Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-29

actually make the which the resolution of the
Senator from South Carolina denounees was struck, sir,
with the OF recent celebration in this city Of the
niyerary ofthe battle OF New Orleans. i, held here
the lth Instant and noticed that honorable and disin
gushed member Of this body (Mr DicEtSsos) made ad
dress the occasion TO The company then assembled
Guiding with asenimen which goes far ahead of the
ton of the whole Of Mexico. He gave a toast ga
perfect Union, embracing the whole Of the North American
continent" did observe that the sentiment. was receive
ed with disapprobaton mention Of any qualfca
on Of the sentiment by him others but there it stands
the declared opinion OF representative Of the great En-
pe State upon this foora State which, Of all others,
able to succeed by physical force in the accomplishment Of
such Designs design looking TO perfect union,
not in the closer association Of the members Of this republic
not in strengthening Of social relatonnot in in
crease of mutual aachmentbut perfect union which
is TO embrace in with the whole the North American
continent including Mexico the south and the entire
British provinces the north. When propositions Of
that coming from gentlemen Of such high character known
intelligence, and distinguished position before the country,
cannot resist the conclusion that such sentiments may have
an echo in the hearts Of thousands.
but there other difficulties in my mind consider the
further prosecution Of this upon the plan proposed by the
President Of the United States dangerous 10 the liberties of
the country was struck by the remark made by the honor
able Senator from South Carolina (Mr. CALHOUN that
one now hears in the early days Of the epubc the ques
iion How will this measure affect liberty ;" Now
st down and calculate calmly what amount of military force
or means is necessary put into the hands of the President
to accomplish certain object We ask whether shall
send him further into Mexico the head Of hundred thou
by voluntary vote, and all the means Of Mexico by mill
tay and violent seizures and yet the honorable Senator
sad there inquiry the effect Of all this upon our
liberties That remark excited my mind train Of thought
which led the conclusion that there great and lust
ground OF apprehension, this adopted that the lib
critics OF the country will be seriously endangered Recoect
what the this subject in his message Of
last session. All that has been done heretofore Mexico
the prosecution of this war; The President claims the right of
doing because we the conquero But where. ask, does
ne find any authority for exercising the rights conqueor
II be has them be irrespective and Independent of the
constitution Of the United States The conqueor has certain
rights and the President claims that these rights belong to
him. For one do not admit that proposition 1t is the
Government of the United States and the people the United
States represented that Government who the conqueros
in every war in which successful Therefore, the rights
which belong the conquero according the law nations
belong no more to the President than they do to the lowest
ofcer who leads band of against the enemy These
rights belong to the countyo those who represent the
reignty of the nationwide hold the Of the nation
to the Congress of The United States The President has
other power than be is by the constitution the chief milf
ary commander whose duty it is carry for the
and to the ends declared by those who represent the
eregny of the nation But the President claims that he
right TO take posesson and that, having taken possession
he has right TO require from persons within the territory the
oath of allegiance submission the regulations Of his mill
ay officers suspension of all resistance TO bis military
hony under pain of being treated traitors and made La
Bile to punishment in their persons and in the concaon of
their good and to seize the public property and
OF the country All this he claims conqueror, and who'll
y irrespective Of any responsibility to Congress protest
against any such doctrine
Having stated my views of the commencement Of this
wathe and purposes of its prosecution and the
dangerous tendency of the Executive claims power pro-
jects Of conques- the proposition before US We
are called upon 10 place at the command of the President
regiments OF regulars in addition to the present military force
For what purpose To carry the with Mexico. Up
on what plan Sir, the President declines to inform upon
what plan.
Mr.. MANGUM, Tin his seat) His friends here decline.
Mr.. BADGER. A few days ago, when this subject
under consideration by the Senate and my friend from Ken
tucky Mr CRITrEsDEs) stated in his strong and rcble
manner the present condition of Mexico and the and
absolute want of any necessity for this additional military
orce part Of communication from General Scott read
by the honorable chairman of the Committee Military AZ
fairs, to the Of force that would be required Gen.
Scott expressed the opinion that certain purposes
tempaed would be necessary his force 10 6y thou
sand men, myself asked the honorable Senator on what
pan system, basis of operation for conducting the
that estimate made The Senator declined answer.
Resolutions have been proposed the other House making
inquiries and these the President has declined giving any
resolution introduced in this body asking the
President to communicate to information this subject
such he might deem consistent with the public interest
to communicate to either con6denay open session
The President asked to communicate to information
which would enable understand this project for
the war; which requires this great addition TO military
and this morning, by Of the majority of this
body, determined that the question should be put
to the President whether he has in his possession any nfor
nation this subject which he could consistently with the
public interests, communicate TO either in open session
condenay Thus by the action OF the President in the
case and his friends in the other all information is de-
MED us and the making power Of the country excluded
from oil knowledge Of the plans for the prosecution Of the
Well SIR, what is the OF military force in Mex
ico to which II is proposed TO make this formidable addition
Without going into deiai may safely say that that force
present amounts in round numbers, foyve thousand
men, Under existing laws, twenty thousand may be raised
complete the complement Of regulars and volunteers
king an aggregate Of sixty thousand Deduct from
that fifteen thousand Of the casualties to which the
Senator from Michigan often refers and you have army
of fifty thousand men, Yet is proposed to add to that
force ten regiments Of regulars with bill behind to put
the disposal Of the President twenty thousand vounteera
force including the sailors and marines cooperating with the
toop Of less than sevenyfve thousand eighty thou
sand effective What is TO be accomplished by that force
Are there battles to be fought That distinctly disavowcd
There no expectation, @ of any battles to be fought
For what then sir do you ask these Why, the hon.
abe gentleman from Michigan that be wishes, by the
exhibition Of large force there produce ga great moral
effect" How Why he means 10 convince the Mexcans
that they unable to resist us Well sir, if they able
to resist the logic Of such fields Buena VISTA Churubusco
Coneras, and Ceo Gordo, think you sir, that their ncre
duiiy will yield TO the sight Of large body Of men
What then, do you intend TO do with this immense military
force They to take possession and occupy the country
il said And when they there, what great object is il
intended that they should accomplish which this country de-
sres to accomplished DO want peace Is il OBJ
ous to every that peace cannot in this be obtained
IL peace could be coerced have done every thing ee
MUS con,rve, and skill and gaanty accom-
psh it, believe may be said, without exaggeraon that
the history Of country has presented such succession Of
brilliant military achievements we have gained in Mexico