Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-09

occupy II with HIM, because, IN my ludg-
menl, it is dangerous ground.
When Texas was annexed TO the United
States, its western boundary was left an
open question: 10 be settled by negotiation,
between the Mexican Government and ours.
The President, in his message Of May llth,
1876, informed Congress that a strong de-
sire to regulate and adjust our boundary
and other causes of difference with Mexico,
en- fair and equitable principles, induced
him, in September, 1916, to seek the re-
opening Of diplomatic regulations between
the two countries; that the Mexican Gov
eminent, in October following, agreed 10
receive minister from the United States
invested with full powers to settle and ad-
Just every existing difference and that the
Mexican Government had not only refused
to receive him, or TO listen TO his PROPOSE
tons, but, after long continued series Of
menaces, had invaded our territory, and
shed the blood Of our fellow.citizens on our
own soil. This message was accompanied
by about one hundred aud fifty pages OF
manuscript documents. The usual motion
TO print the documents was made, but 1t
was voted down by Senators on the other
side of the chamber. call for the read
ing was then made, but that also was refus.
ed, and the bill of the 18th May, 1876, was
passed by'a vote Of forty yeas to two nays
The uniformity with which this bill was
passed, has been frequently referred TO as ev'
ldence to show that Congress was almost
unanimously of the opinion that Mexico
commenced the war. The President, IL
his last annual message, referred 30 II fol
that purpose. He says. in substance, thu
Congress, by the act Of the 18Th May, lSi6
declared, with great unanimiiy, that "bl
the act Of the republic Of Mexico, a state o
war exists between that Government ant
the United States, there being but Two neg
alive votes in the Senate aud fourteen il
the House Of Representatives" Now, sir
r | propose 10 present TO the Senate AM
the country all the facts connected with th
passage Of that bill. The bill originated il
: The House of Representatives. On tn
27lh of January, 1876, Mr. HARRISON, iror
the committee on Military Affairs. reporie
y bill to authorize The President Of the Uni
/ ted States, under certain circumstance
: therein mentioned, TO accept the services Q
g volunteers, aud FOR other purposes. On th
: Jllh of May, Mr. Brnkerhotf moved t
y amend the bill by inserting new secIio
with a preamble, in the words following
y Whereas, by the act OF the republic {
Mexico. state Of war exists between thu
: Government and the United Sitaes." TIL
E amendment was carried by vote Of IL
\ yeas TO 81 nays; and, on the same day, ii
bill passed The House By vote Of IVA
o IA. So il appears that 81 members of u
House voted against the preamble 10 Il
r bill.
1, Well sir, what is the history Of this bl
in the Senate On the 18th Of May,
= came up TO- consideration, and Mr. Hunlin
ton, then Senator from Connecticut, sint
deceased, moved TO amend it by strikr
out the preamble aud the journal shoy
that the motion failed by vote Of Is ye
le to % nays-all the Senators on this side
.. the chamber, with the exception Of tire
IS, voted in the affirmative. A motion W
then made by the honorable Senator fro
Kentucky, (Mr CRiTTENDEN,) TO take
es vote upon the preamble alone, but the chs
ruled that il could not be separated fro
the bill, and the motion was decided out
o. order. The bill was then pressed 10 va
= and passed-yeas 40, nays 2. Mr. Berrie
Mr. Evans, Mr. Huntington, and Mr. G
houn declining 10 vote, and eleven Senate
!. on this side ofihe chamber voting yea wi
ck a protest against the preamble 10 the bl
ry, This, sir, is concise history of the pro
ad ress of the bill through the two Houses
10 Congress.
=, Now, | ask, in all candor, what excu
: can the President render TO The country
asserting in his message, that both branch
IS of Congress, with great unanimiiy, declar
as that the war existed by the act Of MeSi'
&c, there being but fourteen negative votes
'e' the House Of Representatives and two
- the Senaiel Sir, the journal of the Ho,
shows 67 negative votes, and the journal
II the Senate shows 10 making in the Wh,