The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-22

Mr. GENTRY. Whether just unjust, the nation
being at though the constitution has been violated
that violation will be neither repaired nor reressed by
failing 10 sustain the of the United States, and by
adding TO the disgrace OF violated constitution that OF
defeated army. prefer victories TO defeats so long
the American army in the field under the flag OF our
country 1t is the duty of the representatives OF the peo
pie to redress the violation OF the constitution.
Mr. MARTIN | ask him, does he believe the war 10
be Just or unjust and ! demand a categorical answer
don't ask for speech My colleague remains silent
would be-
Mr.. GENTRY. | say again that whenever the ques-
ton up here, if il had up here and been
presented in such circumstances to enable members OF
this House to express an opinion on lis merits would
be prepared to say whether the is Just unjust
believe Just and sufficient existed for a with
Mexico for years, II the government had chosen to avail
itself OF them.
Mr.. MARTIN. | cannot yield the floor for speech
want a categorical answer.
Mr. GENTRY Your have your answer sir.
Mr. MARTIN. ! repeat the inerrogatory. Does the
gentleman believe the war TO be just or unjust
Mr. GENTRY. | do not believe that II has been con-
made
NJ MARTIN Is it Just or unjust IA taught
Mr. GENTRY | admit that Mexico committed many
acts which would have justified this nation in making
war tLaugherl But this is not war consttuhonally
made.
Mr. MARTIN. Win you answer the question
Mr. GENTRY 1t depends on the facts
Mr. MARTIN. All! What are they My colleague
refuses to give a categorical plain categorical
question will give the answer 1t stands recorded in
his vote II stands recorded in that list OF yeas and nays
II stands thus Il believe that this brought
by the act OF the republic OF Mexico! MEREDITH p
GENTRY, OF the State OF Tennessee" And yet my col
league refused 10 answer here to-day But his
on your record and though he may again and again
claim 'Out, damned spot" yet there it will ever stare
him in the face, and haunt him like the ghost OF Ban
quo!
A voice: The ghost OF Bancroft! [Laughterl
Mr. MARTIN. The gentleman is mstaken-not the
ghost OF Bancroft, this time [Laugherl thought that
the spirit OF the brave Tennesseean would not have
shrunk from giving answer to the inquiry But it is
for this House to determine whether my colleague has
marched up to the scratch 1t for them to say which
leg is out | think the Mexican leg is out daughter
But tell the gentleman believe Tennessee will make
him answer that question
Mr.. GENTRY. | am always ready to answer those
who have the right to catechise.
Mr. MARTIN beg to say that it has been with the
best feelings, and in accordance with the courtesies OF
this House, that have caechised my colleague But in
silence has he remained Ye gods Be ready with YOUR
and strike the representavethe Tennes-
see representative who is obstlnately dumb! Loud
laugher.l
Mr., GENTRY here made remark, which was lost
in the laughter elected by his colleagues animated apos
trophe
Mr.. MARTIN have spoken in all kindness
70 my colleague and | beg leave here to repeat,
But | must tell my constituents that the gentleman
accused the President OF making the people believe a lie
which he himself had endorsed | assure hun the
word "ln scriptural sense !" [Laughterl hope that
be will seek forgiveness OF Tennessee, and first convince
them that that war for which he voted is Just
Mr.. GENTRY. | seek no forgiveness.
Mr.. MARTIN. Then | can only say that the gentleman
comes under that melancholy description of the scripture
given over to hardness OF heart" Laughterl Ihave
no doubt that my colleague, when he 10 his cool
and sober senses, as he in the habit of quoting scrip
tUre-
Here the remorseess hammer fell
Mr.. MARTIN Let me add one remark ["Order :"
'Order ~ Well, then, continued the honorable mem
Der soto he reluctantly approached his seat
can only say that expect day to find my colleague
sitting on the top OF some high mountain in Williams
town. CRYING out "Oh that my heal were a fountain of
wOu1 pf
might wash away my trans5ressions :" Loud laugh
ter
Mr.. GARRETT DAVIS then rose and addressed the
committee. 1t a common mistake for persons in
authority to fancy that they the State, and therefore,
above all examination and scrutiny with reference to
their official powers When Brutus interrupted Angus
us at Philppi, Augustus and his myrmidons thought
him guilty of treason When Charles the usurped the
power Of levyng ship money and the patriot Hampton
nveghed against the usurpaton Of that power Charles
that he guilty OF treason. In later day,
when the mother country about Cypress the col
onles, and Patrick Henry raised his voice against the
oppression, then the myrmidons of despotc power
and cried, Treason, treason !" II seemed that some per-
sons mbued with similar laundering for arbitrary
power in our own age and country and they told
by gentlemen that floor that if they dared investigate
the of the President of the United States in rela
ton to the Mexican war, they guilty of moral rea-
son. The question had two aspects In relation to its
foreign aspect it question of no interest to Amer-
cans. The question which rose to nnty in importance,
and in comparison with which war with Mexico
had not a hundrelh part of importance, was this:
How did the begin? Was it begun BY
Congress, who had the constitutional power to
commence war, it begun by the Executive,
he usurping his power He would appeal to the
Speaker of the House and to every gentleman present to
say whether it not the duty of every man upon that
floor, wing or democrat, to march up to the investigation
of that question, and examine and decide it in sober ser
business and truth If it should be answered that the
President had usuped this power he asked it not of
infinitely importance to the present and future well
fare OF the country and the liberties of the people that
they should rcbukc and condemn the usurpaton of that
power, than that they should punish Mexico hundred
times over? There different kinds of treason There
treason to the constitution and treason to the coun
try There treason to the liberties which we inherit
from fathers, and treason in folding and
making ourselves the willing instruments, or even the
unwilling instruments of the violation of the sacred char
ter OF our liberties and the usrpaton by the President of
an unconstitutional power The man who raised his
voice TO deter others from the performance of their duty in
ne was extending laid and comfort" to the enemy, was
himself more traitor than the man he would condemn
But the gentleman from Indiana had said, that although
the President of the United States not Hercules vet
he would put HIM in the arena and put him against the
whole bunch of the opposition The gentleman came
purity the consummate wisdom, and the
self sacrificing patriotism OF James k. Polk the matter
Of this war was guilty of moral treason Why had it
come to this? The gentleman from Indiana magnifed
The purity and wisdom OF James X. Polk mmeasurably
The question asked by the gentleman from Tonnes
see, "Who is James X. PokE Why il the gentlemen
from Georgia and Indiana to answer, they would
think that he some Alexander the Great. or some
TImOur the Tartar, character elevated in mind
IN purity IN PATRIOTISM and in public service, that it was
moral treason TO question the inalliby Of his decision
upon this question And did gentlemen aim by such
to stihe the voice of free debate in this
House at the present session II so, they would find
themselves mistaken. This nation presented n most