The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-09

Then lei them look at the difficulty in another point
= view Ii they could not receive companles-if they
could not receive battalions-And here the hour ex-
PlTMsd 1 JACOB THOMPSON then obtained the floor
Mr. j. R. INGERSOLL then said that the gentleman
I'm Mississippi had permitted him 10 offer a suggestion
lie MT ~ wished the time for discussion to be extend
al nm O'Clock. lCries OF sno-" no"l Hewould,
therefore, that the committee rise IN order TO make
= notion for the extension of the time OF debate
Mr. THOMPSON could not give way to such a mo-
ION After some Introductory remarks, in which he
said despang of getting the floor, he had left his books
of reference TO authorities which he had intended to cite
a. his room and, besides, he willing of the
nnesons which had been mooted to bde his time of dis
rrussion II was well known what his views were with
regard to large standing army, If his political course
had been distinguished for anything, il was his resoute
dependence volunteer forces. The great difficulty
with him was could the President raise these ten reg
ments without the cooperation of the commanders-in
chief of the several States In voting for the bill of
NAV last he voted that the volunteers should elect their
own officers lie had his difficulties in that for the
sitution explicit on that point He read the clause
of tbe constitution to which he alluded In that clause
he found difficulty. 1t was true that when they had
called on the volunteers he regarded them militia
But now the clause stood directly in the way and was
impossible.
Mr. J. R. INGERSO!L here remarked that there were
half dozen gallant and spirited young men of Pennsyl
yana ready the passage of this BILL reported by
the Committee Military Affairs, 10 offer themselves
doubted that the President would commission them
Mr. THOMPSON said the gentleman from Pennsylva
MIA was making part of his speech.
Mr. C. J. INGERSOLL added. that the young men
were ready to bear their expenses to Tampico.
Mr. THOMPSON proceeded. lie would raise the reg
imen and, il not disrespectful, he would say TO the
President that wherever the bad elected their Off
GERS he should follow the selection Why object to the
manner of raising the regiments il they got the service
performed He besought gentlemen to throw no obsta
re in the way of the successful prosecution of the war
They had been carried away from the important subject
before them They had declared that war existed by the
act Of Mexico: Our country right or wrong was
noble sentiment IN those fighting their battles
vent injustice. why not do so He believed that
il was a miserable subterfuge-mere pettifogging,
10 say that the moving OF the troops was the cause US
war The question was, what should now be done 7
He adopted no such language that quoted by
the gentleman from Massachusetts MIR HupsoN.] about
Outstanding their egons." That was all very well in
the mouth OF Santa Anna, but was not language for
the United States government. How was the war to be
prosecuted On that there great difference OF opn
ion Should they 70 retreat, stand still Ii stand
STILL how long was the war to last That would strength
en- and unite the Mexicans. II they retained the terri
tory what security there that the war would ever
end' Were they acting Tor peace II they rereated no
The true policy onward and decisive movements He
frankly regretted that more had not been done lie had
hoped long this TO have seen the enemy crippled He
believed that the Executive had given the generals all the
necessary troops 1t was the runor that General lay
Tor had more troops than he wanted and that discharge
could be easily got True, those discharged were enact
ated But was not supposed that the chosen troops
who rushed to the conflict would have been kept on the
Rio Grande. When they had eighteen thousand troops
on the river, there was movement with SIX thousand
He did not say word to dsarage General Taylor. he
eulogizcd him. But when it was said that the campaign
had not gone vigorously account OF the imbeclhty
OF the administration, ii was necessayto repe the charge
How could the war be successfully terminated During
last thousand volunteers had been sent
into the field, and all but three thousand were the Rio
Grande yet Now, they wanted a great mind to
conduct the war-not mere soldier like Taylor,
who had been i'll subordinate position all his life.
Taylor might know all about drills and marking time
and all that but they wanted there mind 10 conduct the
war. Napoleon's marshas, many OF them, were great
men, but equal to Napoleon II did not follow that
general made by the deaths of others, and who had
fought in his YOUTH was competent to carry on cam
paign The campaign could not be carried on IN Wash
ington They needed man in the field who should con-
duct the campaign the field. They wanted something
than discipinarian, who knew when to
want mere accidental general He should, therefore,
amendment to the bill, desiring that the bill!
should also pass but giving to the President the power OF
moi doubt the bravery OF the generals now in the field
But he wanted to conduct the campaign who, from
his relations with the President would be entirely worthy
had been taken from private life. He (Mr to did not
want a man who had been merely bred to arms Jack
son, Browne, HARRISON Cass, and Col Miller were taken
fdence in Taylor Scott. Scott great soldier hr
ty years ago But il did not follow he could now
duct campaign Il his conduct in Florida were the test
he was incapable OF conducting campaign But, per-
haps that did not give him fit field But he had given
no proof of ability 10 conduct the Mexican war.
Mr. VANCE. Can the gentleman tell us who is capa-
BILE?
Mr. THOMPSON hoped there was some Jackson in the
United States He had personal party views.
They would have great army OF brave troops who
would do their duty What they wanted fit leader.
He did think that the part of the regular officers,
there was undue prejudice against the volunteers and
fear to trust them. AS for himself, he would soon
depend the volunteers any regular troops. The
glorious charge of the Mssissppians and Tennesseeans
saved Taylorat Monterey
Mr.. SCHENCK Will the gentleman recoect that
Ohio was there in the thickest OF the ight'
Mr.. THOMPSON had not forgotten that But he
spoke particularly of the Mssissppans and Tennessee
ans, in their famous charge, which had asonished the
was unparalleled These volunteers never, was said
by their colonel, went through their evolutlons with
more order their parade than on that retreat. He
asked where there any OCCASION Them for the undue
prejudice against volunteers The regular army could
have ground of complaint Volunteers and regulars
He would alnde to that gallant man--Buter-who
showed he capable OF conducting the campaign.
But junior officer could not crank" his senior officer.
And that gallant who left the battle ied-most
improperly, he (Mr To- admitted, but who was brave
as any IN the army-because OF his preudlces about
the order OF precedence He would not, them take any
Junior officer But he contended that with army
80 organized, and a campaign conducted at such dis
lance, they should have officer such as he con-
tenpated. He cast reflections any general, but
holding the administration responsible, he was prepared
10 give il all the support which it desired. He
believed that if used up Mexico, they used up
aparty. lie hal one word TO say about the movement
with regard TO the slavery question He had been great
y asonshed at the introduction OF that question He
commended that those who pressed that question:
tending aid and comfort TO the enemy, equally with
those who denounced the war as unjust What was the
effect OF that movement None Of them held the doc