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

ny, uHlcSS VIC maui pIONlblOH lOt oh h'NiN0
pay
This was with reference to the regular army But
Ihls country was to depend upon volunteers IN upe
Of war Every lnducement, therefore, should DC
held out TO them and TO enlist to remain IN service
during the war. We had experienced IN the last
war the bad effects Of short enllsments, when they
were enrolled for six months, and by the time they
were fairly drilled and prepared for efhcIen service
the time came for them to return home 10 oo'iaIe
this difficulty, therefore he proposed by the amehu
ment which be had offered, that 100 acres OF land,
to the increased pay of 50 per month dur
ing the war should be given To those who enlist ana
serve during the war, and in case they die, to their
heirs.
Mr.. +. would now proceed to notice the argu-
ments advanced and the positions taken, by his col
leagues, Mr.. G. DAVIS and Mr. GRDER. The
news received last evening from the seat OF war was
cheering news TO every American bosom. IL was no
more, however, than he had expected from the able
general who commands the American army, and the
gallant officers and soldiers under his command.
He took the occasion TO congratulate this House
and the country the glorious result Of the en-
gagement of which we received intelligence by the
last mail. There was nothing that could serve to
dampen the feelings Of any American breast upon
this subject, except it the course this debate
had taken, and the arguments and positions which
some gentlemen had assumed here. He would not
impugn the patriotism of his colleagues both their
they represent They came from State which
never had produced traitor to his country, end
which he trusted in God never will But he was
surprised at the his colleagues had taken IN
debate, and he could ascrbe II to nothing else than
that they have for the moment allowed the feelings
and excitements Of craftsmanship TO blind their usu-
ally clear views. His colleague who first addressed
the committee, MIR. G. DAVIS, charged that war
was caused not by the Mexican government but
by the President OF the United States; by usuTpa-
ton Of power not delegated 10 him. This
strange language for gentleman who, he knew,
had as warm feelings as any one towards his coun-
try Was it the time for such declaration The
country was IN state of war; should we dampen the
ardor Of our vounteers'-Or should not rather en-
courage them to buckle their armor and march
for the defence Of the country The gentleman
'ells his constituents to volunteer but at the
time he declares that this is an unjust and unconsu
tutonal war; that the President, who, he says, has
made it, ls a usurper-that he has trampled upon
the constitution of his country Are these the
means for aiding the government to enter and pros
ecue this war with reasonable hopes Of success ;
His other colleague Mr.. GRADER said to his con-
stItuents Go; defend your country; but the war Is
unnecessarily, unwisely brought on by the Pres-
dent; the Mexican government was willing to receive
special commissioner to settle this difficulty; but
the President would not send one. Mr. T. also
alluded to the declaration Of the gentlemen from
Ohio, Mr.. Roor and Mr.. DELANo the former Of
whom had said that our country most notO-
rously in the wrong-that this unnecessary
and damnable war-that the preamble Of the bill de-
clared a leland that the war was brought on, not
by Mexico, but by the President Of the United
Staes and the latter of whom had drawn so vivid
picture Of our army being cut down by fevers,
malarias, &c, that they would be slain by the hand
Of God, and that the brave Mexlcans, looking down
from their Businesses upon them, would them
sacrificed by the influences of an unfavorabe cir
mate, &c. This might be patriotism, but the people
would hardly think so.
Bot Mr.. 7. proceeded TO inquire as TO the cor
RICHNESS of the positions Of his colleagues and first
Of Mr.. DAVIS, who declared that this war was
brought on, not by the Mexican government, but by
the unconstitutional act Of the Presdent-by the in
vason of Mexican territory. The gentleman had
referred TO ancient aliases and records to show that
the territory between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande was Mexican territory. Mr. T. briefly ex-
amined his arguments-the whole purport and eff
feet Of which ,he said) was to show what Spain
claimed. But he now came to the boundary Of
Texas, as established by facts Of modern times. On
former occasion he had referred to many distin-
guished statesmen TO show that the lower Rio
Grande was the boundary of Texas. He had also
authorities Of Texas in 1885, by which he agreed to
abandon all the country east of the Rio Grande.
The Texans were contending for the ancient boun-
Diary of Louisana--the Rio Grande. Though we
parted with them unconstitutonally-t we
could set up claim to the inhabitants Of the terri
tory we coded to Spain-they were not more hound
TO abide by il than the inhabitants of Kentucky
would be by treaty which should cede them to
Spain. The inhabitants Of that territory protested
against it, and never submitted to the jurisdiction OF
Spain.
But gentlemen commended that there was no legal
force to the treaty entered into by Santa Ana,
by which he acknowledged the Rio Grande to be
the boundary between Mexico and Texas; but that
Mexico was morally bound to il, there could be no
doubt She had received all the advantages Of it.
The Texans had Santa Ana and his army in
their possessions; they had the right TO put them to
death as they had the Texans whom they had muir
dered like sheep at the shambles. large and hon.
orable party in Texas insisted that they should be
tried by the laws murderers; but in consideration
Of their agreement to withdraw beyond the Uesierr
boundary Of Texas-the Rio Grande-they were re.
leased. BY accepting Of the benefits accruing from
it, therefore, Mexico in effect, ratified this treaty.
In order to show that Mexico considered the
Rio Grande the boundary, he read from the procla
nation OF Gen. Cos in 1874, after the expiration o
the armisce that every individual found within th'
territory one league from the left bank of the Rio
Grande would be considered as a traitor. All thu
Texans from the Rio Grande to the boundary o
the United States, were devoted from that day tt
fire and sword; and the very town Of Laredo, tt
which his colleague had referred, was included II
this order.
The Texan congress by act Of December 1886
(from which he read declared their western bound
nry to be the Rio Del Norte. His colleague sait
that no mere act Of the Texan Congress could Civ,
Texas that country. He admitted this; but this
showed the boundary to which the republic ofTexa
claimed; this boundary was established by the or
ganic law Of Texas admitted into the Union
This district between the Rio Grande and tn
Nueces, as was seen from Texan biographies
which were more to the point than the Spanish ones
composed part Of the county of San Patrico
which was represented in the convention which
since the passage Of the first resolution for annexa
ton, adopted the constitution of Texas; it alsc
composed part of senatorial district Of Texas, an,
part of congressional district to represent whic
| on this floor member elected.
Mr.. G. DAVIS made some remark to Mr.. T.
which was not heard
| Mr. TIBBATTS. Certainly. He was about t.
refer TO this same thing. BY the Sd section, l3t
article Of the constitution Of Texas, (he proceede
to say,) it was declared that all the laws then il
force in the republic Of Texas not repugnant to tn
constitution of the United States to the resolution
of annexation, and the constitution of Texas sha
remain in full force. This act then, of the Texa