The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-15

some might consider the wayyard course OF distin,
gushed senator in the other end OF the Captol IL could
not be carried further then the senator from Missouri
MIR. BENTON II was not an original IDEA Dy any
means but he deed any TO point out any authority
Tor Il IN any public document or any principle OF atoh
al law. IL the offspring OF the senator from Nilsson
r-here il was to be found, and no where else But the
treaty TO which he had referred liked the boundary oil
Texas from the mouth OF the RIO Grande TO ITS source
Now whether il embraced Santa Ne not il recognised
the boundary from the mouth OF the Rio Grande to It's
So he affirmed the authority OF his own rec
objection of reading the treatyhe had not been able TO
get that article OF and on the authority Of the present
Secretary of State while member Of the Senate, IN
speech delivered in that body He stated also upon the
authority of the historian Of Texas, Gen H. 3 Fooe)
He had quotation from thar hisorian-not necessary to
be read now-m which he stated expressly that the
boundary line from the mouth OF the Rio Grande 10
its source These were the data upon which he (Alr
P) had made the statement There was another ~
sue OF fact made in the National lntelgencer, IN
that article TO which he had already referred IN refer
10 the boundary II was denied that that trea-
" designated the boundary, and thar designation
was necessary to make out the case attempted TO
be made IN that paper. But u was there--it was
public doeument was matter for all the world TO read
The boundary of Texas extended precisely laid down
in the message Where then the improperly OF sending
troops 10 the banks OF the Rio Gande, when as the Ex
ecutye had declared that Mexico herself had announced
that annexation alone would be cause OF war; Mex
leo had concentrated her forces on the banks OF the RIO
Grande. He asked the American people, if not the per
sons by whom he suTrounded-he asked the Amen
people, il their territory 10 be invaded from any
quarter, would they not hold the President bound TO re-
sst and punish every aggression upon the American SOIL
Resist IN Yes 10 the very last drop OF their fes blood
Americans would resist IL The President sent the troops
there, and sooner had they taken up that pOstion
than that nation which had accumulated wrongs upon
them, invaded the soil OF their country. Was not that
hostile act That was the act which produced war be-
tween the governments OF the United States and Mexico
That was an invasion OF the American soil, and where
was the recreant American who, when a hostile loot
touched that sacred soil would not meet the invader
with all the fire which animated a truly patriotic
soul lie enyled the feelings Of no man who en-
t.rf .tnaI. 40 thn .tlt
lions resting upon citizen TO repeal every hostile
foot which invaded the land Of Washington. This
all that the President had done. But did any gen.
teman desire that when invaded by foreign power we
should content ourselves in repelling the INVASION and
remaining suPney upon our oars until the insult IL re-
Peated, and we to be restrained from pursuing the m
yaderl Did they desire that would they go an inch
further He hoped they would go inch further
He hoped they would have objection against our pur
suing the footsteps Of the invader the boundary, and
then ncng upon him the punishment which he deserved
In the Of the debate, he (Mr P offered remark
which he thought showed the justice and legality OF this
war and now he approached another point which,
though not directly made by the gentleman who spoke
ca odtedrd for has party on this subject had yet been
made in the progress OF the discussion What was II !!
II was the taking possession of portion OF the Mexican
provinces, and the establishment OF government there
the taking possession OF an enemys country, and oil
whatever belonged to II that would weaken enemy
national right and as the consequence OF war; there
fore IN doing this thing the country had done only that
which she bound TO do and obliged to do and now
the question presented ITSELF having taken possession
Of the country having it in the occupancy OF the mil
tary authority of the United States, government TO
be established there not The President OF the United
States told them that this military possession only
temporary; II was not contemplated as a permanent
thing. He (Mr P.) concured fully in the JUS
tice OF the view which he took Of Mexico
Pay the expenses of the war, and recognise the
this, in Gods name said he, give back every inch of
rtory to which she is Justly entitled He therefore con-
CURED most fully in the view Of the subject with the
President CT the United States but was of the opinion
that President have further in me
sage which he sent to Congress, though he oced that
he did not The remark of the gentleman from Illinois,
poUGLAss that BY the act Of conquest the conquer,
disputed But he (BIr P) thought that Mr. d. was full
y sustained by Vattel:
"mmovcabc possessions, lands, towns, Provinces NC,
become the property of the enemy who makes himself mas
of them but it Is only by the treaty peace, the
tire submission and extinction of the state to which those
towns and provinces belonged, that the acquisition is
pleted, and the property becomes stable and perfect"
That was general principle. He could acquire no
other night except that which possessed by the
reign against whom he might take up arms. But every
right owned by the conquered sovereign passed by the
act of conquest TO the conqueror He speaking
OF soveregntes, not of the Executive of the United
this nation the sovereign He spoke OF all the depart
ments OF government constituting sovereignty
He would say, then, that whatever right possessed
by sovereign conquered by another sovereign passed
by the act OF conquest TO the conqueror Vatte drew
distinction here. He (VatteD looked for moment al
the sovereignty which was perfect and complete. He
said:
Hitherto evidently speak Of "A city or country which
is not simply an integrant part OF nation, which does
not fully belong sovereign bat which that nation
or that sovereign has certain rights If the conquered
or province fully and perfectly constituted part of the do
MAN Oh nation or sovereign, passes the footing
into the power OF the conqueror united with
the new state to which belongs if it be loser by the
change, that misfortune which wholly nipute
to the chance Of Thus, if which made part
OF republic limited monarchy and enjoyed right
OF sending deputies TO the supreme council the general
assembly OF the states be justly conquered by absolute
monarch she must never more think of such privileges;
she is annexed does not permit" g ...= 81 .,.,.s...
Thus distinction made perfect that where the title
was imperfect it required treaty to make il perfect:
but where the title perfect in the sovereign,
vested fully and completely in the conqueror, when the
province was conquered. 1t in perfect accordance
were vested in the sovereign they passed to the conqueer
but he Mr P) reoced that the President of the United
States had taken the view of the subject which he was
sure he would take. He he Presidency told them that
the war was not waged for conquest. 1t was waged
to procure an honorable peace, to indemnity for
our citizens to protect in future against the insults of
Mexico That was all he (Mr P) asked all he de-
sired and when that obtained, he would say
again. and in Gods name give back Mexico all to which
she was Justly entitled, but not one inch more But
much had been said about the establishment of civil
governments 1t had been asked why civil governments
had been established in these territories There was no
such thing civil government in any part of the con-
quered territory Of Mexico 1t was military government
Il was founded upon military authority But it had GER
tain civil sanctions in other words, the military con-
queror had authorized to perform certain civil functions
Tor the preservation OF society upon which it ope-
rated. Were there gentlemen here who wished to
see added to the horrors Of conquest all the horrors of
ary government should assume as mild form as posi-
blei Was il not due by us as powerful nation en-