The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-20
SPEECH OF THE HON. DANIEL WEBSTER
The Passage of the Ten Regiments Bill.
TslIRTIETu CONGRESS-.
FIRST SESSION.
Scnnts.

piuk and blue bounets, over the border and on the
sofas below outside Of the outer circle Of tho Senators
Mr. Webster expected to speak day, and the ladies
desire to hear his solemn thunder
MORNING BUSINESS.
During the morning hour, the following resolution, by
MIR. CLARKE. came up -
Received That the President of the United States DO
requested to transmit to the Senate copy of "a
spach to the United States Consui at Monterey, r.
Lsrkn. Esq forwarded in November, lsi5, by Capt
Gillespie. OF the Marine oorpo and which was by him
destroyed before entering the port of Vera CRUZ
Mr.. AANsEsAS desired to know what application that
resolution had to the business Of the Senate
MIR. CLARKE explained that the paper asked for was
the copy letter which had lost or destroyed by
Capt Gillespie and that 1t had important bearing
upon the subject of the claius which had arisen Cali
forpa growing cut of the late civil and military opera
We had had document printed Of the evidence upon
those claims but it important to have ell the nfor
nation that existed in relation to them. In the bin re-
Gently brought before the Senate these claims
vded for to the extent of $7000 600 We want sir all
the information touching the state of affairs they
existed n California and in explanation of the
which have recently taken place. Mr. e. had otjec
ton to giving the discretion In furnishing or
declining to furnish the letter, IS the public Interest
Mr. HANSEaAN suggested On amendmentt to wit: "or so
much thereof he may deem consistent with the pub
lie Interest,"
The amendment was accepted and the resolution
agreed to.
POSTAL coRREsPoNpENcr.
The following resolution, offered by MIR. NILES, was
muncate to the Senate copies of the correspondence be-
tween the minister Of the United States at London and
government.
postal arrangement between tho two countries.
BILL OF TEN REGIMENTS.
The question bsing upon the recommitment of tho
BILL
Mr. BERnlEN took the Hoor.-with preliminary ex
PLANTATION OF tho grounds he should assume entered
upon the thread OF his argument He objected to the
BILL because 1t contemplated wrestling from Mexico by
Sy y
der by their free consent Such proceeding dir
graceful to Chrtian:psople adjusted BY principles of
Ia Of he
of territories the result Of such by the Uni
ted States; and the contemplated of the
parcel Of the doctrine of seizure by physical force
Tho question now is, whether we sha adopt the mea-
the rights others and yet the press t.e,
and voices bold in the streets in declaring what
must be the inevitable destiny CT this
wild the widest absurdites of the French
ton. Even in this senate, these opinions CT iney
table destiny hal been boldly avowsd Senators coull
not be Of the evils Of such doctrines and the dan
bad been broughtn necessary to preserve nation
al honor Cannot imagine how the national honor i, 10
suffer by any net Of forbearance concession, make
to 30 weak and dtfenceless power as Mexico. Tine
measure too had been urged question OF eSpediel-
cy leaving tho question of right out of view Accord
ing to the system Of ethics in which MIR Berien had
been instructed the question right preceded the
ton Of expedsncy Tie drew instructive moral from
the history Of Athens and Arisdss and sskod if hsa
then Athens, eighteen centuries ago should stand
postsrity upon higher ground than this nstion, In
The President tells us that In possession of New
Mexico and Ca!iforniathat cannot relnquish them
that We must prop up government which will agree
to surrender them and that IL fail In this, shall
take the territories by right of conquest If shall
then, accomplish the partial ACKNOWLEDGMENT nov con-
templated what then
Mr. FoorEThe remarks Of tia Senator in relation TO
matter of great secrecy too distinct 10 permit him
to 40 farther without calling bis attention TO the fact
Mr.. BERKIEN replied that he had said nothing but
that which warranted from the declarations OF the
Presidents message in regard to the prmane occupa
tiou In any event. OF the Mexican territories OF New
Mexico and California.
