The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1846-06-04
SPEECH OF MR. TouMBs,
OF GEoRcia,

On the Army Din and The War with Mexico. de.
ivsred in the House Of Representatives, May
is, 1876.
Dir. TOXINS said il has mol bis purpose
81 this time 10 examine fully into the con-
ducl Of the President which preceded, and
in his judgement, produced the wal with
Mexico; he should reserve that Discus
sion for q future occasion; bu, inasmuca
rs The declaration Of war had been pass
ed, under extraordinary circumstances,
with rash. unnecessary, and inconsider.
ale haste. without giving moment 10 .
single member Of The opposition to ex-
press his opinion upon thai act, he would
avail himself Of this occasion briefly TO
sdyeu 10 some Of the prominent lacis
worthy 10 be remembered and noted in
connection with il. The President brought
% the notice Of Congress The collision
which had taken place between . delach-
meni Of our troops, under Captain Thorn
ton. and The Mexican army. A bill was
immediately taken up proylding aen and
money sufficient Tor The succor Of our ar
my and the defence Of The country. To
thai bill am not aware thai single mem
Der on this floor objected. II would pro-
badly have received The. unanimous sup
por. Of this House. The debate upon
that bill Was limited 10 two hours; al but
thirty minutes Of these two hours WAS
occupied in reading the papers vhieh ac-
companied The Presidents message. The
reading Of them was suspended, and The
remaining thirty minutes were given 10
several gentlemen who act with The ma.
jorily on this floor. After The debate was
closed, an amendment. declaring the e.
islence Of war. and asserting that Msxi-
co had FIRST made war upon Us. was pre-.
scented and al 'pied by the House. This
was " The apple Of discord" unnecessarily
ihaoan into Ibis measure. To this amends
Inen., very large portion Of this House,
including gentlemen Of both political par
ariies, objpcted. | he actual existence Of a
war, aud The aggressor in that war, were
iac,s dependant upon variety Of circum-
stances unknown the House, upon CUES
lions Of disputed, constitute nal consuuc-
ton, and Of abstract international law.
these questions involve grave national
responsibilities; they are important to
ourselves and other nations. They should
have been honestly examined, aud eau
iIously and deliberately decided. This
course of action would not have retarded.
for an instant, The granting Of men and
money TO aid the army and defend the
country. The amen imenI contributed.
in nowise, TO facilitate those objects so
desirable 10 all. There were no consid-
crations connecsd with the public inter-
esis which required its adoption. Why,
then. was il done To project and shield
the Prssid M from his own blunders and
violations Of The laws Of The couairy. The
party ma, ority upon this floor were dis
playing their tactics ia support Of power
against law, even at the funeral Of peace.
The dangers which were supposed 10 sur
round our army, The Slaughter Of opr
counirymen, the invasion Of what they
termed sour own SOIL" were insufficient
10 transform the partisan into the parrot.
They could not refrain from scattering
incense to power upon Their very offering
10 patriotism. Reasoning from the history
OF successful usurpalions in all ages and
countries, they trusted that The Voices Of
those whe plead fnr broken laws aud vi
olaIed popular rights, would be unhe4rd
or Undecided amid The ciangor Of arms aud
the shouts Of victory. And these are the
gentlemen who are now delivering no.
miles to the Il,use about patriotism. To
dissent IRON the President, TO condemn
those acts which, in our opinion, were
not warranted by law, By public necessi-
iy, By national honor, or national inter-
esls, and which have produced war is
now declared by these expoanders Of the
duties Of patriot. TO be opposition to the
war, aud ~ species Of moral treason
The people are implored, in melting strains
mart IA resrne flle my, not 10 ueiend