The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-27

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indeed, when we speak OF government, il is under
$1,000 10 mean Congress and the Executive, acting joint
he one by passing act resolution, and the other
BY IT'S approval And in Congress, taken in this sense
al discretionary power under our system OF government
is invested II is only by this power that disputed
boundary can be determined by the government for ITSELF
and without the consent of the other party The Presi
dent had no more right to determine on his will
what the boundary was, than had or any other
tor SUCH indeed, appeared TO be the conviction of the
President himself II is only such suppositon that
we can explain his course in attempting to open nego
tlaton with Mexico, with view of settling all differ
ences between the two countries, among which the set
Element OF the boundary was considered paramount
question: Why negotiate, if it were not unsettled
question? Why negotiate, if the Rio del Norte-as il
was afterwards assumed-was the clear and unqueston-
able boundary And If not, upon what authority, after
the attempt TO open negotiation had failed, could he de-
question: Was not his plain duty, such occur
ence, 10 submit the question to Congress-, which was
then session and IN whom the right OF establishing
Had that been adopted greatly mistake the sense
Of this body would not have been decidedly opposed to
countries in war Indeed feel strong conviction that
if the Senate had been left free decide the question:
not onethrd OF the body would have been found in ia
vor OF As 1t was, large majority felt themselves
compelled, they believed to vote for the bill recog
nIsing the existence of war, in order to raise the
supplies OF men and money necessary to rescue the
army under General Taylor, the Del Norte, from
the dangers to which ii exposed.
But bring the matter home the senator himself in
small degree responsible for the war intend no attack
!
relations between him and myself personal and POLITICAL
have long been SUCH that self respect and sense OF pro-
prlety forbid my alludng to him, except when unavoda
bic, and then courteous manner; and now aude to
his course only because IT is necessary to explain mne
and the motives which governed me on the occasion
The Senate will remember that when the Presidents
message received recommending Congress to recog
Mise that existed between us and Mexico and to
raise the necessary for its prosecution the senator
from Mississippi, whose seat is Immediately my right
but who is now absent, [Nlr SpEcHr,] moved to print
200oD copies OF the message and documents The scene
was solemn one, and what occurred will long be re-
membered by the members of the body. rose and OBJ
ected and said that the of great events
and expressed my hope that would proceed calmly and
deliberately suggested that the printing OF so large
ment of the message adding that was unwilling either
to endorse condemn until the message and documents
were printed, and carefully peTused by me- debate en-
sued and the journals of the Senate will show what took
place The senator from Missouri was the individual
who made the discreet and appropriate motion to separate
the OF the message into two parts and
refer that which related to recognising the existence OF
war TO the Committee on Foreign Relations, and that
which related to the raising of and supplies to the
| Committee on Military Affairs, of which he was char
man. The latter, il was expected would report lmmed
ate measures for the support of General Taylor. sec
onded the motion, and was carried by large majority
| saw in it that which gave hope, and that should
be able TO effect the object had in view, and which
will hereafter explain.
The House of Representatives acted with much more
precpltancy, passed bill the very day the message
received recognising the existence OF the war and
providing means for its prosecution. II was late IN the
evening when passed the House. and am o. ,ns mn
reported to IT that day but be that as may the next DAY
the senator. chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs reported the bill to the Senate it came from
the House, with both provisions in it; directly contrary
to the order OF the Senate, made on his own notion to
refer the part OF the message relating to the recognition
and the fact that had been held OF the party
which agreed TO sustain the report may be traced the
precp1ae Ito use no stronger wordl action OF the Sen
ate, and the recognition OF the war It emphatically
made the Had the order of the Senate been re-
spected-had the Senator from Missouri in conformity
with it, and as he was in duty bound to do, moved to
strike out all that related to the recognition Of the war;
and referred it TO the Committee on Foreign Relations
and confined his report TO raising the necessary means OF
dangers which surrounded them, the possibility is, that
the might have been averted and the two countries
at this day have been at peace Sir say posslollty
forces had occurred did not despair of escaping war; If
sufficient frmness and prudence used on the part
of this body. had deeply reflected the subject IN adj
vance, and great the difficulties, still saw
CLEAN of hope.
The intelligence OF the skrmishes the Rio Grande
received here Saturday, at once saw the danger
and turned my mind to the subject antcipated that
message would be received Monday from the Executive
and formed not an incorrect opinion as to what would be
lis character Casting my eyes over the whole, with
view of avoiding war, came to the conclusion in my
own mind, what best TO effect that object
Next morning communicated the conclusions to which
! had TO two of my colleagues, who were board
ing with said to them that there was but one way
of escaping but am not certain that will be sue
ceSsfu 1t VIII, however, place us IN the cnapte OF &C
cidents and thereby afford possibility of escape was
asked what was and replied that it depended on sep
arating the question of war from that which relates to
the rescuing of General Taylor and his forces Let the
means necessary for the latter be Immediately granted
but let time be taken for due and deliberate considera-
ton of the former Had that been done, was my in
tenton throw my whole weight against the immediate
declaration recognition OF war; treating what had oc-
Cured hoshltes between the two armes, with
out authority of the Congress-the making power
OF either government
We had not particle of evidence then, or even
| now that the republic of Mexico had made war
against the United States Indeed are IN the anoma-
lous condition of the two countries being at war during
and almost. an entire year, without either having de-
cared it, although the constitutions OF both expressly pro-
vide that Congress shall declare
Instead then, of recognising war, would have taken
the very opposite ground-that what had occurred was
mere hostes, and war, the Congress OF Mexico
! had not authorized it.
To provide for the contingency of the Congress OF
Mexico approving OF what had occurred and refusing to
treat for the settlement of difficulties, would have
advised the raising of ample provisional force, to be col
leced at convenient and healthy point where they
could be trained during the interval and be July prepared
to meet such decisions but in case such decision
should be made, instead of advising formal declaration
of war, | would have advised, Gen Jackson recon-
mended, giving authority to the Executive to make
prsas for Selling and holding such portion of the Mey
can territory would afford ample indemnity, to be retain
ed until the differences between the two countries were
settled but in the meantime, would have taken measures
to repe the attacks made upon army by the Mexican
forces, and to drive them far beyond the limits OF our
| borders .
the glory and reputation of the brilliant victories at
Pao Alto and Resaca de la Palma without being IN
yoyed in the present indefinite and expensive waged
against Mexico We would also have had the advan-