Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-04-07


Tbcre is another proposition, not so authenticai-
l., announced hitherto, but in my Judgment
equally true-cqually capable Of demonstration
and that is, that this war was begun, mas oeen
continued, and is now prosecuted, ior inc gIeas
and leading purpose OF the acquisl s. " III
,erritory, out of which to bring new states, win
Mexican population, into this our Union Of
,ho limited States. If unavowcd at first, this
.,,,roose did not remain unavowed long How
Pu ,ar oC,en Il may be said that We did not go to
~ Cav conouest-creddi Judous Apeli0 yet
,ha moment we got hold Of the territory, it is
aid that we must retain il and make 1t our own.
Now / think the original object has not been
changed Sir, think 1t sun exists IN thc eyes
If those who originally contemplated n-who
Ian Tho war for it-ihat il is as attractive to
- ond from which they have no more desire
A. a,,or, ,be;r ewes now than they had then, or
- Lod al any time since we have compelled
l' 49,. If ccssion We know in our conscien-
~. ~, Il Is compclledi We use II as an IN
strnment, and an agency IN conjunction win
other instrumentalitics and agencies OF more
s"r,,,;dsble or destructive character, TO enforce
H. oconiesencc of Mexico in the acquisition by
80 Of now territory TO form new States-new
S,o,os to be added to this Union. Every intel
Iront man knows that there is strong desire
;p ,hc heart of tho Mexican citizen to retain the
territories belonging TO that Republic. We
Inow that the Mexican people part with their
,orr;torv-if part they must--with regret with
nanos of sorrow. That we know We know
he eession is altogether forced and, therefore,
because we know it must be forccd-because VIC
know that whatever the government, which Is
onr creature, may do or agree to-we know that
,he Mexican people will never acccde TO the
terms of this Treaty, but through an impulse of
absolute necessity and the impression made up
on them nv absolute irresistible force. There
fore we propose TO overwhclm them with anoth-
or army. We propose TO raise Immediately Ten
Regiments of regular troops and Twenty Kegi-
ments of volunteers, and to pour them IN a.iu
upon the Mexican people
Now, Sir, should be happy TO concur, not
withstanding all this tocsin, and all this cry of
all the Semproniuses in the land that their voice
is still for war; ! should be happy to agree, and
substantially do agree, with the honorable
member from South Carolina, that after ALL the
war with Mexico is substantially over-that
there can be no more fighting. My opinion in
the present state of things is, that the people of
this country will not sustain this war. They
will not 90 to the expense. They will not hnd
any qualification in putting the bayonet TO the
throat of the Mexican people. For my part, /
hone the Ten Regiments lii will never become
law. Three weeks ago j should have enter
tanned that hope with the utmost confidence
Events since have struck me with pain and sha-
ken ms conviction. Still hope it will not pass.
And here, dare say, shall be called Mex
lean Wing" A man who can stand up here
and say that he hopes that what the Administra-
ton projects for the farther prosecution Of the
war arainst Mexico, will not be carried into et-
feet IS ian enemy to the country" or, what
gentlemen would consider the same thing, an
enemy Of the President Of the United States
and his Administration, and his party He is
Mexicanw Sir, think very badly OF the
Mexican character, high and low, out and out.
But names do not terriiy me. Besides, if am
sufferer in this respcct-if be made the sub
iect of reproach by these stipendary presses
these hired abusers of the motives Of public men
i have the honor on this occasion TO be in
very respectable company In the yituperative
the accusatiye--thc dcnuncia;ory sense o.
that term, do not know a greater Mexican il
this body than the honorable member from Mi
chpan al the head of the Military Committee.
Mr. CAST should ike the honorable gentle
man to explain what sort Of Mexican am.
Mr. We6ster.-That is exactly the thing
propose to do.
Mr. Cass.-I shall be glad to hear the expla
nation.
Mr. Webster.-In his remarks on this bill il
the Senate the other day, the honorable gentle
man told us that his object was to brighten Mex
ico-it would touch his humanity to hurt her.
Mr. Cass.-Does the honorable gentleman
mean to say that made such remark?
Mr. Webster.-i mean to say that the gentle
man said it twice.
Mr. CAST beg the gentleman's pardon.
said no such thing. VIII the gentleman ALLOW
me to state what did say? / remarked tina
we had two objects TO accomplish in raising thes
regiments one was, the vigorous prosecution q
the war; and secondly, to produce moral ei
feet upon Mexico by convincing her of our dc
termination, and thereby hold out an induce
ment 10 make peace.
Mr. Webster-Thc gentleman said that hi
principal object was to " brighten" Mexico an
that that would be more humane than to ham
Mexico.
Mr. Cass.-Gn his seat.)-Trne.
Mr. Webster.--It is true2 Very well, tho
rs much Now the remarkable characteristic I
his speech which makes it so much a Mexica
speech is, that the gentleman spoke it in heal
ing of Mexico, as well as in the hearing OF III
Senate We have been accused, Sir, OF BEN
Mexican Wings" because what we say her
is heard by Mexico, and Mexico derives cour
tenance and support from what is said here
But the honorable member comes forth and tel
Mexico that his object is to frighten her ii
words have passed along the wires, they arc on u
gulf-they are floating away TO Vera Cruz, an
when they get there, they will satisfy the Mex
cans that after all-after all, Eye good Mex
cans, our principal object is TO Brighten YOU y
Anu 10 tIle emu tIlat tleg may hot pc hiEhtShe
too much, he gives them notice that the obje
is to frighten them Mr. President, when Snu
the joiner, was to represent the lion and 70;
on the stage, he was quite apprehensiye that !
might too much frighten "ihe duchess and Il
ladies' :" and, therefore, by the advice of b
comrade, one Nicholas Bottom, he wisely col
cluded that in the heat and fury Of his effort, !
would show one half his face and say" Lade
fair ladies' would wish you, or would reque
you, or | would entreat you, not to fear, ne
trembe my life for yours, if you think con
hther as lion, it were pity Of my life No,
am no such thing am a man as other men arr
I'm Snngthe joiner !"
But, Sir, in any view of this case-in an
view Of the proper policy of this government
according to any mans apprehension and jud
ment, where is the necessity Of this augment
ton of regiments Of the military force OF Il
country 2 hold in my hand n note-l Mppo
substantially correct--of the present initial
forces ofthe United States i will not vout
for its entire accuracy; hut ! believe it is SUI
stantially according to fact There are no
twenty-five regiments of regular troops of vni
Gus arms, which, If full would give us for'
of %. $50 rank and file and, including officer