The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-23

Of this war, which shall do very shortly, have Yet
iuty to perform, and that is TO say few words upon the
examples which have been trumphantly paraded, and
which have been so frequently referred TO- OF Mr. Jefer
and Mr.. Madison, as exhibiting SO striking CON
ras 10 the OF the President in reference TO Tayors
march to the Rio Grande The examples OF 1903 and
1906 in the time of Mr. Jefferson, and IN lsl3 in the
time OF MIR Madson do present contrast 10 the act OF Mr.
Polk in relation TO the Texan boundary and for the best
of all reasons that the referred TO are entirely dis
similar. The act OF 1903, OF which Ross's resolution
was the foundation and the right navigate the Msss-
sppi river the leading motive, and the law of nations the
justification OF it, aggressive act and not deien
slve, and act to authorize an INVASION and not
act TO prevent INVASION. Authorizes, 1t is true, have
been read 10 show that this act was passed 10 pre-
vent the invasion of this country by France IN 1903.
That contemplated invasion | have coniradiced, Tor
three The first is, that was to protect Louis
iana against capture and conquest by Great Brain the
second that the authorities on which is relied to prove
he invasion of the United States, bear date In 1902
and the resolution of MIR. Ross, which the act
founded in ls03 and in those resolutions nothing Is
said about invasion my third u.s. that invasion
nad BEEN apprehended MI Jefferson to whom all this
greatly relied upon by senator's
directed would have noticed that threatened invasion OF
this country by France, in his annual message of sub
equent date, which he did not For these reasons !
contend that the act was aggressive-was for invasion
o louisiana, and therefore, very Justly and very proper
ny the action of Congress, as accompces In the medta
tied INVASION necessary; and Congress- in March OF
1903, did consent to become the accompces OF the Pres
ent in that act OF aggression have stated the claim
he right OF navigation of the Mississippi, which we
could not get either by negotiation purchase-a claim
which it unnecessary assert by force so long
we had the right depot in New Orleans by virtue Of
he treaty Of 1896 That right expired BY its own mta-
ended, our right to navigate the Mississippi nver TO
the acknowledged; and prepared, the event
of failure TO purchase OF France depot for western
produce, the sanction OF that government to claim
Ito navigation, to assert it. We purchased Louisiana,
and therefore, action ever had under the act OF
SOB and out of that purchase OF Louisiana grew the diff
icultes which gave birth to the acts OF 1906 and 1913
would ask if il is pretended that in 1906, in lsl3 there
wee any apprehensons OF an INVASION OF this country by
S., hoo n,aS hall hnar af chnla
on This act therefore, like that OF 1903, was act
of aggression, and moi designed prevent invasion of
he territory OF the United States, but to authorize the
United States TO invade the possessions claimed and
cupied by the subjects OF the Spanish monarch. On
such subject 1t necessary and proper that Congress
should be consulted and Congress consulted and
scented 10 the mediated INVASION Under the act of 1906
nothing was everdone Under that OF 1913, took pos
session of the Mobile country and subsequently ncorpo
rated it into Alabama, where is to-day These the
|casesall aggressive-a contemplating invasion of
country occupied and claimed by other powers with
whom at peace II gentlemen cannot see the
difference between an aggressive invasive act and
|o se-defence and preventive of invasion, shall have
Ito conclude that they duler in intellect than had
supposed.
will now, very briefly consider the second count OF
this indictment against the administration; and that u.s.
Ito the in which this war has been conducted.
when this declared, with but two dissenting
voices the Senate and with but fourteen IN the House,
the President sent his estimates for the necessary
money, and other means, to carry it on successfully
These estimates of men and money and means were
ress The President then devised his plans Tor carrying
ION this war; and these plans have been faithfully and
brilliantly executed And what have been the results
lin less than two years. without any previous preparations
for such results the President has overthrown and sub
adued nearly the whole of MeXco-a country nearly
large own, and containing population of about
aseven millions of inhabitants If such glorious results
s these which have marked and distinguished the pros
secuton OF this war, are not conclusive as to the skill
land energy with which it has been conducted by the adj
ADMINISTRATION, shall be justified in saying that our oppo
nents very unreasonable and very hard to please
3Under what circumstances have those results been
achieved They have been achieved spite OF the
Opposition party this country. no. from the beginning
this day, have endeavored to embarass the Executive
8by rendering this odous and unpopular AT the very
atme that this declared-though voting for II,
i and every measure connected with tive find 1t de-
nounced by the opposition, as unnecessary and uncons
u!ional They indicated Gas the debates at that time will
3show) their purpose at some future PERIOD more suitable,
in their Judgment, for such proceeding, than al that
2me, TO bring the President to account for his sins,
bringing this unnecessary and unconstitutional war upon
: the country.
The President has achieved these results, in spite Of
these mputaons, and in spite of these appeals to party
fanatcism, and bgotry, and sectional jealouses He
Shas achieved them in spite OF the terors held up our
4countrymen in the form OF the fatal diseases OF the Mex
can climate her deserts, and her mountains, and her IN
vincibc Spanish blood The predictions of their poph
aets (and what nation in time of has been with
them of ruin to treasury, and bankruptcy to the
swhoc country and of having after the first second
campaign, foreign war upon hands, without an ar
my in the field or money IN the teasury-hese predc
8ons have not been obstacles of sufficient magnitude to
Interrupt materially to prevent glorious successes
sSuch opposition, formidable only to weaker minds, has
not deferred Executive from the vigorous prosecution
aof this war. His trumphs have asounded the opposl-
Ever regreng the exist of this war; and DESTROYS at
Tall times TO close honorable terms, he asked for an
appropriation of three millions of dollars at the last ses-
fson, to enable him to terminate it and that occasion,
Ehe opposition, though clamorng for peace refused
body to vote for it. The cry then was evil you buy
9your peace of Meyco'" In short the opposition de-
nounced the warthey threw obstacles in the way of its
prosecution by endeavorng TO render odous and when
money, and not bullets, asked peace measure that
lin It's turn, is denounced. What shall dos What
can be done that and will satisfy friends the
way;
Mr. President, the last and chief point, which pro-
1pose to notice, is the Interior objects of this war The
fullerton objects of thus to obtain speedy and
permanent peace, upon Just and honorable terms These
terms are the full payment OF the claims OF our CITIZENS
ca salnst Mexico and reasonable indemnity Tor the eN
1penses and sacrifices which this has cost This
demand is expected in the shape of territory At the last
sc sson OF Congress | authorized to state, and dd
state what territory regarded of sufficient value
o satisfy our demands and that that territory New
Mexico and Upper California. This statement, il will
he recoeced, made before the battle of Buena Vista,
and before the fall OF Vera Cruz and her celebrated
lie. These terms agent, Mr.. Trst was authorized
Ito propose before our army marched from Vera Cruz
Aer that agent had received his instructions, our army
fought It's way TO the very gates OF the city OF Mexico,
land there, the of the entrance OF victorious
rmy into that city, amistice was entered into for
1.-The purpose of saving the further efuslon of blood
10y treaty Notwithstanding the favorable change
I'm the posture of affairs In that country, after
the instructions had been gwen to MI irsi--notwh-
standing the many successful but bloody battles
had haurp