Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04

now on what point and on what issue they were to meet
lemen at this time Those gentlemen had spoken Of change
of the policy of the Administration The first object they
say conquer peace. promuged by the Execu-
tive; but the object to obtain indemnity for the
past and security for the future What the position
the gentlemen opposite these points When this war
commenced they had speech after speech Of burning eo-
quenceo show that the annexation Of Texas war per
that annexation not only likely bring war but that it
On that question, however, they had some friends
on the other side who stood by them There was GENTLE
man from Georgia. [supposed be Mr. TooMnsl 10 whose
speeches he always listened with admiration who made an
eloquent speech in favor of annexaonue Of the most
quent short that he had ever listened this hail. There
other Wing members who voted with the friends of an
ncxaton throughout but they found that ALL or nearly
a their resolution was TO be taken as ex-
pesve of the views of that side Of the House-wee
ready that annexation did produce war; but that
The President did by his unjust and unconstitutional act
Mr. F. read from the first speech of the gentle-
man from Indiana, (ME r. W. TAoMrsoN y and after COM
menng thereon, inquired why the gentlemen opposite had
changed their position twas because was necessary
those gentlemen who voted for annexa alton. If they
retained the position that annexation war; then the head
of the gentleman from Georgia and his friends who voted with
him for annexation must be taken off they fall under
the guloine Of party and the only way relieve them
change the issue, and that did
duce war; but hat miserable President had produced
Such the charge now brought against the President for
whose defence not necessary that he should dean
the committee The mulom charges which the gentlemen
the other side made against the President rather amusing
than otherwise. First he perfect Nero-a cold-hearled
VTan-one VINO would uuule WDlle Rome burning
the Capitol was reduced to ashes At another time he
the weakest most contemplate most pusillanmous
breathing Now, these charges certainly contradictory
they were not more contradictory than the positions which
the gentlemen opposite had taken the subject this Mex
lean They had made greater mistake than the
people of Texas land robbers outcass and that
between Mexico and Texas Mexico right and Texas all
wrong If gentlemen would calmly look at the subject and
not permit their feelings and their peudces influence their
Judgments they would find that from the beginning of the
controversy TO the tme Texas had been all right and
Mexico all wrong This he asserted without fear Of
full contradiction. Texas, in with every other de-
parment of Mexico, into the revolution and established
the constitution of 824a constitution similar that of our
ownand he deied gentlemen the other side adduce
single act to show that Texas had violated that conu
lion or departed from its provisions.
Here, then, point to start from Texas entered into
the support of that constitution good faith and in good faith
other state of Mexico should have united carry
In 1884, however, Santa Anna by military order, and by
other authority, subyerted the Government turned out
Gomez Farias and brought in military Vice President and
ne sent his mymidons into part OF Texas compel the
people of that State submit his authority Texas resist
ed and he would ask his friends the other side Of the
House there amongst them that he would
NOT have resisted Texas did Texas he repeated
with less than 30 600 people she stood up against nation
eight millions In defending her rights. And who the
Texans who had been denounced in such opproous
Permit him to Stephen 3. Austin, whose was
stamped the character of the countya of high
character gentleman in this house. He
intelligence integrity and great worth He formerly resided
in Potos in the State of Missouri then he emigated
Texas under the permission Of the Spanish Government
found colony there Afterwards they found him the
city of Mexico and there he ncarcerated loathsome
prison without crime fault his part and day of
his death he recovered from the disease which he there
contracted Stephen 8. Austin, then, the head of the
colony of Texas and he worthy be placed head
OF that or of any other country.
But TO the issue the marching the army and
the question of title which it involved Now, he de6ed gem
teen the other side to put their finger better title for
Mexico than Texas possessed that territory Texas had
unjisputed and
from end to the other of this the
Capitol and repeated through every Wing newspaper of the
country-ihat the title was in Mexico Yes, the title of Mexi
co Wing discovery for it had not been previously dis
covered by Mexico. And to the march 10 the Rio
GIande He would say to gentlemen opposite that he would
not hold Gen. Taylor responsible for his letter in which he
said the Government intended insist upon the Rio Grande
utimaum they should take position the Rio Gande
and he would give Gen. Taylor all the benefit the quail
fcaon which il said to possess in presenting nerna
tive Gen. Taylor evidently thought the was to
march at once to the Rio Grande and they found that he did
take the Rio Grande But he instructed take posi-
ton, he did, opposite Matamoros and blockade the
Rio Grande On looking the papers that onnexion
they would find instructions Gen. Taylor 10 point his
the city of Matamoros Yet doing these things
he blamed not Gen. Taylor found any fault with him. He
thought Gen. Taylor right. He had no doubt hat Gen.
Taylor the necessity for doing what he did Aad again.
they found instructions from the Executive department to
Gen. Taylor to the river 10 Maamoros NJ F. read
extract from Gen. Tayors letter the department War
OF the Goth April 1885, the subject of additional forces
WHICH ne mao caieu ana MS opinion IN RELATION To the
prosecution of the with their assistance, how that
Gen. Taylor endorsed all that had been DONE Mr. f. also
quoted from Gen. Tayors letter of the 18th May Arista
in which he said he could suspend operations In which he
had not taken the initiative provoked aggression and
claimed Matamoros qua Here then it would
also be that Gen Taylor endorsed the whole He found
troops necessary and he called for them and refused
TO suspend hosiies the application Of Arsa, h
which he gave. If gentlemen would read the documents with
the attention 10 which they entitled they would find that
Gen. Taylor the armisice conclude was in.
sruced TO retain possession Of Monterey but where was he
found afterwards The movement 20 Sahllo and Buena
Vista he not instructed make by the Department of
War; But ii said that the President took his forces
with view to prevent his usefulness Now gentlemen were
at fault in that particular IL they would read the coespon
dence which had been furnished the House they would find
how il was that Gen. Taylor's taken away. Mr.
read Gen. SCOTS letter Gen. Taylor, Announcing to
him that he about proceed to take commanno Of
the army Of Gen. Taylor in the noih but Of expedition TO
the city Of Mexico for which purpose he should be under the
necessity Of taking part of his gallant soldiers with whom he
had acquired much glory, reducing Gen. Taylor time
the necessity which compelled him do this but be consoed
Gen. Taylor by reference to the glory which be had already
acquired, and with which he could afford yield the mac
tSy TO which he necessarily subjected In tie suisse
quen unfortunate which had arisen amongst our
generals he MR. should not participate nor bcow upon
them any part OF bis attention this time They had fought
the battles Of their country and he proud OF the victories
they had Those victories worth infinitely more
than the dollars and cents they had For quarter Of
century we had been ia state Of profound peace and Euro