The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-06

poured out on others But II TO nothing else he aspred
10 an Independent exercise OF his duties. They knew
that great efforts had been made TO prevent discussion
OF the of the II was said that they must SIT
quietly and give the sanction OF their votes to all the EN-
ecutve desired, without word OF dissent The cyo
treason had been uttered order TO drown the voice
of freemen. When Patrick Henry was arraigning the
tyranny of George ILL., he told the Legislature OF Virginia
that Cesar had found Bruts, and George the Third
might find his Brutus, too. The cry OF 'treason' was
then raised, and the same cry was raised now when
gentlemen arraigned the President in pointed terms.
Had not the President forgotten the decorum OF h sta
lng "aid and comfort" TO the enemy tie had thus
dared to oppose the freedom OF debate that floor
submitted to- and they failed to denounce the Pres
idents outrages they would indeed deserve his
Was the patriotism OF Americans to be measured only by
the zeal with which they encouraged wari tie was
the pures patriot who guarded the constitution from
abuse, and the character OF the nation from disgrace
But they must wait TIL the war was over. WAIT TIL
thousands of their citizens had persisted by peshlenee
and the sword Wait I'LL they had accumulated mil, |
lions and millions of debt! And then they could
inquire what they had been lighting about The
proper time was now when me a .e war h mad oeen
as the noble vessel was about to be wrecked by |
the vigilance Of the pilot to be still Was ii the
duty of the patriot, when he disaster coming fold
his arms His convictions of right pointed to different
course. How was the war commenced The President
had gone into tedious defence OF the war. ii was
defence which would do more credit to bar-room poll
tcian, than the President OF the United States. The
only assigned for the war; was the inability OF
Mexico to pay the indemnity DID not the5 sai know
IL
the settlement OF those claims, which the United States
government itself had refused to ray. Neither jack
son nor Van Buren, recommended waron that account
and yet the treaty made with Mexico since that time
The only of the war was to be found IN the an
nexaon of Texas He (Mr 50 opposed that His party al
most universally opposed Their predictions that would
be the cause of war had been fulfilled The President
had attempted TO show that Texas had title to all the
territory embraced in the limit OF the original boundaries
of louisiana and that these boundaries extended to the
Rio Grande. He (Mr. s. denied that The ground be-
tween the Nueces and the Rio Grande not included
in those limits He went on to controver the position OF
The President at considerable length Could any man de-
ny that Mexico had custom house on this side OF the
Rio Grande. How, them could plea be set up that
Texas had title to the territory In that connection ne ne
the gentleman from New York MIR. I. kNGl Such
the admission OF that friend OF the administration,
| in speech written out in advance to prevent mis-
conception! That admitting the usurpaon Of the
President He would not occupy more time In eXamin-
ing the in which the war had been commenced,
How had it been prosecuted They Were told that the
democracy of the country alone would in short space
of time, chastise Mexico Some gentlemen, indeed, had
been patriotic to offer to do the job SHY contract
Yet they found that they were no nearer peace
than when they began This after nine monhs-aiter
proiuse expenditure OF Blood and treasure Why
were not the fifty thousand volunteers all called out'
| Where had been the three regiments of brave men
from Indiana On the presidential banks OF the Rio
Grande where the bones OF hundreds OF them now lay
Wondering Gen Scott, with characteristic prudence re-
commended the drilling OF the volunteers al home, and
then the commencement OF the campaign in the fall
Did they recoec the auns and sneers at these truths
who questioned the correctness OF the views Of Gen
Scott Even his enemies obliged to admit their
justice and prudence. Why had the residue OF the $4,000
volunteers not been called OUT Did they doubt their
skill bravery Had they fnched! Had they showed
a craven spirit at Monterrey Why not call on them
then But with the gigantic intellect which character
lied the President, he not satisfied with the victories
on the Rio Grande, but was engaged in carrying
petty intrigue with contemplate refugee Such then
were the magnificent schemes Of the Executive! Was
becoming the character OF the nation its government
that they should attempt to coerce Mexico not by gallant
exploits OF arms but by taking part in their internal dis
sensions BY entering into an intrigue with mean and
rapacious and brutal enemy OF the country- lie asked
gentlemen it, Americans, they did not feel the blush
of shame mantg their checks as they reflected such
conducts But the Executive succeeded, and Santa Anna
in Mexico the life and soul of all the Mexican
movements. Who, then, gave the :" aid and comfort OF
q general like Santa Anna to the Mexlcans: who had
thus encouraged them by concentrating their eors' Why
the President of the United States! Such had been the
fruits of nine months prosecution Of the war! What
of power Who, then, it might well be asked, had
extended to the enemy laid and comforttheP President of
the o. States by that intrigue or the wings, who that
what the object of the war; The President said it
was war OF conquest The gentleman from Tennes
see, who seemed to be spokesman OF the administration
had said IT was to carry out the great object OF the age
the acquisition of the Califonas No war OF conquest
said his colleague Mr. OwENl and yet he said that,
" kind OF incident they would get about third of
Mexico when they came to wind up the affair! Well, the
gentleman from New York, mr. P. KINc.] also said it
was war of conquest but only war to acquire lit
Mr.. P. KING said he had made no such remark.
Mr.. SMITH had understood the gentleman saying
that the issue would be the acquisition OF territory which
must be free. Now he repealed the idea of Of
conquest
MIR. KING said he had not repealed the idea of con-
quest-he had expressed no such idea. "a laugh]
| Mr. SMITH. Well, then, it was only to which
they compelled by their manifest destiny He for
opposed to the acquisition OF territory from Mex
leo under any pretext He opposed the annexation
OF Texas which he regarded most disastrous caam
Ity. 1t opened the door TO mighty evils When were
they to conquer MeXico' 1t said that terms must be
dictated to her in the palace of Mexico That might be
more difficult than was supposed Ii Mexico refused to
treat, they exermnae the race Then let them
look at the other question bound up this matter They
told that the north would not submit to slavery in
that errtoryhe other side declared that they could not
be refused the right OF taking their goods and chattes
there. On hand appeared from the remarks OF the
gentleman from New York. fears entertained for the
Union. slls
Mr.. p. KING. did not express any such opinion
have no fears for the Unien. ,t
Mr. SMITH thought the gentleman very sensitive
on this subject But what would be the issue twas
evident the north and south alike decided. What
then TO be the result? The pillars of the temple
would be shaken before the question could be settled
Some had been thrown his friend from Ten
nessee, Mr. GENTRYl for throwing rebrand into the
did credit to his head, and heart and patriotism. 1t
showed that he willing to make sacrifices for the
general good and welfare of the Union And far from
deserving censure, that gentleman entitled the
highest credit in taking the lead in warning the
try of approaching danger. What was the true
to take ground in opposition to acquisition of any terrific
ry which could lead to such question. Thus the nteg
rty of the Union would be maintained and an inestima-
bic boon be conferred upon the republic They could not