Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1848-02-05

/ public interest TO communicate to us, either
conhdentialy or In open session. The President
asked to communicate to us information which would
enable us to understand this monstrous project for
the war, which requires this great addition to our mil
lary means, and this morning, by vote of the Sem
ate, the majority of this body determined that
the question should not be put TO the President wheth
er he has in his possession any information on this
subject, which he could consistently with the public
interests communicate 10 US. either in private
sion confidenally. Well, sir what is the amount
OF our military force in Mexico, which it is pro-
4 posed TO make this formidable addltionl Without
going into detail may safely say that that force at
at present amounts in round numbers to forty-five
/ thousand men. Under existing laws, twenty thou
sand may be raised, to compete the complement of
| regulars ana volunteers, making an aggregate OF
sixty five thousand men. Deduct from that fifteen
thousand men, account of the casualties to which
the Senator from Michigan so often refers, and you
have an an army Of fifty thousand men. Yet, it is
now proposed to add to that force regiments of
regulars with bill behind to put the disposal of
the President twenty thousand volunteers force in
GLIDING the naval forces, operating in conjunction
with those on the land amounting TO not less than
from seventy thousand eighty thousand effec-
tive men,
| What is to be accomplished by that FORGET Are
there battles to be Fought That distinctly disavow
ed There is no expectation sir, of any battles
to be fought. For what them sir, do you ask these
menl Why, the honorable gentleman from Michigan
says that he wishes by the exhibition OF large force
| there to produce "a great moral effect" Howl
| Why, he means 10 convince the Mexcans that they
unable to resist u.s. WE'LL sir, If they are able TO
resstthe logic OF such fields Buena Vista, Churu-
busco Contsras and Cerro Gordo think YOU sir that
their increduty will yield the sight of large
body ofmenl What, then, do you intend TO do with
this immense military FORGET They TO take pos
session and occupy the country 1t is said And when
they there, what great object is il intended that
they should accomplish, which the country desires
see Accomplishment Do we want peacel Is il obvi
GUS to every one that peace cannot in this way be OBJ
tanedl Ifpeace could be coerced we have done eve
ny thing that genius could contrive, and skill and gal
lantry could execute
believe it may be said without exaggeraton, that
the history OF no country has presented such sue
cesson OF brilliant military achievements as we have
gainedsin Mexico. At n single battle, nothing can
be produced equal TO the last battle OF Taylor; and
as succession OF military operations, where you
find parallel to the advance of Scott from Vera
Cruz TO the City OF Mexicof II chastsement--delea
-oyerpowering, overwhelming deeat-were suifici-
ent to bring Mexico TO disposition for peace, she
would have been brought 10 that disposition long ago
How, then, do you propose to accomplish it by your
uoopsf Why they are to take possession and occu-
py the whole country-or, as the Secretary OF War
says, keep that portion OF IL which we have got, and
occupy all the rest of which will allow us
TO take possession, what disposition of il do you pro-
pose to makel Posts and Notifications, i suppose,
are 10 be established everywhere You TO main
tain all the strongholds OF Mexico, and her valleys
are 20 be everywhere marked by the signs of military
occupation How long is this state OF things TO con-
iinuel Until Mexico make a peace But, ! pray
you is this the way in which the gentle sentiment Of
friendship and peace Is TO be insed into the Mexi
can bosomi True you may compel her to submit
you may prevent her from uttering word of COM
plaint-you may force her 20 ieign compliance with
your wishes-her active resentment may disappear
and yet dogged spirit Of revenge and the nonsest
hate, will rankle and Turk behind. The Latin poet
has said with great propriety and force;
d Isl tie colo Sextn non amabo."
There is something in the very nature of mankind
which rebels against coercion, even when own
feelings might prompt To the very action 20 which
we are compelled. Do we really expect, by renewed
conquest by devastated iieds by captured villages,
E,rfr bN
that no Mexican can look forth without boholding
the evidence OF the fall Of his country and the pres
ence OF the conqueror thai pence is TO be restored
No sir, no man can expect it-What is the situation
OF Mexico nj this monleni She lies nj your feet.
bleeding. exhausted, painting. DO you wish to crush
the last remains of her vitality Do YOU wish TO
trample upon the enemy already in the dustl IL you
do you do not need this additional force You have
already ample means TO accomplish such a pur-
pose.
, We received Yesterday the copy of general order
issued by Gen Scott, the first article OF which pro-
ceeded TO inform the army that il would spread itself
over the republic OF Mexco and which goes on to es
abish system OF internal regulation for the govern
men of the country, and the collection and dsburse
ment OF the revenue. H. then, IL be right and manly
in the present crippled condition of Mexico destroy
her nationality, you have ample means TO dose. But
ere you proceed TO the accomplishment OF such pur
pose will you not pause for and reflect up
on the consequences which must inevitably followi
II such design be carried out, the destruction OF our
liberties is certain. You send forth the President
with his eighty thousand men, He is told that he can
support these and meet the other expenses OF the
war by levying contributions in Mexico. He is thus
clothed with such authority left in n foreign country
TO form his plans and carry them into execution. Is
he not thus invested with all the power and dignity
OF prince free obey the dictates of his own arb-
rary will at the head of seventy eighty thousand
men, debating laws TO a new nation, collecting and
discussing its revenues, ruling them with despoc
sway, and by the patronage and power thus created
controlling the action of his proper constituency at
home Such power, sir, ought not be trusted 10 the
President of the United States Above all things sir
regulars should not be the force placed his disposal
D The honorable chairman of the Committee on Mil
itary Affairs has told me that regulars were 10 be
preferred because when they entered the army they
surrendered every right but the right of obedience
That "they were machines led me to look with hor-
: ror upon such description of force prefer the vol
uneers because although they enter the service OF
the country, they yield of the rights OF freemen
am opposed putting into the hands of the Execu-
S tive a military force which knows no law but their
= masters bidding moving at his will obeying his be-
hests implicitly, and holding themselves free from all
! the obligations and responsibilities Of citizenship
4 When you put vast force of that description into
the hands OF the Executive have you not far as pos
) sble, rendered him independent OF youi-Have you
l. not converted him from a President TO a Prince
n from a republican Chief Magistrate into Military
i Dictatori
r When, on the present plan OF the campaign, is
0 the war to endl War, II must be admitted by ALL
y is great evil Is there to beno end to it in this
d casei
--thet tears
! And blood Of earth flow on as they have flowed