The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-08


Mr. JOHNSON. There are two armies in the field
the American and the Mexican; and ii we are
willing, out OF the treasury of the United States pay
The expenses OF bolh provided Santa Anna thinks proper
cede TO The United States al least New Mexico and
Upper California If he does not do in short tme
as 'le senator ihlnaes and permits tins war TO go on
Mexico. 1t appears 10 me TO be most extraordinary
proposition. We 10 make peace with Mexico who
by the Tree confession Of the senator IS herself trodden
down by eontendng iactions-who is not free--who
numbers amongst her yrauts this very Santa Annawho
looks 10 the army with the dread which the past
OF the army Is well calculated to inspire; TO make
peace Win tins poor down: roIien Impoverished people
who have been reduced 10 such abect and helpless
condition by this very army and this very leader, by pour
ing gifts into the hands OF their ranls, and then trans
erring them, IN spite of themselves from the institutions
in which they have been brel-irom the associations in
which they have been brought up and which they value
INTO an inegal ppol Of the United 1T. States to be sub
Mr. President. know that the senator from Arkansas,
and those who agree with him. entertain different view
of htpoposon, and entertain IT on high and elevated
groursss. That do mol doubt. But | have right 10
my sentiments Standing here as an American senator,
am called on 10 declare, with all emphasis and solemn
y, that this project OF terminating the by dsember-
propriely honor, and justice that should my arms
sink pasIed by my side, rather than agree to it
posed By the senator from Michigan which is to me- even
more alarming. | understand it to be this Congress
having declared this by the act of the 18th May is
the duty OF the United States to prosecute it TO speedy
and successful termination and that only is to be done by
obtaining reasonable indemnity, and the management of
that rests exclusively with the President of the United
war was brought on BY any act OF the President of the
United States with which Mexico had a right to find
fault Others may think il was am by no means sure
that a majority OF the people of the United States do
moi think 50 not also free from doubt, but that is
the light in which the civilized world now regards the
question Now, where does that proposition lead us !
The President brings the war--he brings on "A state
ofho'tiltes, to term used upon former occasion
by the senator from South Carolina arthest from me-
lMr CALHouNl 1t involves the Congress of the United
States in direct responsibility, by following that state
OF hoslities by declaration OF war That was done
here. The senator from South Corona refused to vote
the only senator who refused. IA WIG SENATOR. Not
the only senaorl aware of that. | intended to
say the only senator on the other side. He refused to
vote. He thought then that there not evidence to
satisfy him that this war was brought about by the act of
not. Our army is in peril The national honor is
involved. The glory of our flag is hazarded. 1t
must be saved at all and every risk. We pass by
the act OF the President We instantaneously leap
10 the conclusion, that we must declare the war in
order TO save the national honor We gave the dec
laration 10 the world. Now the is upon us.
What says the senator from Michigan Congress has
Just power to declare the war, but its manage
ment lis termination, the terms of its termina
ton, thepowers OF Congress are mpoient The war must
until treaty negotiated satisfactory TO the Presi
dent, and submitted by him to the Senate for ratifca
ton. II he refuses TO treatf he refuses to listen TO
ierms-if, imbued with this lust of dominion which
10 have seized upon many the United States
TO the utter bewdemen Of their Judgment he resolved
to get the territories of Mexico ii is his right to go on
until he bring Mexico into condition in which,
or LATER she must be If the go on, and when
be indemnlfed only by cesson OF the whole What
are we to do? Can we not even declare opinions
Can we Ist give az opinion which, i the President OF the
Tinted States proper to resist, would involve him
in the danger OF Just impeachment? am not here
guing Mr. President, that the treaty-making power is
not exclusively in the President and the Senate-tha the
House have anything to do either with the nitiaory
final steps, but am here 10 maintain that looking to the
character of the government looking to the distribution
of powers amongst the several departments of the gov
eminent looking TO the reason which causes the whole
power OF declaring war TO be vested in Congress by the
observation-disclosures must, according to the spirit OF that
instrument, have right say how is to be conduct
ed, and when it to be terminated And above ALL when
announced of the objects of this that territory
is to be acquired-tha an extent OF territory which,
cordng to the statement of the President himself this
message, equal 10 the whole of the territory embraced
in the thirteen original States OF the Union, is TO be
CURED the Congress OF the United States have right to
be heard The inevitable result of different doctrine
would be thsthat the President may bring to a state
Of hostiliiies which may compel 10 declare and
then he cango on to prosecute It, until he is tired OF his
tain whether my recollection serves me righsome sena
tor the floor particularly the honorable senator from
South Carolina, Mr.. CALliouN,l who member Of
the House at the time, can no doubt set me rghtbut
under the impression that IN the declaration of war
in s2 the of the war and the objects OF the war
stated in the bill itself
Mr.. JOHNSON. In the report, them which accom-
panied the BILL the honorable senator politely informs
me. But we nave no report accompanying this with
such statements That was not permitted The iron
will of a majority, patriotic, ! admit, as we are,
deemed il proper to rush the war through without
moments time 10 deliberate. Now, apprebend Mr.
President, am not mistaken when | say that if,
upon the 18th of May, the President of the United
States himself had sent lis message, containing what
contained the speech OF the honorable senator from
Arkansas-f the Committee on Foreign Relations had
accompanied that act of the 18th of May, with report con-
tanning what is contained in that speech, that the object
of carrying this war was to get territory, not to vind
the national righsnOt to drive of the supposed or
State of Texas, of the States of the Union, and her
eroriesbut in order to pay our own citizens the debts
due them by Mexico which Mexico unable, because
of her poverty TO pay and in order to obtain New MeX
co and California, that law could not have passed thus
body in that shape, and it would not have passed. Mr.
President for fociby suggested By my friend
who sits me, the senator from Georgia, Mr.. BER
RIEN.l No man was so blind, then--no man is asso-
utey blind not TO that the questions 10 ARISE
the admission of any new territory into the United
States questions likely to this Union TO otter
TO its very foundations We have seen indications
OF the learned senator to whom allude. We have seen
if possible still more excitement manifested In resou
ton proposed this morning by the senator IRON Alabama,
mir. BaGBYl What have seen One OF the great
est States Oh the Unon-the State of New iork-whose
voice will be potential in all human probability in all our
subsequent political conflicts, who through one of her
representatives this floor presented to this body reso
lutions which speak the fixed and abiding opinion OF
that State upon this subject Go beyond the resolutions
look at the manner in which they were passed BY consult
ing the records OF the Legislature OF that State we will see
that there were but nine dissenting voices.
Mr.. BAGBY here asked for reading OF the resolu-
tons
Mr. JOHNSON. | intend TO call for the reading Of
them in n moment What takes place IN the coterml-
nous and almost equally powerful State Of Pennsylvania
r. r al. z,,l he