The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-22

in the ears of the Mexcans that there large party
here Gse& 70 e Md an bs sI an s Ed ss0
characteriZed- the President had dared TO plunge the
country into disgraceiul war, with no other but
No bey pesaded the Wao%s
the matchless Ringgold that the war was undertaken
merely to let the world know who James X Polk was,
what excavation would not Justly be poured forth against
the administration! But il behooved the opposition TO
prove such charges Recolect that the issue to be
poisoned ehalice might be commended to their own lips
The President had taken unassailable position He
had right not only to occupy territory admitted 10 be
dispute, but his right and duty sack all their
for 1.-THE OF the wrong and insult cast the United
States by Mexico. The whole country would bear wit
ness how the debate began The gentleman from Ten
admitted that il the whole country Joined in the
war, il would be moral treason TO cast reflections
on the conduct of the Executive in engaging in it.
But the gentleman said that this was not such war.
Where was his proof! II wholly wanting The
whole denunclation OF the war originated in partisan
fault-fndng 1t like the conduct OF the drunken
husband who as he came home after midnight swore he
found his unlucky wife up he would whip her, for what
right had she TO waste the light; and il abel, he would
whip her. for what business had she bed before he
came home He desired to say that ii discussion OF
the war were persisted n and they could only induce
few more gentlemen to define their positions would be
most fortunate for the friends OF the administration. But
he would eXhon them 10 forget party Let them assume
virtue If they have It not, and stand by their country,
right wrong He asked them, did they beheye-did any
considerable portion OF the American people believe
that James X Polk was wagng this war for his az
grandzement' They could not believe it. Let the world
that in question which even their natural foe and
rival, England, could not hnd evidence OF wrong on the
part of the United States the Mexican people in
deed united lie felt that the honor OF his country was
deaer than any party triumph, and he raised his voice IN
every form for the purpose OF beseechng these gentlemen
To desst from their dsgraceu conduct With all the pu-
ry OF their motives the gentlemen would say they would
not withhold supplies. They intended to evade the pop
uar Indignation But the people would not be 80 decev'
ed The people knew that although they voted for sup
plies yet by their denuncatons they extended and and
comfort TO the enemy. No. They who voted
for the war, and then denounced it, were left
wholly without excuse. They had not the mer-
"Ah" said they, "they were obliged 10 succr the
army But there one voice raised when the Presl-
dent ordered General Taylor TO advance TO the Rio
Gande' Why did gentlemen slumber then Why did
they not demand General Taylors recalli No They
knew that fair argument had been exhausted that for
bearance had been exhausted-that diplomatic ea
lousy had been endery regarded-and that nothing
was left but war, or else sacrifice OF national honor and
national right Had the army remained at Corpus Christi
till this day there wOnd have been war, and the ter
rtory of the United States would have been abandoned
But il said the territory was IN dispute Was there
any law of nations common sense that obliged nation
to wait till the first blow struck Were the United
States wait till II called TO strike IN seltde
fence
Here the honorable gentemans hour expired, his
marks being necessarily condensed
Mr.. BARCLAY MARTIN then addressed the commit
raise my voice either argument defamation on the
subject which now engages the attention Of the commit
tee came to that conclusion because il not at all I'M
usual Tor young members IN this assembly TO speak them
selves out OF character and out OF notice. thought
would be listener; and in the discharge OF the high
trusts committed to me by magnanlmous people main
tam their rights by a silent vote. This determination
however, changed on hearing the speech OF my col
league MIR GENTRY.l | changed that determination
when heard his denunclatons and although on yeser-
day he appeared to labor with great diligence and much
iteration TO eXtrcate himself, yet he has not in my a
prehenson, presented a satisfactory explanation Sit
uated as | am at home, Mr. Charman-the i'm
mediate neghbor OF the President, our residences
being only mile and quarter apart should re-
gard myself traitor TO my constituency from whose
bosom the President came were to refrain from eXer-
csng my humble efforts IN advocacy OF his private char
acter which has been denounced upon tins floor. Mr.
Chairman, ! am about to use Scripture language, too
"a iaughD The gentleman II, from Indiana says we are
that he does not stand in much danger OF such an mpu
taton. My colleague says he used the word Gle in
scpural and he said that he did not quote the
residue of the passage will quote ii now; The pas
sage is-"beheve lie and be damned" Now mark
My colleague characterzes the message as nothing but
low demogoguical attempt to make the people believe
lie Now, what is the ground of this charge OF alsehooR
Mark, Mr.. Chairman how | will fasten this accusation
somewhere else. What is the alleged lie Here The
commenced by the President and has been carried
on by the President So says my colleague He repre-
sens the President nothing more less than an
usurper since the commencement OF this war: call the
particular attention OF the committee the language Of
my colleague in his recent speech this floor, IN order
to refer them more explicitly to his during the last
session OF Congress. My colleague says this is Presi-
Dental He afms that was begun by the Presidents
and that, during It's continuance the President has been
nothing but tyrant This is grave charge. Let US
carefully examine this charge OF falsehooi. Would 1t
not appear strange indeed, it, in the OF my remarks
should prove that my colleague has, in the most sol
manner, endorsed the lie which he has attempted to
fasten .upon the President In the OF the Pres
ldent of May last, he says: Here Mr.. NJ. quoted
from the message the declaration that war existed by
the act of the republic Of MeXco] Now let
which find recorded in the journals of this House OF the
last session [Nr NJ here read the preamble OF the bill
of last session, declaring the existed and voting sup.
plies. Mark, Mr. Chairman, here is the declaration OF
the President that ''war exists by the act of Mexico,
reiterated in the most explicit terms But few days ago
my colleague IN his place, declared that the war exists
by the act of the President of the United Sates-hat
begun by the President, and that it has been carried
on by the President Now, by reference to thus journal,
find declared that war exists BY the act OF the repub
lie of Mexico and not by the act of the American gov
ernment." Now ask, are not here clearly at issue?
Is not the declaration of colleague few days ago d
rectIy in conflict with this declaration in the jour
who yotel on the passage OF the bill declaring that
existed by the act of the republic of Mexico side by
side with the six democrats from the State OF Tennessee
and, Mr. Reporter, set down in capitals that II maygo
to Tennessee with all the prominence that typography
can give i'll find the name Of MEREDITH p. GENTRY
that he would lie morally, politically, or scrpturay.
But will say, that his solemn declaration OF last SEES
son. registered the records of this House. true de-
claraton- founded in fact-it was founded by the
history of the tmes-it sustained, and it will be sus
tanned by Tennessee Again. for the sake OF argument let
endorsers! have been taught to believe that he who
lies is guilty of offence and that he who publishes