Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-06
SPEECH OF Mr.. VAN DYKE,
OF NEW JERSEY,
On The Causes, Management, Objects, and .4dcni-
fages ofthe Har ,cih Nerico.
OF NEW JERSEY


The House being in Committee Of the Whole,
and having under consideration the Revolutionary
Pension Bill
Mr.. VAN DYKE took the floor and said Mr.. Chairman,
When days ago obtained the oor when another sub
oct was under consideration had expectation of being
required eher abandon my place address the committee
the subject appropriation for revolutionary pensions
have desire intention Of speaking this subject but
find the practice 10 be well settled when subject is be-
fore the committee for gentlemen address upon another
presume strictly in order could have been tempt
ed address the all any subject this lime
if had been for single remark made, rather posi-
ton taken, by the gentleman from Illinois, (Mr. TuRNER,l
who Immediately preceded The remark of the honorable
gentleman extraordinary, it calculated pro-
woke retort reply, but furnished me with text,
which desire to make comments The gentleman from
Illinois, il correctly understood him, laid down. the
OF his remarks that he would examine the record which the
Wing patty had made in relation this Mexican war;" l.
i0o propose examine the rcord made in relation this
war; by the Wing party, but by the party which has
toed the country, all It's departments and acts, and
before the of this war viz the great Demo
cratic party the country. Permit say, sir that the
Wing party such, has made record within the time spe
Cited 1t is that individuals of that party have spoken
and voed and and resisted but their speeches
and and resistance poweess unheeded, and tram
pied in the DUST by the party which, in the pride Of its umphs
and penude OF its power has wayed the sceptre OF It's do
mnions if they, and they alone, composed the country
The evidence which the Wings have left behind but the
dence of their struggles and their failures but Of nothing which
they have accomplished for accomplish they could not being
poweess except in emonstrance and warnings while the
Democratic party has in the time beenin power and pos
session every wherein the Executive chair the Cabinet
both Houses of Congress and in all the Offices from the
highest down the smallest postmaster whose compensation
ninety per year. That party has governed and
controlled every thing way according TO It's sove
reign will and pleasure without interruption hndrance, and
Of accountable and alone Tor all the evil which
isanaged Government has inflicted upon the country The
duubtch
has been made that record distinctly before the
try and propose call the earnest attention Of the
ntee, for by it that party must stand or fall.
am happy, Mr. Chairman, in being able at this time
discuss the connected with this Mexican with
out either directly indirectly giving aid and comfort TO
the enemy Time was, and but recently, that member
from this side OF the House could raise his voice in oppo
ion TO this TO the manner in which had been
menced prosecuted, without having exhibited him, from
the other side the form Of gbbet which he to be
hanged traitor for the reasonable language made Of
But those times have fortunately passed away.
Grim -vsaged hath smoothed his wrinkled from" "
Soft peace which, weeping had winged her fight to her
tive skies, again eviss the earh and the two sister republics
which for years mortal strife had denched the soil with their
blood again rpose in quiet upon her calm and placid
bosom.
Mr. Chairman the Administration and its friends here and
elsewhere, have besought hathe country nvov
ed in the war; that would inerpose any difficulties
their prosecution and management of in their way and
accorng to their and alter Its termination to hold
them responsible the country for the wrongs and mischief
fsny which they had DONE This sir is precisely what
propose DO II is longer question whether shall
send and money Mexico TO consummate the en-
conquest and subjugaon OF that country IS no longer
question whether armies shall be Withdrawn from her
oes whether with giant power and wrahfu vengeance,
shall her remaining and whten her sandy plains
and heights with the bones Of her slaughtered chill
dren until she yields demands These mighty ques
tons but few weeks ago Immediately before but
by the recent they placed the things OF the
past The and its consequences no longer so far as
hafy yanhM MeY-
CO, but strictly between the people OF this country and its
Administration That investigation Its conduct and the
responsibility the people which has courted then, is that
70 which propose 10 bold it.
shall examine the conduct Of this Administration in
management OF the war in fCurfod point of view
I. The mode and which got the country into
3 lis mode Of conducting the war
g. The objects Of the Administration in prosecuting the
war And
A. The benefits and advantages which have gained by
the
How then came we into this war, in the FIRST place-a
waged, not in country and in defence OF our
homes and families but foreign SOIL in the dominons of
sister republic whose birth raised shouts Of joy,
do France, and which, in turn, established her
Government after the model Of own What led 10
fhs unnatural war Who provoked il Which the
offending party These grave and weghty questions
have examined them carefully, and II is with unmgaed NOR
tfcs,ion find that in all these the Administration Of my
country has been in the wrong But ask not that my
assertion shall be received the truth Of tse matter, but will
the Oy assertion
proved.
The first Of the war, beyond all dispute, the
neIaon OF Texas But for this certainly should have had
and this act il equally certain, done by
We then, guilty Of the first offensive towards Mexi-
co. from which all the Others in this horrid tragedy Of blood
she'd DEATH and desoaton have naturally and regularly fow-
ed Texas lawful and quiet province depart.
Of Mexico such she remained until about the 1885,
hen reasons satisfactory herself she rebeed against
MeKco reyoed from her allegiance TO her, and up in
dependence for herself Mexico undertook chasse her
beous province and her into submission She in
~sded Texas with considerable army under Santa Anna
mied number Of aocious outrsges, but was finally
thrown and defeated the battle OF San Jacnto Santa An
captive, afterwards liberated, and the Mexi
army driven from Texas which it aerward
invaded In this Of suspended hosties the two parties
remained for eight years. Mexico threatening to reclaim
Texas and Texas setting her defiance. In the mean tim
Texas maintained the Independence which she set up at tn
time Of her revolt and in March, ls45, by agreement be
Texas and this country, annexed her TO US as on
OF the States Of this Unon and pledged the faith and Powc
Of this Government shield and protect her against every clam
and demand which Mexico should make upon her by TN
act ofannexaton placed ourselves in precisely the same 70
on towards Mexico Texas occupied towards her prior
annexation and Texas had certainly herself loose iron
Mexico by force Of and Mexico had acknowedg
ed her independence consented such revolt or in
way settled her difficulty with her bot still claimed her as he
subject the countries were, he admitted, not IN stat
Of peace, bot in state OF and we by the union wit
Texas, placed ourselves exactly in her position, too, be
placed state wit Mexico This