The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-16

Il
guilty Of usupaton-a positive violation OF the cons
tuition, which i were moral treason not To denounce D.
(Mr a. held that the territory between the Nuece
and the Rio Grande subject OF dispute and rs oS
cupaney by the American troops was a declaration "
war-it was an act tending TO war-which did nroinS
war-and was therefore, practical violation OF The
constitution, which yesisln Congress alone the mower y
making war. II was usurpalion OF power not deeps
ted BY law 10 the executive lie distinctly assumed N,
position that all that part Of the territory, except what h.
had alluded TO, between the Nueces and the Rio Grand
was subject 10 dispute. lie quoted from Mr. CAIBoWS,
communication TO sustain this position He would Eks
to know the instructions TO Mr. Slide Why the simu.
tneous movements Of the army and navy al that time
When that information was submitted Congress AMI The
people would know the object OF the war and
could tell whether lbs object was conquest or moi
The war was evidently protracted in an improuer
manner. Why were the forces sent 10 Santa Ne AMI
California! The only object was conquest Tbs
gentleman and learned jurist from Illinois, mi
DOUGLASS, who was the accredited exponent Of his mar
~, had said that the conquest gave them right TO The e
rtoy and they could establish government there M
doubt that was the grand scheme Of conquest They could
never carry II out. Even democracy could nor stand h
The ancient Commonwealth OF Virginia and South Car
olina never would sustain IT, He quoted toe remarks nj
the gentleman from Tennessee, LMr STANTON that the
great feature OF the age was the acquisition OF the terrific
Mr.. STANTON wished to know il the gentleman nm.
derstood him as saying that the unjust acquisition Of
Mr.. GENTRY supposed him 10 say that events were
tending in that direction.
Mr., STANTON then supposed that the gentleman could
put such construction on his (Mr. S'sJ remarks
Mr.. GENTRY replied, that very probably thai was
true But he was willing to submit his colleagues re-
marks TO the learned in order 10 whether their nsT
probation OF the gentleman's language not correct
Mr.. STANTON had stated distinctly that he al not
desire to see an inch Of Mexican territory acquired un
justly. But he said that the tendency oil events was to
that result WHAT Not the wrestling uniustly of Mex
can territory, but to procure the annexation OF large
portion Of that territory.
Mr; GENTRY proceeded in his denunciation OF the
President He had been guilty Of repeated violations Of
the constitution The people should to the rescue
Were they to have slavery n that vast territory Would
free States there the borders OF Texas Let them look
to all that That question had already shook the Union
to Its centre Only by PATRIOTISM which he feared no
longer existed had that threatened calamity been averted
then. lie believed thai hsre were bad men who shed
dissolution OF the Union. He called on the patriotism
Of the other side of the House. TO unite in putting down
the usurper in the White House He was against The an
nexation OF any territory by conquest Was il not de-
clared in the constitution that all men were creaie free
and equal and the only source OF legitimate power was in
the consent OF the people How conquer and subuga, any
people, and impose on them any form OF govementwthou
violation OF that principle OF the constitution Wheredd
Commodore stockton get authority to appoint civil off.
GERS in California The President was involved in The
dilemma either of admitting that his position that the ter
rtory in the limits of Texas was not true or that
he had transcribed his legitimate authority. 1t was rev.
dictionary Texas which in that discussion Her
boundaries to be settled by the law OF conquest BY
which, in rebellion---and here the hammer fell
Mr. KENNEDY then obtained the floor, and addressed
the Committee He desired to know whether the gentle.
man who had just sat down wished TO be regarded as
one of those who extended "aid and comfort TO the
enemies OF his country 1t only such persons who
came under the denuncatons of the President of the
United States and he (r X understood the gentleman
to declare his desire to within the range OF those
denunciations Ii such indeed the object OF the
gentleman, he had an amount OF nerve which entitled
him TO much credit.
Mr. GENTRY. Does the gentleman attribute such
position TO me
Mr. KENNEDY. understood the gentleman to ex.
pres. desire TO bring himself under the range Of the
Presidents denunciations.
MIR. GENTRY. Yes; for the purpose of showing that
despised and scorned them
Mr.. KENNEDY. am willing to give the gentleman
the benefit of his explanation. Although the gentleman
has shown great deal OF earnestness in the advocacy OF
the enemys this floor, certainly he has mani
tested great want Of tact The Mexican government
may have men on this floor of more ability than those
they had in the field but, after ALL they want tact If
MIR. GENTRY. The gentleman
The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman yield the
MIR. KENNEDY. OH certainly, for the purpose Of
Mr.. GENTRY. suppose the gentleman has a right
TO arrive at his own conclusions but when he assumes
that am giving "aid and comfort to the enemy he
lumps TO conclusions which have foundation in fact
And
Mr.. KENNEDY. I assume nothing
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Tennessee
has the floor for explanation ,...-
Mr.. GENTRY II he means that giving "aid and
comfort to the enemy is to express the belief that in
certain circumstances Liberties endangered
Dy an usurPs Tresiuent tnan Dy one Thousand WELL
appointed invading armies, giving ''ad and
fort" am unfolding theconsttution of my country by
refusing to yield up to usurper and his serve adula
tors. II ! assumed any other position at this time,
should be preparing the way to make my country de-
graded, base and Infamous as is Mexico ..'
Mr.. KENNEDY. Was all that philippe added 10 the
genemans hour, was il to be subtracted from his
Mr. ksO Ii the latter TO be the case, he must say
it was hardly fair. The gentleman had denounced the
friends OF the administration in the most vehement man
ner. He Mr.. k) would not characterize his rnanPu-
and gestures by which he indicated that the friends
OF the administration in the habit of crawling to
and fawning public power. Those gestures not
TO say the least of them remarkably classicathey
not altogether very well fitted for American represen
ative hall But he nj. NJ would like to know whether
the gentleman felt himself capable of worming and twist
he to suspect any body esel He Mr.. K) held himself
above either being guilty OF the act admitting himself
TO be capable OF it by charging it upon any other
The President had right to speak to the American
people; and he Mr. Ky felt further that he had the
right, and that il his bounden duty to denounce to
the American people these engaged in unlawful
effort to balk and thwart their country when engaged in
war; and although he willing to accord TO the gen
teman the fullest liberty OF speech he willing
allow him if he chose TO denounce the American Pres
dent on the floor OF the American Congress liar yet
he would ask if those who believed that the President
right had not an equal liberty of speech lie de-
sired to know if the liberty of speech and OF tho press
this country secured only to those who wished to
libel and defame this government Were those who
it, to have their mouths closed by denunciations OF
usurpaton, and disposition to infringe upon the free
dom OF speech and of the pess' He Mr K) did not so
real the rights and privileges of American citizens or
American representatives 1t said that they were
great peoples and that was surely very great Congress