The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-05


stout hearts, to vndicate the rights OF their country MT
presdent, know not if shall subject myself either IN
- excitement of debate or in the rabidness OF the press,
n the imPutaon OF can't II call your attshuon 10 one
" Inc acis VI the Congress OF 1872, py Whom me war
,,b Great Britain declared. III may De so mere
- no those who cannot into the feelings whlcp
onpted those statesmen in the enactment OF me resou
Ion 10 which about 10 refer, ana W no WIZ mol share
,h mo the feeling which demands my admiration Tor
her conduct Be il The act is recorded IN your
,nte hook and read it, Before the session OF s2-
- ,vbch war was declared against Great Brilan--hai
eA ias If the United States Here the honora
Se gentleman read the resolution, which appoint
sd day OF solemn humiliation ana prayer TO Almighty
Cd invoking his aid in their righteous struggle, and
NEEDY peace Sir, the statesmen OF that day looked to
b source OF protection and defence. They looked to
their own stout hearts and strong arms Tor the vndcaon
Of the rights of their country They did not dream OF
mon the God of their beng-this sense OF dependence
pon their Creator, was accompanied by the proud feeling
~ in dependence towards their fellowmen. The maxim
" No. aav was millions for defence "ay and in Just
" 80 Sor offence --''but not cent Tor trbnte"
%; the statesmen of that day could never have
consented 10 employ the public treasure, IN giving
tribute 10 their Toe. This is an aspect OF the quesi
bonor of the United States is involved IN this contest
hre already said that if the national honor depended
mon the manifestation Of military prowess, you have al
bs view Of ascertainng whether the mode OF termina-
inc The war; which is proposed IS IN accordance
with the proposition, that the national honor is involved
in This contest and whether such mode OF terminating
~ VIII conss with the national honor, ask you to
er what are the purposes for which we engaged IN this
war We met, as we aege, the hostility OF Mexico.
But we asserted, that we had existing causes OF war
ara;nst her What these causes' To en-
force the pecunary claims OF our citizens upon that
eoyernmen-to settle the boundary OF the State OF Tex
ss- NAV be- to manifest us resentment iorthe indIg-
nv off red to us bv the refusal OF Mexico 10 receive our
minister Now II these the causes OF the war-li
the national honor involved IN Their successful as
rton NAV be permitted to inquire, IN relation TO the
ire, how the attainment of that object consists with the
nn,nosa in the bill before us il object be TO secure
he lust claims of countrynen upon the government
of Meyico Surely it is not contemplated hat we should
pay TO the Mexican rulers, or the Mexcn government
three millions of dollars for the purpose OF inducing them
10 agree to pay back TO citizens the sums claimed by
them from that government Ii mat be the oblect,
much shorter and suer process might De adopea Ley
MS assume the claims of citizens and thus secure 10
them the receipt Of the money, whch would be rendered
very questionable apprehend, applied as secret service
money BY the payment OF over TO the Mexican govern
ment The first object OF this war could not therefore
be attained by the appropriation which is contemplated
bv this bill In relation TO that we are entitled to receive
and not TO pay And now, as TO the second ooJecl-e
settlement of the boundary OF lexas agree tnal ,il,S
the two countries | agree that the attainment
OF proper and desirable boundary Tor the State
of Texas may impose upon us the o6lgaon 70 make PEI
c,niary compensation Mexico Tor that extension OF
errory-and am perfectly content that that extension
should be made, and that that compensation should be
made The boundaries of Texas, as they were recos-
nised BY the republic OF Mexico and as they are pro,
claimed by the State of Texas are widely different II
BY negotiation with Mexico ii is possible to Obtain heI
assent TO an extension OF the boundary OF that republic 70
the Rio Grande as contemplated by the act OF the legs
atue of Texas, am perfectly content and content on
that basis pay to Mexico what she shall demand bu
the amount which be paid for such an extension OF
the boundary OF the Stale OF Texas Is an amount p
prehend to be paid under the stlpulatons OF treaty
which shall secure the accomplishment OF the OBJECT
and not which is 10 be distributed amongst the
Mexican rulers to be paid IN advance to the Mexican
government Now, sir, there remaining cause OF the
war That is, the ndgniy offered to the minister OF the
United States in the refusal to receive HIM or Presi
dent could be disposed to visit upon the then fres
dent of the Mexican republic, Herrera, whose govern
merit was totterng to its Ia | could be disposed &c
visit upon the Mexican nation the alleged lndig-
nifty offered by the functionary OF that Mexican GOV
eminent in refusing to receive minister oil the
United States which il probably entirely beyond bis
competency; and perhaps entirely inconsistent with nus
safety to do or il could hold the Senate responsible
for the subsequent refusal of the military usurper who
succeeded him. might be SO, although not among othe
nations considered legitimate cause OF war. let
that we might consider it the evidence OF an unirendll
disposition the part OF Mexico amounting to an lndi
nity if YOU please But admitting it to be ndignitS
in the utmost extent OF the terms, do you mean 10 pur
chase an apology for that ndgnty by the use OF these
three millions OF secret service money Mr; PTesldent
we learn in the discussion this subject that this mo
ney is not be employed in the iuhment OF treaty
be entered into with Mexico but that the object is to dis
pose the Mexican rulers to enter INTO such treaty
is not principle in the diplomacy OF the American
nation In the history OF our varied and multiplied nego
tatons with foreign powers, apprehend no instance
be found in which the national Legislature mas agreed
appropriate amount of money to be applied to dis
pose foreign government to enter into treaty with us
such as was contemplated in the present case do moi
understand that this money is TO be employed ior the pur
pose Of paying Mexico for any cessien which she may
make OF territory which we may desire TO possess put
as understand the chairman OF the COMMITTEE on or
egn Relations whose object s to place this money al
the disposal OF the President of the United States IN the
hope that by proper and ingenious OF 1t he may dis
pose the hearts of the Mexican rulers to make peace with
US,
Mr. SEVER VIII the senator allow me-
Nh. BERRlEN. Oh, certainly.
Mr.. SEWER do not suppose that any other senator
except the senator from Georgia understood my remarks
80. expressly said that these three millions OF money
were wanted for the purpose OF making an advance II
paI purchase OF cesson Of country that having Gone
So the cesson would be effected for the purpose oil IN
Identifying u.s. in part paying the expenses OF the war
Mr. BERRIEN. NJ Mr. President the senator iron
Arkansas has the perfect ghtt is cheerully accorde'
to him-to insist upon his understanding OF the Ian
guage which he used in the opening debate understand
In other form will understand it in no other form
than that which he chooses TO give it.
Mr. SEVER Win the senator quote the remarks
Mr. BERRIEN. | will endeavor to do it, if the pape
be handed me- but as some apology for the misappre
enslon--so must regard it after his explanatlon-intc
which | had fallen, | ask the Senate TO conslde
hat was expressly stated by the senator from Arkan
that he not authorized TO say to what extent tn
government would require accession by way of ndem
iy. but he supposed that the cession of New Mexic
nd Upper California, Mr. SEWER" Exactly 'l-w hlcl
hny senator would believe they were entitled TO re
Five by way of indemnity for the expenses OF the war
Mr. SEWER. 1t is all right, except the indemnity
Mr.. BERRlEN. Very well ii that is the least which
link entitled to receive, how can ii be otherwise
han for indemnity! Are we entitled to receive anyhi ne