enable him to Purchase Louisiana.
This precedent is not opposite, because we are not
at war with France, and neither is Mr.. Polk JEFF
ferson. Still il is the key which uplocks the mys-
tcries Of the Executive. Mr.. Polk, too, wishes to
obtain the cession Of country, and that country
is California | should not object to the acquisi-
ton of California, or so much of it as would
give US the bay Of San Francisco, that we
might have good port in temperate latitude
| on the coast of the Pacific; but l should OPP
pose any other mode of acquisition than pur-
chase by fair negotiation, upon proper considers
ton. Is this what the President intendsi No, sir;
no, sir. His friends openly avow that the design
and end of this move is to obtain California, right
fully or wrongfuliy; and Mr. Folks message does
not conceal it. He tells us, whilst this overture is
made and pending, the existing hostllities against
Mexico to be most vigorously prosecuted. In
han he NJ, Iran do