The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
TwENTY-NINTH CONGRESS-,
Second Session.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1877.
SENATE.
CONTINUED from Tuesday ersning's "Union.l


TONS by whom II was reported, in preparing the bill had
resolved TO follow the form IN which other enacments
of similar character had been framed. One Of these
enactmens 10 which he referred, passed IN The year
1903, in the time OF Mr. Jefferson, the acquisition OF
Lousana and another lsO6, for the purchase from
Spain OF the Fiorlas and similar BILL upon the re-
communication OF the President, had also passed the Sem
ATE IN executive session. at the last session OF Congress.
The proposition having been first considered with closet
doors, and afterwards reported in open session. The
design OF the committee follow those precedeus,
excluding from the bill all matter and ineor-
porang nothing that calculated al all Ia excite
uona or party feeling, or 10 occasion debate IL was the
opinion OF the committee, and in this opinion he
CURED, that all such matter would be i-imel, and its
introduction could lead to good result; and he in
ended il it moved from any quarter put any
thing OF that sort in the bill, oopposeit In looking over
the proceedings OF the Senate of the last session, he
found upon the Recommendation of the President, that
The Committee on Foreign relations hal, m executive
session, reported two reso buttons this identical subject
The first OF these resolutions is as follows:
"Resolred Iua the Senate entertain strong desire that
the existing with Mexico should be terminated by II
treaty opeaee just and honorable both nations and ihat
the President be advised TO adopt all proper measures for
the attainment of thai object"
This resolution which was discussed for a day or two,
and at length voted on, was sanctioned by every senator
with the exception of two, the senator from Texas MIR.
kusKl and the senator from Missouri, Mr. ATcHIsoN
| The second resolution is as follows:
Resolred Thut the Senate deem advisable, that Con-
gross shall appropriate OF money, toenabc the Presi
dent 10 conclude treaty of peace with Mexico, and 70
be used by him, in the the event that such treaty should
call for the expenditure OF the money so appropriated or
any part thereof"
This resolution agreed TO, by vote Of 80 to 10.
The ayes and noes are TO be found published in the
Z" Union" OF the 18th of August, of last year This
proposition having been thus discussed, and deliberately
voted upon, he would consider it waste of time, TO go
at any great length into this question and partcu-
lary into the form OF the measure. Unless gentle
men had changed their opinions since that time, there
could not be any very great variety OF opinion, IN
any part of this chamber, either to the subject mat
ter itself, to the form in which is presented
The object of this BILL appears upon IFS face, is to
enable the President il possible to make peace with
Mexco and IN urging its passage, he should carefully
abstain from the expression OF any opinions regarding
the origin of the with Mexicohe having expressed
his opinion on that subject heretofore, to which he still
adberesfor his object to excite party feeling
any side question of this character He look it for
granted that they all for peace if it gould be OBJ
tanned on proper erms and 1t was, perhaps proper for
unless the other OF the belgerant parties made
an advance towards obtaining it. 1t they
had already made advances towards obtaining it, II
true they had already made an advance towards that
object by sending, after the dismissal OF minister
message to treat just and honorable terms with Mexico
And they had kept our army out OF the country which
was claimed by for considerable time before the
commencement OF the for the express purpose of
curing peace by showing, what was felt forbearance
and disposition to avoid hostile collision. In making
this peace, after all that has occurred the United States
of course, would expect to receive, to extent at
least, indemnity for the expenses of the war, and they
would expect also the payment of the claims held by
citizens against the republic of Mexico and this ndem
nifty for these purposes in consequence OF her inability
give any other would be expected in the shape of
sion OF was 10 state precise
" what territory this government would require Tor this
indemnity and Tor the payment OF these claims but he
supposed that senator would think they get less
than New Mexico and Upper California He did not sup
pose that treaty of peace, with less than this would
ever pass this body Having stated, them in few words
the object of this bill and indicated the terms which he
supposed peace could be made honoaby and sasiacto
ly TO both countries the next question that
can peace be had those terms In regard to that
question: he would say that in coming to the conclusion
they had, the committee governed to great extent
by the Recommendation of the President, who had form
ed his opinion upon what was deemed reliable ntel-
gence from Mexico that peace could probably be had
be expected, however that the President or anybody
else, would be required TO give the OF those who
had impaired this information for it would be breach of
confidence 10 do The President believed that Mey-
co, large part of at all events large majority of
the people, would be glad TO make peace They have
that they unequal to contest with the United States
they have seen their cities captured by armies
bockaded by leetsthey have large portion oil
their territory subiugaed by troops-hey our
armies still riumPhanty advancing into the interior Of
their counryand theirs defeated in every contest They
have found themselves impoverished and their army and
civil list sustained by forced and illegal exaclons upon her
people, destitute of means, and no hope of obtaining it,
Gloomy this picture is the part of Mexico should
this continue for great while longer they that
their condition will be still more oppressive, and the
which they alternately have peace, still
GUS This is the light in which, it is believed MAORI
~ Of the people of Mexico view this war, and viewing
IT, the President thinks at least probable that if clothed
by Congress with the necessary means and discretion
that he may be able to make peace with Mexico On
4
our part, begin to feel that we engaged in an ey
pensive attended by great sacrifice of life,
and calculated TO exhaust, to great extent, the
means OF this government and if continued for great
while longer, must result in imposing heavy burdens upon
our people. But If may be asked, lasting, permanent
peace be made under the circumstances in which Mexico
placed, divided that feeble, badly governed and
unhappy country was, into ramihcaons OF par
iy factions existing everywhere, unstable govern
men and party sufficiently strong to make peace
The intelligence possessed by the President gave them
reason TO believe that, by certain advance money
be made TO them, in their exhausted and impoverished
condition, TO pay oil their army and other expenses they
would be willing and able to make peace and ceie, for
the objects specified that portion of the country he had
named Ills object TO consume the time of the
Senate and avoid everything that might produce dis
cusson, party excitement he had endeavorej few
words as possible and at the time with that frank
ness which he hoped would characterize him, 10 de-
fine the object Of this measure, and to hold out to the
arms had trumphei everywhere. We had got pos
session OF q large portion OF Mexico. We had
possession OF of her seaports and held others
bockated We were powerful, and in condition to ex-
tend our conquests and by custom houses and forced
tribuons deay, to considerable extent the expenses
of our INVASION We are IN a condition to be magnani-
nous, and, without dishonor, 10 propose peace and to
grant it on favorable conditions TO Mexico lie hoped,
therefore, the Senate would with him in the view
he had aken and adopt the which the President
had recommended. If IT should be proposed however,
to discuss this question more fully in regard to this war
he would be prepared to go into it as fully gentleman
might desire But at present, he would respectfully ask
the Senate to let this bill pass. He would conclude by
saying that he thought proper regard to the opinions Of
the world required that they should make peace if posi-
bic, and that the demands upon Mexico should be mode
rate any treaty that might be made with that republic
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1917.