The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-30

tached to the army The exercise of legislative rights
only follows when Congress takes possession of
quered country Up TO that point nothing but the power
OF the executive department flows in The power be-
longs not TO the President merely but To the executive
department and without orders from the President every
omcer IN The army could exercise It, The right is con-
Tered by war and the only difference between the action
OF our army and that of any other has consisted in this
that has demanded less and taken nothing by force
has not committed pllage The government opposed
to us has been deprived of power and the by
which II was sustained naturally flowed to the army
duties in collecting taxes, they have collected but por
ton OF the revenue which would have flowed 10 the
Mexican government if had not been displaced by our
arms. Both could not exist together Such is the plain
common sense view OF the matter. The legal view |
must leave to others.
| The honorable senator from South Carolina fears
that if the President exercise this power, immense
abuses may follows that armies may be raised, and
treaties may be made with other countres and that,
he says, would be IN violation of the constitution of the
United States The constitution of the United States is
temple gradually extending ITSELF and covering after
not yet gone to foreign lands is still limited to the United
States; cannot be violated in Mexico does not extend
TO Mexico. and God forbid should 1t IS the const
tuition OF our own Union and people, and none
but territory annexed to Union claim to be under
that constitution If the President has violated the
stuhon IN the progress OF thus war; you must prove that
ne has failed TO comply with the law which declared the
war and authorized him to prosecute it, giving HIM men
and money for that purpose Until that be shown. the
President cannot have violated any provision of the
stituton in Mexico
But the main purpose for which | rose, sir, TO
speak OF the effect of the passage Of this bill in Mexico
We had information from a special gent sent to Mex-
co in 1914, that he had commenced prel nnares and had
the prospect of settlement by negotiation of all the
difficulties then pending. On the fourth day after the
negotiation had been opened, two celebrated letters pub
shed in that year reached Mexico dated at Raleigh,
and the other at Underworld On the arrival OF these let
!erstorwarded, is said, by the Mexican minister at
Washington cIy-the negotiation was Immediately sus-
pended Again, Mexico probably intended to enter into
negotiation for the settlement of the questions then in dis
quite when Mr. Black received ntimaion, in the
leo to receive commissioner; though think that there
has been altogether misunderstanding OF the language in
which the note written. COmmtsosiadO the term
emplOyed-mranng commissioned, empowered to set
tie the questions in dispute Now, they may have
of Texas butas the senator from Mich remarked they
sought refuge in the suberfuge OF the distinction between
the terms minister" and commissioner and thus
evaded the obligation of the into which they had
| voluntarily entered. And why Because at that time
controversy had arisen with regard to the boundary in
Oregon. The Mexcans then cherished the hope that
there would be war between this country and England,
and that with the latter ally they would be able to
regain Texas. The old hope thus revived. They
nave their hopes revived again, with the prospect of
refusal here TO supply and money to prosecute the
var, they will again reject negotiations in the expecia
uon that new administration may come into power IN
the United Sta more favorable to tnem II change
the policy which have heretofore pursued, there can
be no doubt that they will refuse atify the treaty
In our intercourse with Mexico. if have erred, 1T
as been in undue consideration and misplaced enency.
For long tern OF years we have borne national insult
injuries done to our citizens by MEXICO. We have
passed unnoced the offences repeatedly offered in their
tent with the capousness of the weak by the con-
seriousness OF his ability to punish This course SO long
observed by government has surely not been depart
ed from by the present administration.
cannot conceive, sir, how the President could have
exhibited greater forbeaance towards Mexico. He sent
ont minister to treat with her the first ntmaon of
any desire her part to enter into cgotiaon for the
purpose OF restoring amicabe relations. Acting IN the
orbearing and friendly spirit of the power who had taken
that infant republic by the hand when 1t first esSayed to
walk, stulously avoided collision Collision, how
ever, from the to which have alluded became at
last inevitable Yet it is gravey asserted that the Pesl
lent had determined to extend the territory OF the Unred
States to the Rio Grande-"peaceably II he coul forc
bly, if he must" Most certainly not to extend the terri
tory OF the United States, but TO settle the question of
boundary and had we been the aggressive party, as it
has been aegedhad we been reckless OF the feelings
rights, and interests OF Mexicowe certainly never should
have incorporated provision in the terms OF nation
securing to the right OF settling the limits of Texas
that was done to guard against the possibility OF col
son with Mexico: We did not adopt the extreme
claims of Texas, but reserved to ourselves the right to
settle the question of boundary. Nothing could have
been done more indicative Of the friendly spirit which
we entertained towards Mexico.
At this late hour ! certainly shall not attempt TO en-
large but must take occasion to say that do not think
that Mexico is about to cede any territory to the United
Staes-l think that about to retrocede territory TO
Mexico hold that in just war, we have conquered
large portion of Mexico, and that to we have title which
has been regarded as valid ever since man existed in
social condilion-the title of conquest II seems to me
that the question now Isl how much we shall keep-how
much shall give up; and that Mexico cedes nothing.
Mr.. WEBSTER was understood TO inquire if that view
in accordance with the terms of the paper.
Mr. DAVIS. have papers in English and Span
ish, and | think in was the term cede employed
As moralist would not undertake to defend the seiZ
ure of country from the inhabitants but the question
settled long before the oldest member of the SEN
ate entered it. These very Mexican people settled IT, when
they conquered the ancient Aztecs they had The right
take the territory from that people who did not cult
it, the argument is equally good against them now
They produce little, compared to that which the coun-
try capable of yielding, and year by year the amount
is steadily decreasing The country going waste
villages are depopuated-felds highly productive
in all that her bounty yielded to the industry OF
man, lie uncultvated, and marked only by the re-
mains of the rrgaory bitches by which they were Tor
merly watered The exuberant wealth of Mexico once
flowed sustain the American colonies OF Span; the
lions from her Turn and contemplate the change
which the difference of government has wrought and
tell me whether all the arguments Of utilitaransm and
of humanity may not be more successfully applied
to the Mexican than by them against the Aztec popua
tom
The senator says this is ''odious" Odious! OBJ
GUS for what On account of the skill and galantry
with which il has been conducted Or is il because of
the humanity, the morality, the magnanmous clemency
which has marked its execution Odous Why, in
every newspaper which take up, find notices of large as
sembages OF the people gathered together to do honor 10
the of some deal soldier brought back from Mex
leo; around the festive board, to greet the return OF
some gallant member of the army. The conductors OF
est appreciation of the conduct OF the army Where is
the odum' What portion of our population is infected
with it, From what cause does II arise 1t cannot be
on account of the origin of the The extraordinary