The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-09


probability But am but touching the shell of this
Is there any certainty YOU will reach Mexico by the end
of this campaign Or if you reach Mexico, is there any
certainty that you dictate them These the ques
tons which next demand consideration MIR President
this question involves very large considerations An
offensive war looks ultimately to subduing the country
and, taking that to be the object we have scarcely com
menced the Mexican 1t is true, we have &C
qured tyo-thirds of her territory, already occu
patton but let remember these twothlrds were ADA
cent to us Let us remember further that, in these two
thirds of her territory which-to present vivid picture
to the mind-comprse an area larger Than The whole
magnificent valley OF the Mississippi, BY about one hun
bred thousand square miles There is in this immense
space not more than six hundred thousand Inhabitants
We have the adjacent country, OF this vast eX-
tent, with such a population, hardly man OF whom
possession What has been the result Have we con
ciated the Mexicans in this vast region Not at all
On the contrary if accounts are to be believed they are
more hostile 10 than al frstmore ready TO take adj
vantage of any misfortune which may beall Can we
hold the country without large force No. We must
take off several thousands of our best troops to hold and
defend the country. Well, now, what have we done
We have scarcely approached Mexico proper Ihere
are her exterior provinces-hardly called MeXco-
belonging MeSGo qs Of wheS
the city may be said to be the centre, and the NIL
reg ION, extending along the Gulf OF Mexico, quite down
to Yucatan, and the region extending along the
Pacific and east en side of the Gulf of California. Sir
within this lmitone third OF all Mexco-there
about seven million of people, fully ten times as n-
merous the whole country we occupy. Here is the
heart OF her wealth and power What sort of countyis
in II is mountainous region as difficult almost as any
in the world. Il may be well compared to Mount
Atlas, in Africa, the Caucasus, in Europe. 1t
IS full of the most narrow and difficult defes
This is the country propose to conquer. Well, then,
we are to march forward How are we to overcome
these difficulties? We are first, it seems, to take the
city OF Vera Cruz, and then march TO Mexico. What is
the character OF this hill country, extending along the
Gulf of Mexico down to Yucatan 1t is, perhaps of all
regions Of the earth one Of the most scky It is the
native home of the yellow fever That disease is
~ ever absent During eight months OF the year pre-
walls at all times, and not unequeny during ten months
OF the year The months which free from the pesi
ence subject TO the most violent and dangerous
storms April itself is very sckly March is doubtful
We now in Febmary-near the middle OF the month
We may have force to take Vera Cruz; but appeal 10
senator's all sides have force enough or can we
have force enough in time TO avoid the romo, and march
But say it is not certain that we havelt is uncertain
We may not. Now, if we have not force enough Tor
this campaign Mexico will be encouraged and we Will
be discouraged She will be fortified anew, and we will
be more Tresoute IN going on. But suppose we do
reach the city of Mexico to dictate peace-with
whom have we to deal' peopc-a race OF all others
renowned in history for their obsiinacy and powers OF
long continued resistance people whose hereditary
pride it is that they stand out the utmos-a people
turesa people who for eighty years warred against
their mother countrya people who would not recos-
MISE the independence OF their colonies in twenty years
Those the people we have to deal WITH and is it
presumabe that Mexico will at once yield to our
Is there any cerainty-for 60 certantics more
than probables-can any gentleman see any certainty OF
campaign should find in the city of Meyico' WE'LL
then, we must have another campaign. Now solemn
question comes have we the means--can we raise
the money? Remember, it must be much more costly
than either of the first 1t will be carried on at greater
distance IL will be OF character different from the Others
for if we do not conquer Mexico-if her government
withdraws. and we can make peace, we must then
| have mere Guerilla war-such exists between
France and Algeria at the present day--such ex-
listed between the Russians and Clrcassans. Such IS
the description Of war we must have. Shall we have
means to meet this expense Let tell you,
in the first place. this campaign over, the spirit of voun
teering is gone. So many men of broken constitutions
return-so many who went for glory, return with shat
tered heah-so many give such desperate account OF
the affair." that we get no more volunteers We must de-
pend upon the ordinary recruiting and that might be suf
hcient to give twenty thousand for next
pagn-for third campaign if it took place Well, sup
pose that difficulty surmounedsuppose the men ready
can you RAISE ways and means' A far more diff
cult question! Remember, you will have no longer
resources IN your treasury notes That's exhausted,
perhaps more than exhausted by this single campaign.
You must borrow and lay taxes Can you borrow' Can
you lay taNes' What taxes? Upon your imposts
They can give you but small supply; You must go
to internal taxes. Can you get them This country has
almost beyond any one on earth But there is
one circumstance which greatly embarmsses in ref
erence to internal taxes Many OF the States greatly
with the most onerous taxes. WE'LL now, all taxation
must be uniform Can you collect in those States II
you attempt will not reputation extend instead OF being
restricted? Will the people bear it, Will Pennsyva.
ma with forty mi lions on her shoulders bear additional
taxahon' Will Maryland who cannot now,
reslne-Wlll Sne Dear enough 10
and also again resumed No. Yet, suppose that Difficult
ty over-suppose get all wants. their sufficient
unanlmty and zeal in the prosecution of this to
warrant the belief that Congress would give supplies
Does the evidence OF this session furnish a salts
factory reply to that inquiry No There is too
much division OF sentiment for that. A very large
proportion OF country, believed that the might
have been avoided and that it ought to have been avoid
ed A large portion of our country believe that the
commenced without the authority of the constitution
and without the sanction Of Congress- A. aumber
believe that the war is highly injurious and nexpedient
These opinions, cannot doubt honestly entertain
ed What my opinions all these points, should
DC glad TO go into, any suitable occasion But dc
not hold 10 be proper mngle my own private views
and sentiments in justification of my grave
question. Ii is sufficient for to say that these deer
convictions on all these points in reference the
which extend, ii you may Judge from appearances, Il
nearly half OF our whole population, render it highly
cessay to enable us to procure the of carrying
this third campaign But suppose all these difficulties
overcomethere is another still deeperst alarm
ing to be met There is another question to be met which
touches the very foundations of our republic To whose
benefit shall the lands acquired if any be acquired
ton of the Union We are told, sir and | am afraid
that appearances justify it, hatal parties in the slave
holding portions of this Union that they shall have
an exclusive monopoly-hat such provisions shall be
made shall exclude those who interested in the
institutions OF the south. Sir, If the non-saveholiDg
States having other interest but aversion slave
ryif they TO this conclusion with no other in
erest but that urn to them, and ask them what
be the feeling OF savehoding States, who are TO be
deprived of their rghsto be deprived and despoed OF
that which belongs TO them and to be assaed in the
most vulnerable point and to whom this question is one
have real interest! IF there be stenness on one side
be assured there will be sternness on the other Now