Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-12-31

speech is lucid, ialr and conclusive and we reUret
that we cannot give it entire but we cannot. with
out excluding Mr. Genrys, whose remarks were
partly in type when Mr.. IIudsons came to hand:
Speech of Mr.. Hudson of Mass.
Mr.. Hudson starts right Just as we hope to find
the Wings in Congress generally:
! As to the course, sir which shall pursue IN fu-
ture IN reference to the prosecution of this war.
will say, in advance that shall Judge for myself
when the cases come up. | will endeavor to do the
best can Tor the OCCASION 70 do my duty faithful
y under all the circumstances. But sir, believe
that, If any OF our revolutionary patriots were up
on this floor if they stood here representing any
portion of the people North or South. and INV
friend over the way, the Chairman of the Commit
tee on Military Affairs, should come forward in the
name OF the President, and ask for increase o.
the army or now levy of volunteers to prosecute
such a war as this, those ardent parios would say
to him as to the stern old Roman said TO the ennis
sary of Caesar:
" Bid him disband his cgions
Restore the Commonwealth TO liberty;
Submit his actions to the public censure,
And stand the judgment of Roman Senate
Bid him do this and alto is his friend
Nay, more though Cato's voice raised
10 clear the guilty or to varnish crimes,
Myself will mount the rostrum in his favor,
And strive to gain his pardon from the people"
Such believe would be the language and feel
ings of those who fought the battles of freedom
or deberuted in the Halls of Congress IN the ear
ly days of the Republic. But enough of this.
The message, Mr. Chairman, declares that the
existing war with Mexico was neither desired nor
provoked by the United States on the contrary
all honorable means resorted to to avert it J.
This declaration believe to be absolutely untrue;
and it will be the object of my remarks to sustain
this position. believe the President, in making
that declaration, has made statement which is not
supported, but SIN reality conradcted, by the facts
of the case. How does the President attempt to
| a.. 4. -
he brings against Maxico is, that she has commit
ted spolialons upon oVnuerce, ant has ren-s-
ed to make reparation
Mr.. II, then shows that in 1913 Mexico acknowl-
edged her Indebtedness, and paid three install
ments. She also paid over the fourth and fifth in
stalmens to our agent, and holds his receipt, tho
the u s. got the money. This brought
Mexico to 1874, and in April and July of that year,
Santa Anna attempted to make a forced loan to
pay us, but failed. Now Oh the 18th of April 1874.
the Texas treaty signed on the 23d May
Mexico was informed of this. She regarded this
as ,oar; and O. course so long as that project was
on the taps, would hardly feel very strongly bound
to observe the treaty of 43. But Mr.. Hudson well
says:
But, for the sake of the case will admit that
Mexico was altogether in the wrong, She failed
to meet her Just debts. But maintain that this
under all the circumstances of the case, was no
Just cause of war. My friend from Ohio (Mr Gid
dlngs) alluded to the repudating States of this I'm
ion and Justly remarked that many OF the gentle
men on this floor who were so camorous for war
against Mexico, represented States which had fail.
ed TO pay their debts, and have given Greut Britain
the right to invade their territory and lombard
their cities that we had to attack MeXico so far as
the non payment of debts Is concerned.
will only allude to another instance of repud-
alton. Mexico is not the only nation which has
committed depredations upon our commerce. To
wards The close Of the last century, France haC
been guilty Of the same acts of violence. We de-
manded reparatlon at her hand. She admitted the
Justice OF our claim; but, for a valuable coasidera
ton, we released her, and become ourselves obliga
ted to our citizens, who had been dcspoed OF then
property by France. And what has been our treat
ment towards those citizens? We have turned
deaf ear to their petitions for half century. Blu
during the last session Of the present Congress
bill was passed, granting partial relief TO oar Hjur
ed citizens. And what was the fate Of that bill af
ter It left the capitol We all know that it wal
Veioed by he President 1t was returned with Oh
iecons of the most extraordinary character, the
principed of winch were, thmttLc amount due wa'
TOO large and had been due too long and that prob
ably Congress had not properly csnsIer the sub
iect Here we see the President of the Unltes
States pursuing towards our own cltlzens the very
course of conduct for which he arraigns Mexico
and, according to his own ductrne, they have a'
lust a cause of war against hun, as we have agans
Mexico on account OF her Indebtedness
The next ground of War Is, that Mexico refused
to receive Mr. Slidell; to which Mr.. II. replies
that Mexico never agreed to receive any thing bu
commissioner, to settle the Texas question alon
Polk sends minister plenipo. whom Mexico cout
not honorably receive. But here, too, Mr. Hudson
admirably retorts upon the President:
Admitting however, that Mexico was more 1
the wrong than we, contend there no jus
cause of war in this case AIRY nation, if sh
peases, has a right to stand in an independent pc
sitlon, and refuse to open diplomatic relations wit
other Powers 1t may be unwise IN them to do 1t
but have yet 10 learn that it was Just cause g
, war. There has been little black Republic /
I our own neighborhood with whom we have reius
ed to Interchange these cvllllles. The subject ha
| often been brought up IN this House and vote
down by the very men who feel so indignant toward
Mexico, because she did not receive Mr. Slidell a
D resident minister. China, believe, to this day, re
ceves no minister resident near her seat of govern
= ment from any nation whatever. This may be 70
", but it is not such a crime will justify wa
/ But the gravest charge brought forward by tn
0 President and one which deserves more considers
f Oh than any other, is this: Mexico passed over III
boundary of the United States, invaded our teri