Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-02-18
THE THREE MILLION BILL.
THE GREAT QUESTION

THE GREAT QUESTION.
We give the administration side Of the ques-
ton, in the following explanation of the bill by
Senator SEWER, friend of Polk, and one of the
committee which reported the bill;
The object Of this bill, as appears upon its
face, was to make peace with Mexico, and in ur-
ging its passage, he should abstain from the ex-
preston of any opinions regarding the origin of
the Mexican war; for his object was to excite no
party feelings upon any side on question ofths
sort lie took it Tor granted they were all in IA
vor of peuce if it could be obtained upon proper
terms and it was proper that he should say that
he did not see how peace could be brought about
unless one or other of the belligerent parties
made an advance towards obtaining it. 1t was
true they had already made an advance towards
that object, by sending messenger to treat with
the Government Of Mexico and had kept our
army out Of the country which was claimed by
JUS for a considerable time before the commence.
ment Of the war, for the express purpose of Sc
curing peace by showing a forbearance and
disposition to avoid hostile collision.
In making peace, of course the United States
would expect to receive indemnity, to some ex-
tent at least, for the expenses of the war, and
they would expect also the payment Of the claims
held by our citizens against the Republic of Mex
leo, and this indemnity was expected in the shape
cisely what territory this Government would re.
quire, but he supposed that no Senator would
think that they ought 10 get less than New Mex
leo and Upper California He did not suppose
that Treaty of peace with less than this would
ever pass that body. However, they would be
better prepared when a treaty was proposed to
determine as to the quantity. Having stated then,
in few words, the object Of the bill and its form,
the next question that arose was, whether it was
CHI tbn,r
these terms In regard TO that he would say,
that, in coming to the conclusion they had, the
committee were governed to a great extent by
the recommendation Of the President, who COM
municated TO them official correspondence which
lie had in his possession, and after examining
that correspondence they had come to the con-
clusion that peace could be made upon those
terms with Mexico He believed that Mexico
large part Of 1t, at all events large majority of
the people, would be glad 10 make peace
This opinion he derived from an examination
of the correspondence which the President had
communicated to them. 1t would not be expect
ed, however, that the President, or any body else,
would be required to give the names of those
who impaired this information, for it would be
breach Of confidence to do so. 1t would be suf-
tcleh, therefore, for him to say, that in looking
over this correspondence, coming from the quar-
ter It did, he thought the probability was that if
THIS bill should pass, peace, upon such terms as
he named, would be effected. They were enga.
ged in an expensive war-a war attended with a
great sacrifice of life, and one which exhausted
the means Of the Government; and if peace
could be made upon these terms, he thought
there ought to be no hesitation about making it.
But 1t might be asked, could lasting peace be
made under the circumstances in which Mexico
was placed, divided as that country is into vari
rious ramfcations of party, factions existing ev-
erywhere, an unstable Government, and with no
one p~rty sufficiently strong to make peace? The
intelligence possessed by the President gave
them reason to believe that, upon a certain ad-
vance to be made to them to pay the expenses of
their army, and other expenses, they would be
willing to cede that portion of their country
which he had named
lis object was no: tc consume the time oil the
Senate and to avoid everything that might pro-
ducc discussion or party excitement, he had en-
dcayored, III as few words as possible, to define
the object Of this measure and TO hold out to the
Senate the prospect Of procuring peace. Our
arms had triumphed everywhere. We had got
possession Of large part Of their territory we
had got possession Of some oftheir seaports, and
held others bockaded We were powerful, and
in a condition to force contributions, and every
one III Mexico, or at least the greater number,
were DESTROYS Of concluding peace. He hop
ed, therefore, the Senate would concur with him
in the view which he had expressed, and adopt
the measure which the President had recommen-
dcd.
This looks plausible and peaceful; but after
all it is little pokerish. Mr.. Sewer says, the
object Of this bill is to advance three millions 10
pay The expenses of The MEXICAN ARMY and other
erpenSes!! Now what guaranty can Polk have
that Mexico will not fight all the harder, and so
much the longer, after getting three millions of
our money? Why is it necessary to pay Santa
Anna and his troops three millions at all Polk
says Mexico oiCeS us two millions, and is to pay
us the expenses of this war besides: now for
what are we to give three millions to this gov
eminent, which is already so deeply indebted to
US? 1t seems to us there can be but one an
swer: it is to be q BRIBE to few Mexican
leaders--they engaging to secure a treaty of
peace and the cession Of Mexican territory to
pay what she owes us now, and also for the
three millions which Polk is to put into their
pockets OF course such men (if there are such
in Mexico,) must be villains; they promise to
fleece their own country in consideration of these
three milons-but we think they will be more
likely to fleece President Polk if he ever gives
them the money.
But whether this three millions of money is to
bride Mexicans, or to buy peace, is comparative
ly unimportant. Mr.. Sewer avows that the poll
cy OF the administration is to ACQUIRE TERRI
ToRY-by this bill the President processes to
expect to acquire one third of the Mexican en-
pire and this bill therefore embraces, or will
be made to embrace, the most momentous ques-
ton ever agitated in this Countrywide question
of extending and perpetuating the institution Of
Slavery. AS this Senate bill stands, and as a
similar bill in the House now stands, the Presi-
dent is left free to make any bargain with Mex
leo. Let the people follow up this bill and see
whether their representatives will permit him
to make a sweeping SLAvOcRATIc BARGAIN.
We propose briefly to review the action in both
Houses up to the present time, availing ourselves
of the Congressional Globe to supply facts which
the meagre Geographic dispatches that form the
usual Congressional Journal, do not contain.
Mr.. SEWER made the opening speech in the
Senate, expressing the views of the admnistra-
ton, as above given.
Mr.. MILLER Of N. j., a Wing, rose in reply