Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-22
Mr.. REyERDY JoHNsoN's SPEECH.

l. ne loiloWlng remarks, accidentally omitted IRON
Mr.. InuvsnN's sna4.L. -rrS.~. 'toiii q re'
yised copy -..,..s.,pg me justice Of The war as
between the two begerentshe United States and Mexico,
nations. But another and material inquiry presents
itself What independent Of the attack upon our troops
the Rio Grande, the immediate OF the war was It's
mole cause Upon this point agree believe, and have
agreed with my political fends and, think with
hundreds and thousands of poltch opponents. That
cause Is 10 be found in two Of the President Of tho
United States The FIRST the mode he pursued under the
solutions Of the st Of March, 1915 consunnate the an
nexatoa Of Texas Union The second and the more
direct and immediate cause his order march our troops to
the Rio Gande Upon both these points proceed give
my opnlqn with the ankness which becomes me- and
time tue decorum which is due the chief Executive
officer Of the Government
First The mode to be adopted of consummatng annex
alton The resolution Of Congress Of st March presented
alternative modes Under tic Texas be admitted
without any definition OF her boundaries Under
the other there was to be such definition Sir will not
stop inquire into the secret history Of that resolution in this
body The treaty which preceded it bad been rejected be-
prescribed other boundary that wh Texas
claimed rejected, appears by the debates in this
chamber, because in the judgment Of Senators on tie
other side, saeh claim untrue anu inya-nyal b,-
cause large portion Of the territory embraced within the as
serted limits clearly portion Of Mexico The treaty be-
ing rejected, the resolution of the st March, s45 to
the Senate. That, too open to the objection
the treaty It left the boundary to depend the claim Of
Texas. 1t impossible for those who thought the treaty
was obnoxious on that ground and that ground voted
against il, to give it their support.
"But they did vote for it, after getting it amended by the
insertion OF alternative mode Sir how happened that
this change OF form econced them TO the measure Could
have been for any other than because they
tsiied that that Alternative would he pursued by the Presi
dent Such alternative obviaed the objection of unset
tied and unjust boundary Il looked to negotiation the
medy TO avoid all difficulty either with Texas Mexico. Ii
looked 10 annexation without the hazard OF and de-
signed for the pure and patriotic purpose Of maintaining the
peace and honor of the United States Now sir do not
aege that this the ground of their support and still less
that they had any from the President the sub
jec but do alege that conceive other for
their vote upon The resolution all in keeping with their cha
racters for high intelligence mness OF purpose and patriot
ISM than that they thought they had that their
mode Of annexation would be pursued Sir how did turn
out The ink hardly dry with which the resolution
recorded and the of the President attached 10 BEFORE
without going through the form of moments subse
quent delbeaon messenger dispatched to the Govern
of Texas, inviting her into the Union under tho first
aternaeand under the first alternative she into the
Union.
Now, sir, charge upon The President that this hasty and
i-adyised step the OF the present
charge upon him that he had acted prudenty and
ly and wiey he would have proceeded under the other alter
native and have saved the dreadful efuso OF blood world
has been compelled to witness
charge upon him that the which he did pursue
inconsistent with that upicrm policy OF his predecessors
avoid seek avoid, by every possible and honorable
means, that diros Of oil national eyls--war
'r, defence that Congress authorized the step he
"
mand it. They left with him, unwsely think-certainy
would not have done itthe discretion adopt it, But he
knewmust have knownhat Of the wsest and puresl
of pred cted that would end in war and that
Of the wcst and puret Of the statesmen belonging
his political party entertained that opini IN He knew
that majority ofthe Senate, his constitutional sas.rr-,
firmly of that opinion he knew they had promptly rejected
treaty upon that very ground, aud that alone aud yet
defiance OF all this be hcadong takes the obnoxious STEP and
the The responsibility Is upon his head, aid
heavy and overwhelming Is that responsibility.
"Sr, annexation of itself would not have been war
Mexico had right TO make il Of Texas in
dependence had been too long established and undurbed TO
have her absolute right Of sovereignty called in question
acknowledged by the principal Powers Of the world all had
right that revolution had pened into % and especially
had the United States, the neghbor Of the wGoyenmcnt
that right Nor do believe, Mr.. President, that Mexico
proud and arrogant she then was would have dared,
Of tho treaty Of annexation, TO make war upon the
United States No sir, il the manner, not the fact IL
the rashnes and under the circumstances my opinon
the ashness Of the Presidents repeat there
fore, settled conviction that the Presdent this account
answerablc for the But, upon the second ground 70
which have referred, his liability eycn yet more manifest
and without shadow Of justification Sir, need
say that impuie improper motives TO the President
He has doubt, hope acted under mistaken sense OF
duty But my opinion the order 70 march our army
the Rio Grande was fragrant violation o. that du'ywss
ndvse3 reckless and cleay against the spirit Of the cin.
sttu,ion.
"Sir, he could not but have. known that such
likely TO bring hostiiics. He could not but have
known that such hostcs would be- in the judgment Of the
nation, The warmaking power exclusively vested IN
Congress, for wise, high, and vital Of public policy
No would be mad enough rcpoe such dreaded pow
in the Executive The security Of freedom and peace de-
mands that those who pay the expenses oil war should
alone have the right to declare IT, COngs was then IN
sion why they not consulted Was u apprehended
that they would not By such step hazard the peace OF the
nation Was il because il believed lhat they would
sort 10 every possible effort before taking step likely 70 in
volvc US Sir hope not an bound il respect to the Pre-
sdent TO believe not But sir the fact remains s there
citizen in the United States Of any intelligence who can doubt
that Congress wouj in the then condition Of things,
have suffered, they could have prevented IT, much Less
dcred that march
CHARGE therefore, upon the President that as fsr the
United Satss and himself concerned he Is the author OF
the war lie and he only and upon his hand rests the blood
which has crmsoncd It's many glorious balecds Bot this,
s is question between the country aud the President
Mexico had right that account 70 assa our dag.
"To her il made difference under what authority Of this
Government, troops the Rio Grardc. We had
repeat, and hope have shown, gh, 10 send them there
and her attack upon them was regards her aud ourselves
actually begun by her
"sr our flag has waved in proud glory every field Of
conflict The nations heart has beat high with pride and
gratitude to the brave spirits who have borne IL for her match
less galany aud kill Upon the nations brow no blush
need TO be seen They not permitted avoid the ho;
rid STRIFE ThirePresdcn without their knowledge, rashly
involved the nations honor That honor then illegally
sssaei They had no choice but 10 vndcate il. Theirs is
all the glory which has been achieved
'she President hereafter, when in retirement of private life
and reviewing the of these bloody conflicts however
may be now will take Joy in the roDcmbarsc Of our r
umphs The voice Of conscience will tell him tha. h the
blood Of tho battle his shedding. Tie tale Of its glory