Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
IN sENATE--TaURsDAY, JANUARY 10, lS4s
INCREASE OF THE ARMY

TegdlDg, oil the 10 raise lmiteu
military force
Mr. PEARCE said It would have been agreeable to me
could have deferred for few days the remarks which
propose make in reference to the subject under cons-
deraon Of the Senate Like my colleague, however shall
be compelled be absent for few days business and
have therefore TO throw myself the indulgence Of the
Senate
With much that my colleague has said in that part of his
remarks which he addressed the Senate the second day
cordially agree but there other points in dispute upon
@ sarsncs Ed no 9s srS SAsv and YidsE variant
colleague such high respect and reaari b, ~
to differ with him here any su, y - aa,u -, ~
painful TO have collision OF opinion upon question
fundamental importance.
had occasion, sir the last session of tho Senate pre-
sent to this body my views upon part Of this subject and if
bad been my colleagues purpose conovert the position
which then assumed and overthrow the arguments which
ayoed su.tan, he could have addressed himself
directly to the purpose than hehas done. Sir do not
complain Of this But il is fact which compels either to
abandon the ground have formerly aken or to rarm it
and sustain il best may. Besides, sir the Legislature Of
my State Is in session. term of service here draw
close and il right that should possess that body
fully with the opinons entertain upon This important sub
ec that they be the better enabled determine whose
Hands place the with which have hitherto been hon
oed Sir, do not shrink from the issue and conoled
BY the conviction that in the opinions which entertain, and
which am about to express but reflect the Of those
whom represent.
Like my colleague, anxious maintain the honor Of
my country, to vndcac her reputation from the least beish
and particularly TO rescue her from any probable charge OF
rapacous aggression of gapng cupdiy and lust Of
quest But, IN my opinion, this cannot be done by merely
affirming the justice of in the justice and constitution
aliy of which have faith; much less be done by
sustaining the President in by which, my opinion
we should be practically subveng the constitutions wrestling
from Congress, whom alone the constitution has conhded
hem the issues Of war and peace making him the supreme
controller of affairs making him. in fact if look the
matter in view of its consequences the Of fate and
the dangerously because he rules under the form
free institutions, in the spirit Of despo
Sir do not pretend to deny that the United States has
just Claims against Mexico for indemnity due citizens
but do deny that those claims the of this war; or
that they would be the just of any war; deny that
they would have justified Congress in declaring against
Mexico Sir, war is last and reful alternative Of nations
the ultima ratio regum, and the last Of republics also
II should never be undertaken without unavoidable
city, All publcists tell Us this The language of Vael is
that there must he clear right coupled with of
sy and this is consistent with the principles Of
and humanity.
Now let what the which produced
this The President has paaled before an exagge-
rated statement of these claims if they the
the and yet he afrms that Mexico brought the
by her illegal and unjust act by shedding American blood
upon American SOIL Sir, these claims against Mexico for
indemnity due to citizens have existed for series of
years, is ruesome for longer and Others for shorter
time. But, ask if Mexico has resisted pernaciously the
payment of these claims ask the resistance neglect
pay the part OF Mexico is comparable that which
have experienced at the hands Of stronger nations And
ask it becomes adopt rule OF right of
patence In regard to weak nation, and another rule of right
and greater of patience regard strong and
naughty people trust there Is Senator who will not
repe with such impuaton Yet fear are about
10 forget the rule of equality in regard TO this particular
action.
Now, in 1882 Mexico entered into a convention with us
by which she agreed to form commission for the ascertain
ment of the claims due to citizens That sat
and adudcated many of the claims, but being limited in
point of timc they all decided Some Of them not
receiving the confirmation Of the commissioners referred
to umpire, who had not time to decide, and not
acted on at ALL Well, Mexico did not withhold from US br
tba af
the commissioners On the contrary, she manifested dis
position to the payment by levyng forced contributions
upon her citizens for that purpose and concluded another
convention in lS43 providing for the organization of mother
commission for the adjudication of the claims settled by
the first In consequence of her embarrassed condition and
exhausted treasury, Mexico unable make payment OF
the adulcaed claims stipulated but she entered an
arrangement with General Thompson, the Minister Of the
United States to pay the claims by nstaments showing that
she acted in good faith and with disposition withhold
the payment She paid all the of interest eight per
cent and three instruments Of principal was until the
negotiation Of the annexation treaty, the expulsion Santa
Anna from power and his exile from Mexico, that they failed
TO make the payments Whether annexation the cause
OF such failure, whether it from their inability pay
cannot undertake TO say but think the latter the more
probable One thing sceran that Mexico made great
efforts, and she did make punctual payments was
rather 10 be attributed to her distressed condition than any
want Of faith Well who is there who does recoect that
ourselves have been delinquent in this way in reference to
the claims OF Great Britain against us refer to the debts
due the British merchants, recognised by the treaty Of 7s3
and not paid, believe for twenty years after that date
remember too, sir that claims against Great Britain for
the negroes carried of the close Of the Of 1912 were
not settled finally till 1926, although provided for in the treaty
Of peace Who does recolIec the claims for spoation
by Naples and Denmark, and the remarkable case Of
spoiatons by France the most fragrant Of all committed in
the wantonne7s Of power very Of rights without
the slightest justification, and persisted in repeated and boldly
defended with the most offensive eonery and yet endured
by this country through successive Administrations from 1906
until 1884, when distinguished gentleman, who form, y
member OF this body (Mr RrvEs, Of Virgnia) negotiated
the treaty Of indemnity; and then France adding further
wrong TO the heaped up injury which had sustained 50
patiently withheld the payment Of the money for four years
longer? General Jackson did, indeed in 1885, address
Congress the subject and suggest repsals the proper
mode Of redress and he asked three millions Of dollars be
place. at his disposal enable him circumstances
might require. But Congress neither adopted bis recon-
mendalon Of repisas voted him the three millions and
the Senate chose rather allow the defeat Of the oGcon
bill
Sir France was fecble-her treasury was not exhaust
cd she the elastic Power Europe as was mani
Tested by her immense payments made to the allies after the
restoration Of the Bourbons Yet sir submitted 10 all
this from France and only in 1885 that recovered
from her the indemnity that due for spoaons committed
~ 1906 and 1918. Neither the indemnity which we OBJ
iaincl from her complete and full II was partial
and imperfect indemnify Our robbed got only dividend
Of their claims And yet we talk of violated honor !
and the President rants about claims against Mexico
Of them, by the by, Of very questionable character
OF them, in fact, grossly fraudulent have heen in
formed BY distinguished gentleman from South Caroline