The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-04-13
NUMBER 43.

with 7,l9O men, he entered and took the
city of Mexico, defended by an army of
$4,000 Mexicans. Now, sir, it seems to me
that, after these brilliant victories, with
force 25,00o less than we can now put into
the field, the force proposed by this bill is
unnecessary But, sir, what says General
Scott, in his despatch of the 18th of Septen-
Der, 1S47? He says, that with the force en-
route and 1900 more, soon to follow he can
hold the city of Mexico with garrison of
1900 men, against any attack external, or
combined with an internal instruction, and
have an ample surplus force to occupy Pue-
bla, Perote, Jalapa, the National Bridge, the
Paso de Obijos, Santa Fe, and Vera Cruz
and as modification of this plan. he says
that, with a total of 10000 men, the principal
mining districts of the country may also be
occupied, and a secure transit given TO gold
and silver bullion which, paying the customa
ry duties, would cover considerable part of
the expenses of occupation But this is not
all, sir. General Scott further suggests that
to augment the army to $4,000, would enable
it to occupy all the state capitals and princi-
! pal cities-to drive the guerrillas and robbing
parties from the great highways of trade-to
seize into our hands all the revenues of the
country, and to keep the Central Govern
mcnt IN constant motion and alarm until con-
strained to sue for peace. Does the President
desire to accomplish more than General
Scott says can be accomplished by force of
| $4,000? If he does, what is it ? Is it to an
initiate the sovereignty of Mexico and make
her a dependent province of the United
States Such purpose has been denied by
his friends on this floor What then can be
desired from the passage of this bill but the
patronage it will confer upon the President?
1t will give him an opportunity to appoint
FIVE or six hundred officers, to be engaged in
recruiting soldiers for the next Presidential
campaign The measure is not wanted for
an increase of soldiers in Mexico, but for an
increase of officers at home. The rank and
file Of the army can be increased 10000 with
out this bill, but there can be no increase Of
officers unless it passes. Fill up the regular
and volunteer regiments now in the field, and
after that is done, if more men are necessary
for the prosecution Of the war, ask for thtr III,
and, presume they will be granted.
But, sir, | will leave this branch of the sub
jcct, and pass on, to show that the characleg
and objects of the war have changed; AMI
that its further prosecution, for the purpose
non avowed, would be dishonorable to the
country.
When Texas was annexed to the United
States, its western boundary was left an opeD
question, to be settled by negotiation between
the Mexican Government and ours He
President, in his message of May llth. 1915,
informed Congress that strong desire 10
regulate and adjust our boundary and other
causes of difference with Mexico, on fair and
equitable principles, induced him, in Septem-
Der, 1915, to seek the re-opening OF diplou.at-
ic regulations between the two countries;
that the Mexican Government, in October
following, agreed to receive minister from!
the United States invested with full powers
to settle and adjust all matters in difference
between the two governments that an envoy
from the United States repaired to Mexico,
with full powers to adjust every existing DIFF
ference and that the Mexican Government
had not only refused to receive him, or listen
to his propositions, but, after a long continued
series Of mcnaces, had invaded our territory,
and shed the blood Of our tellow-citizens on
our own soil This message was accompanied
by about one hundred and fifty pages OF man
uscript documents. The usual motion to
print the documents was made, but it was
voted down by Senators on the other side of
the chamber. A call for the reading was
then made, but that also was refused, and the
bill of the 18th May, 1916, was passed by
vote Of forty yeas to two nays. The unanmi-
ty with which this bill was passed, has been
frequently referred to, as evidence to show
that Congress was almost unanimous of the
opinion that Mexico commenced the war.
The President, in his last annual message, re-
terrcd to 1t for that purpose. He says, in
substance, that Congress, by the act Of the
18th May, 1916, decl, red, with great una
nimity, that "by the act of the republic of
Mexico, state of war exists between that
Government and the United States there be-
ing but two negative votes in the Senate and
fourteen in the House of Representatives"
Now, sir, | propose to present to the Senate
and the country all the facts connected with
the passage of that bill. The bill originated
in the House of Representatives. On the 27th
of January, 1916, Mr.. HARRISON, from the
committee on Military Affairs, reported bill
to authorize the President of the United
States, under certain circumstances therein
mentioned, to accept the services of volun-
teers, and for other purposes. On the 18th
of May, Mr.. BrinkerhofT moved to amend
the bill by inserting a new section with a
preamble, in the words following: whereas,
by the act of the republic of Mexico, state
Of war exists between that Go, ernment and
the United States" The amendment was
carried by vote of 1923 yeas to 67 nays;
and, on the same day, the bill passed the
House by vote OF "A to IA. So it appears
that G7 members Of the House voted against
the preamble to the bill.
Well, sir, what is the history of this bill in
the Senate On the 18th of May, it camc
up for consideration, and Mr.. Huntington,
then Senator from Connecticut, since de
ceased, moved to amend it by striking out
the preamble: and the Journal shows that
the motion failed by vote of IS yeas to %
nays-all the Senators on this side of the
chamber with the exception Of three, voted
in the affirmative. A motion was then made
by the honorable Senator from Kentucky
(Mr. Crttenden,) to take a vote upon the
preamble alone but the chair ruled that it