Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-03-10


% tne PRESIDENT wanted these men and this
money for proper and laudable purpose, or not
ana with these old-fashioned ideas-quite as
unpopular fear with some on this side OF the
chamber as we ind them to be on the other
set myself to this painful investigation.
found not quite enough along with me to have
saved the unrighteous city of old. There were
not five of US, but only three And when these
votes were called, and was compelled to sep
crate myself from almost all around me, could
have cried, asd did the man of Uz in his affection
lathe elder time. What time my friends wax
warm they varnish, when it is hot they are con-
Sumed out of their places =
could not leave the position in which it had
pleased the State OF Ohio to place me, and re-
turned again and again to the original and pri-
mary and important inquiry-how is it that my
country is involved in this war? looked to
the Presidents account of it, and he tells me it
was war for the defence of the territory of the
United States FOUND it written in that Mes
sage. Mr.. President, that this war was not
sought nor forced upon Mexico by the people of
the United States. | shall make no ques-
tion of history or the truth ofhstory with my
master, the commandcr-in-chief, upon that par
.ticular proposition. On the contrary, could
verify every word that he thus utters. Sir,
know that the people of the United States neither
sought nor forced Mexico into this war, and yet
1 know that The President oftne United States
with the command of your standing army, did
seek that war and that he forced war upon Mex
Ice. l am not about to afflict the Senate with
a detail Of testimony on that point. will
amply state facts which few trust will be
found to deny.
One Of the facts, Mr. President, is this: That
in the year of grace 1886 the battle of San
L l. Al ~
No one here will doubt that fact. The result
OF that battle was that certain district of coun-
try calling itself Texas declared itself free and
independent Republic. hope the Senate will
pardon me for uttering thought or two which
strike me just now while | see the Senator from
Texas, the leader Of the men w ho achieved that
victory, before me. | wish to say word or
Or two about the great glory, the historical re-
newn, that is to come to the people of the Uni
ted States by the victories which we shall OBJ
tain over the arms and forces of the Republic
Of Mexico. Isuppose, Mr.. President, like all
other boys, in my early youth, when l had an
opportunity of looking at book called history
those which spoke of bloody battles and desola-
ting wars were most likely to attract my atten-
sisp, and with very limited means of ascertain
ing that portion of the history of the human
race, it nevertheless has impressed itself very
great wars, and, as the old maxim has t,ssma,,v
bare men, before Agamcmnon."
Sir, the worlds annals show very many fero-
cious siege, and battles, and onslaughts, before
San Jancinto, Palo Alto or Monterey. Gene
rails Of bloody renown have frightened the ma
tons before the revolt of Texas,or our invasion
Of Mexico and suppose we Americans might
properly claim some share in this material rep
utatioon, since it was won by our own kindred,
men clearly descended from Noah, the great
'spropositus" of our family, with whom we all
claim very endearing relationship. But
confess have been somewhat surprised of late
that men, read in the history of man, who knew
that war has been his trade for six thousand
years, prompted imagine by those ssnobe in
sfincts' spoken of by the Senator from Mch-
gan, )who knew that the first man born of wo-
man was a hero of the first magnitude that he
met his shepherd brother in deadly conflict, and
most heroically beat out his brains with club
II say, sir, am somewhat puzzled when
hear those who knew all these things we'll, new
ertheless shouting p@ans of glory to the Amer
lean name, for a few deeds of death which our
noble little army in Mexico have as yet been "a
Bic to achieve.
Dut, sir, let me recur again to the battle of
San Jacinto. The Senator from Texas (Mr.
Houston now in his seat, commanded there.
His army consisted OF about seven hundred men
These were collected from all parts of the Uni
ted States. and from the population of Texas,
then numbering about ten thousand SOULS
With this army, undisciplined, badly armed,
AMI indiherently furnished IN all respects, the
Senator from Texas conquered a Mexican army
81 about $500 men took their comma nder
Santa Anna then President of Mexico, prisoner
" tn the whole of his forces. Texas declared
her independence, and alone maintained it a
gsinst the power of Mexico for seven years, land
since that time has been State under the shield
AZ our protection. 1t lis against this same Mex
leo that twenty millions Of Anglo-Saxon Amer
jeans send forth their armies. The great North
American Republic buckles on her armor, and
her mighty bosoms heaves with the agucdia
crftdmiBis, asshe marches under her eagle ban
Bers to encounter foe who, ten years ago, was
whipped by an army of seven hundred and fifty
un5isciplined militia, and oereft of territory
larger than the empire of France, which her
conqueror held in her despite for seven years,
nai then quietly transferred her territory and
pswer to you. Sir, if the joint armies of the
United States and Texas are to acquire renown
by yanquishing Mexico, what honors are too
great to be denied to Texas for her victory O.
yer this Mexico ten years ago. Ifby vanquish-
ing such foe you are to win renown in war,
what laurels should you not wreath around the
bross of those who fought at San Jacinto, es-
pecially when History tells of the killed and
wounded in the latter fght-ohe records that
iust three were killedin mortal combat, whilst
two died of their wounds s'when the battle
vas done r. Oh Mr.. President, does it indeed
become this great Republic to cherish the hero
ic wish to measure arms with the long since
conquered, distracted, anarcbc and miserable
Mcxico!
Sir. President, trust we shall abandon the
lice, the heather, barbarian notion, that our
trrc national glory is to be won or retained by
military prowess or skill in the art of destroy
ing life. And, whilst cannot but lament, for
tse permanent and lasting renown of my coun-
srv, that she should command the service of her
chilisen in what must consider wanton, uu-