Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-16

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Mr. BERRIEN rcplied n IL were true had been
ted by the the destiny Of this county
fury depended this question. surely tina,
gument sganst due deliberacn. unruly rcpesen
ted to-day Justify recording my in silence.
the bill provided for declaration OF war the Argument
the gentleman mss, DO quite pertinent and proper Ba'
by the bill. Il proposes recognise the existence Of
antecedent of oppose the bill 6r- because
inconsistent with the TRUTH and secondly because involves
not to be haEarded BY the eAgcncy OF the
We are. according the BILL In Of with
out tho constitutional action Of either government How
theni Must follow that tho President Of the United
Staos President Of Mexico have power declare
war; Is truei You have Il from both the gentleman
Mcsrs PKSSyBAcxER and Cass that the power declare
vested in the Congress OF both nations They have
failed in showing that modification OF the laws OF
tons juscs their that docs actually exist
There analogy in the case put by the senator Mr.
CAss OF the Of English port by the United
States fleet. We deny that cxis:s-we admit the
stence OF hosties-ihe power OF this
pei them But whether those hostes the OF tho
Mexican nation. Of the Mexican President. We
utterly uniformed. The senator Mr.. CAssl states
truly the law Of nations with regard hosuies They
be repeled formal declaration OF
Suppose the Mexican general did
under the authority Of the constituted authorities Of Mcx
would exist the superstition OF the
from Miehigan Certainly not Bu, he the Mexican
has crossed the boundary OF the United Stes Is he
prepared to show that the Del Norte is the boundayf
MIR. CASS explained. His idea that the Mcrcans
had right attack the United States troops that side
OF the river.
Mr.. BERRlEN. The proposition of the senator is that
w
OF Mexican army around the United States army. Does
he not thus decide the question OF boundary No. beg
to ask how that possession was acquired and by whom
IL by the march OF the United army the
nory. concedng that il disputed territory, the
night OF Mexico equal with that OF the United States
the territory. possession derived from
marching there Mexico exercise the
rght1 Does priority in OF hostility uonai
rghti The argument OF the Senator that the marchof
the Mexican army of hostility. II So | have
demonstrated that the march of the United States army
equal of hostility War does not then, exis.by
any act Of the constituted authorities whose hands alone
Is the power 10 create war In the OF the sub
the proposition OF the maintained and we
not subject TO the mputaon OF maintaining the ride
uou' position that we are not competent stop the Rio
Grande, and refrain from epeng invasion. The question
whether the hosiilues committed by the Mexican army
against army be repeled another and different
question hold that there nothing clearer than that
such invasion be repced by the powerful
by the pursuit OF the invaders and all possible and
cessary TO make the epuson eectus aud for pur
poses of chss,isemenL Adecaraiion OF neces
sary Tor the purpose OF armng with ali power
repel the INVASION and punish the aggression ecogns
ed by the government OF Mexico, then does eHs-
the hostility will have been committed by officer OF the
Mexican army, and no war will exist between the coun
tries Now ask what will be the consequences of the re-
csgnion OF state Of war; The Senator has alluded to
the Withdrawal OF the Mexican minister and the reec-
uon OF ours. But has not our commerce with Mexico
been undSurbedi The presumption OF the senator then
reiuted by the continuance OF the discharge the
functions Of our consuls. The rejection withdrawal OF
minister Is evidence of the existence OF any war-
affords presumption OF such n OF war But was
about 20 aude the consequences recognition Of the
existence OF AT end would be put 10 the
subssung treaties. Most conveniently for Mexico the nc
cumulacd claims OF citizens would be obiteated-the
property and lives OF citizens in Mexico would be nj
her mercy. tits said that Mexican pryateers NAV be nj
ready the That be- unless the hosti.
