Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-03-31
SUBSTANCE OF THE REMARKS OF
W.T.. LEE. of Hnrdv

President ToR "ruk iusrlck risANrss ssn ~S..S,
| ABILITY WIN whcn nE HAD coNpvcrEp rnK wAR
| AGAINST MTxIco.
Nix. SrEAKtR; sm glad that did no, .pce..d q, 90,
uhg inc moor IN reply To the gentleman from Goochland
before we obtained the benefit OF speech OF tho gentle
man from Page, only because am sav,J The ,,,nh
OF separate reply each, because We have now h
united testimony what that Justice 6tmnc.. mi
eminent ability OF the President consists in for which
THIS House s invoked to thank him. But before 90 into
an examination OF the Arguments they have offered n
The President entitled to the gratitude they claim Tor him
let me ca the attention OF tho House the unan,ss
the position assumed by both those gentlemen for ,bcn
selves, aud also OF their attempt assign a.e one IN ~
The gentleman from Page introduces serics of ,csI
tons auSatoty OF the great dispenser Of official
and among other things asks thank him Tor the -
uce, hrmness aud eminent ability with which he has en-
Quoted the Mexican and instead of btingipo q, ,h
attention OF the House the consd rations which .n r.
President To its thanks, the previous question Is
and sustained by the supporters these resolutions and ali
debate on them pecuded Now, | venture In say ,b,,
such course ON such OCCASION il unprecedented ~,
parliamentary history. But happens that when ,b -,
luton now under discussion propounded nv tho h.,
IN the struggle for the floor obtained IT, and saved This
House from the reproach of passing this resolution un
the pressure OF the gag law and exposed the tyranny of the
majority IN attempting enforce it. And for thai an, ,
10 be forgiven For that assalcd and tainted bv the
gentleman from Goochland attempting To afford informs,
non TO this House which failed mpart and bat snow
cd my own Ignorance m attempting 10 furnish.
Now, Mr. Speaker, Is this 80 Tor is 1t in any r,s,c,,
Ius view OF the case Was incumbent me 10 fur
nh Information 10 ssstan the resolution Of the gentleman
from fage-or did attempt TO do 50 On the contrary
complained OF want O iuoImation and of the refusal On
the part OF tue advocates OF this resolution 10 furnish 10
Gle reason why should pass it. | complained OF ,b,
different course pursued in regard these resolutions from
that ever adopted before subject btousb No.,
this House When the ,rlng bill IS before US n ,nv
member rises IN his place aud asks for information In ,,
oe ann 10 vote undeTsandingy on IT, the information civ
en- or the bill land the table until II can be obtained M
nov" "hen the commonwealth OF Virginia, once so pree
neni, aud which has lost all her o-yin, hr,,b
ness Is called to put the seal % her appreciation NOT only
on tho ITSELF but 10 the "IuSticc frnncss and o;
ability" with which it been conducted on Inc mari G b
President. hy Sh -, III 4
refused, and We who dare ask one are angriy nm
braided H. exercising privilege and doing our dtv
on this door, as representatives OF the people we aten
10 vote undersandingy on the question before us we are
charged with forgetting "What is due to the country brn
involved IN war because dare even 10 asa for ipfr
nation as 10 what part, point management OF that war
the President has exhibited that '.Iustie, 6r,nn -
eminent ability" ordered thank him for-or5cre5
under the pains and penalties OF being denounced If We DO
not as giving aid and comfort the enemy - This IA
indeed showing ono military accomplishment on the part
oi the gentlemen from Page aud Goochland IL sbow
mat they are ioeH dTI!sd-hat they can keep the loci
sep win ther great Captain, the President They have
adopted the grand taccs OF that grand military cbie,
Jas ueir resolutions would proclaim him. which Is TO en-
'0unu ms Pohnca' opponents with the eHemIes OF the
country, hoping thereby overthrow the Whi-s cve, II
nc ain couqleung the McNicans, thus accom-, psh
an object which seems hardy secondary IN his views
But the gentleman from Goochland remarks eNuItipgly
on ue contrast eNhloued by the course OF Democratic
portion OF this House when the resolution OF bapks .,
General Iay or, his officers and army was before H. with
that OF the Wings this occasion Now here - +, Ne.
