The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-02

adequate compensation for them, agreeaby to the usages
of nations In the mean TINS, this discussion, WIN All
its circumstances will be well known in Mexico as IN
the United States That mighty agent, the press, Wl
proclaim it there louder than voice shouting
from every housetop in the republic; and what
Gle exhibited here And the Mexicans, we must
remember possess many traits OF the Spanish character
What better mode could be devised to ntae themA and
unite them as one man % u.s. ha a asonJ have
purchased Louisiana Of Napoleon, or Florida OF SPan
had such prelimaries these preceded the attempt to
negotiate How should we have denounced the AFRO
gance of England, during the late war; had her Pari
ment gravely occupied itself with establishing principle
for the government of portion OF Massachusetts or
Virginia. which she intended to acquret II IS 10 De re-
GREETED that this appropriation could not have been made
without an irritating public discussion. And II is still
more to be regretted that the original question OF acqu
si,ion should be complicated with another, which en-
arges the field OF controversy ana sun
relations which exist between the two countries, 1t Is
quite enough to to Mexico our desire TO pu-
chase portion OF her territory and to provide the means
for doing so, without exhibiting such confidence Ill he
successful result, to accompany the measure with
plan either total partial for the government OF the
region which we seek TO annex to our coned-
eracy For myself, sir, individually, have doubts
as stated before, of the policy of any step except d.
rect, vigorous prosecution Of the war am afraid that
all other proofs to the Mexican people That
are halting in our purposes and have undertake
task beyond our ability to accomplish. listened with
great attention and pleasure to the remarks OF the honor
able senator from Louisiana, made in the Senate few
days since and fully conceded with him IN almost all
he said. dissent however, from hun toto eGfo in the
suggestion that renewed attempts at negotiation should
be made by this government What was opinion IN the
letter from Mr. Sidell to Mr.. Buchanan of December
eminent 70 secure peace will be mistaken for timidy,
Sc 1t has been So and trust the error will not be re-
newed. The Mexican government andpeople know that
in its official acts 1t is proclaimed authoratvely and
unanimously in these halls Ii is proclaimed by the
American press And, what is more powerful than all
this il is proclaimed by the public sentiment OF the Amer
we introduced into the diplomatic bill an appropriation
for defaying the expenses OF negotiation and the very
debate in which engaged furnishes irrefragabe
proof of the strong desire for peace which anlmaes us all
and myself strongly any member of this body The
feeling is in hearts, and its expression upon our
tongues My objections against the initiative beng again
taken by government In propositions for negotiation
arises of the fear that they will not produce peace,
but will continue the war. Our true motives are
misepesented and misunderstood, and what is really
dictated by spirit of orbearance and modeahon IS con-
verted into proofs of tmdity and weakness. There Is
no doubt IN Mexico strong instructive love of country,
which under tropical gives rise to excited feelings,
and to paroxysms of fierce action But there is no such
wholesome public opinion there as here and no such
means of public information such people to under
stand and appreciate them obvious that the sangest
views prevail there The most ng disaster on our side
represented victory on theirs An offer to negotiate,
acknowledgment OF weakness. messenger OF peace
rudely driven from Mexico under the pretence that he
came minister, and not commissioner. And 1t
is announced with gravity which would be truly rdic
ulous, not the subject vast one, that our ar
mics must withdraw from the Mexican territory, and
fleets from the Mexican coast before their government
will ever consent to negotiate Retire, they say; go
home, and then we will treat with you regret to hear
any propositions or discussions relating to Mexican ne
gotatons brought forward in either branch OF Congress
These topics had better be left to the Executive who
discreety, because he act deliberately, and with
out public discussion If we provide the necessary sup
Dllpsf Orf watch
The course OF the government, correcting where
they exist. shall have performed important part Of
our duty leaving to the President to push the war Wig
orousy and to embrace any favorable opportunity TO ne
goiate which presents itself | believe this course of
action better becomes character and position among
the nations Of the world We seek but justice. That is
territory, made repeated attempts to bring dis
putes with Mexico to peaceful solution; and, since
then, have attempted TO bring the war, which she
commenced, to a peaceful termination. We have failed
in all these efforts, and unfortunately from being mis-
understood, they have aggravated, rather than dimn-
ished, the difficulties of position. We have dis
charged duty to humanity, now let discharge IT to
ourselves Let march EDWARDS till the past is atoned
for and till the future is guarded by reasonable security
But sir Independent of these considerations, arising out
of the very nature OF the subject there two other
questions emnently practical which connect themselves
with it, and which it is duty, charged as we are by
country with her greatest interests, maurely to eX
anime The first relates to the prosecution OF the war,
and the second to the acquisition, OF territory should
this provso become law, consider it extremely doubt
full whether this war could be further prosecuted or
might saw indeed, it would not be prosecuted at all
From the feelings manifested by twoffhs of the House
of Representatives, and by moiey of the Senate, is
obvious that future appropriations would not long be
made Done here will call in question the correctness
of this opinion. Divided, we are in our views, re-
speeding the Justice and expedency OF the war, can
not doubt that with this element of irritation and
difference no calculation whatever could be made upon
legislative action or upon the aid that would be given
to the Executive find myself supported in this view
by an authority which commends-tself at least to
side of this chamber In letter written from this place,
and published in the New York Courier and En-
qurer of the 18th instant, the writer, who ! sup
pose is the editor, and if so. certainly well in
formed respecting the views of the party TO which he
belongs says: g. The adoption of the WLMoT proviso,
inmate the war; than any legislative act that could be de-
visedas much almost as refusal OF supplies. do not
concur with the writer in all his political speculation
this letter; but in his statement of the effect of this
ure upon the prosecution of the war; fully coincide !;
and do not expect to hear single member OF this body
express his dissent from it, This proposition, il adopted,
becomes at once Egis, interposed between us and
Mexican responsibility The choice before us is the pro-
viso or the war. One or the other must be given up
But again, sir, Onehird OF this body can prevent the
ratification of treaty 1t has been distinctly intimated
here in debae and not conradcted by any member that
if this proposition passes upon the statute book no
treaty providing for the acquisition of territory will be rat
fled This, we have reason TO know, is the determna-
ton. Legislation, posterio to the acquisition, would
pursue the ordinary course, and would be governed
by the ordinary principles which regulated the ac-
ton of Congress Legislation, like this proposed be-
fore the acquisition, would induce and enable
third OF one branch OF Congress to defeat the measure.
Or, in other words, if condition Is annexed to the pur
chase we have right to anticipate that there will be
any sectional opposition to it, And the government of
the country after its acquisition, would be question OF
ordinary legislative jurisdiction dependent, Tor its exer-
else, upon the views entertained by Congress- at the time,
of its duty and of the questions OF right and expe
dency connected with But annex this condition