Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-03-25
speech OF MIR. Hannegnn,

d % .
Iitious matter, rather barren subject Of debate The
motives which induced the President call for, and the
COMMITTEES Foreign Relations report bill for
extraordinary appropriation OF three millions, were
frankly and clearly forth BY the chairman OF that
committee in his opening remarks and signify nothing
more than a desire 10 have tine proposed amount
placed at the discretion OF the Executive, to be used
IL necessary, IN the final attainment of that most
desirable end-a peace with Mexico. 1 will not offend
the Senate by descaning upon The blessings OF peace
There is object more desirable 10 nation than ITS
proper preservation. termination Of the present war
with Mexico is desirable for both countries by every con-
sideration which policy suggest humanity inspire
The appropriation itself presents nothing unusual Ia the
practice OF the government IL has all The authority OF
precedent on past occasions, neither Of which can be
regarded Of equal urgency with the present crisis and
far the precedent concerned, 1t has all the weight
which attach 10 illuslTious names Intimately aud
eternay associated with civil institutions. The
question: therefore, of expediency alOne At the
last session similar Appropriation called for by the
President Regarding II then, as have said regard II
now, question of expedienry, was opposed 10
its grant, because desired further information as TO ITS
object. With the explanation before rs, am salts
fed the in the hands Of the Executive,
because the act itself Is preceded by satisfactory DIS
closure Of the motives inducing, and the requiring
IT, Ii guarded advance by all the caulionay
which the most Jealous vigilance seems to require,
and the application OF the cannot be misdrected,
without gross violation OF his official by the PresI
dent-sucb a violation would inevitably bring him 10
the bar Of public JUSTICE and within tie precincts OF tins
very chamber, cOnsign bun To degradation, and ms
memory To the ignOminIOus associations The one
exclusive purpose which the money is be applied,
is the securement of peace, which all concur Is most
desirable. do the banded honorable peace,
because take II for granted that any other out OF the
question. No member Of the Senate enieralns higher
opinions of the Importance OF that great constitutional
provision which cOndes to Congress the absolute con-
troll of the public treasury and wthhods from applca-
cation at individual discretion single cent This
appropriation regard strictly specific, if directed
10 the erection Of house, the construction OF
harbor. The object equally determnate, and in its
expenditure, | feel that we have guaranty OF the
highest possible character The eyes of the country
directed with all absorbing interest to the prosecution,
the progress, aud the termination of the with Next
Every step that is taken is noted throughout the
land, and doubt that the passage OF this
extraordinary appropriation would the deepest
interest," the public would require, the price Of lis
expenditure, the most wholesome and the most desirable
result am not prepared TO say that the appropriation
Of this money will effect the object, am armed with
any other than those derive from the Senator
from Arkansas support Of the probability that 1t viii
be earnest of peace Viewing ii as do, IL the meas
uTe DO good, II do harm. Unless applied IN
accordance with the law and the spirit and meaning OF
that law IT remains in the treasury, and oil course lapses
into the fund, the property Of the nation, and
under the exclusive control of Congress The President
must have Of confidential character IN addition
what has been communicated TO congress- satisfactory
his mind that this money is essential to the ter
mnaton of the war; and in the present crisis, as on all
similar occasions, the common suggestions OF policy
forbid a public disclosure of the information which
presume he has conhdentially received. The great
defect Of our government is the publicity TO which all
movements, intentions, and negotiations connected
with foreign governments exposed. They uniformly
read through the debates of Congress, whilst we are
blind as to their ultimate designs. And the advantages
which have thus been acquired at various times
could not easily be estimated AT the same time 90
not well know how the evil could be remedied consist
emily with the form and spirit of republican institutions
But, Mr.. President, whilst thus willing to place
this OF money the hands of the Executive for
specific purpose must be allowed to express NV
strong convictions that should be accompanied by the
most decided and energetic Prosecution OF the war on
the part of this government. 1 grossly deceived by
all The lessnns of experience which are taught IN the
history of other nations, If temporiZng policy on our
part will have any effect but to defeat The very end we
would accomplish. There Is peace within the circle
of system Of halfway measures at this Juncure- IL
there Is, all history Is lIe friend, aware OF my
opinion this point has kindly furnished with the
following very apt quotation from OF the most accom-
plshed writers Of the day. Macaulay in his review Of
Haams Constitutional History, says: A" If there be
any truth established by the universal experience Of
nations, it is this, that carry the spirit of peace into
war; is weak and cruel policy. The time of negotla-
ton the time for deiberation and delay. But when an
calls for that remedy, which is in its own
nature violent, and which IN such remedy
only because 1t is volen II is idle TO think OF mitigating
aud duiing LanguId do nothing which nego
tation submission will do better and 10 act on
any other principle is not to blood and money, but
10 squander them" To fall back upon system OF
defensive after all that has TRANSFERRED, would
encourage the belief in Mexico that felt ourselves
inadequate the prosecution of offensive measures and
in all probability would entail upon the country inter
adopted, in accordance with the views of the Senator
from South Carolina, MIR. CALHOUN,l elevated and
staesmanlIke those many respects, must
be permitted to differ with him, both in his estimate of
the number Of troops necessary defend the frontier
from the mouth of the river the PassO del Norte,
well the consequences which result from policy
which IL is certainly not offensive denomnae tempo
TiZbg. The distance of the line, have estimated II
the map, is five hundred miles, be defended
by four posts, each garrsoned with regiment. 1t
will not he couiended that these posts furnish mutual
n rha1r 0f
necessarily forbid the thought. Is it to be supposed that
garrIsOn consisting of single regiment could resist
the attack Of such army Mexico can at any time
bring into the 6edi The unhappy fate Of the brave
defenders OF the Alamo is sufficient to the
Question. These posts must be abandoned at the ap
preach OF Mexican army, properly led, or their garl
Son find bloody beneath the ruins of their
offences The great and vital objection which exists to
this plan Is that as furnishes not even the remote
of peace il entails upon the country abso
lutte necessity for the maintenance of stand
Tng army-a equipment strong IN numbers our
present Inst will be when filed by the additional ten
regiments just provided for. This is inevitable, from the
fact that must necessarily keep sufficient force in
our southern division TO meet any emergency that may
concentrate at any required point for the repul
sion Of an army, which may at any moment become an
army of INVASION How long this state of things would
continue human fresg ht vainly endeayor To pre-
dict But in addition to this, devOlves upon the
inhabitants of Texas and the entire frontier the necessity
Of military organzaon as strict and vigan though
the enemy continually at hand. Ii will drive back
the frontier and make tesolae the exposed settlements,
where the inhabitants must become the prey OF nnumer
able bands of murderous and maraUdDg rancheTos, TO
whom such state Of warfare would be the very spring
OF existence In addition all this it would require
to keep up extensive depos Of provision, and all the
necessary equipments of requisite for army march,
ing to give battle enemy country In the event
Of successful attack upon OF these fortified
posts and indeed in every Of Ioeces under
such slate Of things, all would depend upon celebrity.
Not day, not an hour could be spared from tho quick
and sudden march, Ii would become a of continual