The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-15

Increase Of the Army
The dsbate In the Senate, of 30th Dec, Is too
important to be omitted. IL gives not only
an indication of the infsntioa Of parties, as re-
CARDS the war, but itsbOwa where the measures
Of parties will lead. Hence il is important that
il should be read-for every honest voter must
desire to understand fully, what Is the tendency,
what viii be the rssnit--of measures proposed
or adopted at Washington
Mr.. CAss renewed his motion to proceed TO
the consideration Of The bill to raise, for a limit
ed time, an additional military force.
hlr. CALHoUS.--I hope the honorable Senator
does not intend TO press thu bill! to decision at
this time.
MIR. CAss.-lt is no, with the slightest wish to
express my views that urge this measure, but
because think the good OF the country requires
IT, 1t is simply bill for raising ten regiments,
the detail Of which were ell arranged by this
BODY at the last session; Il Is therefore simply
question as TO whether we will authorize this
| additional force.
The ground the Administration takes upon
this subject is peculiarly clear: it is, to make
anu secure an honorable peace. To attempt TO
prevent The American people from taking pos
session Of Mexico, If they demand IL, would be
as futile ia effect as 10 undertake 10 stop the
rushing Of the cataract Of Niagara.
| myself should think II very unfortunate
thing 10 eXtnguish the independence Of that
country and annex 1t TO our own; but the more
the war is prolonged the longer il is suffered to
60 on, the greater will be the danger Of such an
occurrence What then is the issuel The Adj
ministration say they DO not intend to conquer
| all Of Mexico. The project is disavOwed, and
the fighting line is disayowed, and the only thing
that remains Is 10 keep possession of what we
| have. and extend our oParsiiOns rs the position
Of the enemy may render necessary and as our
| means may enable US.
| Mr.. CALHoUS.--As the Senator has aYowed
his intention to proceed with this bill, and 10
press the question upon MS now. shall be COM
| PEELED to oppose II.
| Mr.. CAss.--For the personal accommodation
OF the Senator, will consent that the bill shall
| Lis over until Monday. Beyond that day can
not consent that il shall ne postponed.
Mr.. CALHouN.-My ideas, sir, extend far be-
yond that. ] am very happy 10 hear the Sena-
ter say that the President is entirely opposed TO
| the conquest Of Mexico and the extinguishment
OF her nationality; and am very happy also TO
| hear that the Chairman Of the Committee on
| Military Affairs repeats the same thing. That
being admitted as among the greatest calamites
/ that could happen, the important question comes
| up, how shall We escape ii Sir, we often get
| into situations which We never intended to get
into we got into this war though we never in
tended to get into it; for | will venture TO
say that in this body, If the question had
been proPoDnded TO them Of war, or no
war, independent OF the exigency Of the oc-
| cssion, there would not have been one
fourth Of the Senate in favor Of IL. Now, my
object ia 10 guard, not against consequences that
are contemplated, but against consequences that
may follow from the measures proPosed-which
consequ are not contemplated. That Is
the object. Now, whether this additional force
shall be granted will depend on the fact whether
| the mode recommended BY the Executiveto car
~ ON this war will not, in its practical consequen-
ces, end in the extinction OF the nationality OF
Mexico. Now, | submit to the Senator him.
self, whether there is nothing due TO those who
differ from him in opinion in regard TO this point
He may think that the policy recommended
by the Administration will not end In the ex-
tinguishment of the nationality Of Mexico {; but
differ with him in that opinion, and, until
am satisfied that he is correct, am not prepared
TO vote in favor Of the measure that Is now pro-
, posed Sir, though the honorable Senator him
self is very properly opposed to the extinguish-
> meat Of the nationality of Mexico, we know
that there are many of Il totally different opin-
ion; and we know that there are many who believe
thai such will be the result, whether intended or
not, Of the measures proposed by the Administra-
: ton. And J am one Of those whe entertain
this belief Now | do think we ought TO post
pone action on the bill for some little time, un.
. Ill we shall have determined the course which II
will be proper for us to pursue, and, with this
view of the question, ] shall vote against the
motion Of the honorable Senator.
Mr. CAss.--WnI the Senator allow me TO read
this short extract from the message Of the Presi-
dent uHt
II has never been contemplated by me, as
, an object of the war, to make permanent con-
quest Of the Republic Of Mexico, or 10 annihi-
late her separate existence as an independent
nation. On the contrary, Il has ever been my
desire that she should maintain her nationality
and, under a good Government adapted to her
= condition, be free, independent, and prosper
: sous Republic.
Mr. CALHouN.---A word only in reply. | am
aware Of the views OF the President in regard te
! the war. have examined with great care the
policy which IL recommended In the message
and, in inv opinion the result Of that policy, II
carried out, will tend to the precisely opposite
course 10 that professed TO be contemplated
therein. IL such should he the danger, we mus
guard against Il in some way; but " this danger
does not exist, then there will be no necessity
for any steps on eur part to guard against It,
But, with my present information, / am moi
prepared % give ar intelligent vote upon the
subject.
nj MIR. CLArToN.--lnefe - not, SO lar as ihho"
. any disposition on this side Of the chamber e
/ DELAY voting supplies for the army; but | hops
= that the honorable Senator for Michigan will ne
press vote upon his bill, or any measure Of
7 this description, until we have had an oPportu'
/. nifty of reading tho report of the Secretary o.
n War and the docufienls accompanying the re-
!, port, Sir, has any Senator on this floor rea(
: thai report and the docurnentsl
II Mr.. BEHRIEN.-Ihe ground on which | place
y nv opposition TO the present consideration o
this bill is, that Il PROPOSES great increase o
!, force before we (the war-making power hey'
. decided what are the objects TO be accomplished
an / sec great force in the suggestions Of th'
honorable Senator from South Carolina, which
sesyo 70 have escaped the observation Of tn
Secretary Of War The Secretary sets forti
l. three modes for the further presecutien Of tn
e war: fir,t, by defining boundary, and holdinl
2 Mexico 10 the observance OF that boundary 20
,,i mn he xhoIe Of M a ma