Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-05-16


as nnon the American flag. state OF existed
perfect as il could be after formal declaration recognition
Of state of by the Congress OF the United States
Their action had been continually indicative of of war,
and the question whether the Government OF the
United States would respond to that action and visit the ag
gIessors with punishment
Mr.. MANGUM said the evidence Of the existence of
war; which had just been presented by the honorable Senator
from Texas, not in with the American idea
OF war; least not with what the American idea
when the question Of under discussion here, at
several sessions of the Congress Of the United States
And he assumed that such the idea OF state OF
the part of the Government those who held the
political power and authority; for if there was any one thing
all others that epeed and repudated at the time
of the annexaon that should thereby acquire
He thought that the opinion did not exist with who
favored the Of that we should,
sequence Of the consummaon of that measure
Nor did he believe that such the opinion of the Mexican
Government He thought that the proclamation which had
been translated by the honorable chairman of the Committee
Military Affairs, clear and conclusive that point
Did present head Of the Mexican
that there of peace between the countries
He dscaimed clearly and distinctly the power, the Execu
tive head Of the Government of putting the nation in
Of with the United States and alluded to the assembling
of Congress, when the question should be referred
them He offered then, proof that state Of did not
exist not only the American sentiment and the sentiment of
all those gentlemen who favorable the
sentiment of the chief Executive officer of the Mexican Gov
ernment all going show that of did not exist
the of hostility the banks Of the Rio
del Nore Therefore the question reduced to the point
whether consequence of those of hostility, far
had evidence of hem did exist War; had been just
y remarked, emanaton of the will of the sovereign
power And he appealed to the honorable chairman of the
Committee Foreign Relations to inform them in what do
cumen could be found the prooffor yet opportunity
had been afforded examine the documents-hat Mexico
had asened to act of hostility which might be denom
mated state Of war.
But he had principally for the purpose Of requesting
the honorable Senator from Delaware withdraw his motion
to strike and nse because in that form the question
ndvisible but if made simply strike out then
tn he
undergo any modification which, in the of the Senate
seemed necessary And he frank to that in thsstae
of the question was utterly spugnant to his sense Of
prey and prudence declare that the country
OF war, or TO recognise q state of war in any FORM
very desirable, however, that troops should be
enabled to act and not be confined the left bank Of the
Rio Grande, for he knew well the nehcieDcy of army in
the predicamen in which placed But to
peat what had already been sa suppose should that
there should be dsavowal the part of the Mexican Go
vernmen of the Of aggression, where would then be the
evidence of state of In what predicament would
Congress then be placed in they had declared that the
country in a of Or had recognised the
istence Of war; which in all respects equivalent de-
ciaraton Of war But he willing if there should be
necessity resulting either from of disavowal a
nuance Of hoses by which appeared that the sovereign
authority Of Mexico assented TO the commission of of
aggression he willing such conde TO the Ex
ecutve the of directing the American troops proceed
to the very seat of empire, and he willing to all
the that might be deemed necessary in supplies of men
and money. He hoped the hoonrabe Senator would with
draw his proposed amendment and make motion simply to
strike
Mr.. CLAYTON said he had no care the form of his |
motion be willing that respect to satisfy the wishes
and the views Of the Senator from South Carolina
(Mr. CALHoUS) and from North Carolina, (Mr. MASeUN
He had himself supposed would be better unite the
tons strike and insert and any gentleman the
other side would prefer that the motion should be made in
that form, Mr. C.. would conform himself to their wishes;
not he would withdraw his former motion and substitute
motion to strike only.
Mr.. McDUFFIE inquired whether would not be in order
first strike the preamble He knew of rule which
prevented motion in committee amend any part of bill
When, indeed, amendments reported from Committee
Of the Whole the Senate, there might be rule which
qued that the Senate should first take and upon the
amendments made in the body of the bill and afterwards act
upon the preamble and there good for this be-
notifications of the bill itself might require correspond
ing alterations in the preamble but the did apply
here, and the rule ought not He hoped the motion would
first be made to strike out the preamble.
Mr.. CLAYTON said he had made that motion, but il had
been ruled to be out Of order.
After brief discussion on point of order in which
MesHs- CRTTTENDEN, MANGUM, CALHOUN, and
DAVIS took part
The CHAIR adhered TO its decision that the preamble must
be considered last.
The question then recurring the motion of Mr. CLAY
ros, strike the first section the words to prosecute
said a speedy and successful termination
Mr. ARCHER said that he had the least doubt
in the world that de tacfo did exist but
the historical matters which had been referred to by the
honorable Senator from Texas and which he had adveed
in ordsr show that had existed between Mexico
and the United States since the annexation Of Texas
he should be inconsistent with himself if he did not now
admit this be the because he had formerly insisted
upon when the question Of the admission of Texas had been
before the Senate Nevertheless he could against
the motion strike out His personal opinion was that
circumstances showed that Congress would be perfectly
thorized in making declaration Of war; to legaze
the proceeding Of citizens and give constitutional form
TO the which did already exist in point Of fact and he
willing to give his for such because he
had no idea Of voting large supplies of money carry
war unless that sanctioned by the Government The
reason why he not willing to give that vote be-
he desired that every declaration Of there should
be- as far possible thorough unanimity the part Of
Congress but he great diversity Of opinion the
question whether Of did did exist. He diff
fered with the Senator from South Carolina
Mr. CALHOUN here interposcd say that he had not
said and did not say, but what Congress might think
proper to declare and might be justified in making that
declaration but what he did was that Of did
not at present exist far be had evidence Of the fact
Mr.. ARCHER admitted that de jure did not exist,
War q state, legal condition, and il could only happen
by the recognition act Of the Governments This Govern
ment had not put the country into that sae and therefore,
legally and constituionaly speaking did exist.
In that position he agreed with the honorable Senator
War de did not exist but de aco did exist and
the question whether Congress should unite the
lie concurred with the Senator now though he did this
morning He should voe therefore, for the motion strike
out but could not have done without this open syowal Of
his sentiments. He willing, before voting to declare
war; 70 wait for further advces from the frontier, and for
more mature discussion Of the question But thought that
we voted ten millions and fifty thousand men, ought to
give character to the object for which that
mace. he could not therefore, without further info
Inauoh' ana such information should satisfy all f gen.
uemen on the other shoud