The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-11

territory and people TO our Union.
That the grea, object of the war; and all legitimate
wars, sale aud honorable peace, Is now within oul
power, and under our sole control and dictation
II was satisfied that the force asked for by this bill
was IN any way necessary 10 the safety OF gallant
army in Mexico or for the defence of the honor OF
the nation would feel il my duty to vote for the bull
would do so, not because believe that thus war had
legal and constitutional origin; because believe the
President gutess of having commenced the without
the sanction of Congress- but solely upon the ground that
the war is now acknowledged existing war between
my country and foreign power and that the army en-
gagged in fighting its battles is acting under the authority
OF the United States consider that even an illegal war
imposes some claims upon the country which cannot be
safely resisted and that he who abandons such war 10
the sole control of its author, who still hollis the power OF
preventing peace will, in my opinion, not only fail in get
ting rid OF the but also deepen its caamites must
be remembered that while the President the author of the
the country It's subject and not to be told that
when sustain the country under the infection that there
BY justify oreven give counienance him who inflicted the
evil If unconstitutional war forced no claim for sup
port upon those who opposed 10 IT, such war would
bring but few evils in its train 1t is this very obligation
for support which casts upon the innocent that gives to
illegal war its deep and damnng dye My opposition to
this bill is founded upon other considerations and will
now proceed to state them.
On the l3th OF May 1896 by the act 10 which have
the Executive 10 accept the services OF fifty thousand
volunteers 10 serve twelve months or during the war.
Since that time we have by several acts, increased
regular army, rank and file to 3O,35o The naval force
has also been increased estimated 10 5000 sailors and
Misunderstanding grand total of military and naval
authorized by Congress Tor the prosecution OF this
war, OF $3.50 men, Congress has also placed in the
hands of the Executive ample means to equip and bring
into the field this immense force.
On the Both of November last, the date of the Adju-
tant Generals report we had in Mexico, and route
regulars 81 $40, and of volunteers, during the
a2027. Leaving an unexecuted authority IN the hands
of the Executive, stated in that report to enlist of
regulars S,4sl and of volunteers during the 5oi,
in all 2o9s5 men, still TO be brought into service, and
which, when brought into the field, will make army
in Mexico over 1900, rank and file.
~. OF n.
and with power to increase it to 60000 the President
here in the first week OF the session, and asks
to authorize him to enlist 10000 regulars and TO
call out 20 900 volunteers, making armyto be
authorized by Congress for the purposes OF this warof
90 600 men.
have heretofore felt ii to be my duty to vote all neces-
sary supplies of and money for the support of our
army in Mexico, and am still willing TO do SO, if the
safety OF the country should require it, but il does APP
upon any plea of necessity know that the demands OF
great and frequently past finding out; but if this
is to be confined to the objects heretofore avowed,
ditiona force In coming TO this conclusion, look al
our present military position and power IN Mexico We
have the possession of all her seapor she has navy
10 dispute occupation. The President informs us in
his late message
That arms have been everywhere victorious hav-
Nhg subjected military occupation large portion OF
The enemy's country, Including her capital"
New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;, he says
care in undsputed possession and occupation,
and have been so for many monhsa resistance on the
We also occupy all her military roads, and all her COM
muncations to the seaboard. We control all her re-
sources external and internal We have the possession
of all her strong castles and military positions We
have met and overthrown all her armies in positions
lected by themselves We have sormed her fortified
towns, and destroyed all her military magazines. Our
victorious army reve in the halls of her capital and
its two hundred thousand inhabitants submit to pro-
lection Her military cheftans, without armies to
mand, are making war upon each other Her people no
longer able defend their country emblingy beg you
fhpIrp In euch n
rather the ghost OF country thus mu,aed in limb, and
mangled in body, and pierced in heart we to
President and his Secretary heroes but heroes of the
Falsai order They into the field after the death,
and with their unfeshed swords prick the stricken foe.
What was the force employed to reduce Mexico this
hopeless situaton Why sir, not over 10000 men.
On the Sh of April, ls47, General Scott commenced
his march 10 the city Of Mexico The number of troops
by the Secretary of War; but he does inform that the
entire force at Cero Gordo did not exceed $500 and at
aapa 3,7oO volunteers whose term of service about
to expire, were discharged The army thus reduced to
about 5000 remained at Pueba until August, when il
reinforced with about 5000 more; and il then COM
menced its movement upon the city of Mexico. This
little army of 10000 men, cut off from its base line, with
little hope OF reinforcement, abandoned in measure by
its government at home, and lett to its own resources
made its way through the heart of the enemys country
descended into the valley of Mexico, and commended with
an army three times It's number, strongly fortified in
chosen positions, and fighting in defence OF their country
beneath the walls OF its ancient capital The least mis-
ake the smallest blunder the part of commanding
general would have been destruction to our little army
but there blunder no mistake there. Through
narrow defes, down rocky precipices along fortified
causeways sormiRg embated castles that heroic band
fought its way into the walled city of Mexico, and
| flag in triumph its ancient palaces
All this has been accomplished by army of less thar
10000 Well might the Secretary OF War state in
his report:
"That the undertaking be achived compared with the
means employed, of unexamped difficulty and
daring, and required wonderful comb
nation OF military SCIENCE consummate Skill and disc
pllned valor
When we look to another line of our operations il
Mexico that General Taylor is left there main
tain defensive position with force of only 5000 men
the principal part of which were raw troops. He was
left there at time, too, when II known to the ad
mlnstraen here that the enemy in the field with
large force, ready TO strike at the weakest point of ou
ne Santa Anna, with the knowledge of the reduced
force under General Taylor, and of his exposed position
was not long in detecting what he supposed TO be an OPP
portuny afforded him to regain his sinking fortunes,
as to enable him to fulfil his prior engagements with
Executive, to put end to the but in this ne
sadly disappointed Our little army of five thousand
ceiyed the shock of twenty thousand men, and drove
them back in disastrous flight
Now Mr.. President, while the world accords all praise
OF skill ana vaor-deeds so hazardous, dlsmoportion
ed to the force employed that if defeat instead of
had been the result OF their superhuman efforts,
spot of dshonor would have fallen upon either officers
men--yet the country will inquire why il was that SC
small force employed in the execution of enter
pnses dsproportonae to its strength Was because
the country required the sacrifice! Was because Con-
gress had refused to grant more men and money! No.
not at all For before and at the very time when our
armies exposed these unheard- of hazards the
President had full power to force Mexico
to forty thousand men. will not say that the President
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