Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-22

inonOiaDie Every tnlng should be knOWn And
commanding general who sits down before city must be-
gin by sending his opponent with the surcn-
der true abstract Of his force Of his munitions of war and
his means Of subsistence And from day TO day this must
be renewed with the momHg report because there should be
secrets. And when he proposes make movements with
the adherence oisecresy he must send in with flag Of
truce his proi of operaonswherc he will march such
day-where he will encamp such nghand what he pro-
poses 10 do, and with what amount OF and material
This may all be very chvslc but woud not be very well
received in this age Of the world No, sir there
cessy be with regard the conduct of the war;
With respect to the general operations which the Government
directs, see no objection 10 disclosing them.
The honorable gentleman says that advocated the swal
lowing OF Mexico and he will pardon for saying it, hut
in sneerng tone he asks shall be done limb by limb, and
sir, would il affect digestion Mr. President will stop
dispute with the honorable Senator about words He may
talk sarcascaly Of just indemnify, of taking Mexican
tory, limb by limb, and swallowing it, There few things
however serious, which may be turned into dcue 1t
s however, of truth Mr. Jefferson spoke gra-
dual augmentation of country which he foesaw and ap
proved, and called extending freedom piece by piece Now
sir prefer this expression of Mr. Jefferson piece by piece
the expression of the honorable Senator from Kentucky limb
by limb though if get the territory that are
justly entitled to without that expession am willing 10 take
it limb by limb.
NV aluson to this subject was in this wse The honora
bic Senator from South Carolina, in his speech few days
since, deprecated the absorption OF all Mexico which measure
adopted he considered 10 be aalo this Government Now
sir, what my remark in reference to this Rather light
manner, perhaps but sufficiently clear its meaning that
this Government would stand great deal of killing and that
did not believe The swallowing Of all Mexico would be
fatal it, though was myself in favor of the measure
was satisfied with taking reasonable territorial indemnity,
the Mexcans woai ccde it leaving the subsequent relations
of the countries to be determined by subsequent
WE'LL sir repeat again that have belief that il Mexican
independence anDihaed morrow, and the whole
country annexed to the United States, il would kill us.
And believe there is nothing under heaven which kill
this Government but the people themselves That is my
opson Of lis power Of vitality Ever since have been upon
the stage Of country has been killed by prophets
evil swo Jerusalem
crisis to-day, and destruction yet have gone
from increase increase. And where final boundaries
be He who controls the fate Of empires alone tell
did not suppose that the honorable Senator from Kentucky
could misunderstood me, have converted figure Of Speech
such swallowing nation into argument be reuted
by serious analogy TO the human body War and conquest
to attain end and bey controlled in their
general operations by the law Of nations They be di
rec.el by the Executive Government upon responsibility
subject Of to the supervision of Congress- with the
great object in the present instance Of making speedy and
honorable peace with Mexico The honorable Senator says
that Sin effect peace What this qualification
Sin effect MEANS do not know. The Mexican Government
resisting fugitive sometimes travelling from place place
still resisting still unable unwilling us Justice. When
Mexico is willing to do that justice which you, Mr. Pes
dent and believe all this side Of the Senate believe, and
portion the other, to be due US, them and till
them may relax exeons shall have conquered
peace. But repeat what before said, that the longer
Mexico continues her obstinate rejection Of reasonable indem
n and the greater the she compels make the
greater will be demands and the heavier her losses What
we year, even al the
men OF the present campaign, may well refuse and
what would accept now, may well refuse after few
months And how much the pabc sentiment Of this country
may demand year two years hence if the continues
long, do pretend predict. We may have make
the great experiment dreaded by the Senator South
Carolina ard the Senator from Kentucky, and the
domains of Mexico to This is the penalty which
national injustice has often been called pay and which
Mexico may be preparing Tor herself
MIR. CRITTENDEN. know that in time Of war, in the
conduct Of armies and campaigns the general does not
municaie to the enemy the by which he intends 10
march, the plan which he has adopted for attaining his OBJ
jecs But the information sought for of the Executive
is Of entirely different character The argument of the
honorable SENATOR it is evident which he has been
driven by the necessity of his and again. although
there may be secrets and certain circumstances which
be important to keep concealed for the me those asked
for not of that description really wonder how the gen
eman repeat in this solemn sty without smile upon
his face, the asseyeaon that it would be dangerous
muncae this information would be advantageous the
enemy As well might it have been said, during the
against the Semnoos that information should be given
lcsthe Semnoes might get Because in another state Of
affairs it might be proper withhold information, il does not
follow that every thing to be kept IT, the Sena
tor says the Executive has that willing
reveal why this opposition to these resolutions of inquiry
The Senator tells the Of the letter from Gen
eal Scott portion of which he read the other day. ask
this Of verbal information is to be communicated instead
OF the official information TO which the Senate entitled Is
the inquiry Of the Senate to be sfed by gentleman
king upon himself the responsibility OF getting up here and
speaking for the Government and giving what he reports
the substance Of information No have a right 10
the information in its authentic and official form in that
may what il contans-no and no less To that we
have a right.
have every confidence in the honorable Senator. His
statement personally in relation to matter Of private
confidence would be satisfactory any testimony but he
will perceive that the question We have right to
the official information that constituents may and read
and that il may go to them, not in the unauthenicated
form Of verbal communication here but in the authentic form
OF Government document He knows and perceves this
and again. with great Difference to the honorable Senator
and without detracing, intending to detract, from his just
and deservedy eminent station here and in the conny at
large why Is that the secrets important to be kept should
be communicated TO him, standing the footing with
u.s. but withheld sacred from us Is there TO be chosen
body Of enlightened legislators here and another body who
their peril TO follow them without information and in
darkness Will the gentleman contend for that and does
that that his argument leads He is furnished with
information and any other Senator may be furnished with in
formation and he deal out TO the Senate according the
exgency of the and bis knowledge Of that portion Of
light Of twilight is to their in the
proposed} There TO be great distinction Of light and
knowledge and when ask for more, told it may
be mschevous and may get to those TO whom do not
wish give information This argument is of universal ap
plcation. II applies equally your call for useful nfoma
ton any other. To every inquiry you will have the
reply: Secrets secrets Government All nations
have you cannot expect give you the
cets There Is mpenetabe region into which the curo
y Of the profane not seek enter !" This is must
say novel doctrine and sort Of Argument sort
Of application altogether Of principle acknowledged by oil
lis proper place. and with its just appreciation. hopc si
m hc cd hv of