The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-03-23
SPEECH OF.
Mr.. SOLOMON FOOT,
OF VERMONT,
on THE CHRACTER AND OBJECTS
SPEECH OF.
MEXICAN WAR.

Deiirered in The House of Representatives Of
the United States. Feb. 10, 1917.
The House having resolved itself into Com
mitIee ofthe Whole on The state of the
Union. and having under consideration the
Bill making further provision for The ex
penses attending the intercourse between
the United States and foreign nations
MIR. FOOT, Of Vermont, having Obtained
the floor, addressed the Commute as follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN 1t has been my purpose
for some time past, 10 address the House. in
some general views, upon the character and
purposes ofthe Mexican war. Perhaps no
more fit occasion can be presented than by
the bill before us. which proposes to place in
the hands Of the President three millions Of
dollars 10 secure peace, by means not less
dis no noroble, | fcar,r those by " hich the
war itself was incurred. 1t is nv fortune Ia
be of the number of those who maintain that
The war i'll which The country is now engaged
with Mexico. might and ought to have been
avoided and that, if wise and considerare
counsels had prevailed in the Executive de-
partment of our Government. it would have
been avoided. / hold that it was unmecessa-
ry for The redress of any wrongs we NAV
have suffered, or 70, the assertion Of an,
rights which may have been nfringed. Mos,
of all was IL unnecessary for the vindication
o. our national honor. | believe that all our
differences with Mexico, whether in relation
10 the question Of boundary, or in relation to
the question OF indemnify for spoil,lions
might have been satisfactorily and honorably
settled without 4 Resort 10 arms. ! assert.
moreover, and challenge investigation 10 the
truth of the assertion, that lbs " ar resulted
not from the act of Mexico, but froGi The un
authorized and unconstitutional acts o; cur
own Executive Government. These are my
own deliberate and settled opinions, The ir
resistiblc convictions of my own judgment.
after the most careful and thorough exami-
nation of the subject, and therefore iesi-
tate not to declare them. do not forget
that the expression Of sentimcnts or opinions
like these has been charged in high quarters
and in iow quarters, as treason TO the coun-
r., coucho in the equivalent language Of the
Constitution, as giving aid and comfort TO
the enemy. / remember that an honorable
gentleman from New York. (Mr. Strong. J
who addressed the House OH yesterday: as
sumed 10 administer a rebuke 10 those on
this side of the Hall, who choose TO take ex-
cepton 10 the accusation, and to admonisb
US that VIC should show better spirit than TO
indulge in what he is pleased to call an
abuse of the President by repeling and
denouncng the charge. ! admire the hon
orable members kind dispositions, but
must reject his counsels, because they incul-
cate spirit of serviliry utterly abhorrent to
all my sentiments Of persona! independence.
The Constitution of the United States has
made il The duty Of the President TO lay be-
fore Congress an expose of the state and
condition fpubic affairs, foreign and do
mestic, and 10 recommend such action as in
his iud sment shall best advance the public
veal. BUT, where is il mnde his duty, in his
official communications with the national leg
islature, TO impugn The motives of those no
may chance to entertain and express views
counter TO his own, upon a great national
question which concerns and agiiates the
country! Where does Inc find authority OF
precedent for SEEDING into these legislative
halls bulletin of denunclatlon against any
portion of the American people, or tfeir
| representatives, who may have formed and
expressed opinions not IN conformity with
such as he processes to entertain. IN relation
to the origin, the justice, or the necessity o:
| The war IN which Inc couulry is Ih'oi'eu'd"u
whose life blood is flowing in It's prosecu-
toni
When the Chief Magistrate oflbis Repub
lie shall become so far unmindlul Of the dig
nifty and prophecies Of his station, when he
shall so far disregard the ordinary cowtesles
aud decorum which belong TO the official IN
tercuurse of one department of tlr Govern
ment with another. as to assume the ch"rdc-
ter of a volunteer accuser Of any potion oil
his feIlow-citizens with a hostile intent a.
geinst their own Government, and with aud
Ing and abetting the public enemy, and iol
no other reason than that they have inteiii-
geuce to form, and independence 10 speak
their opinions upon question OF vital ane
momentous interest to the public, how shall
the audacious insaltbe met! How ought i