Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-13

gle exception OF the act OF the 18th OF May, 1885, upon which
he did not He did not for that bill because It re-
qured him to affirm what he did believe to be true.
proposed provide for reinforcing and Strengthening our army
then within the confines of Mexico and apparently endan-
geed by what appeared to be overwhelming superiority
of numbers He did not indeed share the apprehensons thai
were entertained the fate Of the army for he had abb
ding confidence in the skill and gaany OF its leaders, IN
bravery of the soldiers and in the patriotism Of both He
had moreover read the story OF San Jacnto and ne had o
ed his estimate of the efficiency OF the Mexican army
even under the guidance Of its most distinguished leaders
But the bill proposed relieve the army from the difficulties
which menaced them and although he believed that the
lief would reach them before their fate would be decided
vet he DESTROYS reinforce them and to enable them to
avoid the eson Human blood he had refused to vote against
the measure although for the he had stated he could
for it, He entertained them now, the belief the
conviction that had been unnecessarily involved in this
war with Mexico; he satisfied that had been reluctant
act of that Government, forced upon them by military
movement part. He convinced then, as he
convinced that the order given by the copmande
chief Of the American amy to march to the Rio Grande in
January last the real of the and though he
had official statement that the grew out Of the in
dgnes that had been heaped upon by Mexico and her
intention to invade in order to regain the dominion of Texas
he desired to- call the attention of the Senate the fact
that early the preceding june the 18th of June l845,
order from the War Department addressed to Gen. lay
or and marked ascondenta but subsequently communicated
U.S. it there distinctly nmated to him, when ordered to
take up his line of march from his cantonmen that his u
mate destination the Rio Grande its vicinity. And yet
they told that the order issued in January, 1896
issued under the pressure of ndgncs that had been offered
to by Mexico, refusing to receive minister, and me
naces OF hosties on her part Sir said Mr. B., take from
that allegation the foundation which refer To
the order emanatng from the War Department in June and
reiterated in January, by which distinctly avowed that
the ultimate destination of the army the Rio Grande,
which Texas claimed the boundary of her territory In
July, ls45 the order far modified this The pre-
cedng order OF June had announced that the Rio Gande
the destination Of the army without qualification In the order
July, which followed it, the commander Of the army
told that Mexico had certain possessions of the Rio
Gande and in the advance of the army the place OF its
ultimate destination, these possessions must be nerered
with 1t seemed TO him, with these documents before him. that
the war IN which we were involved therefore,
utng from the order given by the President of the United
States for the advance OF the army from Corpus Christi the
Rio Grandean order given early the preceding June
For the advance of the army the Rio Grande the erection
Of FORTS and the pointing Of upon the Of
Matamoos, indication of ntent-no, not indca-
ton Of INTENT but act of hostility, which the real orr
gin and commencement of the And he would put the
question to Senator's and 10 the American people, whether
they would not have construed such movement the
Of Mexico, of any other nation act of hostility to
Us In the contest between Great Britain AMI ourselves in
relation to the northeastern boundary, had she advanced her
army erected FORTS and planted her in contiguous
villages, would have waited till she applied the match
her cannon before commencing war Should complain
them that the feeling which existed with ourselves should
have existed on the part of Mexico Should complain
that the Mexican people participated in the common feelings
Of our nature
this but existed, had been recognised by Congress
they had bound themselves by pledge given the
$40 vigorously to prosecute it to successful termination
lie was willing to participate in the lot to partici
pate might be dependant him. that portion of the
duty which devolvcd upon him in the redemption of that
pledge He willing them he repeated the men
md the money that might be necessary for the prosecution OF
this the termination of by negotiation, by any
honorable which Senators might advise But when
he thus avowed his determination strengthen the Of
he commandern chief OF the army and navy Of the United
States in this with Mexico, he did yield his
judgment unreservedy his bidding. As Senator Of the
State OF Georgia. he had right TO yell without reflection,
without examination, without debate TO the demands of thu
Executive for the prosecution of this although he held him
self bound to strengthen bis by all us,habe The
recommendations of the Executive for the prosecution of this
differed particular, but by the intensity Of interest
which should excite from the other recommendations which,
in the discharge Of his official duty, he might make to the
Congress of the United States. He IMMERSED in military
matters and not competent in his unaded Judgment
determine the efficient mode Of terminating the
He willing therefore, to receive information from any
quarter from which could be derived and defer his opinion
to the information which he might receive.
But the doctrine which here and elsewhere advanced
upon this subject to him startling than thousand
wars-more startling than with the most powerful
ton under heaven That doctrine was that the power OF
Congress overhs upon the declaration
war; except might be necessary for them to furnish the
for its prosecution, the bidding Of the Executive Of
the country. The President Of the United States required
loan for the purpose of carrying the war; His Secretary
OF Finance announced his wishes and expressed his belief
that this loan might be obtained upon the terms proposed and
they told deliberately told thath all they had need
ask The President required il his Secretary thought he
could get and without considering the purposes which
to be applied without abiding the condition the
conduct of the they told that they had nothing
to do than grant what required without entering
into discussion Of the objects purposes 10 be accomplish
ed by it, The President also wanted addition to the mill
ay forces and his Secretary his duty announced
it, and they expected give what thus asked with
out question and without debate. And the President
without authorizing person to express the wishes he
ertaned nmated his desire TO have three millions Of money
appropriated for secret service money. This desire he
nounccd in person. at least by his autograph commune
rfior they must yield to his Demand he could terminate
the II the doctrine that the power Of Con-
exhausted by the oct OF declaring IL IL
that the responsibility Of conducting prosecuting the
war; and determining the and purposes for which il
should be prosecuted devoved exclusively upon the Pres
dent then he agreed the conclusion Also that the
sponshly his the power 10 discharge himself from that
responsibility also he his But, If this doctrine
true what the character Of the Government under which
we live II degenerated into military republic at the
moment declaration Of made with military dicta
tor at its head This doctrine arose. in his apprehension,
from misconcepon Of the constitutions and he hoped the
Senate would hesitate moment TO put great constitn
tiona question, which dear TO them eemen that
basis on which truth and Justice and ought to place it.
The war power which delegated by the trainers Of this
constitution was vested in the Congress of the United States
The power was vested in them not only for determining the
which should induce its inception but was vested in
them for the purpose Of experimenting its prosecution and
from time to time investigating the objects and purposes
sought by the Of the public forces to accomplished
Let us (pursued Mr.. consider this for moment Let
in