Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-02-11
SPEECH or NR. CRITTENDEN.
Of kentucky, on the Ten Regiment Eli,
January i. 1919.

occasion to say more than will be- barely necessary to
explain the amendment which have had the honor
OF offering to the bill now before you. The bill which
is now under consideration for raising additional
regiments, and the bill lying upon the table to
coed it, authorizing the President to accept the ser
vices ol2O00O volunteers have severally been reported
from the Committee on Military Affairs in accordance
with the recommendation OF the Secretary Of War,
and supposed To he necessary to met the require
mcnts and cXgcnccs OF the present war with Mexico
The bill now before You, sir proposes TO raise OOU0
men ten additional regiments: and what propose
is give the government the necessary numerical
force, only changing the form o It, organization from
regular volunteer force. And desire to assign,
very briefly the reasons which have induced me to
adopt this course.
The bill before YOU for raising the ten regiments,
places upon Congress the responsibility OF declaring,
that under the present existing circumstances it Is
proper and necessary that tins force should be raised
l. there any such present necessity perceived by the
Senate OF the United States! | think not, sir We
have from the Secretary OF War discussion OF varl
plans upon which it has been suggested that tins
ought to be prosecuted. The Secretary, in dis
cussing these recommends the plan which he prefers,
VIZ to hold all those portions OF Mexico which are
now in our possession, and in addition to the force
which would bc necessary to accomplish such pur-
pose to have active force raised, not with the view
OF marching over and couqueriug the whole country
but with the view of being prepared to make OCCASION
nj conquests should circumstances require it. This is
his plan. Now is an additional force necessary
would ask, to accomplish the DIES gis the Secrotnrv
taken even in their utmost latitude This sir, would
be question OF very indefinite character indeed, IT
our experience itIi Hbl, III sO' ucHIf'- D'Ctlllc Il
practical one. And what is our experience What
have been orr experiences in this war and what
have been the results OF the war
General Scott landed at Vera Cruz with force of
about twelve thirteen thousand men. considerable
number OF whom were volunteers With tins force he
succeeded in taking the strong castle OF san Juan de
'iioa and the city OF Vera Cruz. Pressing forward
with his victorious army, from Vera Cruz he entered
the Capital breaking in pieces and scattering to the
winds, with force OF less than 10000 men, the armies
OF Mexico in his triumphant career. General Taylor,
with still smaller comparative force the battle OF
Buena Vista completely broke the power of Mexico
and 50 IN every action would, no matter, sir, how dis
propOrtouate in NUMBER the American troops have
bceu victorious. And, sir, with what small amount of
force these achievements have been accomplished
General Scott as have already stated fought all
those distinguished battles before the city of Mexico
and took the capital OF the country with less than TO-
600 men and Gen. Taylor with not more than 6 or
1000 men, the most OF whom volunteers gained
several distinguished victories. Indeed, Gen Taylor
with less than 1000 men, beat Santa Anna with an
army 1000 strong, and that too, by sudden sur
prise, not by sudden burst Of valor, not in moment
oi enthusiasm on one side and panic the other, but
in hard fought battle, continued from the rising TO
the setting OF the sun occupying IN fact the whole OF
nearly two days. Thus that not only are the
sword and shield OF Mexico broken and into the
dust, but her government dispersed and almost ami
Inflated by our conqucrng army. She has army,
and scarcely can she be said 10 have government;
II consists OF nothing than dlsorganlZed factions
And Mexico now lies PROSTATE before you, without
an army or government with here and there only
what IN the name OF heaven 1t this is all that IS lett TO
her, do you want with 10000 troops Sir since
these cunqnestS have been achieved, what has been
done Oar army, now rcpO-lug on the Rio Graudc,
consists OF three or four thousand regulars Nay, /
viii give the exact number 1t consists OF 1897 rcgu-
lars At the battle OF Bucna Vista you had but 200 or
300 regulars all the rest volunteers tn place OF
that army less than 1900 strong, which constituted the
force IN that portion OF the country upon that field of
battle, You have now, sir, force amounting N tn.
whole to upwards OF 10000 men. Do you want any
more there
have already stated the force with which General
Scott Obtained possession OF the Capital how is it
with him now, sir He has been receiving additional
renucenrntS almost dally since that time and there
is now ut IAmpco and Vera Cruz together a force
amounting 10 81 ,l56 men, l1.l0l of whom are rcGu-
lars, and the remainder l50jj) volunteers. These
statements are extracts made from the report OF the
Aduaut General
General >cott's army has been almost doubled in
number since ne gained those battles. His force is
larger by 1000 men than when he landed at Vera
truz. II is THIS much stronger than at the time when
he conquered the whole region OF the country between
Vera Cruz AMI the Caplt1.,-und cannot he hold tins
country with the same force with which lac conquered
It How, upon tue facts declared to Us in Official
public documents, can any argument be found to prove
the necessity OF sending any further troops there
General Scott took possession OF the city with 6Ul0
men, and OF TINT whole region of country with not
more than 1000, and now, when he has with HIM
$1,000 men, what more can he require Suppose 1t
requires as many men To hold a county il does t.
conquer it, has not General Scott already doubled the
number oi hs force since h3 entered the Mexican ter
rItory Make what deduction you pleas, on account
OF casualties and disease make deduction OF 5000,
and 1t leaves You 1860 men tor active service.
Where la could - 900 of s,ch men rs our- he en-,
noyeI " hat fortress is there thai will moi op us
@ltcs at the sight Of our banners There is not
toat will NOT aud yef we uro,,7e ro ada % l, mon
Ia line force olrpady mere Sir the.. fIrs head INV,
mind irr,si.riiIv Ia The corcl.nn linn r NM, ~ ~
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