The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-06
THIRTIETH CONGRESS
WAsHiNGroN, Feb A, ls4s.

THIRTIETH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION.
WAsHrNeroS, Feb 4, Is4s.
Weather misty foggy, and uncomfortable the sttsn-
dance of ladies in the galleries but slight the other
thoce who attend every day. aud hear speech
greatly predomnatipg
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. slcer.
Mr. BERRiEN moved that when the Senate adjourn, 1t
Mr. RusK offered resolution that the Secretary be
directed to purchase 500 copies of Of Mexico and
SEQ copies Of the map Of the seat Of war; prepared by
Mr.. Disturnell, of New York. Laid over.
SAVANNAH
bill approprlang 900 for the removal of obstruc
ons In the Savannah river, read three times and
parsed.
PUBLIC LANDS
bill providing permanent general pre- empton sys-
tenn in behalf Of actual settlers taken up partly
read when
Mr. PnrLrs moved the further reading be dispensed
with lie believed the bill would tend to debate, and
there not time this morning to consider 1t.
Mr. ASHLEY moved it be made the special order Of
the day for Monday two weeks.
WIDOWS ORPHANS. etN ,
A bill to amend not entitled act granting hall
pay for Ave years to widows and orphans Of officers and
soldiers who may have died in the service Of the United
States, was then taken up and read
Mr. Dickinson asked that the last section be read
MIR. DicKINsorI would suggest that the last section
be amended by inserting whatever may have been the
time Of the marriage" CATER pause Mr. President
bill and therefore withdraw my amendment.
Mr. NILES said this bill Of great Importance, aud
he greatly feared 1t had not received that consideration
which its Importance demanded He did not understand
it fully In all It's bearings he did not know how far 1t af
fected the act which it was intended to amend He
would like to all these things before he was
called upon to vote 1t granted five years half pay to
the soldiers Of the who died in the service Of the
United States Did this act intend to embrace the Off
prvatts musicians &C. of the whole armies Of the
United States Did It embrace the of that branch
branch Of the army Did it embrace volunteers' He
would like to be answered upon these questions.
Mr. JOHNSON, Of Louisiana said this bill was recon-
mended by the President of the United States; was
reported upon the principles which the basis
Of the memorial presented by the Senator from New
York. Mr Dix from officers of the army and the presen
tation of which he had with elo-
quent remarks The object Of the bill was to grant
half pay five years to those widows and orphans
the soldiers officers and who die in the service of
the United States 1t was to place the regular troops
and tho volunteers upon the same footing
Mr. DIX said that the memorial presented by him had
two ebectsone was, that the widows and orphans Of
the regular troops who might die in the service should
oeive half pay for Ave years The bill now before the
Senate embraced only Of these objects the latter
granting the half pay for Ave years
Mr.. Niles Il would like to know if the bill makes any
diff, renoe stween where man dies; end where
he is killed, In the service of the United States,
Mr.. DIx-No distinction
Mt NnEs-I hope the bill will be laid over till TO-
morrow. And 1t was laid over.
A message from the President of the United States
here received, from the hands Of j. Knox Walker,
Mr.. CAMERON presented petition from certain citi-
zsns Of Pennsylvania praying that the war be brought
to close.
At one o'clock the b providing for ten regiments Of
regular infantry to serve during the with Mexico
was taken up again as the special order.
Mr. SEVER took the floor. If this discussion, Mr..
President which has been sustained for the last two
weeks had been confined to the merits OF the BILL which
proposes addition Of ten regiments to the military
establishment in Mexico should most certainly have
taken no part in this debate My want Of military ex-
perence, both in practice and in theory would have
been reasons sufficient for adopting this cour.e sis
not my object rir to dwell at any length on the
merits of this measure shall vote for it, sir bsca use
1t has been recommended by the proper authority to
which Is confded the management Of all our wars by the
constitutions ehal vote for it, because t has received
the sanction of the intelligent and experienced men
composing the military committee, TO whom the
for it, Sir because regard il as necessary measure to
the attainment Of that great object speedy and per-
mauent peace with Mexco shall vote for IL, because
regard wise and expedient measure In financial
view, calculated to relieve the treasury to great
tent Of the burdens which have fallen upon 1t in the
reasons sir, without going into details shall vote for
this bill sir with great pleasure My particular object
ME- President to vindcate the of the United
States for whom have strong personal regard and also
member Of that party Of whom he is the representa-
tive from rom the general attack; which have been made
ment Of the and the ultimate objects of the war
On each of these three points propose to submit
observations to the Senate my health will bear mo out
in the examination In the FIRST place. then, Mr. Pres
dent to the Of the war; and these
were the immediate cause and causes more or less re-
mote Mr. Sewer then assumed, as an indsputable
fact that the immediate Of the the attack
BY the Mexcsns this side Of the Rio Grande upon
Thornton's command, and its discontinue capture
prisoners of This the Of the Presidents
letter to Congress of the 18th Of Msy 1876 and act
of the war Law in the cession Of Louisiana and Florida
In the spoliStions of Mexico aud in the resolutions,
independence and admission of Texas into this Union
In these remote the President of the United
states had agency whatever Louisiana was acquir-
ed when he was minor. He was not in our councils
sc the time Of the treaty with Spain Of lS9 he
ana act n tha exato Of bees
that act was the day before he came into
power by his predecessor, President Tyler In these
four causes them these remote causes the President OF
the United States had agency whatever But IL is
true that the party to which he belongs had great
party which secured the acquisition Of Louisiana in
$685. 1t that party which acquired Florida of Spain
in 1875 it was that party which compelled Mexico by
to citizens Of the United States It was the same party
to which the country indebted for the annexation
all hazards We shall keep Aud sir if we get any ter
ritory from Mexico, it will be due to the same party,
and against the same opposition as heretofore
PRESIDENT 1t would then have been proper for his sssa
ants the other hand to have looked back at the
externally and internally Externally, there were two
great questions to he settled which had produced high
itate Of excitement in the public mind-one was the
Texas quston and the other was the Oregon question
In the settlement Of the Texas question he had to
meet the pride and interest OF Mexico-in the
settlement of the Oregon question he had contend
agsnst the pride and Interest Of England and in the
settlement Of both he prompted by every considers
ton to every regard to the pride and interests of the
United States Mr. Sewer here proceeded into recapi
tulaton Of the history OF the Texas question from the
time Of Its colonization by citizens Of the United Sstes
through all the negotiations, and go forth leading to
and ending In the annexation OF Texas TO this Union Ia
this the description OF the scene In the
Senate the night that the Ration resolutions were
passed. graphic and Interesting calling again
the whole stirring and exciting picture before view
This resolution was OF course to be acted upon by The
Texan authorities The Pr.sdent found thess Difficult
ties around him. when he came into power Has he
managed them with prudence and ability Has he
managed them In manner worthy OF the great nston
which he presides and In manner worthy Of his
positonl MIR. s. thought he had and would endeavor
to show It, He found Texas about TO be invaded The
President ordered tho fleet to the Gulf and General
Taylor TO tae Sabine or some other navigabls stream
in the United States territory He instructed General
Taylor however not to go upon Texan sell until he
informed that Texas had acceded to terms Of an
nexaton General Taylor did he did not 20 to the
Sabine but to the barracks at New Orleans where he
received information from minister at Texas that
Texas had aooeded to terms of annexation After
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