The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-06

qusiton IN made by the effort of all The States
then all the States alike entitled To participate in The
benefits which result from such acquisition But il
the inevitable tendency OF such an acquisition be
have described il, then must be excluded from such
participation IN the benefits oil the acquisition In that
case, of two things remainsto assert at whatever
hazard rights, and the rights of constituents
to give arenewed unexampled manifestation OF devo
ton to the bond OF federal Union, by submitting TO
this inequality of distribution in the acquisitions of our
common government do most anyiousy desire that
that fearful crisis may not be brought about Ii
now, in the existing state OF things but all hui
man probability may and confidently trust it will be
averted by the intelligence and by the patriotism OF the
American people. But You are TO introduce into this
Union the vast territories which you contemplate acquire
by cesson from Mexico, it will be trial of the dsiner-
estedness and patriotism of the SOUTH if they shall be
called upon decide that they willing to acquiesce in
their utter exclusion from all participation IN tins rich and
boundless territory may be asked, with the views
have presented and the amendment | have proposed,
what is them my purpose DO desire that the govern
ment should surrender the advantages which IL has ac
CURED and terminate the war without obtaining any OF
the ends which sought Sir, that is not my pur
pose. have said distinctly that am willing to unite
with senators in Strengthening the Executive for the
prosecution OF this have said that entitled
to obtain proper security Tor the payment OF the Jusi
claims Of our citizens upon the government Of Nexleo
press these claims to the extent of dipping Mexican
bonds in Mexican blood would have been any violation
of our national honor. But prepared 10 say that
we are entitled to demand from Mexico, on the termi-
nation of the war; such security would be satsiac-
tory to ourselves for the payment OF these bonds am
10 prosecute tllS war unt
posed make the terms Of the resolutions OF annexa-
ton of Texas a Just and liberal settlement of the boun
dares of that State, and willing TO make her an add
equate compensation for any portion OF territory
which she NAV imagine she has a title to- and which
she would have surrendered by that treaty ! am pre-
pared to do this. am not prepared 10 wrest from
her any portion OF her territory beyond that which
she may be disposed to yield without either the
corruption Of money, or the application of force. |
am willing, ii Mexico is disposed TO cede IT, to acquire
for the purposes OF our port the Pacific
and to make ample COMPENSATION III put
ting in connection with the territory which we already
possess that vast ocean, and without the necessity OF
Remembering her government by extending the line OF
our territory lam willing TO give the money Tor such
purpose would say take that money but take 1t with
the knowledge of Mexico and all the world that you DO
not mean to dismember her terrorythat you are wal
ling negotiate this matter upon principles consistent
with her rights and with your rights, with her honor and
with your honor; take it with the disavowa OF the IN
tenon communicated on the part OF the President OF the
United States, by the distinct enumeration OF your own
views and intentions the Congress Of this great epub-
lie have not proposed to you to withdraw your troops
from the territory OF Mexico have not proposed to
you renewal OF negotiations. have not proposed to
you the abandonment oil any OF your Just CLAIMS upon
Mexico have not proposed to you that you should
for an instant relax your efforts TO conquer that peace
which is desirable to all But ask OF you to relieve
yourselves from the mputaton OF prosecuting this war
ority of force which you may commands for pur;
poses not required by the national honor, and
merely for the qualification of your lust for acquisition
of territory; ask YOU opu yourselves right before the
people of Mexico and the world ask you to take from
them the courage OF despair which is the feeling and the
motive which now actuates and aninlates them; ! ask
YOU 10 exhibit yourselves i'll that attitude in which
nation, strong and powerful as we are, ought to be pre-
scented to the nations OF this world, and them II Mexico
maddened by whatever cause under the influence OF
whatever nfauaton, shall refuse to accept the protiered
pledge of the national Legislature OF the Union- she
shall madly rush to her doom-then strike Tor peace
strike for peace with all the force which you can com
mand Ay, and every American will unite IN the exca-
mation-"God defend the right" But desire that you
should place yourselves in this attitude that the national
character may be relieved from the mpuaton of pursu
ing this solely for the purpose OF acquiring terri
tory-of affecting to vindicate the national honor and
calling upon the victims Of our superior force to indem-
Nifty us for the expense Of that vndication Sir, do
not express to you any more than what believe be
the feeling of my constituents, when say that think
have been unnecessarily involved in this war, and by
CongressI do but express the feeling of that people
as | understand it, when ] say that, as this war
exists and has been recognised by Congress,
they willing, untedly, with heart and hand, to
pursue vigorously to successful issue But express
ALSO what believe to be the feeling OF that people when
say that they would utterly repudate the idea OF dis
for the purpose OF deaying the expenses OF war into
which we have entered with the proud feeling that we
were indicating our national honor. ! have been per-
fccty sensible Of the responsibility which attended the po
ston which, under conviction of duty, have thus
been disposed to adopwhich have thus determined TO
adopt 1have been admonished, Sir by past experience,
of the dscourtesy which may result in the excitement OF
debate | am admonshed of the rabdness with which
party press may pounce upon individuals engaged in the
discharge oil their duty. these thngS pass me as te
idle wind should feel that had lived to little pur-
pose if, in the honest discharge Of my duty as an Amer
can senator could not express fully, freely unreservedy,
the convictions of my Judgment desire to say to you,
sir and the senators generally, that have acted in
the belief of the truth OF the principles Tor which, have
contended and especially in the belief of the truth of
this proposition, that however may seek to shelter
ourselves by transferring the responsibility OF this war
to the President of the United States who IN fact is
responsible for in its origin yet that we have adopted
and recognised tive have pledged ourselves 10 ITS
prosecution and therefore responsible and cannot
full discharge of the duties which il imposed upon us
Sir we are responsible in the face OF the civilized world
we are responsible in the sight of Heayenay and there
is another responsibility which may perhaps be brought
home to us. We responsible to the civilized world,
that we should conduct this with feeble nelghbor
ing republic upon principles which the improvements in
international law in these modern days have recognised
and affirmed We responsible in the sight oil Heaven
that we do not make of that superiority OF force
which, by the bounty of Providence enjoy, ooppress
and dismember feeble neghbor am perfectly sals-
fed sir that ready may be given to these sig
gestons Are we prepared to meet the responsibility IN
view of the civilized nations of the world. Ii England
accuser, point her to India II France will re-
proach us, turn her attention to Algeria. II the great
err powers of the continent should assume the office of
accusers we should bid them look to Cracow, and be
dumb These answers which will satisfy us when
we are called on to encounter the reproaches OF other
nations But will they enable to meet our con-
seriousness of the manness OF that course by which we
avail ourselves of that superiority OF force which we pos
sess for the purpose of despoing neghborng republic
MIR. President, there is yet another responsblymore
drect-nore immediate, which will also recollect
The responsibility of which have spoken may be met
with regard to the nations of the world have sug-
gested The other responsibility TO which | have
called your attention, ] quite sensible, from in
dvidual experience, will be regarded too remote
to influence the conduct OF members. But there is