Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-05-21

authorised t0TthWIh 10 cODpitt ah .hE pun
lie armed vessels now authorised by law, ana
TO purchase or charter, arm, equip, ana man
such merchant vessels and steamboats, as upon
examination may be found fit or easily con-
verted into armed vessels, fiji for the public
service. and in such number as he may deem
necessary for the protection Of the seaboad,
lake-coast, and The general defence o. the
country.
Sec. O. ind be u further enacted, That,
whenever the militia or volunteers are called
and received into the service OF the u. States,
under the provisions of this act, they shall
have the organization ofthe army Of the u.
States, aud shall have the same pay and allow
ances, except as follows, to wit Privates Of in
fantry, artillery, and riHemen, shall receive
ten dollars per month, and priyates Of voun-
teer mounted corps twenty dollars per month
for their services and the use and risk of their
horses
| The following incidents, which occurred du-
ring the consideration Of the Bill, are properly
published as par, Of the history connected with
| It's passage:
At tina, stage of the proceedings Of the House
when this Bill was ordered to be engrossed for
third reading
| Mr. GARRETT DAVIS rose and said Mr..
! Speaker, ] ask the House to excuse me from
voting on the passage Of this bill, and will
assign very briefly my reasons.
This is a measure, directly and indirectly
| of very great importance, and vet no opportu
nifty, not single moment, has been allowed
any Wing of this House to say one word up
on it. So far as it can operate upon the fate
of the gallant General and his little army upon
the Del Norte, there is no need for such I'M
paralleled haste IN urging measure of its char
acter through this body. lie i, on frontier
three thousand miles distant. In the exercise
of discretionary power vested him by the
Executive, he has made a requisition on the
Governors of the neighborng States for ten
Thousand troops. AT this moment, the desti-
ny of General Taylor and his gallant band is
sealed, and doubt not that ere now the prompt
succour which he has received from the States
contiguous to the theatre of his operation has
given him such force that he has beaten back
the enemy, and that his victorious standard at
this moment floats over Matamoras. What
ever it is, his fate is now sealed and any thing
we may no,c do will be too late to influence it.
There could then be no valid objection TO give
a day 10 the consideration of this bill, and no
persons would desire more But the naughty
and dominating majority will not allow now
this much.
But, Mr.. Speaker, have an objection to the
preamble Of the bill. 1t recites that war exists
between the United States and Mexico, and
that this war was begun by Mexico. That III
formal war exists between the two countries
is undeniable but that Mexico commenced it
is utterly untrue, and | object TO the preamble
because il sets forth SO bold falsehood. am
decidedly strongly in favor Of the appropra
ton of the money and of the raising of the
f,roaS for which tho hill ,,rovidac For thaSa
purposes, it is sufficient for me that our coun-
try is at war, be it formal or informal, wheth-
er began by Mexico or our Government. | re-
qure only TO know that our army is in danger,
and whether it be in the territory Of the United
States or Mexico, am ready to vote men and
4 money even to the utmost resources of the
country for the rescue. If the war be wrong
full, at more convenient season would hold
them responsible who made it, But protest
solemnly against defiling this measure with
the unfounded statement that Mexico began
this war. That position is not necessary to
give this bill any possible effect. 1t could have
been as well omitted, and, had it been reject
ed, doubt notthe bill would receive the unan-
imous vote OF the House. But that was not
the object of its authors. Their purpose was
TO make the Wings vote against, or force them
to aid in throwing shelter over the admins
that this needless and unexpected war was
commenced by Mexico
Sir, if the bill contained any recitation upon
that point in truth and justice, it should be
that this war was begun by the President
I The river Nueces is the true western bounda-
nv Of Texas. The country between that stream
and the Del Norte is part of Mexico and that
Power had people and establishments in it,
: Months ago the President, of his own will, Or
ders Gen. Taylor and his army TO take post at
Corpus Christi, on the west bank Of the Nue.
ces, where they remained until considerable
time after the beginning of this session of Con
gress. In March last, under the positive or
ders of the President, he moves through the
disputed country upon the Del Norte. The
Mexican authorities meet him at several points
with the declaration that he has invaded their
country, and with protests against the agrees
sion. They warn him unless he retres east OF
the Neuces. he will be deemed 10 be making war
upon Mexico. and they will resort to force
He refers to the positive orders of the Execu-
tive, and in the execution of them he presses
on to Matamoras strongly fortifes position
overlooking the city, and mounts battery of
cannon within three hundred yards of il, bear
ing upon its public square. and from whence
he could, in few hours, batter il down. lie
then blockades the port OF Matarnoras, orders
off English and American vessels, and directs
the capture of Spanish schooner. The Mex
lean commander treats all these as acts of war;
and, on the 25th of April, Gen. Taylor is in
/ formed by a messenger, from the Mexican
camp, that hostlities exist, that the Mexicans
will prosecute them according to the usages of
civilized nations. That night detachment
OF the Mexican army crosses the Rio Grande,
Gen. Taylor sends out scouting party to re-
connoitre, which attacks the Mexicans, and is
defeated and captured by the Mexlcans, and
thus war is waging in bloody eartnestness.
/ IL is our own President who began this war.
He has been carrying it on for months in Sc
ries Of acts. Congress, which is vested cxclu-
sivsly by the Constitution with the war-mak-
ing power, he has not deigned to consult,
much less to ask il for authority Now, for
sooth, when i, has unexpectedly broke forth
IN bloody reverses, position must be taken by
the friends Of the President in Congress TO pro
tect HIM by charging Mexico with being the
author Of the war and he, in cold blood, tea
eheS others 10 sacrifice a brave and veteran of
teer. whenever il may become necessary to
cover his mistakes aud incompetency.
] have yet another objection to this bill All
tina; is proposed TO be voted by this bill is
10 be trusted 10 him. He is to conduct this
war. lie is our Commander in chief, our
Gaierolissimo Of army and navy. He knows,
or ought 70 know, how much money and how