Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-01-23


President sad the bill said as thought then, and as
think STILL For have doubted Tor moment that
things had that time been brought about between
this country and Mexico, which called for recogniton on
both sides of the existence of a state OF war.
What, then, the bill OF May 18Th II was bill to
give the Executive the power TO meet exgency OF
existing and for the purpose Of enabling him to accom-
sh the great purpose which he 30 soemny proessed 70
have heart, OF e-estabshing honorable peace This,
sir, is what we this side Of the House voted for
Doubtless action was in degree influenced by the
condition OF Gen. Tayors army fail to protest
against the assertion Of honorable member, that must
have known that the army would have exa,ed itself before
the succors authorized by the l could reach them We
could not by any possibility have known any such thing It
might have been regarded probable that Gen. Talor would
either have been vcorio have been vanquished before
that time But not few feeble were the apprehenslons
that he might have been vanquished And such result
had occurred if army had been conquered anu the cap
been marched off to the mne leave il to others to take
the responsibility Of saying that there would then have been
occasion for and money to rescue and redeem then
The exgency however, not for calculating chances,
or Specializing on probabilities The existed and know
of mode Of meeting existing war but by prompt exer
else of the power This Of the cases TO which the
Irish maxim may be well applied, that "the best way to avoid
difficulty il to meet it plump" And far, while enter
The perfect respect for those who differed from me-
aud freely admit that the preamble of the bill furnished am
pie ground for honest and patriotic disagreement have no
thing regret the which gave for the substantial pro-
visions of that bill ...u.
But now sir, the question, suggested by the remarks
Of than gentleman this debate Because we have
other circumstances, confer the power upon the
President therefore bound acquiesce in any and
for which he may fit to employ that power
Because, for these any reasons, have
trusted that fearful the officer whom the consi
tuition assgns when it is to be welded at all therefore
responsible for his whole exercise of it, and absolutely estop
ped from complaining of any perverson abuse of it
This is extraordinary doctrine, indeed Suppose, sir
that the President had been found exercising this with
with downright treache suppose he had suffer
ed be taken captive, and sronghods to be
had ninyas 0f
disputed national soil this side OF the Nueces this
side of the Sabue suppose he had been discovered entering
into aorous agreement with the enemy and admitting their
chosen leader merely into their territory bat into
should have had right of arragning HIM before
the country No will put forth peposterous an
idea. And if the other hand he is found perverng the
authority asked by him and given to him instrument OF
the purposes Of invasion and conquest and embark
ing the nation mad crusade of aggression and aggrandz
ment equally right and our bounden duty TO call
| him account Is it not especially the right and pre-
emneny the duty those who have aided in giving him
ha power upon lar other preext and for far other Objects
| TO hold him to his responsibility I @..
Sir repeat it is because the President holds this trenen
dous instrument pcry by my vote that feel constrained to
well his COURSE and 10 demand OF him. vainy per-
haIs but auby and earnestly to remember his pledges
and pause from the of policy total variance
with the original intentions of Congress- and with all the IN
| s,ituions and interests of our country ..' IS.
Mr. Chairman, any remarks which may see fit to make
hereafter, i'll relation TO the existing war; do not
intend to Justify the conduct of Mexico. do not deny
have denied that have ocompant against
he Mexican Government. Grossly exaggerated as regard
many the representations Of the President and of his sup
this floor relation to the claims OF citizens
Tor spollations upon commerce, yet freely admit that
Mexico has been much at fault in all this matter Nor am
disposed deny that she has been at tau IN many other
of She was wrong In not
acknowledging the independence of Texas many ago.
She wrong when she at last proposed to make that ac-
acknowledgement, in axng to it condition which could do
her of good and which was sure to be construed
into offence to Others She was wrong IN breaking oil 81
abruptly all diplomatic intercourse with the United States
when the Of annexation had passed the two Houses or
Congress, She wrong III not receiving MI SloeH
ageeably tho understanding between the two Governments,
conceive when he was sent on mission OF peace more
than year ago. She wrong returning conci-
atory reply the renewed overtures OF the Administration
in July last And she will again have been wrong II size
shall have persisted Gas fear the assembling oil her
new Congress- in final aud unqualified rejection OF all
profers Of negotiation.
do not say that any, all Of these have furnished
the Administration with reasonable grounds for making war
upon her Far from it. Nor can say that altogether
sonshed that Mexico has pursued such No man
wonder that the Mexican blood should have been reused
by the policy which has been manifested by some portions
of the American people She has had quite much
for apprehendng that there settled purpose in this
country Of ultimately despong her Of some OF her most valu
able domains. And unless discover some ethereal
like that recently invented for preventing the PAIN OF
surgical operations and which will render nations, well
Individuals nsensibe to their dismcmberment, could
hardly expect her be entirely cool in the contemplation of
such process. .."
Still, hold her to have been wrong. Her pride has
her prudence her blood has the better of her udg
and she has done much bring upon herself the
evils she has apprehended by pecptae aud passionate
tempt prevent them Sir am not those who would
De understood say Mexico, that if were Mexican
/ am American, would not lay down my arms while
American soldier the soil of my country. Glad as
should be every American soldier withdrawn from her
soi--sfesre am in believing that Adminsira
ton could not adopt wiser honorable couse-strong
as in the hope that il, through mutual suggestions TO
third Power, any other way could be clearly under
stood that, in such event. satisfactory terms of accommo
daton could be agreed upon, the Administration would not
bestae ought to hesitate, to make the movement
still counsel Mexico 10 insist such preliminary
No, sir if had a which believed would reach be-
yond the little circle OF this hall If possible for
do what honorable member from
disposed to charge upon some of us few
lavs ago. circulate a speech among the enemy. if could
reach the Mexican rulers the Mexican people,
,oud address word that intelligent and accomplished gen.
eman who known TO all favoably little than
a year ago-Gen Almonte-and who to be about
the very lead in the conduct of his country affairs
would say to him, | would say to them, who has
been uniformly opposed the annexation of Texas
who this moment desires peace but such shall be hon
oable both countries, to Mexico well the United
States who does desire OF territory
taken from Mexico the result of this war- would to
them and him, Abandon something Of this naughty sP