The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-24
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF FIR. BREEsH,

1
SPEECH OF rIR. BREEsH,
OF ILLINOIS,
, CT. of me I,,ated Sfates Fey,lary odd 1877 -
IN ms 'e''A' on the three million bill
Ar. RREESE addressed the Senate as follows:
Mr. bhhrorl IN sa.s;o,, hs;ny nsar lie cIoss
Mr. PRESIDENT lne , tnpS hia onnor,,ioit
fear snail NOT haie mo-" S 49, W flsan, ~
than The remnant VI L' 10, " ;. W "a ~
views entertain on 'hJ any "a ~. anu In ~
bng questions 10 "ni.n ue us.uss y, 'ae W., ~
fore us has gwen orlh am MOI eolt.t, On st sao al
occasion, ana IN view Oh ,e course hs M nas
10 rest myself upon sHn, Vo'e qua uesTo ~ a.,
reasons for Il, when VIII 90 as oreny as may ae
e il, Mr. President, because ne Pa.rloI n'e ~ a
BENT here mas through lhg seh1ia ~"
ION looked TO THIS SUBJECT Oh inc wal, wicn Is "aue
he most prominent llsure IN le debate, anu as sS
pressed lis unanimous sense ~ oul uu.y :, IN CO
the form OF Iesoluu4ns mnn Tha VIZ aro
ble, and now desire lle secretary " ieau A"e9 "''e
cad as follows; So
Whereas the government OF ths oh.ea o.a,cs ale u
sged in war ana ~ being uas ' M, r, Of III
,"iao,.a as snesailv as possible by
n h nal of Mex;co II NECESSARY to lis honorable
n1 aas ts Di Therefore ne -
Be resoped By the House of Representatives. of the State o.
Illinois The Senate eoacurring herv That our senators in
be ana our n or 70
NJ men n,ta y b e pova W.. u, nv measure or nrono
o U ho IN their Opinion Will nerve the arm Of govern
STUNT ~ increased vigor in the prosecution Of the same
Resped That the governor of this State forward copy
of this preamble and resolution to each of our senators and
members in Congress with all possible speed
Mr.. BREESE resumed. The General Assembly, Mr.
President, which adopted these resolutions has m i
10 the present administration; yet, SIT, they passed
unanimously They but reflect the views and feel
mos of the whole State; for there, sir, this is no
party queson-all are united as one in the desire to
see i prosecuted with vigor and brought honorable
conclusion The first resolution is to the pointno subject
introduced calculated to rate and to distract our coun-
bv and wisely and has furnished proud example well
worthy of imitation by those of the older States Illinois
looks only to the crisis and would scorn, she should
40 the introduction of any topic intended, however dis
nsed TO paalyZe the power of the government and the
energies of the people, in the prosecution of Just and
waped for good cause Sir the State which has sent this
resolution here has no dsrust of her senators-she did
not doubt that they would vote for all proper
to cary on the war; but has seized the occasion, to sm
ulae the tagging spirit of her sisters, of whom
have bv their resolves denounced the war as unjust and
as the act of the Executive, and shown unbe-
coming hardness to say the least in responding to the
call made upon them for men. When the first trump Of
war was sounded Illinois offered eight thousand OF hel
choicest sons for the encounter of whom four thou
sand were acceptedfour regiments-a larger number
than any other State in the Union has had in the field
with an aacry unexampled repaired, on the first sum-
mons to meet death in every shape have proved them
selves by the suerngs they have endured by disease and
by performing the most wonderful marches in modern
times on one occasion marching forty miles in day
bvouacng at night with half rations, and showing BY
their discipline and prompt obedience to orders, thai
they can be relied upon in any, and every emergency.
Sir am proud to respond to this resolution in the mos
cordial manner 1t reflects the true feelings OF high
minded and patriotic people, and coming does to me
without the savor of party upon ii, look back upon the
votes have already given on all the with
increased satisfaction, and am stimulated to perse
verance in the course | had marked out for my.
self before its reception, |, for one, have. never
halted in the support of the administration in this
war; and shall not alter, be the consequences wha
they may But, sir, whilst this resolution instructs
vote for all in aid Of the successful prose
cuon of the war, assured, at the same time, the
people OF my State desire peace honorable terms and
relaxing of my exerons TO nerve the OF the
government to increased vgor prosecuting the war,
shall at the same time support all such measures be-
eve may tend to the accomplishment of this desire
And here sir it becomes necessary to consider if the bill
under discussion, not providing means to carry the
war; of the latter character and this leads to the nqu
approval'
After the triumphs of our arms on the sth and 9th oil
Nav last when we had shown to the world our ability
with inferior forces TO overcome our enemy and the
power of our sword the proud spectacle was presented
10 the view OF the civilized world by our government
acaed BY an earnest and an honest desire to terminate the
war; making voluntary tender OF the olive branch to the
enemy On the eth OF July last despatch sent iron
Secretary OF State, through the commander chle OF
our squadron in the Gulf of Mexico, to the Mexican
Minister of Foreign Affairs proposing "hat negotiations
should forthwith commence for the conclusion Of peace
ifal ~ ~ - io 49, t , 80, -, ~ praeiaa ~
on he 4t If ApSus, epsin in which he frankly stated
his desire for naac and he dffcues which he believed
,n;ght amharras its ,tta;nment and asked for an
NORTHUMBERLAND Of money t9 AID him in e1sctuang his de-
sre The dcult, ani;cnated was the adjustment Of .
proper boundary between the two nations. and should
heyo he WILING o ca5e any norton of her territory fo
,hat roso tha prasJont haoyaJ 1ve should nav fbeu
n far eomvaient decarna that so inst and honorable
paace and not cononest HANG our mrnose in the prose
cuton of The war The President further said "tnde,
these circumstances and con5arng The eyhansted and
distracted condition os Inc May;ca rephc i might he
come in order 10 resore naaca that shond
have !, in nv mower 10 advance noron Of the consd