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

there being but fourteen negative woes IN
the House of Representatives and two IN the
Senate Sir, the journal of the House shows
81 NEGATIVE votes, and the journal OF the
Senate shows 49, making the whole 80.
Mr.. CLAYTON. Will the Senator allow
me word?
Mr.. UpuAM. Certainly.
CLAYTON. At the time the bill passed
this Senate, those of US who voted for its pas
sage after our failure in the effort to strike
out the preamble, as the Senator from Yer
mont has stated, put to the gentlemen on the
other side the excessive hardship of calling
upon us to vote for bill, the object of which
was to send supplies for the army, with a
preamble containing statement OF matter
of fact of which we had not evidence before
us. We repeatedly demanded the separa-
ton of the two propositions, but the separa'
ton was refused, the President OF the Senate
deciding that we had no right to call Tor a
division of the question. Then we insisted
upon it that we should have the right to vote
upon the bill protesting against the prcam-
bic. And the Senator from Missouri now IN
my eye will reco)lect perfectly that he Said
on that occasion, that such would be our rlght !;
and such was the understanding, that II we
gave our votes in favor of the bill, we were
to be regarded as voting for the supplies but
not in favor Of the preamble. This is the
simple fact of the case, and that such was the
understanding is well known. A Senator
now deceased, (Mr. Speight) distinctly, ana
over and over again, said that such was the
understanding with regard to our vote. 1t is
a gross misconccption then, to suppose that
we voted for the preamble, or ever meant to
vote for it, l hope this statement will be
n, =. inIItCtipp bnInU done
us upon this subject in all future time
Mr.. UpHAM. thank the honorable SEN
ator for the additional information he has
given upon the subject-the country should
have the whole truth in regard to the matter
Appeals were frequently made to Senators
on the other side Of the chamber, to strike
out the preamble to the bill, AS no evidence
of its truth had been exhibited, and take a
unanimous vote for the supplies; but they
refused to do it, We must vote for the bill
rs it was, thew said, or take the responsibility
of voting against it. General Taylor had
been ordered to the left bank OF the Mo
Grande with a small force, and fears were
entertained that he would be unable to sus-
tain himself, without reintorcements; and
the bill was passed for his relief. No ntlma-
ton was made by the Executive, that the
war had been waged with view to the per
manent acquisition Of Mexican territory by
conquest. The message declared 1T to be a
war of defence, and not of aggresslon-
"Mexieo," says the message, " has passed
the boundary of the United States, has lnvad-
cd our territory, and shed American biood
upon American soil" To enable the Presi-
dent to repel this invasion, and ito prose
cute the war to speedy and successful ter
7 tba hill oF tho | q n
of May, 1916 Well, sir what said the Pre-
sident. in regard to the war, in his message OF
December, 1876? Hear his language
1.-THE war has not been waged with view
10 conquest; but having been commenced by
Mexico, it has been carried into the enemyS
country, and will be vigorously prosecuted
there, with view to obtain an honorable
peace"
Here, sir, conquest, "with a view to per-
manent occupancy of Mexican territory" IS
disavowed. The war had been carried into
Mexico, to cripple her power, and compel her
to make an honorable peace Again, sir, the
President, in his message Of August 4th, 1916,
says
Equally anxious to terminate, by peace
honorable to both parties, as | was Originality
to avoid the existing war; have deemed 1t
my duty again to extend the olive branch to
Mexico. Should the Government OF that
republic accept the offer, in the same friend
ly spirit by which it was dictated, negotla-
tons will speedily commence Tor the conclu-
sion of Il treaty"
" 4 peace honorable to both PdrtleS was
the object desired. 90 The chief difficulty to
be anticipated in the negotiation says the
President
is the adjustment of the boundary be-
tween the parties, by a line which shall be
at once satisfactory and convenient to both,
and such AS neither will hereafter be inclined
TO disturb. This is the best mode of secur-
ing perpetual peace and good neighborhood
between the two republics Should the
Mexican Government in order to accomplish
their object, be willing to cede any portion
of their territory to the United States, we
ought to pay them fair equivalent; a Just
and honorable peace, and not conquest, being
our purpose in the prosecution of the wal"
The boundary question was the matter in
dispute between the two countries-and
should the Mexican Government, for the
purpose of establishing a line convenient for
both parties, be valiHg 10 cede portion off
her territory to the UnHed States, ne ougH to
pay fair equivalent for it, No reseion of
territory was to be required without the free
consent of the Mexican Government. But
this is not all, sir; the President asked for
an appropriation of $3,000,000, to enable
him to advance II portion of the consldera-
ton money, for any cession Of territory the
Mexican Government might be willing to
make. The character and objects Of the war
having thus been announced to Congress and
the country, I, with most Of the Senators on
this side of the chamber, at the last session of
Congress, voted men and money for its pro
secution. And sir, to show that our votes
were given with no view to the acquisition of
Mexican territory by conquest, refer to the
amendment offered by the honorable Sena.
tor from Georgia, (Mr. Berricn,) to the Sen
ate bill, No. 105, "making further appropr-
atoms to bring the existing war with Mexico