The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-12

jurs. The circumstances brought to their know,
edge satisfied him that war ought TO DC declared
against Mexico and by that act legalZe the aCb ina
have ensued the annexation Of Texas To the United
States, He would be entirely "bllnS 10 No'e Ior
such declaration then because ne could not see the
rectitude of granting large sums OF money wlthout
fall recognition of its necessity and pTOpnety by
0oyernmsnt He wished, in relation 10 that and
every war m which his country might be involved
IN see il prosecuted with ylgor and unanimlty
MANY gentlemen thought that such state Of things
Is moi existing between this country and Mexico as
would authorize a declaration OF war by the United
States.
Mr. CALHOUN (afler ascertaining that the au.
sion was to HIM said he had not used any such ex
preston. He could not take on him 10 say, in abb
of necessary information, how far the present
state of things would Justify the government IN de-
carng war; but what he said was, that there could
be no state OF war-no declaration of It's existence
made, but by the constitutional authonty-the Con-
gress of the United States.
Mr. ARCHER continued TO say, that on yester
day he spoke of war not existing de jurs or in the
legal acceptstion of the ermi but state Of war de
faeto did exist; and the question to be presented, in
few days, would be, were they prepared to make
that war de taeto, war de tiTs He would vote
for the motion of the honorable senator from Della
ware TO strike out the word "war;" but he could
not do so without that avowS of his opinion TO go
before the people Of the United States He was
willing to wait for adylces from Mexico and learn
what TO be the termination Of the present state
Of things; and il il to be war, he vas for prose
cutting il with promptitude and energy. He would
not consent that any officer military or civil, Of the
United States, should make blockades, throw up
Notifications in sight Of foreign nation, and exer-
Use, truth all the powers OF war and impose all
IT'S expenses, all its commitments, with foreign ma
lions. In that state Of things he would not consent,
unless it got legal coloring from the United States
| al. NFpII hs
question: and for the sake Of unanimIty ought to de.
fer to the suggestion made on his side for delay,
md see the necessity Of deiberation before they put
themselves in this position before the world.
Mr.. REVERDY JOHNSON said he had not been
able to examine the documents laid before Con.
gress and wished therefore, TO Inquire whether the
Mexican government, in this correspondence
with the United States, had not on scve-
raj occasions declared that they would con-
slider the annexation Of Texas Il declaration
of war, and repeatedly declared that, in conse-
1uence OF that act, they considered war existing
between the two governments; and he was rather
inclined to think that the Congress Of Mexico either
efore or since the annexation Of Texas had de-
clared that it was declaration of war. He was
under that impression. He would like TO have an
opportunity to examine the documents. In the
mean time, he would he happy to learn from the
chairman Of the Committee on Foreign Relations
whether he was right in his opinion. At any rate,
he did consider war existed de GactO, and govern
ment bound to adopt all necessary measures
not only TO repe INVASION, but TO carry on that war.
1t was not necessary, in his opinion, to declare
war; but if it was, he would vote for declaration
under the existing state of things.
Mr.. PENNYBACKER next addressed the
Senate at some length. The principal aim of his
| argument to show that formal declaration
vas not essential 10 the existence of war. In sup
| port of this, he cited a number of instances from
modern history, and quoted from VatteI, from
Judge kens Commentaries, and the decisions of the
English admiralty, to the same end. After settling
this point the honorable senator argued that IN the
| absence of declaration Of war, it competent
TO Judge from hostltles enacted, whether war eE-
Ised not. Admitting that he proceeded to re-
view the relations between Mexico ard the United
States, the successive events that had led to the
present state Of things, all which proved that war
| actually does exist between the two countries, and
that although it might be dispensed with, declar-
alton of desirable by the United States;
that the people might all know their position; that
neutral nations might conduct themselves suitably;
and that there might be an open and papable
sion shown for the voting of the supplies necessary
to its energetic prosecution.
Mr.. CASS said do not rise to detan the Sen
ate long, nor to enter into any protracted discussion
Of the subject now under consideration. | have but
little to say and shallsay that speedily. In the first
place. sir desire to answer the appeal which has
been made to this side of the chamber by the honor
able senator from Delaware, tMr J. M. CLAYTON. !
He desires that portion of the bill which the
existence of war between the United States and
Mexico, brought on by the aggression of the latter
| should be passed by for the present, and that we
| should now confne ourselves to a consideration of
the measures necessary for the defence Of the
| try. For my own part should be happy to take
the course indicated by the senator from Delaware,
and which he asks to adopt, were | not prevent
ed from doing so by higher considerations If we
appropriate money and raise men for the mere pur-
pose Of repeng an invasion, we place ourselves in
the very position which the honorable senator from
South Carolina, IMr. CALHOUN, deemed yesterday
the proper one, and TO which then expressed, and
yet feel, insuperable objections. A Mexican army
is upon our soil. Are to confne our
| efforts to repeng them' Are to drive them to the
border, and then stop our pursuit, and allow them
| to find refuge in their own territory And what
them To collect again to our frontier at some
other point and again to renew the same scenes, TO
| be followed by similar immunity? What sort of
d condition Of things would this be, sir The ad-
vantage would be altogether the side of the Mex
| Icans, while the loss would be altogether ours
| Their army is maintained at any rate, and it would
cost them little more to renew and continue these
border contests than to keep their troops in their
cantonments, while must spread troops along
| our border, and hold them in readiness to NEE,
| these nvasons at whatever point they may be at
tempted. Now, sir, no vote of mine shall place
my country in this situation. And besides these
Mexican hostIities will not be confined to opera
tons by land Are we to suffer their privaeers to
| spread themselves the ocean, to capture our
sailors and vessels, and to ruin commerce. This
state Of things for one, disposed to with
| promptitudc and energy. Mexico has attacked the
| United States-has placed herself in a belhgeren'
| attitude. And now let her take the consequences OF
her own aggression. For these reasons, sir, while
provide for the defence of the county, am for
making the defence efecual by not only driving of
the enemy, but by following them into their own
territory, and by debating peace in the CAPT.
a if 1t be necessary. But, sir, why does the hon
| orable senator from Delaware ask the separation,
| and request US to postpone our decision upon the
| relative condition Of this country and Mexico, while
we provide only for driving the invaders from our
soi' He says, sir, that he desires time to examine
the documents which the President hes submitted to
Ia, before he decide whether there state of
| war between the United States and Mexico. | cam
not conceive, sir, that any delay can be necessary
for this purpose The main facts indsputable.
They are before the Senate, before the country and
before the world. A Mexican army has passed our
boundary, and is now upon the soil Of the republic.
Our troops have been attacked, captured, and killed.
0ur 10 oil I'D "a,