Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-01-30

aue-HoFc earnestly talKcO ABOUT, us
| understand than faithfully kept-we
have as yet done emphatically moth
ing-in speaking of the war upon a
large scale which can be said to have
crippled the resources of Mexico. BY
a capitulation which was regarded as
just md wise, the Mexicans retired
from Monterey with almost all their
arms and munitions of war. The mu-
nitions of war which remained in that
place were those of which Mexico had
least need, and which she is able to
furnish readily. | repeat this for the
purpose of urging upon the House the
fact that, as yet, we have done COM
paratively nothing to conquer peace.
All yet remains to be done; and | now
advance to the question, how, under
stand, that the President Of the Uni
ted States has called out nine or ten
additional regiments. Am | correct.
"a voice Yes) understand that
regiment has been ordered from Louis
ana, another from North Carolina, an
other from Virginia, another from
Massachusetts, and that they are not
YET formed. North Carolina is scarce
ly yet awake. Massachusetts, and
the other States are not yet ready; but
suppose they all fill up and GO; and
supposing, again, on their rolls there
are no men of straw, as | undertake to
say that there are often in volunteer
regiments, it will be about 1000 adj
ditional men. When will they get
there? And when they get there how
many men will they be able to con-
centrate and advance towards the city
of Mexico? ] designate it SO, whether
you 90 by Vera Cruz to the south, or
by San Luis Potosi to the north. |
understand, from reliable sources, that
Santa Anna has near twenty-five
thousand men in high state Of dis
cipline and military preparation
They are the clergy, the land holders,
the men of the old revolution. Even
the Mexican women are kindling into
zeal, and burn with desire to repel
the lawless invaders of their territory.
Sir, there is another thing to be con-
sidered. Whenever the advance is to
be made, it is to be made this winter;
and for reasons which must be obvious
to every member of this House. Less
than six monts ago you sent into the
field some twenty-six regiments filled
with high hope, ready to peril wealth
and reputation and life, not in defen-
sive. but in an invasive war, not for
their own homes and theirown hearths,
but for the honor of the American
name, and the glory Of the American
arms. Alas, how many of those who
never saw battlc--who never cast a
stern glance at any foeman in the field
how many of these are sleeping the
sleep of death on the banks Of the
Rio Grande! Their bosoms heaved
with high hope--light was their meas.
ured footsteps when they went to seek
the foe. But
"rhey did not fall in eager strife
Upon well-fought field;
Not from the red wound poured their life,
Where covering foemen yield
TIL archangel's shade was slowly cast
Upon each palid brow,
But calm and fearless TO the last,
They sleep securely now"
There are the bones of nearly two
thousand men, with the best blood of
this country now resting on the bank
of the Rio Grande, who never saw AN
enemy-never had an opportunity to
strike that blow which they desired
for their country and their race. For
this am inclined, at this moment at
least, to blame nobody.
It's almost impossible to appreciate
properly the difficulty of any cam
paign; at least it is almost impossible
for those who at ease sit in their own
homes to do so; but Of all it is most
impossible to appreciate the difficulties
of campaign in an unknown country,
and sickly climate, and in an unpre-
pared condition.
The regiment with which j have
been associated went to the field with
eight hundred and thirty men, young,
hearty, gallant adventurous young
men. Five hundred Of them, at least,
were young men who either lived in
their homes acquired by their own
labor, or residing in the domestic cir
Gle Of their father in the same situation
OF life.
Seven hundred Of them could have
earned at home more than three times
as much as the government could
promise them. Sir, Of these eight