ties have been recognised by the government The Mex
can government will be answeabe for every aggression
upon our commerce, II made before declaration war
And for what all these consequences 10 be incurred2
Why that may chasiise the Mexican army and Mex
in all her parts and portions if she act But in
aha Of all 0ha
evidence looking The other WAYS proper IS it WISE is
1t jastfabe in US to make premature declaration that
war does EXIST
Mr.. j. VI. CLAYTON rose to reply to the Senator from
Michigan, Mr. Cass) He appealed 10 the opposite side
and asked them wait least till the evden transmit
ted by the President was printed. The Senator from
Michigan said he was satisfied of the fact But he was
satisfied without evidence-wh nothing newspaper re-
ports. He willing 4" 60 il blind" lie commended
that there was evidence before them enable to
make up honest opinion the subject He hoped
that tbs majority would exercise power which they
would moi desire TO Ne employed against them Let them
recOect that the day might when the majority would
be this side OF the chamber IL might be after ex
aiming the documents he (Mr c. would be willing to
vote declaration OF Bat he could assent TO that
without COMMUNICATIONS fair opportunity forming
n judgment.
Mr.. HOUSTON asked the senator from Delaware what
evidence would satisfy HIM OF the existence OF state of
Mr.. ]. NJ CLAYTON replied that authentic evidence
OF the fact that hoses had been sanctioned Mex
lean authorities would satisfy him. But there no
such evidence before them now. IL common thing
Tor the Mexican dsavow the of
erals A general committed act to-day which the gov
eminent dsayowed tomorrow. II, after declaration OF
war; recognition Of Of by the Congress or
the United States, intelligence should be received Of
the fact that the Mexican government had disavowed the
act OF their military officers the Rio Grando, how NOR
nhed would they all be- and how much would they regret
that they had no, waited until they themselves had decided
after deliberate examination instead Of preeptaey rush.
ing on a declaration of war.
Mr.. oRITTENDEN hoped that the emergency would
he
pose He had great confidence in the officer commanding
the forces the Rio Grande, and was pretty confident
that IN eight and forty hours after the date Of last advce
would be found that the gepera commanding had whipped
the MeTicans, driven them the river in the
town OF Matamoras. lie might be wrong but that was
his speculation Still he admitted that they were not TO
act under such suppostion. They to act with the
least delay consistent with order and pToprcy lie was
10 great extent prepared for the supplesnot in
deed adyiscdly he would have desired One thing
was certanthat there had boen to extent conflict
the Rio Grande between the troops Of tho two coun-
tries To whose fault that be ascbed he could not
say but he feared that when the matter was nyssRa-
ted IL would be found that he would able to regard
with entire appreciation the conduct Of ths Executive He
reason for the advance of the troops the Rio
Orandeior the hazardng Of those consequences which
overy sensible have foreseen. II not for
be imagined that the angry armies Of two an
CRY and quaueng nations should day day face eac
other with pointed each other only forbade
nycr between them, and conflict result. IL con-
oedsd that this disputed territory. What right had
the United States 10 take possession Of III Had the
equal rRni But ne would not
prosecute that view Of the subject present lie was
willing consider the eTgeney urgent they peased
ard TO make adequate preparation. As il the wish uf
with that in the meantime he should
be entirely content with that course, bot he did know
that no would be willing TO limit the government repe
ling invasion. Perhaps he would be satisfied with an eI
preston Of what he by repelling invasion. He
meant by that pursuing, beating down, till the borders
freed from danger Of repetition Of the invasion.
SENATOR. That would be war.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN. Mo- ,herewas shade Of differ
ence--n very porcepublo lie believed IL was inds-
pensabe policy make the sharp aud short pos
sblo II II fingered year IL would be n Mexican
With you could kndie fire TO burn down
city. IN this connected condition Of the world war was
felt everywhere, Wa could be made with Mexico
without touching the interests and exciting the eaouses Of
all trading with Great consequences might be
involved IN that lie would therefore make II Ne
cOmpondious possible lie would even, u he had his
wsy send minister flenipotenaty with the general and
between evety blow hold the cicr Of poaco. Tie would
be- willing 10 give the 10 the PRECEDENT for the pur
pose Of reponR invasion, and otherwise prosecuting hos
no tho he d,v