The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-16

and privileges that derived FROM and enjoyed under
the constitution of the United States In all these pleas
The tide OF events rolled on and instead of the blessings
OF Tree government, they saw established in Mexico one
OF the most arbitrary and contemplate despotsms that
existed upon the face of The earth In this state of
things, true TO the instincts OF freedom and most of them
to the lessons they had learned and the principles they
had inherited from glorious ancestry, they determined
not to submit to the iron rod of desposm, but vnd-
cate their principles and defend their rights TO the last
tremity They struggled until the battle Of San Jacin-
to, when this despoc ruler became prisoner OF war,
and their independence achieved. San Jacnto was
to Texas what the memorable and glorious plains of
Little York to the United States. There her sainted
patriots rest in silent, honorable, and glorious graves
there her heroes sealed the freedom and independence OF
their country with their blood; and from there will the
spirit of maryred freedom continue to ascend up nvok
the blessing of Heaven to and perpetuate the
freedom they persisted TO achieve until the last shock of
time shall bury the nations OF the earth in undstngush-
ed ruin For nine years from the battle of San Jacnto
no hostile Mexican force invaded the soil Of Texas no
hostile Mexican hand raised against the people of
Texas by the authority of the Mexican government.
France England and finally by Mexico herself coupled.
to be sure, with condition which Mexico had no right
to impose, nor power to enforce
After all this had been DONE Texas applied for adms-
sion INTO the United States Owing to the novelty of the
proposition, and the decacy Of the relations existing
OF the injuries and insults had received from her, the
proposition was declined. Another proposition to the
same effect and having in view the same object, was
made at a later period and declined treaty for the
object was afterwards negotiated between the two
governments, which was every body knows rejected
g the Senate of these United States But the act of
nexaton finally passed, and Texas became, to all nens
and purposes one of the States of this Union. We did,
after their independence established and recognised
by the principal governments OF the EARTH admit kindred
blood, upon adjacent territory, into the Union And for
doing that have been charged with lust for terri
toral acquisition, and violation of the decalogue 1t is
idle TO pretend that marching the troops from Corpus
Christi to the Rio Grande the of the 1t
equally idle to talk about the disputed territory between
the Nueces and the Rio Grande There is no dispute
about that narrow strip any where except here The
Mexico claims the Sabine as hers The dispute there
fore, is for the whole of Texas Thus think have
shown that at the time TEXAS was annexed to the United
the States of this Union is of the OF Great Britain
But it is said that the annexation of Texas unconst-
tutonal. Admit it and what is that to Mexico' Sup
pose constitution forbade us to acquire territory from
any foreign nation upon any terms but that were to
acquire it from France Great Britain, would that be
any why Mexico should take upon herself to
wrest it from us, and to slaughter people upon it
Upon the principle she might contest right to the
whole OF Louisiana am not now going into any const
tuona argument upon this point 1t is not at all appro
pirate to the subject under consideration. Indeed,
sir had the ability, and taste for such discussions
20 not think should attempt to display the one or graft
fly the other much in this body Surrounded as am by
men venerable for their years, distinguished for their
great abilities, and rendered lusrous in their countrys
history by long lives of public service and devotion the
honor and the interests of their country say, surround
ed by such men, would i'll become me to open cons
tuona lecture upon point not at all involved or connect
said that this war might have been avoided have no
doubt but it might have been avoided But when and
how Certainly, most certainly, not by this admlnstra
ton, unless upon the instant of their coming into power
their very first act had been to set about undong what
their predecessors had done in the last hours OF their Off
cal existence The die was cast before this admlnstra
ton came into power.
Now sir, am not arguing for the purpose of bestow
ing upon one administration, or taking away from an
other, the credit of great only endeavor
ing to show that certain produced certain effects
effects which it was foreseen and ioretod il would pro-
duce. voted for the annexation of Texas in every form
in which it presented. But, you remember, Mr..
President that, at the time expressed my opinions as
to the mode, the manner, in which i should be ac-
complished, so as to avoid the evils under which
were admitted under the House resolutions, and be-
fore the question of boundary was settled with Mex
leo, that it would cost the United States 100000 900
The war could only have been avoided by the plan
which had some agency in preparing after every other
hopeless, and in favor of which offered my at
at the time. That plan was to appoint commissioners
toreceve cesson from Texas before she admitted,
get the control OF her Indian affairs purchase her lands
to avoid the conflicting operation of one land sys-
tenn in Texas and another in the United States, and to
settle the question of boundary with Mexico 1t is true
that the adoption of this might have delayed the
admission OF Texas into the Union for year. But II
would have been better TO do that said at the time
and now repeat than to have become involved in wal
and in expenditure OF hundred million of dollars
And is libel upon the people of Texas TO say that, II
she had not been annexed at the instant she would have
| sold herself to England That, in my deliberate ludg
men the only mode in which the could have
been avoided Everybody, who Knows anything oil my
opinions, knows, from the time the government of the
United States acted under the resolutions as they passed
the House of Representatives that considered war nev
liable. expressed that opinion here, expressed 1t else
where, ! expressed it everywhere. mention these
things, not for the purpose OF claiming the merit OF any
peculiar sagacity and foresight in the formation OF
poor opinions OF mine, but for the purpose of placing
great events in their true light and indicating the truth
| of political history. 1t was the nOtg policy
which prevented the removal of the for which
Mexico commenced war against So much for the
cause of the war come to consider the objects
with which il should be prosecuted, and for which IT
should be continued 1t is not my province to attempt to
unlock the secrets OF the prison house OF Mexico and
determine why she prosecutes the take her at her
word She has declared that her object in commencing
the to reconquer Texas If that be her object
would continue to prosecute it by all the means this
government command until she disavowed that
object | would prosecute 1t until she sued Tor
peace, until she agreed to indemnify us for the
expenses Of the war; and made provision for the payment
of the money she has so long unusty withheld from our
citizens And unless these objects could be accomplish
ed without t-and do not think they can-I would pros
ecue this war until planted the American standard upon
the walls OF the city of Mexico would perish upon
the spot where Guatemozin put to the torture and
expired upon the rack These the objects with which,
and the spirit in which, would prosecute the war
Mr. President, the honorable senator from Ohio in one
of the most extraordinary speeches ever delivered IN this
bodya speech Astounding wit eloluence, and poesy,
but my Judgment greatly deficient in patriotism and
proper respect for the constituted authorities OF the
inst but has characterized presidential war While
the war; the part of the United States has been thus
strongly characterized, and while the President has been
unusy charged with making II for the purpose OF graft
fying his own ambition, and from lust of gain,
told in the breath and from the that
those who have been fighting battles in the progress
of this war have covered themselves and their country
with jmpershable glory and renown How is this Z