clous confession Here truth leaks ont which If,
would be well for the country TO notice Nv friend f,,,
Prince William, (Mr. Tyler,) Democra, Of the u,ost Or
thodoN school, from his boyhood this day introduccs
resolutions Of thanks and directing the ptesenauon of
sword 10 the mmandef-iu Chief the Presidents ann,
and OF thanks ms officers and men, Tor their briI,,
achievements IN the Presidents war The gentlemen Fer,
Gooehand himself amends them. by further resolution
20 present sword 20 Col Payne gallant officer from, he
OWE county, and Col Garland, another gallant Off Ger rom
Virginia, and imagine from hs name of the Democrats
Pariyl aud the resolution and amendment pass by uccla
nation, both OF Wings and Democrats. For tins the Do
m0eras OF this House be Landed a. peculiarly n,
nanimous Why Is II great proof OF noble disiptc
RESIDENCES the part OF Democrats 10 vote for ,,I
which they themselves Introduce Does the pen,,eron
irom Gooehisnd Jay claim magnanmiiy Tor voting for
ms own amendment Tor does be aTrogae little Of thar
high virtue because he introduced his amendment Has
Il, then, come 20 this, that when brave man who bs
grown gray ~ the service Of h country shed his blood
IN her battles, and come home with mis- bleeding wounfs
and fresh .aurels the honured bearer OF the t,,rbi-
ne mad helped win-has u come 10 this that "a. ~,
then examine hs politics, before determine whether
II bS Just 10 approve, 10 thank, reward him Did the
gentleman from Goochand himself let the poltic. f vi
Payne weigh leather ia deciding him To Introduce M.
very proper resolution IN regard that gallant Off
Ger "a resolution which came appropriately from
him, that my friend from Prince William menti,ncS ~, b
place that he omitted It only afford the gentleman from
"oochlnd an opportunity %. Offering 1t. sure he did
not am sure That II his gallant constituent doe, differ
with srepreseniatvc in politics, that very difference Tend
cd 90 spur The zeal of that representative q, do hi t
lest failure 10 render might have subjected his repr,
sentative 90 the charge OF being influenced by s1 miserable
i motive paris feeling withhold IT, I want The, .,
know how the democratic members OF tb5 House are To ar
rogae 10 themselves the praise OF nagnanmty Tor intr
ducing or voting Tor their rcsou'onsl vg yenure
the assurance that my friend from Prince William d. M
such thing. How, them there this mighty contrast he.
tween Wings and Democrats conien5rd for by the gcntI,
man from bpocuaud, and Why should the cour.e of tho
Wings be regarded such an uugsncrous return ~,
democratic thanks lately bestowed on Wing OHieers1
had never dreamed u that thanks bestowed on brave
Whgs tor their achievements battle were In any decree
given to control the Wings this House IN the discharge
Of their duties here and yet the OF the argument
oi the gentleman from Goochand would lead laify 10 the
inference that this was the case
MI Speaker, the gentleman from Gooehand seemed 10
dwell with disdnin whenever he referred the presup
uon ~IG which he charged me, crucizing the military
merits Of VIZ. Polk. The House will Judge whether ar
r'gaied TO myself any skill 10 military affairs. Il was pre-
sumption, indeed, did 90, for have never attained 4,
the rank OF fenown U even "Duck river Colonel" Eu,
then my manhood was never. Ike Mr. Pok'-. c0u.np,s
re.s IN those fields. from which kept my person At the e
peuse Of my purse a. that gentleman is "a 10 hay.
done. As never shared, witnessed any of il
exploits WncH obtained Tor tlcif acHicyer he VI Ud
Hickory neither have claimed tbatany honors were due
Co me n young ckory" Twas because of this ac now,
edged ignorance ui mne instead of bpased Fcicucs m tt
art Of war; that thought myself bound 10 ask for sumo
proofs o. the eminent military ability was called on 10
ihnnk the President for the display Of, before did So
], however, thank the geueman from Gooehant for NOT
con'enung m'e with showing up my ignorance but that
he likewise condecended. is' display h. oyy IN t8y
knowcdRo' nshowing how the President r1
ncnt ability IN le conduct the war He has done b,.
way IN which his ducs q Washington would permit b 3,
90 show %, viz IN the plan Of the campaign and IN the
prompiucss and abundance with which he furnished The
means 20 accomplish rs ends But unfortunately for i.
Rentcnans argument, the Pfesden, hmse has through
ms intended Lieutenant General explicitly condemned the
plan OF the campaign erroneous. But the rentefp,o
says, no-ihe PRECEDENT merely 10 change the plan
Oi conducting the war 90 some respects and n1t 20 has
been we'll conducted 90 fer, ,,sI prove read VIZ Ben
tons letter differently That condemns tho whole plan Of
conducting the war aud ntmaios distinctly that we should
have concentrated our whole force Tremendous attack
on the centre OF Mexico instead Of wasting on ,ie OK
uemtcs and % a'so says ha, Nr Polk approves of the
views of that letter. THUS hass tl. most COM
elusive proof that even Mr. Polk himself b. now
that great error commiuc1 be- planning the whole
conduct ~ ihe and there abundant evidence before
The country that Scott and Taylor are Of the same opinion
Indeed THIS fas seemed 0 late 90 be the common
Of the country, and will probably remsin Co. notwthstsnd
ing The two great Ehts which shining on our mill
taTy Affairs from Page ard G1ochand. Since then 10 10
fancr TOO obvious tp need farther usclso1 that the or
gihal pan OF conducting The war wa wrong which
BE- indeed, admitted ~ extent BY the gentcuau him
SELL BY hs acknowledgement t1t TO- President wishes 10