American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-30


| commenced the attack upon what was claimed
| as American soIl-or territory TO which the
gallant American army had been sent--and !
was not willing to yield the claim; was not
willing then, and am not willing now. But
even il the war were Iusl, as admitted on all
| hands, 1t does not follow necessarily that it was
to be war of invasion. AS q war of defence,
1t has been beyond all description glorious to
the American arms-a war the remainder of
the sentence was lost
The war Of invasion last spring was moi ne
cessarly incumbent upon us; but with the al
most unanimous consent, so far as this House
| could act, with scarcely discerning voice, as
| understood, amongst those who expressed any
opinion on the subject. All parties and classes
said, if we must have war, let it be brief aud
sudden Well, we obtained three great bat
ties, In doing so, we have advanced, it is
true, some three hundred miles into the Next
can territory; yet, wo have scarcely, t. any per-
ceptible extent, crippled their resources, or
weakened their power. On the contrary, it
has been very much doubted-and | am one
| who doubts--whether Mexico IS net stronger
than ever-msre natlonallzed, more cOnCen-
taled in public opinion, locking with more un-
divided glance towards n single head-and,
was about 10 say, more heroic-yes, vii! say,
more heroic than eVer-for they are always he
roic, who rush to defend their country-more
capable of sustaining the desperate and pro-
longed conflict. | apprehend, that from this
state Of facts-in which am sure every gen
teman will agree with mc-that we ought to
derive new consciousness Of the duty devolv-
ing upon US towards the war. And it is on
that point only, that desire especially TO be
heard, and for that purpose only, do open my
linz a all will uubnrt ak no The Task If
predicting, at this moment, whether it il in oar
power to compel peace, even if we were TO
attempt TO dictate lis terms in the city Of Mex
co itself. But of one thing, am very certain
that nothing which we have yet done in this
war is sufficient to convn ce the Mexicans that
we are able to conquer them. They feel, as
they have ever felt, that the territory which
we have oVerrUn, the towns which we have
| conquered, the cities which we have stormed,
form no important part Of their territory, and
were, in nowise the seat Of their power, With
the exception OF the bleCkade-more earnestly
talked about, as | understand, than faithfully
kept-we have as yet, done emphatically Moth
ing-in speaking of the war upon a large scale
which can be said to have crippled the re-
sources Of Mexico. BY capitulation, which
was regarded just and wise, the Mexicans re-
! tired from Monterey with almost all their arms
and munitions of war. The munitions OF war
which remained in that place, being those Of
which Mexico had least need, and which she ls
able to furnish most readily. repeat this for
the purpose Of urging upon the House, the fact
that, as yet, we have done comparatively moth
ing to conquer peace All YET remains to be
done; and now advance to the question, how,
! / understand that the President of the United
States has called out nine or ten additional re-
giments. Am | correct A voice: YES
| understand that regiment has been ordered
from Louisiana, another from North Carolina,
another from Virginia, another Massachusetts,,
and that they are not yet formed. North Caro-
Ina is scarcely yet awake. Massachusetts, and
Louisiana, and the other States are not yet rea
dy; but suppose they all fill up aud all 60; and
surprising, again, on their rolls there are ne
men of straw, as | undertake to say there are
often in volunteer regiments, it will be about
seven thousand additional men. When will
they get there2 And when they get there, how
many me will they be able to concentrate and
advance towards the city Of Mexico? desg-
nate it so, whether you 90 by Vera Cruz, to
the south, or by San LUIS Potosi to the north.
! understand from reliable advces, that Santa
Anna has now nearly twenty-five thousand
nlcn in state of high discipline and military
B
holders, the men of the old revolution. Even
the Mexican women are kindIing into zeal,
and burn with desire to repel the lawless III
vaders Of their territory Sir, there is another
thing 10 be considered. Whenever the advance
is to be, it is to be made this winter; and for
reasons which must be obvious to every mem
Der of this House. Less than six months ago,
you sent into the field some twenty-slx regi-
ments, filled with high hope, ready to peril
wealth and reputation, and life, not in de-
fensive, but in an invasive war, not for their
own homes and their own hearths, but for the
honor of the American name, and the glory OF
the American arms. Alas, how many of those
who never saw battle-whe never cast a
stern glance upon any foeman in the field
how many of these are sleeping their last sleep
on the banks of the Rio Grande-their bosoms
heaved with high hope-lght was their mea-
sured footsteps when they went to seek the foe.
! But
''They did not fall in eager strife,
Upon well-fought field;
Not from the red wound poured their life,
Where covering toemcn yield;
Th' archangel's shade slowly cast
| Upon each palid brow,
But, calm and fearless 10 the last,
They sleep securely now"
There are the bones Of nearly two thousand
men, with the best blood of this country, now
resting on the banks of the Rio Grande, who
never saw an enemy-never had an opportuni-
ty to strike that blow which they desired for
their country and their race. For this | am
! inclined, at this moment at least, TO blame
nobody. 1t is almost impossible to appreciate
properly the difficulties Of any campaign; at
least it is almost impossible for those who sit at
ease in their own homes to do so; but most OF
all is it impossible to appreciate the difficulties
of campaign in an unknown country with a
sickly climate, and in an unprepared condition,
The regiment with which have been associa-
ted went to the field with eight hundred and
thirty men, young, hearty, gallant adventurous
young men. FIVE hundred of them, at least,
were young men no either lived in their own
hlnln. anuLLirad ~ lanit nlQn La hnr Or esided