Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-03-17

by the members, oil the D0dY. ! f0Se anu ouJeC'
ted; and said we, we're on the eve OF great
events, and expressed my hope that we would
proceed calmly and deliberately suggested
ihatlhe printing Of SO argea number OF copies
would be construed into al endorsement oil the
message. adding that was unwilling either to
endorse or condemn. until the message ard DO
cuments were printed, and carefully perused
BY me- A debate ensued, and the journals OF
the Senate will show what took place. Inc
senator from Missouri was the individual VINO
made the discreet and appropriate motion TO
separate the Recommendations Of the message
into TWO parts and refer that which related to
recognising the existence of war to the Com
mi,,ee on Foreign Relations, and that which
related to the raising Of men and supplies to
the L ommittee on Military Affairs, Of which he
was chairman. The latter, it was expected,
would report immediate measures for The sup
port Of General Taylor. Iseconded the motion,
and it was carried by large majority 'tsaw
in it that which gave me hope, and that should
Ne able TO effect the object had in view, and
wlrfch will hereafter explain, =,
Tire House Of Representatives. acted with
much innre pretpitancy; j, passed bill the
very day tile message was received, recosnis'
ING the existence Of the war, and providing
means for.i,s prosecution. 1t was late in the
evening when il passed the House. and am
or the impression that lhe!Sena,e had adJonrli-
ed; aud il was not reported to it that day; but
be that as il may 1.-The next day the senator. as
chair,an of the Committee on Military Affairs,
reoorted the bill to the Senate as It came from
,hes House, with both provisions in it; directly
Contrary to the order ofthe Senae, mado on
his own motion To refer the part Of the message
relating to the recognition of war 10 the Com
mi,,ce on Foreign Relations. TO that, and
the fact that caucus had been held OF the par
" which agreed 10 sustain the report, may be
traced the precipitate, 10 use no stronger
word,) action of the Senate, aud the recosri-
lion OF the war. 1t emphatically made the war.
Had the order Of the Senate been respected
had the senator from Missouri, in conformity
with it, and as he was in duty bound 10 do,
moved to strike out all that related TO the recoS-
milton of the war; and referred i. to The Com
,nittee on Foreign Relations and confned his
report to raising the necessary>means OF rescu-
ing General Tayer and his arfoy' from the
pressing dangers which surrounded thom, the
possibility IS, that the war might have been
averted, and the two countries al this day been
at peace. Sir, say possibility, because, even
then, aftei the skirnishrs between our iOrces
had occurred, cid not despair of escaping
war, if sufficient 6rnness and prudence were
used on the part of this body. | had deeply
reflected Oh ile subject in advance, and great
as were the difficulties, still saw a glea;n Of
hupe.
The intelligence ofihe skirmshes OH the Rio
Grande was received here OH Saturday; at
once saw the danger, and turned my mind to
tho subject. anticipated that a message
would be received on Monday from the Exec
pliye, and formed not an incorrect opinion 10,
to what would be its character. Casting my
eyes over The whole, with view of avoiding
war, came 10 the conclusion in my own mind
,what course was best TO effect that object.
Next morning Icomnunicated theconcluslons
10 which had come, to Two ut my colleagues,
WIN were boarding. with me. l said 10 them,
that there was bur one way OF escaping war,
but Il am not certain lhatIt will be successful.
II will, however place us in the chapter OF ac;
cidents, and thereby afford a possibility of es.
cape. III was asked what it was, and replied
that it dependedon Sc epatating :the question Of
" ar from that which relates 10 the irescuing 2f
GeneraI Taylorand his forces. Let the means
NECESSARY Tor The iatler be- ihnlnc cdintely gran.
led, butleiti time be taken for due nddeilberaie
consideration of Tie former. Had that been
done, il was my inten.iontot throw lyyWhole \
weight against the linmediate;, declaration d.
recognition ofwar7 treating what had occurred
as mere hostilltes between the two armies.
without authority Of the Congress-the war
making power ol either Government as
We had not particle Of evidences then. or
even now, that tie Republic Of Mexico had
,nude war against the United States. Indeed,
we are in the anomalous condition of the two
countries being at war ring, and almost, an
entire year, without either having declared il,
although the Constitutions of both expressly
:pr.vide that Congress shall declare war
Instead, then ofrecosnlzing the war, 1 would
have taken the very opposite ground-that
what had occurred was mere hoslilties, and
not war, as the Congress Of Mexico had not
alislorlZed it.
To provide for the contingency Of the Con.
:gress Of Mexico approving ofwhut had occur.
red, and refusing to treat for the settlement OF
our difficulties, would have advised the ra'-
sing ofauiple provisional force, 10 be collected
at some convenient and healthy point, where
they would be trained during the interval, and
be fully prepared to meet such decision; but
even in case such decision should be made,
instead ofadvising formal declaration oil war,
] would have advised, as Gen. Jackson recon-.
mended, giving authority 10 the Executive to
make reprisals for seizing and holding such
portion ofthe Mexican Territory as swouldatiurd
ample indemnify, to be retaiued until the dlffe'
7ences between the two countries were settled;
but in the meantime, would taken measures 10
repel the attacks made upon our army by the
Mexican forces, and TO drive them far beyond
the limits ofour Borders.
Had this course been pursued, we should
have had all the glory aud reputation of the
two brilliant victories al. .Palo Alto and Resaca
de Ia Palma, without being involved in the
present indefinite and expensive war waged
against Mexico. We would also have had the
advantage Of this chapier Of accden's-of
Mexico disavowing hoslilities and indemnify.
ing our citizens-either from sense Of weak
ness, or Of returning justice on her part, or
from the influence Of other powers, which
have an interest in preserving peace-rom.
their commercial or ollier relations with her.
and thereby save resort TO arnIs on our part.
But, at all events, failing III that, we would
a,ave avoided, by resortiug 10 reprisals, the
enormous expenses, The sacrifices of men and
money, and the disasters i, which the war has
has exposed .us. Il have now met; aud trust,