The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-03-11
Speech Of Mr. Foot, Of Vermont.


ONrnE CHARACTER AND OBJECTS OF THE
MEXICAN WAR.
Deli9ered in the House ofRepresenga!ives Of he
u s., Feb. 10, 1917.
The House having resolved itself into Com
mttee Of the Whole on the state Of the I'm
ion and having under consideration the
Bill making further provision fer the eX-
penses attending the intercourse between
The United States and foreign nations
Mr. FOoT, of Vermont, having obtained
The floor, addressed the committee as follows
Mr. Chairman Ii has been my purpose, for
some time past, to address the House, in some
general views,upon the character and purpOs-
Is of the Mexican war. Perhaps no more fit
occasion can BE- presented than by the bill be.
lore us, which proposes to place III the hands
of the President three millions ofdoars to Sc
cure peace, by means not less dishonorabG,
fear, than those by which the war itself was
incurred. 1t is my fortune to be Of the number
Of those who maintain that the war in which
the country is now engaged with Mexico,
mighs and ought, to have been avoided; and
that IF wise and considerable counsels had pre-
vailed in the Executive department of our
Government, it would have been avoided, /
hold that it was unnecessary for the redress Of
any wrongs we may have suffered, o. for the
assertion Of any rights which may have been
inlringed Most OF all was it unnecessary for
the yindication OF our national honor. | be-
licve that all our differences with Mexico,
whether in relation to the question Of boun-
Diary, or in relation to the question Of indem-
nitv for spolations, might have been sa,istac
torily and honorably settled without q resort
to arms [ assert, morco"cr, and challenge
Investigation to the truth ofthe assertion, that
this war resulted not from the act of Mexico,
but from the unauthorized and demonstrations
al acts of our own EXcautive Government
These are my own deliberate and settled
opinions, the irresistible convictions Of M
own Judgment, after the most careful and
thorough examination Of the subject, and
therefore hesitate not to declare them. do
not forget that the expression Of sentiments
or opinions like these has been charged in
high quarters, rs treason TO the country,
couchcd in the equivalent language OF the
Constitution, rs giving " aid and comfort to
the enemy. | remember that an honorable
gentleman from New York, (Mr StrongD who
addressed the House on yesterday, assumed
to administer 4 rebuIo to those on this side
of the Hall, who choose to take exception to
The accusation, and to admoni5h Us that we
should show better spirit than to indulge IN
what he is pleased to call an abuse OF the
President" by rcpcllng and denouncing the
charge. / admire the honorable members
kind disposition, but | must reject his coun-
sels, because they inculcate spirit Of servility
utterly abhorent to all my sentiments Of per-
sonal independence.
The Constitution of the United States has
t1t on ~ s ~ evo@a Of the ata and condition
Iol T9' a 'ir Pm orn and Jomnsfc and 70
,,odor, ,,r snob act;6n az in his Indictment
a1,of ''' inat ,dT.a,oo tln ,,ylI;o wool Rrt
S. So - ~ ,',a1a Is J,t, ~ L;s oCIic;o1 com.
,onn i With the nationaI lcgisjatnre to