The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-11

Of Mexico declared war; Has The xoSsrnmsnt ~ 49,
rom lhelr capital announced hosttesl they have there
Is war and you need not respond but cannons mouth
But the point Is this We know nothing more than that the
two armies have come into collision within the disputed
territory and deny that war il absolutely IN.
result Of it. Suppose the Mexican Congress should not re-
cognise the conduct their general condemn H. and
send here TemOnsTance rather apology IL war;
The invasion OF any set ofmen in any capacity not war
remem6er-there are this floor who remember-al
1907 by the frgats Leopard Was that absolutely wsTi
Win any man say that created war; Does every man
know thsta national ship regarded by the Law of nations
national territory and that actual invasion upon ship
has the same effect Of the invasion oftertory ere.
ates pso act0 wsTl And there any necessity for In
the administration in the vindicson OF the right. our
Tor US to take another step which result in
good and may result in much eyl-which without prodn
eng one single benefit without mPartns sinews
TO the war, involves rremsdsbe injury TO the com
meTce ofthe country there be aTatOn war on
our there be none on the part OF the authorities Of
Mexico let US not PTecpitate the pystse the ocean
VINO wh DC considered as pirates without declaration on
the one side or the other.
bu' me declaration is to come from side the
other etus before comes for Gods sake the sake Of
the merchants OF the trade and Of the property coun
commerce from this wide desert Of waters where pTys
teers are ready like Arabs to spring upon their prey
MIR GENTRY (NiE HOLABs yielding at bis TequesD said
he agreed with the gentleman from South Carolina MIR
HoLhE, that in all we do at present should look sim
ply TO the defence OF our country from the invasion which
has heen made and that be legitmaely made
BY this country unless should be declared in the way the
constitution conte1pates by the Congress of the United
States He in favor out the LIST and ID sec
tons Of the bill All that followed related simply TO the
furnishing the President with the means 10 de-
ieDd the country from Invasion They could consider the
ProPety Of declaration Of war when they had light
on this question II that necessary he presumed
Congress would authorize IT,
Mr. BOYD Cdr HoLArs further yieLlns) gave notice of
an amendment TO strike out the Isl section and insert in
lieu thereof the following:
whereas by the act Of the republic Of Mexico state of
war exists between that government and the United States
BE enacted S That for the purpose Of enabling
government Of the United to ute said war
speedy and successful termination the President be- and he
Is hereby authorized to employ the militia naval and mill
ry forces Of the United States and to call for and accent
the services OF any number Of volunteers exceeding
no 900, who offer their services either cavalry ar
tery infantry OF rhemen to serve twelve months after
they shall have arrived at the place rendezvous or 10 the
end oil the war unless sooner dscharged and that the
Of ten millions Of dollars out Of In the
or 10 come into the treasury not otherwise appropriated
and the same hereby appropriated for the purpose OF car
Tylng the provisions Of this act into effect"
Mr. HOLMES (resumng) said there had been no motion
no amendment that does not invest the Executive Of
the country with adequate power TO cary this contest he
tween Mexico and ourselves speedy and
no gentleman would object to that But do let beg
Of which viii rebound to no benefit way or another
Mr.. sCHENCK nterposel, and stating that he had an
amendment which he thought would exactly meet the gen
tlemens views,
MI HOLMES yielded.
Mr. sCHENC K then sent up to the clerks table where it
was read In part the follow ing amendment which he gave
notice Of his Intention to offer at the proper time:
strike out all after enactng clause and insert
Whereas II has been communicated TO Congress by the
President Of the United States that this is nov
engasedin with Mexico calf has been made on
o
the q ited States; and
Whereas Congress is informed that in a war thus com
menced losses have occurred the army OF the United
states employ by the President bank Of the river
Del NOre and that such army II already lost is in an
exposed and Perous situation and requires immediate and
speedy relief and reinforcement; Therefore
BE il enacted &c, That while fongGess will sanction
or approve the iorcibe occupation under the orders
the President Of the United States oteory between the
rivers Nusces and Del Norts by the armed forces OF the
United states, nor Of any hOstes which have been
by order of President against the OF
people Of Mexico to enable the President United
States to relieve aud eSricate the army of the United
States from the position in which has become involved
and to prevent Invasion encroachmnts
rtory Of this Union and protect and defend the full
est extent the citizens and people ofthe United States
far the may be in any way affected endangered
by hosuties with Mexico the President hereby utho
rLed in addition to all the present military and naval forces
the United States to call for and accept the services
number OF volunteers not exceeding 600 who may
services ether as cavalry artillery infantry or rife
to serve six months, or twelve months years
the President in his discretion may think best who shall
be mustered into service and armed and equipped
pense OF the United States provided only that said vour
teeTs shall furnish their clothes; and cavalry their
SIC q find b, further enacted That for the same pur
poses the President authorized call into the service
the United States and to employ such portions mill
| tia as he may think necessary
Section. ID ah. oh 9th I'll 9Th eth 10th and lth of
the bill tone or two ofthem slightly modfied) follow
Mr. HOLMES tresuming and coneludng) said he would
state to the gentleman from Ohio that far from wishing
to delay action he considered there things distinct
from each other to wits the first immediate action and the
other reflection He was for acting where action
CURED and for reflection where reflection required
Now action required instantly He for putting
the disposal Of the government the means demands 1t
his intention to separate the immediate furnishing
plies from the consideration Of the declaration OF war;
for that purpose while the Committee Military Affairs
had very properly taken into their hands the necessity
immedpte action, and immediate supply. he would move
hereafter at the proper time TO refer the subject OF decar
ton Of to the tommittee Foreign Rela who
could discuss themselves and communlca House
all the facts when could determine the question with
the solemniy which the gravity Of the occasion requires
and viadcate to all nations our prompttude of action
| our calmness Of reflection
| Mr RHETT said his purpose in rising simply to
appeared been
drawn upon the question under consideration by any gen
tloman who had addressed the committee. The power
declare was in Congress; the President Of the
United States, technically speaking, has no right IA
make war, and il he does he IS impeachabe for
it lie has not made war; he does not recommend
| us to make war. Not a state OF exists, but
| "a state OF hostties exists There is a state Of
oty existing between and the Mexican nation The
Mexican nation can declare wal and the people of the Uni
ted States in Congress assembled declare bat the
Executive of neither nation has the power declare war
put their nation into state of war. The President
the right repe INVASION in doing this he may fol-
low the enemy any distance beyond our border SO az
edectually to protect our border and people Thp
expressly given to Congress He cannot leopard our com
the by rendering it amenable to seizure
he cannot conquer Mexico unless he is authorized to
do so by the Congress declaring This distinction Mr.
| r. conceded, was exceedingly Important.
to inquire of the gentleman from South Carolina the Pres
Mr. RHEr s said the resident Of the United States A.
though he used the word war" in speaking of our rel
tons with Mexico had not asked US to declare war but
only to repe INVASION and TO as far necessary for that
Mr. BRINKERHOFF (intcrposing) said the President
distinctly requested Congress TO recognise the existence
| a state of war
Mr. RHETT Continuing said the President did not ask
them 10 declare war; and when he used the word war
he used it anonymously with state Of hosties. II he
had wanted them to declare why did he not
| mend to them to declare it,
state Of could only be created by Congress of
the United States, or by the government of Mexico
tives OF the two nations. The President of the United
States might put the country in state of hostility but not