The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-10
Speech of NM. Webster.
ON THE NEW LOAN BILL.
[From Houstons Reports.1 In SENATE, March 2
(CoNTINUED.)


hat chat would be more humane than to harm
Mexico
Mr.. Cass Gin his seat, )-True.
Mr.. Webster-It is true Very well,
thought as much. Now the remarkable char
acterstc of his speech, which makes 1t so
much Mexican speech is, that the gentleman
spoke itin the hearing of Mexico, as we'll as
in the hearing of the Senator We have been
accused, Sir, of being mexican Wbigs,' be-
cause what we say here is heard by Mexico,
and Mexico derives countenance and support
from what is said here. But the honorable
member comes forth and tells Mexico that his
object is to brighten her! His words have
passed along the wires-they are on the gulf
they are floating away to Vera Cruz. and when
they get there, they will satisfy the Mexcans
that after all--after all, eye good Mexicans,
our principal object is to frighten you'll And
to the end that they may not be frightened too
much, he gives them notice that the object is
to trighten them! Mr.. President, when Snug,
the joiner, was to represent the lion, and roar
on the stage, he was quite apprehensve that
he might too much frighten "the clutches and
the LADIES' and, therefore, by the advice OF
his comrade, one Nicholas Bottom, he wisely
concluded that in the heat and fury OF his et-
forts he would show one half his face and say
-"Ladies, fair ladies, would wish you, or 1
would request you, or would entreat you, not
to fear, not to tremhle; my life on yours, II
you think l come hither as a lion, it were pity
on my liie No, am no such thing; am a
man as other men are; I'm Snug, the joiner !
But, Sir, in any view OF this case-ln any
view Of the proper policy OF this government,
according to any mans apprehension and
judgment, where is the necessity of this aug
4 Cf itary force
OF the countrys hold in my hand note
l suppose substantially correct-of the pres
ent military forces of the United States |
will not vouch for its entire accuracy; but l
believe it is substantially according to fact.
There are now twenty fveregiments of regu-
lar troops OF various arms, which, II full,
would give us force of %, $50 rank and file,
and, Including officers, thirty thousand and
odd mei5.a These, with the exception OF SIX
or seven hundred men, are now all without
the limits OF the United States, in field service
in Mexico, or on the route of Mexico. These
re giments are not full. Casualties and the
climate have sadly reduced their numbers. Ii
the recruiting service would now yleld ten
Thousand men, il would not more than fill up
these regiments, so as to give the field officers
their full command. l understand, Sir, that
the report from Gen. Scott-Gen. Scott A
man that has performed the most brilliant
campaign in military annals! A man that
has varied against the enemy-warred against
the climate warred against a thousand un-
propitious circumstances, and carried the flag
of his country to the capitol Of the enemy
honorably. proudly, humanely, to his own per-
manent honor and the great credit OF his
country! Gen. Scott And where is he ,
At Puebla ! At Puebla, undergoing an in
quiry before his inferior in office, and other
persons not in Office; while the high powers
that he exercised, and exercised with so much
distinction are turned over to another-l do
not mean to say an unworthy gentleman-but
his inferior in military rank and station. But
Gen. Scott reports, as l understand, that IN
February there were twenty thousand regular
troops under his command and en- route. Add
the thirty regiments of volunteers, and II tull
they would make thirty-tour thousand men,
officers included over thirty five thousand, and
there would be a force of regulars and volun-
teers amounting to not less than nifty hive
thousand or sixty thousand men, including
the recruits on the way. If my information
be correct-ard the honorable member from
Michigan can correct me if it be not pre-
sumo that is correct-in February Gen. Scott
had under him in Mexico thirty thousand
troops, regular and volunteers. Now all these
troops are regularly Offered There is no de-
ficiency of officers in the line or in the staff.
They are all full Whatever deficiency thei e
is, consists of men. Now, r,there is a plaus
ble reason for saving that it is difficult to re-
cruit at home for the supply OF deficiencies in
the volunteer regiments. 1t will be said that
volunteers choose 10 enlist under officers OF
their own selection-that they do not incline
10 enlist here as individual volunteers when
the regiment is abroad under officers of whom
they know nothing. There may be some
thing in that, but pray, to what does that con-
cluson lead. Does it not lead to this, that
all these volunteer corps must mopLlar away
so far as the privates are concerned and come
to nothing meantime the places Of the COM
missioned officers are continually filled; the
regiments being full of o1t&eers,. although the
I'm. h; ASe.se rod u ced