Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-02-26
NEW SERIES,.--No. 3J

tn, sincerity of public men--a bter satire upon
the gravity of all public officers
Great God Mr.. President. is it possible that
the American people give countenance to this
arocious fa'sehood that you were about to inter.
p Ilatc into the history OF this country and write
it down as a fact. when the whole world, and
everybody, and you yourselves. acting, as it may
be. on that very falsehood knew that what is sta
ted there is not true
Mr.. President, there Is absent today Senator
from the other side of the Ilo s. whose presence
would Afford me. as it always does-5ut parti-
cularly on this occasional most singular era.
titicaton. aude to the Senator from Missou-
ri who sits larthcst from me Mr. Bpnton) Ire
member. Mr.. President he arose in this body and
|, performed great act of justice to himself and
his country--of justice to mankind. for all men
are interested in the truths of history--when he
declare it TO lie his purpose, for the sake of the
ruth OF history. to set !, git ,me gentlemen. on
. the other side OF the Inuse "a .espect to the ter.
rtory of Oregon. which then threatened to dis
: turb the peace OF this Republic with the King.
4 dom OF Great Britain wished it had pleased
+ him to have performed the same good offices on
j this occasion.
/. wish it had been so if he could have found il
' consonant with his duty to his country that now
! while engaged with an enemy whom we have
no reason to fear As being able to check our
progress or disturb our internal peace. for the
= justice and the interest and peace eff those two
? countries, England and America, he had come
forward to settle. the truth OF history in respect Ia
: the territorial boundary Texas which our Pre-
sident said was the Rio Bravo--the " Rio del
Norte. as it is sometimes call d. ] express
this wish for no purpose of haunting the Senator
/, from Missouri. or leading him to believe that
would draw his name into the discussion for any
r other than the most sacred purposes which can
animate the human u ,Snm--'h1t of lnyinp truth
established, for really believe that that is true
; winch the Senator from Michigan stated yes
terday that the worst said in the Senate is, that
i much ight he said on both sides a laugh)
! cannot view it in that way. Much may be
y said, much talk may be had on both sides on any
. question but. that this Is a dsputabc matter
: about which man could apply his mind for an
n hour and still be in doubt, is to me an nscruta-
i bic mystery.
e | wish to invoke the authority of the Senator
t from Missouri. When about to receive Texas
i into the United States he offered resolution to
IS this effect
IS Here the Honorable Senator read the Reso.
Re luton offered by Mr.. Benton. pending the Re.
g solution for the Annexation of TaXa9.
e Now what did that mean Did the Senator
: from Missouri believe that he was light when no
= made that statement, Didhe believe that it was
: true tina; the right bank of the Rio del Nortc did
e belong t. Mexico, and that so it would be an act
u of insult ?--'Thc mere treaty. he saws. would
be an act OF direct aggression upon Mexico, for
II all the Consequences Of which We would he
a held responsible. Mr.. President. we have at
4 tempted to incorporate into this Republic ter
r. ritory on the left bank of the Rio del Norte, and
&c the consequences have come upon us.-lt was
at an act of aggression. as the Senator from Mis-
lr souri, denounced It in that Resolution. We have
e attempted to do it. Now * it for an humble
= man like me. who stand, here like the poor pub
lican of old, and does not pretend to be one OF the
:. Phari-cc> that know all things. and are better
It all mcn--that smites his bosom ard says,
II = God, be merciiul to me. a poor Wing us it
: for me. when these appointed High Priests of
G the Temple Of Democracy hold two different
1t stories--to judge between them
Is it for me to say that the President of the
United States has told the truth and that the
:, Senator from Missouri has lied 1t is not a
q controversy between the President ofthe United
y States and me. LISA controversy about u mat
ter fact and truth of history about which. the
: Senator from Missouri has declared that il is a
i part Of the Republic of MeXico.-Ths very
y y country. which your President in this document
y OF his which mast have passed into the political
history Of Congress for what it is worth, has de-
clarrd to be a part and parcel of the State Of
;, Texas, ard always s, and that there orr h mar.
= chel an army in its defence and expelled the enc
my. Why sir, who did he eXpel lie found
upon HlIlh OF tlt TNeT. at
- San Isabel, and yet 10 American property. And
!, how was your American army received
- Why. the population fed: and here it is said
u t at for ten years, ever since 1896 before the
y Republic of Texas, up to 1913, and whole
year liter her annexation. there was scuundrcl
ola Mexican in tina, custom house levying du-
: ties upon everybody that traded therc.--(A
!: laugh.)
d This Republic Of Texas must have been
strangely negligent of her State rights should
think men violent in fighting fer their rights,
might have fought little about that 1t was
: McXicans who were there. What is the fact,
then Gen. Taylor marches there with his army
, TO protect the possessions of the United States,
and the people of that territory set tire to the
town of Isabel and run away from it. What
harmonious Republic You had When YOU
. came bristng in arm---your banner waving in
the wind--your eagle Speeding il wings for the
, protection OF all your citizrns--your Anglo Sax
/ on Republican is alarmed at tine sight OF
{ this illu>triouS bann-r that he sets fire to bis
dwelling and runs away from you as from sa-
4 wage! a laugh.)
: This isso utterly and apparently contradictory
a to public documents. that do not wonder il has
= not been investigated nor would | probe this
miserable mass o.! nth and toculence and false
Q hoodli II were not tina, have been arraigncd
p here, and hy my own brethren toby those of
t the hypothesis that this left bank Of the Rio
? Grande be not Texas or United States pronerty.
II all turns upon that. Not Il man in North
4 America who has a regard for the RIGHT of ma
u tlois-l say more. no man who regards truth
and honor, docs believe that the mnrchiur of
your army was into Il neghborng Republic but
/. Will agree there is only one course left. You
must call Your army back Nou must unless
YOU are willing 10 he though, a rohber-an inva-
d'd OF your neighors-you must recall that army,
Il trace your steps-and if your President asks
I OF me men and money to prosecute the war,
with Gods assistance and my own poor facu,.
ties, he shall have neither men nor money to pro-
secute any such purpose.
word on the proposition before you Three
m lions OF money are to he appropriated and
here we labor under difficulty. The Chair
man OF the Committee of Foreign Relations
tells Us that he has every reason 10 believe that
! peace can be olttned il we grant this apprcnria
ton. What reason have YOU Mr. Chairman.
for that opinion! Facts which cannot dis.
close to you-correspondence which it would b,
improper to name here-ftcts which know. but
wllch You are nat permitted tn know. have sa-
usted the Committee that peace NAV by pur-
chased ifyou will but gramthese three millions