The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-15

be necessary in order to indemnify them for the expenses
Of tins war Il was fact that the public lands In the
slayehodmg States had cost them forty millions Of dol
would like to know, at that OF profit and loss how
much OF the territory OF Mexico would prove adequate
TO meet The expenses Of the war; He maintained that this
was altogether an Executive war. The battles OF Pa0
Alto and Resaca de la Palma had been fought solely on
Executive authority The blood Of American citizens
slaughtered on the field Of battlehe fall Of Rinsgoa
and his eompatrio,s on the bloody fedwas chageable
TO the account only OF the chief magistrate AT the bar
Of public sentiment as at the bar of final account he
and the author Of all its bloodshed and calamity Il was
an infamous defence 10 attempt justification OF the war on
The ground that Mexico indebted to citizens of the Uni
ted States swell might the European creditors OF the
pudaing States undertake to wage war on Pennsyvana
lon ulinoison Indiana-on Michigan and on Arkansas
% ihen' after all II was a mere matter Of dollap and
twenty millions had been made, and many millions more
incurred was to be waged for the recovery OF some two
Or three millions Of money! 1t was said the other day
tha the religious sentiment Of the nation was opposed 70
the war That was quite true. II would be strange II il
awful contradiction included in the phrase rel-
gious country at war II were strange indeed il the rel
goas sentiment OF the people should revolt at the idea
OF the United States government employing troops TO
murder mere unofendng Mexican peasants as had been
recently done by the Texas rangers who in one case had
sas put 70 ne sword eighty o. one hundred unauned
son OF an American the brutal violation OF the females OF
peaceful household. Well, then. there stood their
orable peace were rendered Mexico or were they to
the work Of blood and slaughter He denied that the
heart OF the people was in this The people could
not be deceived BY all the sophistry of the President The
truth came home to their pocket Ii touched them They
exclaimed with one voice against the accumulation Of
vast debt IN the prosecution OF such unhaowed work
lie was reminded that his hour had nearly expired, and
ne would therefore occupy the few minutes left by refer
ring to the conduct and speeches of the distinguished wings
who, in the British Parliament opposed the war against
The American colonies (Mr GDDNos here quoted from
the speeches Of Fox Barre, Grafton, and others, CON-
menng upon them as he read for the purpose Of show
ing that the grounds which they opposed the war in
i77o were identical with those on which he and his
friends opposed the present wharf.-the grounds Of hu-
mainly reason, and usce In conclusion, he said that
he had intended to have entered the subject of annexa
ton. On that subject, distinguished gentleman from
sUa faT 0E him. Mar had made
mat they must not only have the whole of Texas, but
the whole of Mexico for the extension of slavery He
spoke the voice OF annexation II was, indeed to extend
Mr.. HOLMES Does the gentleman refer to me-
Mr.. GlDD!NGS. refer to Mr.. HOLMES
Mr.. HOLMES | deny that made such statement
But far as am concerned, have no objection to see
our territory extended if abotioniss be excluded for
the benefit OF the slaves, whom regard much better
Mr. GTbDiNGS proceeded No doubt of it! And for
that very principle millions of dollars and the blood Of
democracy That was the very object for which the
people had been taxed to the amount of twenty millions
For what purpose did the President desire carry on the
war; twenty millions for the purpose OF ndemnifying
Mr.. PAYNE next addressed the House. He had not
felt disposed to occupy at that time the attention OF the
House, until he found that the leader of the opposition
from the northwest had taken the floor, and er edtedra
commenced the war upon the message Of the President of
the United States-when he found that he had CON-
menced this war, too, upon the government, which
unfortunately engaged in war with Mexico--he (Mr.
P felt that silence under these circumstances would be
r IS took i for granted that his party united with
him in all the denuncatons which he had thought prop
er to UTTER not only against the message of the President
but upon the government of the United States engaged
as it unhappily was, in war with foreign power II
the denunciaons had not been made cahedra, they
would have been Of small importance. But occupying
the position which the gentleman did-assumng, he
did, to lead paryhs declarations acquired Importance
and became proper subject Of consideration for those
been not little surprised at the change which had
taken place in regard to the opposition to the war
few short months ago that was denounced as UNI
times Of the last war; and adopted the very words used
by Ogood and others, they could not have succeeded
better in reyivmg the sentiments and declarations of the
over the spirit Of their dream One gentleman came for
ward now, and condemned the message-why' Because
an e s appeal to he
occupy position elevated that they could not appeal
to the people' In former days. and under very different
people might have been condemned; but he (Mr P)
trusted that in government like this where the people
were the source and fountain of all carbohydrates
only in the service OF the people, the day was far distant
when any official would be elevated as to render him
independent Of all appeal to the people in vndication Of
his conduct. Another gentleman, [Mr WINriiRoPl
distinguished for his aent for his learning and gave
him (Mr P) great pleasure to add his manly bearing
upon that floor had raised another objection to the message
What was that Why, it was too long! 1t wearied
the eyes and exhausted the patience Of members of
that body! Yes; like the ghost Of Banquo, it arose
to "sear the eyebals" of gentlemen who had hither-
to denounced the course Of the administration with re-
gard to this war. 1t was not at all strange that
gentlemen complained Of the length of the message.
As public document, ii had superior in point of
clearnessin point of lucid arrangement-n point of
sophisticated honesty And let him tell gentlemen, that
however much il might have weared their eyes and ex
hausted their patience, it document which would
carry conviction TO the minds and hearts of the American
people, with regard to the justice of the war in which
that war. Iwoud convince the people as to the lauda-
BILE efforts which had been made to avoid the difficulty
forced upon them by the acts of Mexico herself. He
freely confessed that he for one, fully prepared TO
vndcate that document II true he had only heard
read the desk He had not subjected il to pernsa
in his But he thought he d not mistake the
puport OF the message and unless he grossly de-
cleveland he was confident he was no-he was fully
prepared to vindcate every statement and every princ
highly honorable to the Executve-hghly creditable
to the nation. 1t document of which every
friend of the administration might be Justly proud
Much he ready to concede, depended on the full
vindcaton of the Justice of the The propriety Of
the policy of the government, and the rectitude OF m
course, greatly depended upon that II would not be
controverted that he who went into war unjustly,
qured rights by the existence Of that He concurred
fully in the doctrine that individual nation, waxing
Il H.