The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-28
REMARKS OF MIR. COBB,
OF GEORGIA.,

|
REMARKS OF MR.. COBB,
| OF GEORGIA.
| In the HOUSE Of Representatives, July l6, lS46-0n
the bill making appropriations for the support Of
| volunteers, and the carrying on the war with
| Mexico.
Mr.. COBB add ssed the committee as follows:
| Mr.. CHAIRMAN: There are many points which
have been brought into this discussion not only in
the debate to which have listened to-day, but on
| previous occasions when this subject was under
j consideration, which will not take up a portion Of
| the few remaining moments left me TO discuss. ]
do not deem il necessary for the purpose of the ar
gument which propose to submit to the commit
| tee, TO inquire into the title Of Texas or Of the
| United States If you please, being settled beyond
all dispute and question to the Rio Grande. II will
be sufficient for my purpose to take the admission,
which we have heard on all hands, almost without
4 xcepuon-cerainly from my colleague Mr. SrE-
rHESs, Ito whose remarks propose principally to
| reply) when addressing the committee few days
since, that the United States claim title to the
Rio del Norte, and that (taking the most favorable
view Of this question which gentlemen the oppo-
site side ask to yeld) the territory lying be-
tween the Nueces and the Rio del Norte is a dis
| pued territory. IL time would permit me to enter
| into the subject, would dwell somewhat upon the
fact, that the whole territory Of Texas, in the
view Of the Mexican government is disputed ter
/ ritory between that government and our own. But
. take only the territory lying between the Nueces
and the Rio del Nore as disputed territory-gr
this much for the purpose of the argument, and for
u that purpose only.
ton OF the House, who have, from the beginning to
the end OF the consideration Of the annexation of
Il Texas by the American people, denounced il as
vioative of the constitution of the United States
as subversve of the best interests of the peopleas
tending to dissolve the Union, to destroy the gov
banp md ~
4 the country,l can well conceive how such gentle
men can now indulge in the philippines have heard
on this floor against the President, against the gov
eminent of the United States, their own country,
for the prosecution Of our just rights in the Texan
territory. But confess | have been at a loss to
conceive the reasons for the course Of those who
have professcd before the country to acquesce in
the annexation of Texas, who have given their as
sent to the judgment pronounced by the American
peope-more especially of those who have partiei.
pated in bringing about this annexation. 1t is the
course pursued by gentlemen occupying that posi-
ton propose to reply.
The President is denounced as having brough
about unnecessarily wanton and an unholy war
He is held responsible before the people for having
involved this country in heavy and expensive out
LAYS of money for the prosecution of this war 1t il
held that it is the result of the conduct of the Pres
ident alone. Sir take issue with gentlemen ID
this; and when they attempt to hold the Presiden
responsible, and indulge in course of remark sucf
|
Mr.. c. B. SMITH,1 this morning, using most VIC
lent and denuncatory epithes in regard to the Pres
ident my mind has invariably inquired within itself
and I would PROFOUND that question to them
Wherein has your President brought about Thu
war; What act of the President has brought abou
this war; What portion of his conduct do you de
, nounce' In general terms you speak Of it; we ash
r you to come down and particuarize that portion o
the conduct of the Executive which you denounc,
! which meets with you censure and which is ulti
ri mately to rouse the indignation OF the Americas
, | people to such an extent. . .......L 4. .
Mr. Chairman, | have listened from the beginning
to the end of the debate, and if there is but at
: tack, but one charge Of improper conduct on the
= part of the President, have been unable to com
prehend it, That has been brought forward and
urged with considerable force and ingenuity by my
i colleague. 1t was the charge that the Presden
brought about this war by the removal Of our troop,
e from Corpus Christi to the Rio del Norte., Sir, il
! that be not true-if that charge be unfounded-i
+ that conduct the part Of your Executive did moi
r involve you in war, apprehend 1t will be admitted
> by my colleague, and by others occupying his po
sltion that the President is not responsible for it
that his course Of policy on this matter has no
brought about this war. ...
y MIR. Chairman, gentlemen in this investigator
lose sight Of the previous state of relationship
. isting between Mexico and the United States; they
/, have forgotten all the causes of difficulty which
have existed for the last ten years, and which, in h,
language end spirit of the messages of your Pres
= idents would have authorized declaration Of wa
against that government All these things hav,
: passed from their memory; treacherous has |
: been, that they have fors otton everything don,
by the Mexican government, every publication oil
her ministers here, and every publication and ac
q of her government at home, and elsewhere, wher
they take the position that the conduct of the Pres
ident in the removal Of troops has brought abou
: this war. They have forgotten that when the an
n nexation Of Texas the subject-mauer Of DISPUTE
4 here, few years ago, when the voice Of boti
/, branches of Congress pronounced in 1T
i favor, the minister Of the Mexican republic
at your seat of government, declared that !
was virtually a declaration of war egains
, Mexico; they have forgotten that from tina
a time to the present moment within the govern
. ment of Mexico, among her people it has been
, question constantly arousing the passions and ex
citing the illfeelngs of that people towards u.s. tina
they have declared that the annexation Of Texa
y would be good ground of war, and ought to b.
, and would Le resented by the Mexican government
4 they have forgotten everything that has transpire
- with reference to this subject, until they come dow
= to the charge they make upon the Executiv
70 Of later day-that it is his policy which has bee
- pursued within the last six months the
y has occasioned all this difficulty with Mex
., leo. Not only so, but their memory will nc
y allow them to carry along in their recollections tn
of acts of the Mexican government which transpire
at the very time to which they sllude. lie there a
n individual who can cooy and deliberately exsmin
~ this question, and allow his mind to come to the cor
"a clusion that, the time the army Of the Unite
~ States was marched from Corpus Christi to the Ri
del Norte, there was presented before us prosPe