The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-22

have doubt that General Scott acted under full instruc
tons IRON the government, though do not know the
TACT do not doubt IT, because commanding general
IN the circumstances in which he placed, would so
act without the nsructonsexpessedo or lmplledo his
government And the order he issued is Just such an
der as, IN the existing state of things, American gene
raj should have issued These are To 90 forth 10 the
army and the enemy, and to be followed by prompt
honorable senator from North Carolina will permit
clause to be inserted in his resolution, allowing the exer
else OF Executive discretion this in order to with
hold such inormation if any there be- as might be
tu 10 the enemy, would vote for his motion
Mr., CRiTTENDEN do not know, sir, that during
the whole period OF my service here have we ssed
more jealousy with regard 10 calls for information than
has been exhibited the present occasion The sena'
tor who has just taken his does believe that the
Executive has single relation to this war that
he desires TO withhold and yet he is sgnazed by the
continual opposition which he makes to every appeal TO
that department OF the government for information That
senator may well be little sensitive under the applca-
ton OF the term slender footed" upon this subject For
certainly he has manifested high degree OF readiness
upon all occasions to question and scrunle very closely
any and every resolution offered merely for the purpose
of inquiry and information Now, why is this! Here is
great subject upon which we are egslating-a ques-
ton OF peace and war-of raising armies and when we
ask for the opinions of our military oficers-who are
engaged in the war; and are acquainted with the country
IN which the is carried onon this great question: II
is treated as though 1t were State secret and we are
not permitted to appeal to the Executive department for
information or communications received from these Off
GERS. This Is most strange and unaccountable We
subjected to sort OF trial by the ordeal here and made
to walk blindfod over burning red-hot IRON We want
light 10 guide We want all the information that the
government possesses and not entitled to 1t Talk
about secrets, and the Importance OF keeping secrets
Sir this has very diplomatic sound-there tinllng
| OF wisdom in this sort of governmental art OF keeping
secrets! We are to carry war by keeping secrets
No, sir. The world has long since to regard Sc
cres according to their true value There secrets
but those not worth keeping, in this world and the
whole idea of keeping secrets is sort of mystery with
which little governments surround themselves for the
purpose OF obtaining coloringa complexonal dignity
lhnrn Than ha Nptf
have right to know everything concerning the projects
OF the government and the purposes of this warevery
hng. OF the easl importance You may keep secret
or spy, mercenary, keep his secret, in
Gods name-f YOU have such a in your en-
ploy; but ii the information relates to public afasto
any thing which interests the people of the United
Sates-any public political aspecl, and point of view
they have right to know it. They have set up no
ing knowledge, wisdom, and information secret from
them. know there limits prescribed by Prudence
and all will recognise them when case is made out
But this is the stereoyped argument employed every
application for information: ooh there things
which every government must keep secret'-and there
fore the government must keep everything secret The
gentleman is willing to enlghten us with his Informal
ton, but he does not want to enghten the Mexicans
| What an argument! Enlighten the Mexicans-glve IN
ing in darkness here, not knowing what unc-
onares think ought to do! To refuse 10 give 1t to
us and say they refuse out of kindness and charity TO
us, lest it should operate Information 10 the Mexcans
when the very gentleman who makes OF this argu
men proclaims that he wants distinctly understood
that he is for conqnerng Mexico! What other secrets
can you have' What secret will the gentleman pretend
to have' Does depend upon secrets Is
tina, the way to carry on the war, or TO facilitate the
ecuton OF the war; Our have learned by this
time that strong handed enough to work pleas
ure, be it what may The general orders issued in the
occupy San Luis Potosithat we intend take posses
sion Of Zacaecasand that if that phantom of govern
men Is allowed to sit longer at Q9eretaro il Is simply
by liberation of it. What is the secret' That you
intend to go by this or that road Where is the mighty
in that where is the secrecy in saying that you
were to take possession of their crossroads in Mexico
which the gentleman to think exceedingly i'm
portant to the of your military operations He
himself has given the Mexicans all information about 1t
TO communicate TO us But what has Gen. Scott or Gen
Taylor communicated TO our government as to the
most proper course to be pursued That is what we
want TO know. Il is all idle to talk OF keeping secrets
lest Mexico should know them.
! The gentleman from Michigan is, think making con-
siderable progress on this subject understood him to
say, when the resolutions of the senator from South Caro-
lima against destroying the nationality of Mexico Were
before the Senate, that they presented proposition
thought we might swallow Mexico whole, and not
be the worse for it. Now he says and wishes II to be
distinctly understood, that he goes for the conqleshe
entire total conquest OF Mexico think then, that
he is making some progress Well, he. tells us what
we are to do with Mexico-swallow her. as he said,
whole That would, think make us n very misshaJen
sort of republic if we could perform that operation But
now 'warring for peace" Well Mr.. President, il
seems to me that we have, as said already conquered
|
Where any of the materel of with which she could
contend against ? She is powerless and disamed
and stands unresstng before you and you talk of keep
ing secrets from hero keeping secrets From lest this
poor down-trodden republic shall have some light shed
upon her mind TO the further proceedings which
intend to adopt in relation to the prosecution of this
This argument cannot satisfy the Senate the country
1t ought not to satisfy the country You have got peace
in effect, Mexico is at this moment at your feet
and subject to your dicaton The general orders from
your commander issued to your mes, show that he is
intending to spread them that country, making them
sort of armed collectors of revenue That seems to be
the employment which remains for your armed
forces in Mexico. Is she not conquered when she has
no army left--no government left--no materel of
no money--no credit When nation ia thus depressed
and disarmed, what is wanting to her conquest and
subjugaon She is conquered, sir, and everybody
will acknowledge it in six weeks from this time,
| verify believe And this war, and this country, and
this peace, will become proper subject for the egis
speedily and then will depend upon the wisdom and dis
creton of Congress what terms and in what manner
is to be Observation-Disclosures Congress will declare that
shall we swallow Mexico whole, in the igurative but
strong language of the honorable senator or what else
we shall do--what member of her shall swallow
whether leg, arm, the head--in what manner
shall address ourselves 10 the species of cann
basm prescribed to the American people All this
will have determined by Congress Its appetite will reg
beyond the question: and have been led into these
marks by those TO which attempting 10 reply. The
question is obtaining from the President of the United
States that information which is necessary for ntel
gent action Is this TO shut up these departments and
restore the ancient time when diplomacy dwelt in dark
ness or when the Of State to be kept within
the inter penerad of the temple where the people with