The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-05


CURED by the President OF the United States, and which
have received the sanction of committee with the
single exception OF The act OF the 18th OF May, ls46 or
which did not vote and did not vote for that bill, be
II required me TO affirm what did not believe 10
be But proposed 10 provide Tor reinforcing and
Strengthening our army then on the confines of Mexico
and apparently endangered by what seemed to be
wheming superiority OF numbers | did not indeed,
share the apprehensons which entertained for the
sa ely OF the army Tor hal an abiding confidence N toe
skin and gallany Of lis leaders, the bravery and discp
line OF soldiers, and the patriotism OF both, Slr,
had, moreover read the story OF San Jaclno, and had
formed my estimate OF the efficiency OF the Mexican
army under the guidance OF its most distinguished chief
But II proposed TO strengthen and reinforce our
mics, and relieve them from the unequal contests TO
that the relief which proposed to give could
not reach them before their fate should have been dec-
ded--at least so far as single battle might decide
it-yet ! would not have been unwilling to have
furnished what Others might have supposed to have
been needfu reinforcement, had that provlso nol
been connected with the bill Sir, entertained then,
been unnecessarily involved in this with Mexico |
was satisfied that 1t lad resulted fslm military move
mens on our part--l was convinced as an now
convinced that military order, gwen by the CON-
mander-in-chief of the army and navy anterior to
the march of army from Corpus Christi to the
Rio Grande was the real sourcethe practical origin
OF The war; and although have stated in public
official doclmensthat this order grew out OF the then
recent ndgnity offered by Mexico, and declarations OF
her intention to invade the region denominaed Texas,
yet call the attention of the Senate TO the fact that so
early the preceding Juneon the 18th OF June, lS43
by order emanatng from the War Department, add
dressed TO Gen. Taylor and marked confidential, but
which subsequently communicated to us il
then distinctly announced that he ordered to take up
the line OF march from his encampnent, with the view
Of protecting Texas, not then of the States of the
UnlDn 1t then distinctly announced 10 him on the
18th OF june 1915 that his ultimate destination the
Rio Grande its vicinity And yet are told that the
order OF January 1876 issued under the pressure oil
the indignies offered by Mexico and the refusal to
receive minister, and the menace OF hostility on her
part Sir take from this allegation the foundation
Ia n rtar maj
War Department IN June, 1915, and reiterated with only
simple modification the following July, by which was
distinctly announced that this army not advanced
merely for the defence OF Texas, which would have been
accomplished by the position which was occupied by
General Taylor at Corpus Christi But then it was dis
tincty announced that the ultimate destination of the
my was the Rio Grande, which Texas claimed the
boundary line OF her territory In the order issued in Ju
y 1915, this order far modified this The pre-
cedng order OF June had announced that the ultimate
destination of the army the Rio Grande without
qualification. In the order which followed the comman
der OF the American army told that Mexico had GER
tam posts east OF the o Gande, which she had occupied
and that in the advance of the army to the Rio Gande,
which its ultimate destinations, these forces of the
enemy mast not be interrupted It seemed to me- sir
with these documents before me, that the in which
we are now involved, was therefore resulting from
the order which given BY the President OF the United
states TO advance the American armies from Corpus
Christi TO the Rio Grande, pursuance OF the desna-
ton which had been confdentiaily announced to the
commander OF the American army early the preced
ing June; that the advance of the the Rio Grande,
the erection fort, pointing her cannon upon the town
OF Alatamoras was an indication of hostility of intent
No, SIR no, sir not of hostility OF intent, but an act of
hostility which the real origin OF, and the
mencement OF the And put the question to
the American senators-to the American people--wheher
they would not have considered such movement the
part OF Mexico, of any foreign nation upon earth,
act ot hostility TO Sir If III the contest between Great
Britain and ourselves relation the orheasern bound
airy she had advanced her military forces upon the dispu
ted terrtory-had occupied it-had erected forts and
pointed cannon upon the contiguous vages--woud we
haye waited for her to apply the match to those
before should have considered that Great Britain had
committed against act Of war? And if that would
have been the un ersa feeling of the American people,
do deny to Mexico because she enemy parci
pancy the feeling of nature This then is
the which entertain OF the origin of this war But
it exists. 1t has been recognised By Congress They
have bound themselves with pledge given in the act OF
1916, vigorously prosecute it TO successful result
willing to participate in the common lot, far il
may depend upon far as it may be portion of
the duty which may devoye upon me in the redemption
OF this pledge. | am willing, therefore, repeat Ito
vote the men and money which may be necessary for Its
prosecution Tor the termination of it by negotiation, by
any honorable means which senators may devise. But
when thus ayow my determination to strengthen the
OF the communicating chief OF the army and navy of
the United States In this war upon Alexco do mean
AS senator OF the State OF Georgia have not right to
yield without INSTRUMENTATION examinaton--wthou
debateto the demands of the Executive for the posecu
ton of this war, although hold myself bound to sustain
his arm by all proper and usiable Sir, the
ommendaon OF the Executive, in the prosecution of this
war, differs in particular but in the intensity of the in
ton which, in the discharge OF his official dutes he may
make to the Congress OF the United States. am not
versed military matters-l incompetent to Judge,
without information OF the most conducive to a
successful termination OF the am willing, there
fore, TO receive information from all available
and to form my opnion when my judgment is convinced
from the information which may receive But the doc
rne here and elsewhere advanced this,subec is to
me startling than thousand with Mexico
startling than with the most powerful nation
under Heaven The order of Congress this subject il
existed III the act OF the declaration OF except
NAV be necessary for Us furnish means for its prosecu
ton is at the bidding Of the Executive. The President
OF he United States wants loan for the purpose of
ryiIg this war His Secretary OF finance announces
to YOU his wish expressy-his belief chat this oln may
be accomplished on the terms proposed, and we told
herc-deliberaely told here--that that is all which
Secretary thinks he get IT, and YET consideration of
the purpose to which it is to be applied, without looking
at he condition of contest with AIexco-the Presi- |
dent 1.-THE Secretary believes it can be obtained
in one month--we have nothing more 10 ask-without
entering into the purpose to which il is 10 be applied, or
the object which is sought to be accom- plished BY hat
we are to yield No sir the President wants additional
military force in the United States, and we must submit
And sir, not dopung pers at ALL for the pur-
pose of expressing the wish he enterans, the President
of the United Sates desires TO have three millions
Of money appropriated as secret servce-announces
we are told by his authority, that if granted the
purpose which it proposes will be accomplished and, |
luifo fortior, we yield Sir, if this doctrine be
true state of upturns the constitution of the United
States. If it be true that the power of Congress is
haused by the act of declaring war it be true that the
of determining the manner in which it may be con-
Quoted and the purpose for the accomplishment OF
which it shall be prosecutedif that be true, that this
devolves exclusively upon the President of the