The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-15

sphere engendered around the politicians who assemble al
the seat OF government Mr. believed he had said all
Mr. A. JOHNSON then addressed the committee III
was not his intention to make long speech The gen;
tleman from kNibama had used some OF the material
which he [r j. had intended 10 employ, and therefore
he felt still less inclined to speak But the subject was
expansive in interest and importance the country IL
SELF and he could not well allow 10 pass without some
remark. He had been struck by some remarks by the
gentleman from Ohio, MIR GIDDiNGs,l IN which he had
attempted TO show thai his MIR G'sl position was
like that OF the wings OF 1916 having previously stated
that in principle be opposed to war; that II was con-
raTy TO the law OF God and OF humanity contrary TO
every principle Of right lie (blr J) wondered if that
gentlemans party--he wondered If he himself on that
occasion, any other would say that the wings OF 1916
were wrong, thai they acted unjusty, that they violated
the laws Of God and man in resisting the aggressons
and tyranny OF Great Britain the colonies. He felt
as though he would have been glad if the sainted
spirits OF the revolution, whose bodies had long
since mingled with their mother earth, could have
appeared that scene He could not refrain from the
aspiration thai some power could have called them from
their graves, and that, dong the hablnents OF the
tomb they could have reappeared in their midst and
gazed upon the spectacle presented TO the country by the
honorable member from Ohio He (MT j. understood
him TO distinctly that wrong in prinel-
pie, and that he opposed 10 il on that ground he
supposed then that The gentleman belonged to that re-
lgious body denOminaed "the Society OF Friends"
Mr.. GlDDlNGS II the gentleman--
Mr.. JOHNSON, do not intend 10 yield the floor.
Mr. GIDDINGS, Well, il he persists in rnisrePresent
MIR JOHNSON did not misrepresent the gentleman
lie (ME J) would like TO government composed
Of that denominahon-that peace-loying and war
hating denomnaton--in order 10 ascertain how long Il
would exist. IL was contrary TO natuTe-h was con-
traTy 10 experienced was contrary 10 necessity and
the progress oi in society to suppose that any
ganzed government could exist at all on such principles
The formation of society precuded the very idea OF such
state of things Then, citizens under this govern
ment-as christlans-as men who desired to do right
us men who reyerenced the Supreme law OF the Al
mighty being who controlled all things, he maintained
that It their bounden duty TO defend their soil and
their government from the invasons assaults OF any
foreign foe But the sympathy OF the gentleman from
Ohio seemed to be entirely bestowed upon the MeNcans
Towards them his bosom yeaned with the iondest
ton. For them his bowels OF compassion intense
ly moved; and he behed the injuries inflicted upon
them, he seemed ready 10 dissolve in tears The gente
blind to the repeated insults and accumulated
WRONGS perpetated by Mexico upon the people OF the
United States He had forgotten the suerings and loss
es-the incarceratons in dark and filthy dungeonsthe
ruthless conhscaton OF property 10 which citizens OF the
United States had been subjected by that very people Tor
whom his bosom overlooked with sympathy, The
gentleman seemed 10 forget that, year after year, his
own government-on whom he had heaped such load OF
reproach and ytupentioT-had exercised towards Mex
leo degree OF orbearance which, II manifested towards
powerful nation, would have been Justly regarded
as pusllanmity He had forgotten that, BY the appoint
ment OF commissioners by the embassy of a minister
clothed with penay powers TO adjust all the difficulties
e wG b Ntsd y every N Sn, e
dress Tor the wrongs perpeated upon her citizens Tie
forgot to tell the House that all this forbearance, all this
full remedial measures had been treated with contempt by
the Mexican government. The gentleman had forgotten
also to turn back 10 that page in the history of Texas
stained with blood and massacre, which recorded the
suerngs oil the gallant Texan people, at the hands OF
the treacheTous and perdous for whom the gentle
man was overwhelmed with plying sympathy He fol-
got all that and whilst the blood OF slaughtered Amer
called aloud for vengeance, and the foot OF the Mex
lean invader polluted the American soil, the gentleman
thought only what he regarded the gevous wrongs
OF Mexico! The gentleman denounced the war as the
DANTE
ated the government into that But the gentle
mans mind seemed to be confused and-probaby over
come BY the violence Of his sympathetic feengsevnced
ndlsposlton TO arrive at correct conclusions, he (r
proposed TO aid him BY referring him to some author
ties on the subject He had endeavored TO obtain full
citation OF authorities as possible, but he found that
the library, and all the other sources oil information had
been pretty nigh eXhaustedalmost all the volumes, big
and little, International law, having been carried Off
from which fact he was led to anticipate very fearful
nundaton of the country with all sorts of national and
international law Out of the scanty stock which the
various exploring expeditions had left he (Mr. j. had
found volume OF "Grotius," and in note to one OF
the PAGES of that work. he had found reference to Vat
tel," which was he thought applicable to the present
case;
AS the operations of war never be regulated by
greved should exceed the damages he has sustained his
acts must still be considered defensive measures and
not aggressions and the mischief that follows any
cess must be imputed the first aggressor alone For
vanel observes the offended party has rg TO provide
upon him punishment capable OF lettering him thence
forward from committing similar aggressions and of intu-
dating those who might be tempted 10 initiate him He
necessary, disable the nggressor from doing
further injury "-Fattel b. ii, CHI. iv, sect. 50.
Well now what the question? As had been
clearly demonstrated by the member from Alabama Mr.
PArYEl the Rio Grande, from its mouth TO its source,
the boundary of Texas The United States troops
marched to the bank of that river, and there
fore occupied position the territory of the United
States The MeXcans crossed the stream they marched
into the territory of the United States; they struck the
first blow; they were the aggressors Since them the
United States had become the invaders. They had re-
own territory Still, according 10 the highest authority
the war to be regarded still strictly defensive
war. And whyl The Mexcans were clearly in the
wrong and the United States had the right prosecute
the until The enemy had become disabled to be
incapable OF doing further injury Another honorable
he (r J) always heard with great interests he always
admired the tact and ingenuity with which he managed Il
questonln making an argument the other day, attempt
ed to prove that the laws and constitution OF the United
States violated and the gentleman read the Presi
dents message TO sustain his position, that from the
mouth TO the source of the Rio Gande according TO the
President the western boundary OF the United States
but that Santa Fe the eastern side of that river
and therefore within the United States Well, then,
what did he do' He took up that post captains-that
purpose OF showing that the laws and constitution Of the
United States had been violated the eastern side OF
the Rio Grande
Mr.. SCIIENCK. The gentlemen
Mr.. JOHNSON understood the gentleman precisely
as he heard him, and as he reported. He read
the laws and constitution had been violated on the
eastern side of the Rio Grande. Well, the conclusion
did not exactly fit his premises. Was the gentleman sim
in endorsing the Presidents argument? Did he use
that argument as good one }
Mr.. SCIENCK. ! did not endorse the President at
all was merely irving the President by the President