The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-20

heht reason the injustice OF the act and that il necess
fuy involved us m war with Mexico stop but mo-
meh' 10 inquire OF gentlemen upon the other side of the
ehunser now they hope TO reconcile the people of this
country 70 iheir own garng inconsistency? They made
an issue before the people IN the presidential canvass and
received the support OF small number of voters,
10y prociannng the act of annexation as a Just
before The same people, and tell them, Oh, no; that
no cause OF war Annexation did notproduce it; but the
war has been made by the President! Will not the peo-
pie ask an explanation of this inconsistency Will you
not have TO acknowledge that your predictions were in
sincere IN lSai, or that your declarations
founded lhis clamor about war with Mexico, and
cease WIN Inc election viii call your attention to an
extract or two from the New York Tribune which will
more definitely exhibit the position of the wing party,
even alter the election of President
tine honorable gentleman here read several extracts
fran the New York tribune" containing denunciatons
OF the democratic party on account OF annexatonl
| With such declarations these, made prior to the
election OF President from end OF the Union TO the
Other how can you now change position, and charge
the war upon the President because he ordered the army
to thelo Grande But, sir, not only did the Mexican
minister return home, our minister there dismissed, and
revolution favorable to Paredes all showing that Mexico
intended war, but desire to submit three crcu-
lars, which issued from the War Department in Mexico,
that there may be no mistake, doubt about how and
by whom the commenced.
Here the honorable senator submitted the we'll known
official declaration of the Mexican government, denoun-
cling annexation act of war; and directing the gen.
erals in command of the army to collect troopsl
Here is the declaration of war! Here the circulars
calling for soldiers to prosecute the war This all
done twelve months before our army left Corpus
Christi Will gentlemen still insist that the removal of
the army was the of the war! in obedience to
these orders from the Department of War in Mexico,
troops were collected and an invading army, with orders
TO rcake Texas OF which she insisted she had been per-
hdously despoiled This army had its headquarters at
Matamoros waiting troops and additional prepara-
tons Thus, with war declared army collected, all
chance for negotiation closed we still gravely assured
that nothing but the removal of the army caused the
| willing that this assertion-no matter by whom
made, wholly unsupported by facts and contradcted by
cl,n, hnf,r
what it is worth.
Again: it is urged that the President ought not to
have ordered the army on disputed ground. The Pres
dent might have been very delcately situated in deciding
what was disputed ground. The MeXicans claimed
all Texas and by her the whole ground dis
pued until our army crossed the Sabine | suppose
gentlemen do not mean to insist that ii the
duty of the President to abandon Texas in order to
place the army on undisputed territory At what point
fixed no boundary The best informed statesmen here
may complain, but they cannot define what they them
selves call undispued ground, How the President
to ascertain this boundary Texas claimed to the Rio
Grande. She had never claimed any other boundary
No other established by either Mexico Texas No
other boundary known to the United States to the
world What was the President TO do' By his official
oath, he was bound to protect Texas He had no power
to define limits, unless Mexico had entered into treaty.
which she refused leave this question for those wise
act which the President could do If the ground between
the Nueces and the Rio Grande is what gentlemen call
disputed ground and i that truly the would
SAY that after every effort to settle the dispute and every
overture Of peace had been rejected by Mexico was
the duty OF the President to take possession of the dis
that be the place of settlement Much has been
said to the manner in which the war has
been conducted and what should be the course
the President, could take up, and think successfully
defend. He has from the first shown great anxiety to
used all the means placed at his disposal udiciousy
as the time and circumstances would permit Many Of
wiser after the happening of events than before
they transpIred, and not few delight in showing
wisdom by crtcslng actions after their performance,
which we could not very well have directed before 1t
is however soothing to our vanity to wind up crit
csms by insisting that it was all plain to sagacous
inellecs before The army has not advanced rapidly
as the President had wished, and a controversy has
sprung up as to who is to blame think if the Ameri-
people poed and they would all answer truly,
that ffths of them would say that they believed
there would have We been no more fighting after the battles
the impoverished and distracted condition of Mexico,
the suppositon reasonable General Taylor thought
so, he would not have complained at the number OF sol
ders sent to his assistance The army moved slowly,
and doubt not that the commander confidently expected
propositions for peace. He did not desire TO shed any
more blood than absolutely necessary to
honorable peace This expectation prevailed when
the army marched to Monterey. No battle ey-
peced and the best offered for the capitpation
the belief that even then the governments might be
making terms of peace. am in favor of adopting the
most eicCua for obtaining peace, and securing
the rights of the country The plan suggested by the
senator from South Carolina, Mr. CALIoUN,l it seems
repeat it. His arguments strong, if not conclusive.
We prosecute the war to procure peace 1t seems to
me that common interest will unite the people of Mex
ico as your army advances If you pluse some safe
and convenient line; her dlssenons will be more likely
cooperate in favor of treaty, than continual invasion
If no treaty shall be made for five years, the additional
expense over the ordinary expenses of the government
would not exceed five millions annually in maintain
ing sufficient force TO maintain our position. AT
the end of that time there would not be Mexican
on this side of the designated ne but such preferred
to be q citizen of government. Within the country
there would be, by that time, citizens enough to project
themselves without army have full confidence that
co but doubt whether the country would be subdued
and permanent peace secured. Whatever course may
be supposed most efficient, that course will have my
hearty CO operation shall vote for the bill placing the
three millions of dollars the disposal of the President
If he can use for the benefit of the country, very well
if not it will not be lost to the treasury regret the
amendment proposed by my colleague, and shall vote
play of party tactics which will defeat the end is pro-
posed to serve. We are in war; and can anyone point
out the proprety of informing Mexico and the world,
that when the is ended intend to surrender all
the advantages which have resulted from the conflict
Will ii alarm Mexico and make her sue Tor peace' VIII
she be less disposed to continue the struggle when we IN
form her in advance that she shall lose nothing by its con-
tinuance?
cannot think the amendment will serve a valuable
purpose for the people of this country We sought to
avoid a war with Mexico and hence this is not war OF
conquest but favor of reapng all ITS legitimate
results, must suffer the evils inflicted by ITS progress
If the country now possession of arms, had still
been held by Mexico, without conflict, should have
been satisfied and vel would have waged at any
time to have rescued its possession from mgher pow
ers. Having IT now in possession, shall abide
aty nd IN ITO |