The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-24

dent commander chief of a large detachment of
the army and navy of the United States He was Pres
dent General of land and sea forces made so by the
senator from South Carolina with authority to fghihem
against Mexico with whom at peace-an office
and authority rather above that of lieutenant general =!
and indebted to the forbeaance and prudence Of
President Houston for not mourning the in 1914,
which fell upon us IN 1916.
| The treaty rejected by the Senate; but so appre
hensve the senator OF immediate war; that besides
keeping the deachments OF the army and navy at their
posts, messenger was despatched with deprecatory
letter 10 Mexico, and, report sand the offer of large
OF money TO purchase peace from her, by inducing
her 10 treat for boundary which would leave Texas
within our limits. This was report; and | would mot
mention IT. If the senator not present to contradict il
if not correct Report at the time said from five ten
millions of dollars from one of Mr. Shannons letters,
we may set down at ten millions Be il either sum- it
will show that the senator then secretly willing
pay immense sum TO pacify Mexico, although he
declares that he does not know how he will vote in
laton to the three millions responslbly asked by Mr.
Polk
The secretary knew that he had made war with Mex
icothat in accepting the gage three times laid down. he
had Joined issue which that compound of Celtic blood
called Spanish would redeem knew il, and said il on
this floor in secret sessionor did not then choose TO
say il in public-tha if there was but one man of that
| blood in all Mexico, and he no bigger than Gen Tom
Thumb, he would fight Senators will recolect it, [Mr
NAHGUM nodded assent
now come to the last act in this tragedy OF
the alternative resolutions adopted by Congress in the
last days of the session of ls4445 and in the last
mens OF Mr. Tylers administration A resolve, single
and absolute had been made by the House of Representa-
tWes il to this body; and alternative resolution
was added, subject to the choice of the President,
thorzng negotiations for the admission and appopnatng
Slo0Oooto defray the expenses OF these negotiations
senator from North Carolina, not member of
this body but who have the pleasure sitting
me, MIR HaYwooDl knows all about that alternative
resolution, and his country owes him good thanks
for his abors about IT. II was considered by every
| body, that The choice between these resolutions
belonged TO the new President who had been elected
| and who already in the city, awaiting the
ing of the 18th of March to enter upon the execu-
ton of his duties, and upon whose administration all the
evils OF mistake in the choice of these resolutions
to fall We all expected the question be left open
the new Presidents and so strong that expectation
and so strong the feeling against the decency propriey
OF interference the part of the expiring administration
to snatch this choice outot the hands of Mr. Polk that
on mere suggestion of he possibility OF such pro
in the relation personally and politically and locally to
feel for the honor of the then Secretary OF State, declared
was the word and that was the declaration of gentle
man OF honor and PATRIOTISM no longer member OF thus
body but who has the respect and best wishes of all who
ever knew him. speak of Mr.. McDutfe, and quote
his words heard al the time and as since printed and
published by others. Mr.. McDuffie was mistaken
They did have the audacty. The did do it rather,
BILE that Mr. Tyler nothing, III anything that related
to the Texas question: from the time OF the arrival OF his
Secretary OF State His last act, in relation to Texas
the agent Murphy, denying his right TO lend
forces TO the President of Texas fight the Mexcans
while we were at peace with them the reversal of that
answer by his secretary the extinction of his pow
over the Texas question HE the then Secretary of State,
the present senator from South Carolina TO whom address
myself did it. On Sunday, the second day of March,
that day which preceded the last day of his
thority-and on that day, sacred TO peace-the
Gil sat, that acted the resolutions; and in the
darkness OF night bowling with the storm, and bat
ting with the elements, il Heaven warred upon the
audacious act for well do remember it,) the fatal mes
senger was sent off, which carried the selected resolution
TO Texas. The act was then done Texas was admitted:
all the consequences OF admission were incurred
and especially that consequence which Mr. de Became
era had SenSuneed and which our Secretary had ac
the status beAt created-and that by the
operation of our own constitution, well by the filed
declaration OF Mexico: for Texas then being admitted
into the Union, the with her extended to the whole
Union and the duty of protecting her. devoved upon the
President of the United States The selection OF the alb
resolution Tor negotiation defunct the only mode of
admission the absolute one, and il made war The
war was made to Mr. Folks hand his administration
came into existence with war upon IFS hands, and under
the constitutional duty protect Texas at the expense of
war with Mexico and to that point, all events rapidly
tended The Mexican minister, General Almontc, who
had returned Washington city after the rejection of the
treaty of annexation, demanded his passports and left
the United States The land forces which had been adj
vanced to the Sabine, advanced to Corpus Christi
the Mexican troops moved towards the Rio Grande: the
fleet which remained at Vera Cruz, continued there
commerce died out the citizens of each country left the
other, far as they could angry denuncations filled
the press of each country: and when minister was
sent from the United States, his reception refused
The state OF war existed legally: all the circumstances
OF war, except the single circumstance OF boodshed
listed at the accession OF Mr. Polk and the countries,
Mexico and the United States, stood in relation to each
other impossible to be continued The march upon the
Rio Grande brought on the conflct--nade the collision
of arms-but not the The prepared, or
gained, established by the Secretary of State before he
left the department 1t was his legacy TO the democracy,
and TO the Polk adminstraon-hs last gift 10 them, in
the moment of taking long farewell. And now he sets
up for of peace. and throws all the blame of war
upon Mr. Polk, to whom be bequeathed it.
Cicero says that Antony, flying from Rome to the camp
OF Cesar IN Cisalpne Gaul was the cause OF the civil