The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-12

the war; the President found portions of New Mexico
claimed BY Texas the actual hostile possession OF IN
NeXcans Gen kearny under the order OF the President
reduced these settlements and towns to the possession
the United States conqueror; and in virtue OF hi
military authority under the orders OF the President b
| established military government over the conquered
country This General Keany had a clear right to do
he had the right TO do th, east OF the Rio Grande
where Mexican authority had been displaced by IN
arms, he had 10 do il west OF the Rio Grande To ths
extent General K had exceeded his military authority
by the institution of civil authority, his proceedings wert
dsavowed by the President.
The distrust which had been evinced by the wing ma
jory of that House to the acquisition OF territory was bu
another evidence OF the policy OF that party
displayed by number OF It's leaders IN their opposition
TO the acquisition of louisiana Florida and the annexation
Of Texas The wing party under its various Names had
found themselves ncompeentto administer the gov
eminent and to retain power Under the elder ADAMS
laws, which, together with its authors, were swept from
power and place Under the younger Adams, they had
aken nibaiory measures, which would have resulted IN
plungng the country into enormous pubc debts and
again they swept from power Under Harrison
and Tyler they established bankrupt law and an OPP
presslve tarih &c; and again they Were swept from
they had obtained it, As party they could act IN oppo-
son for the possession OF the spells OF office but
party in power that had always dissolved for the want OF
unity and community of principles. There was no lig-
Of principle cohesion OF sentment or slmtude,
10 bind them together.
The gentleman from Georgia had charged the Presi-
dent with preciptatng the country into by
constitutional and unnecessary act. How so Without
going into the facts showing that Mexico commenced the
war by her aggressons it will be enough to show, upon
the gentlemans principles, that he and his party
were responsible for the cause OF the war. And how
they responsible By the election of John Tyler,
who projected the of annexation, and who in
effect, consummated it, Mr.. Tyler had been nominated
for Vice President in 1910. to give strength to the wing
ticket in the south, while it supposed that Gen
eral Harrison would be able to rally the wings of
ed vitality upon several important questions from those of
the great body OF the wing party: but for that reason
with the hope he would strengthen the ticket he was
nominated The democrats opposed his election they
predicted the evil that would follow election to be eff
fected by Misrepresentation and fraud; but all in vain
Their potestatons were not heeded-ther forebodngs
were dlsresarded. Their exposulatlons only
swered by the senseess shout OF Hurrah for Tppeca
and Tyler too" 1t follows hefefore. that war; as
the consequence of annexation was enailed upon the
present administration by the wing party through the
agency of their own Presdent-a President who had
been elected by the wings and who projected the
ure of annexation in hostility to the organization of the
democratic party 1t was not for the wings to shrink
from the responsibility OF their conduct, much less to
throw that responsibility upon the democratic party
Mr. SCHENCK. The wings had supported Mr. Ty-
Ter while he honest but had discarded him when
MI McCLERNAND. The wings had nominated Mr..
Tyler for Vice President, because he southern man.
extreme federal measures might to strengthen the
wing ticket in the south but the wings discarded him
when they found that he could be used establish
a national bank and other extreme federal measures.
The democrats approved of Mr. Tylers bank vetoes
but they never, as party, were responsible for Mr. Ty
lers administration.
The gentleman from Georgia had also charged the
President with hostility and unkindness towards Gene
raj Taylor But was this charge true' Had not the
President, when the broke out, distinguished Col
Taylor by selecting hum to take command Of the army
the held! Had he not promoted him from the rank of
colonel to that OF major genera' Had he not sustained
him in all his military operatons' The President had
done all this and yet ungeneousy he had been charg
ed with the want of generosity towards General Taylor
The country would do justice to the President if heated
parlsans would not,
The gentleman from Georgia had commended General
Taylor in exravagan terms for the presidency But had
he forgotten how his party had rallied against the election
OF military chieftain to office at former time In view
of tn. prospects of General JacksoDs election to the
presidency, the great embodiment of whigery (Mr
Clay) said. or was represented to have said, that
would be better for the country to be desolaed by war,
pesence and famine than for military cheftan be
elected to the presidency. But General Jacksons mill
tary character. although great and commanding,
his only or his greatest merit He had been educated to
the awhad been district attorney Tennessee, Judge
member of the Tennessee convention, senator OF the
United States, sc. And it, notwithstanding all this
Gen Jackson was subject to the objection OF unness
military for the presidency, how much more OBJ
noxious to the same objection was General Taylor,
Gen Taylor had perhaps held any civil Office for an
hour he had had opportunity study the science
OF government; he had even confessed himself unac-
quained with the great political questions OF the day He
had fought well and bravely; but, according the wing
fled for Chief Magistrate of the republic In gross dsre
gard OF all their professions the wings were now stri.
wing snatch Gen Taylor from the reek ing and bloody
battle eld to install! him in the highest civil office in the
world The parallel to such procedure could only be
found in the recall Of the Roman generals from distant
wars, to assume the imperial crown.
The gentleman from Georgia had mpeached the We.
racIty OF the President and upon what ground! The
President had said IN his message that the public debt at
the end OF the would not exceed S65 900 OOO in
round numbers The gentleman from Georgia said the
expenses OF the had been greater than sos 900 900
and that by effort to confound the expenses of the
with the public debt existing totally different
and distinct thngs-the veracity of the President had
been rudey, and grossly assaed The gentleman from
Georgia had done himself much greater injury than the
the gentleman from Georgia unsustained by fact
The administration had also been charged with extrav
agance; but with what justice proprietyl Upon the
advent OF the present administration the public debt was
100000, IN round numbers now, the end of for
egn war, il is only $65 900 0OO in round numbers In
the meantime, had overrun the ends of an empire
containing 900 square miles, inhabited by 100000
OF peoplen the meantime had indicated American
rights and honor and had largely more than reimbursed
the small increase OF the public debt by the acquisition OF
extensive and valuable territories.
But it did not become wing leaders TO clamor about
public debts and expenditures. They succeeded to the
government IN lS4l, upon professions of public econ
omy; at that time the public debt left by Mr. Van Blu
rens administration was only in round num-
berspossiby lessand that debt had been incurred in
whole part by the Florida war The expenditure
OF the last year of Mr. Van Burens administration were
$2235l,A7. But when wing rulers assumed the reins
OF government the public debt soon became increased to
IN round numbers and the expenditures for
the rst year OF their reign to and this in
tune OF profound peace:
Mr. STEPHENS. The debt was increased to meet the
ordinary expenses OF the government tie current rev.
enue being insufficient for that purpose
Mr. McCLERNAND. The current revenues which
had been sufficient to the expenditures of Mr. Van
Hunin trntiO d,riu IL