Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-05-23
SPEECH OF MR.. TOOMBS,
OF GEORGIA,
On The .Army Bill and the War ,oiM Merico.
House. or REPRESENTATIVES,, MAr Is, 1916.

Mr. IOOMBS said not his at tins time TO
examine fully into the conduct of the President which
ceded, and in his Judgment produced the with Mexico
he should that discussion for future occasion but
nasmuch the declaration of had been passed. under
extraordinary circumstances with rash unnecessary and
consderae haste without giving moment to single member
OF the opposition to express his opinions upon that act he
would avail himself of this occasion briefly advert
of the prominent facts worthy be remembered and noted in
conexion with it. The President brought to the notice Of
Congress the collision which had taken place between de-
tachmen Of troops, under Captain Thornton, and the
Mexican army bill was Immediately taken up providing
aud money sufficient for the Of army and the
defence Of the county. To that bill not aware that
single member this floor objected 1t would probably have
received the unanimous support of this House The debate
upon that bill was limited 70 two hours all but thirty minutes
Of hese hour ., reading inc papers which
accompanied the Presidents message The reading Of them
suspended and the remaining thirty minutes were given
TO several gentlemen who act with the majority on this oor
After the debate was closed an amendment, declaring the
existence of war and asserting that Mexico had first made
upon presented and adopted by the House This
the nppeo dscord unnecessarily thrown into this mea
sure To this amendment, very large portion OF this House.
including gentlemen Of both political parties, objected The
actual existence Of and the aggessor in that war were
facts dependant upon variety OF circumstances unknown TO
the House, upon questions Of disputed constitutional con-
ucion, and Of abstract international law These questions
involve grave national responsibilities they are important
to ourselves and may be to other nations Tncy should have
been honestly examined and cautiously and deliberately de-
cded This Of action would not have retarded Tor an
instant the granting Of and money to aid the army and
to defend the country. The amendment contributed, in no
wise, facilitate those objects desirable to all There
considerations connected with the public interests
which required its adoption. Why, then, done To
protect and shield the President from his bunders and
violations of the laws of the country The party majority
upon this floor displaying their tactics IN support Of
power against law, at the funeral OF peace he dam
gers which supposed surround amy the slaughter
Of counrymen the invasion OF what they termed ou
soil, insufficient transform the partisan into the
patriot They could not refrain from scattering incense to
power upon their very Offering patriotism Reasoning from
the history of successful usupaons in all and countries
they trusted that the voices Of those who plead for broken laws
and violated popular rights would be unheard or unheeded
amid the cangor Of and the shouts of victory And these
the gentlemen who delivering honies to the
House about patriotism To dissent from the President To
condemn those acts which, in opinion, not
raned by law, by public necessity, by national honor,
national interests, and which have produced war; is de-
cared by these expounders of the duties Of patriot to be
opposition to the war; and ga species of moral treason
The people mpored in melting strains not to rescue the
army, not defend the country march to the battle
field but march the ballot box, defend the President
and punish his opponents The mbece denunciations Of
these worshppersof power and place, trust will meet
with the derson and contempt from the people that
they have in this hall from those at whom they were aimed
Love of country sycophancy the Executive constitutes
the patriot When this school Of patriots shall have learned
the distinction, will listen with patience, and perhaps
instruction, their lectures. That love Of country which
impels the patriot place his blood and his the
disposal of the Republic, would mpe him TO watch with re-
doubled vigilance the securities for popular liberty amid the
strife of II is then that they in the greatest peril
Whilst ready maintain this by all proper means
to my utmost excron and the whole military and pc
cunay power of the country 0 necessary to prosecute th
successful and honorable termination, do not hcs
declare this House and the country that the conduct
Of the President Of the United States in relation to this Texo
Mexican question: IN my Judgment has been characterized by
neither ability dignity, modeaton and that the act OF
marching army the left bank of the Rio Grande del
Nore, with the intent occupy that country, not war
raned by law and Unauthorized aggression upon the
people Of Mexico.
shall at this time conne the few remarks about
akc of
left bank of the Rio del Nore The policy of the anncxa
ton of Texas this Union has been much and unnecessarily
discussed in connexion with this subject That question
settled settled by both Governments; Texas is now an into
gra portion OF this Republic. II is country, equally
entitled protection with native homes; would
withhold il from her than from any other State IN
the Union When Texas admitted into this Union BY
her her boundary to be settled by the
Government OF the United States. The act OF annexation
admitted that that boundary not settled was an
ton That admission upon the statute book sufficient o
the purposes Of this argument How it TO be settled and
by whom The act cation looks its settlement by
negotiation. The President and the Senate with the Gov
Of Mexico competent to settle it in that way
Mexico the President informs refused to negotiate about
it, There is but other mode of settlement left That
force That force could only be authorized by law IL was
for Congress determine whether not force should be used
and when should be used To give that to the Pre-
sdent would enable him to make whenever he chooses
upon coenous States To PRETEND has been done here
that the military occupation, with intent OF coun
try the possession and under the jurisdiction Of another Gov
OF mankind II that such military occupation allowed
by the laws of nations when the opposite party refuse treat
but under this Government that only be done by author
y Of Congress The President cannot fix the boundaries OF
this Government; when asceaincd by law is his duty to
defend the country from nsurrccon from within and invasion
from without their limits thus fixed But the friends OF
the President upon this floor ask, with appearance OF paus
bty what is the President do until the boundary is fixed
His duty was plain and simple It. dceLd and protect
those people who under the laws and government Of
Texas the time Of its annexation The people the right
bank Of the Nucccs under the actual government and
laws of Texas The people the left tank OF the Rio
Gande del Norte Mexcans living under the laws and
institutions Of Mexico There uninhabied and perhaps
unnbababe Of than hundred miles between
them They separated by natural barrier there was
practical difficulty in giving ample protection to every man
who claimed TO live under the laws and government Of
Texas without in any way disturbing the Mexcans the
Rio del Norte We owed them that protection The occu
patton Of Corpus Christi by the army and
per give them that protection. When army held that
position hostile demonstration made by Mexico There
complaint made against him here he then in the
discharge Of his constitutional duty But when he ordered
the army opposite Maamoas took military possession OF
country which the Mexcans executed their laws, establish
ed houses built houses and planted fields he violated
the laws Of his country committed unauthorized ag
grcssou upon noghborng naton and provoked and pro-
duced this These my opinions upon this question
Ny colleague (Mr LuMrKN asks where, between the Nue.
and the Rio Grandc, the President to stop have
already that question He ought to have stopped
where the Texan settlements stopped and remained there un
Ill the law fixed the national boundary ordered him TO fix
by the sword The President attempts TO Justify himself on
the ground that there Texans the right bank Of