The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-06


poured out his prophetic warnings against the danger OF
subversion OF all our free institutions and did TO
sympafhze deeply with the unfortunate Mexcans upon
their loss of tertoy whether the unprecedented danger
TO our liberties by military usupers was from Gen Polk
Gen. Taylor, Gen. Kearny, Commodore Stockton, |
did not exactly understand; but all events the Presl-
dent was responsible. Without knowing (or presume,
caring mnch) whether Gen Kearny acted upon his own
responsibility under the orders of the President, or
whether he oyerrunning Texas Mexico, this gen.
tleman seemed equally disposed to find fault and dscov
cred querulous disposition nearly akin to that unfortu-
nate wight who after breaking "Dana's paies, reeng
homeward, muttered he went " Ii find my wife abed
I'll punish her What right has she to go to bed before
come home' II find her up, I'll punish her. What
right has she to burn wood and candle at this time OF
night p tfy
Apoher argument and one which seemed to have great
weight with the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. ScnEScY,l
was, that Santa Fe being on the east side Of the Rio
military government had been established there, Was
it not in the armed occupation of the enemy And it
nu e bs 81 e and to proys for he safety Of his
my, and some government for the inhabitants!
| Has General Kearny done anything more'
If the English forces should get possession OF any
portion of the Empire State, and be driven oas have
no doubt they woud-shoud not the officer IN
command provide by military law, for the retention OF
the territory, and the safety of his army and the nhab
tants
| Were gentlemen sincere in their fears of military
patons or jealous Of the rights and privileges OF that
lone star, whose admission into glorious consea-
ton of free States they violently opposed would 1t
not have been becoming TO have waited for the IN
formation they much desired that they might act adj
vsedly and let their vengeance fall on the guilty head
Do gentlemen suppose il is easy penetrate the veil
But one honorable member Mr. DARRAGH, of Pennsyl
vania] gave us the real objection to the message. He
characterized it appeal TO the people, demago
gush, and entirely unbecomng the Chief Magistrate
Sir, in matter vitality important in which every man.
woman, and child, may say, IS so deeply Interested II
not only the right but the solemn duty of the Pesi
dent to set forth clearly and strongly the accumulated
list of injuries and wrongs which had induced this war
decent regard to the opinions OF the world and the re-
"a, nd vcifIZ mo1af MS
imperative duty to show that this country engaged
in no unhoy war; that the citizen soldier might feel IN
his own heart the consciousness that thrice is he armed
that hath his quarrel just and most fully has he done
it, and that country has noby responded 10 the appeal
Full three hundred thousand men, from all quarters OF
our Unon have different times volunteered their
vices and many will be found, if necessary, TO
redress the accumulated wrongs OF years.
1t was the complete and satisfactory vndcaton OF our
country that drew forth all these fears of military des
pots, and such sympathy for the Meyicans.
1t was the apprehension that the whole country, with
out distinction OF party, would rally around the Exec-
tive and show to other nations that however might
quarrel little petty jealouses and grievances
against hostile foe could still present undivided
front, and be united as one man.
Ii was to couneract the effect of that able message
upon the American mind that this whole has been
COTTON up; and with all the scrutnzng keenness with
which il has been examined, "acM dnrious 10 find
out some far that IS not there, the graves charge that
is made is, that it is too demagOgush.
My friend from Massachusetts,, [Mr. WINTHRoPl who
masters every subject he investigates has Also looked
to this message with some care, and has discovered
what That the President wanted the irmness to rec
ommend tax tea and coffee, though that what
everybody knew ne meant sr II ne fes%ent nad rec
grave denuncatons should have heard from that very
quarter for an attempt to dictate to the representatives OF
tax 10 be levied And the other charge, equally grave
is, that this message unusually long and that since the
days of the second Adams there has been fearful in
crease in the length of the Executive communications
and corresponding encroachment upon the Liberties OF
the American people, the liberties of the country,
suppose will be found in the inverse ratio of the length
OF the messages.
These constitute the and substance of the objec
tons urged against the message by the very abes gentle
men in the opposition. What will the sensible and
fleeing portion of the American people say to ths Why,
sir if nothing graver than this be made, they will de-
eide unanimously that the President has made most sat
isfactory and triumphant vindcaton OF his whole course
in this Mexican war, from the beginning to the end.
| Another gentleman, from Tennessee, MIR GENTRY,l
who, it seems, stands upon his mete and his patriotism
has severed the .Gordian knot" and answered the
statements, and making question OF veracity between
them My friend from Indiana, [Mr, KENNEDY,l has
satisfactorily answered all that part OF his speech There
is one admission in Mr.. G!'s speech upon which |
desire to make single observation. That gentleman
admitted it general principle, that when a country
was actually engaged in war it was not the proper
time to indulge reflections the public
ellis in the conduct of the war, but all should make
with cheerfuness all necessary sacrifices to carry the
thought the present case formed exception. Why,
sir this declared with q unanmity rarely
seen in the Congress OF the United States, even
on the most unimportant matter. On the contrary,
never had patriotism been so little taxed. Our com
merce has suffered no injury; our ships float on
every sea, without fear molestaon The price OF all
our domestic products sufficiently remunerates the planter
for his labor Our soil is in danger of INVASION Ag-
riculte commerce, and manufactures all reaping
rich harvests notwithstanding the repeal of the tariff,
and the war Nothing can be found even in the ncidcn
tai effects of the war, to justify the most garruous In
the slightest reproach or complaint.
Mr. Chairman will not occupy the time of this COM
mnee, weaken the argument OF the President, by a
repetition but if the long catalogue OF injuries upon
commerce. and insults and robbery upon fellowciti
dressed if the withdrawal of the Mexican minister from
our court and the contumelious rejection of own
from theirs il the repeated bOmbasc menaces to
qucr Texas to the Sabine and the solemn announcement
that this question could be settled except by the
last argumenthe ultima ratio Tegun-l say, if all these
to march upon disputed territory to which il is admit
ted we have certainly much right Mexico, it must
be that the Executive attached importance to her i'm
potent and absurd threats; that they too contempt
bic and unworthy of belief, that nation has shown
herself in her intercourse with every other nation and
that little faith could be placed in her to fight
as her promises to pay
These orders to march upon the Rio Grande mat
ter of public notorety to all the world and before ay-
lor and his gallant little band reached that point where
was the call for informationl Why were all your elo.
quent tongues dumb, when they could have been used
aging the enemy Then you should have spoken. or
forever held your peace. There time for all things
Before the war; or after the war; either would have been
proper and patriotic. No; you remained silent the
grave II is not until your gallant little army s sur
rounded by thrice their numbers OF reacherous and
perfidous enemy, who violate without conjunction all
laws human and divine, in their warfare; worse than
tho native American sayages with their poisoned balls,