Mr. FoorE-The Senator now refers to tho Prebidopts
message and understand him Ills susonl ct frst
did not so underetand
Mr. BERRIEN said If the Senator from Mississippi had
attended to his opening remarks he would have disco
veced that his views to 30 based upon the PreF
dents and the declarations Of Senators openly
made upon tais floor, in the discussion Of this bill
Mr. BERRiEN then resumed his discourse against the
proposed di.rnemberment OF Mexico by tao baTbersn
process OF physical superiority We TO get
cession of the proposed territories By negotiations
If not then the mask is TO BE- thrown.oR her ress
is to be crushed and military forcs is to settle the
question This fact Mexico Is to understand ct the out
set MIR Derren pro that the constituio, of the
country contemplated no such policy Of territorial ex-
pansion as this Our whole frame OF government ana
the whole character of institutions opposed to
it. Mr. B. reviewed the course Of General Taylor prior
to his march to the Rio Grande and defended IT, and
expressed his surprise that tbs President could not have
foreseen the inevitable Of marching Cen
era Taylor to the very banhs of the rivers hottie
else but could have been from the proximity
Of two armies thus situated, and each excited by
a desire to try the issue.in dispute by the sword?-
We had the right to chas.ise the agg reson and peue
trate her territories but that done our right term
mated. Did not chaetise her by the battles Of Pso
Alto and Monterey! Did We not do that which would
deter her from further aggression The national honor
was appeased in tbs blood Of enemies. The war
ought have been terminated at Monterey when Gen
ers Taylor entered Into this armiscs We should have
told Mexico to in peace. Ar. Bsrricn stated that
those who were active in brinang on the war would be-
fore long, have this subject the feeling that he
has. He mistook, II they do not deeply deplore .he
they committed By prosecuting the war beyond
the capture Of Monterey The after that time, was
prosecuted for this purpose of conquest; and tho pens
traon to the Mexican capital was to coerce that 60
yernment to yield to our demand territory. Money
bas been expended and blood shed. What is to dry up
the of those who mourn! What Is to convert the
emblems Of wo iato vesturss OF JOY we are 20 nave
more land! II we have no otAsr tell to Mexico we
have that of resstes destiny which assigns to US tee
hills, and valleys and mountains; wheh a-ssns to US
the froze ocean al the North, to the ex IRENE |
southern verge. Gentlemen had spoken CT the |
progress to which the American people are des- |
must not pause but must rush forth with mpetuosity
states sovereign and independent of the federal
government, Pennsylvania and Virginia are OF our
government. We now propose to acquire the soil OF
two of the sovereign States Of Mexico Mr. Berrien de-
MED the power he protested against N as utterly inoor
sisent with the &C nst uon Of Mexico, which was al
most a copy of our own. la the OF Maine, ex |
ecised discretion Mt the time of the Ashburton treaty
and did not attempt to deprive herof territory without
had power yield title to the territory II be
acquired 1t must be by force, and so maintained II
Mexico had the power and the will no would regard II
as q IT pregnant with vital consequences to the best
interests OF ths country If the territory acquired s
adapted to slave labor then arises the great QUESTION
which Is 10 produce sectional divisions which arm
brother against brother and may result in serious
sequences to the Union. Ho could not perceive how If
sny portion Of the territory the
question be avoided The determination of the
northern people to resist the extension of the peculiar
institution Of the South leaves no room to question The
sincerity and determination OF the people OF the South
assert their rights to any territory which may be c
CURED, aad It is fact, as fixed and mmoyaeie ina
people OF the North will reest it, He repeated tnat
he would regard the territory fatal gif, and ne
prayed that the period FAR distant when the people
Of this country will be divided by seotionaiIimis'
When MIR BsRalsN had concluded, ,
MIR WEBSTER took the noor Hts voice fer . moment
was iuaudtbe to the porter He was understood TO
Thoue have yet taken occasion TO discuss
this bill II Is Of such deep Importance that
sti fsel Il nv duty at the earliest moment that am
sle 10 do So to address the Senate the state OF the