Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-18

lief if circumstances permled u, tha. J" a. VI. "
harbinger of better days and niShel noPes " VI.
Mexican people themselves. bat si' '"e ,1'o's
doubtful question OF all is, as 10 Inc oes' iooe VI
en- contracting the war as 10 attain these objects.
Uoon Ibis subieci, loo, have my cpnicns, out
am 60 conscious OF my want Of military khowi-
edee, thai should not present Them to'hosc VINO
have so much better sources OF Information, u
did not feel il To be due 10 candor, TO present my
views apon subjects which all are CONSIDERING
and discussing. shall premise, SIT, oy .ne aa.
mission, that The conduct OF the warts emihehsy
an executive function. Universal experience
has shown the necessity for unity OF purpose II.
the chief command Of the operations OF wal -
would be as absurd as impossible Tor inc lwo
houses Of Congress 10 plan campaign, VI w ate.'
the details OF extensive military operations. Wnen
a cIause was introduced in The federal convention
empowering Congress 10 make war, was
amended, and the word declare" was suos'iluseu
for "makc," upon The express ground 'nal 'ile
conduct of The war was an Executive iuhc.lou'
do no, DENY, sir, that in an extreme case Con-
eress could refuse The supplies for the purpose OF
sopnine war This very contingency was con-
lemplaed by The trainers oil our Constitution
They have The right, too, 10 declare me opJee:'
OF The wal; and here, again, | admit Inc posi- h,
biliiy OF an extreme case 10 when lhey ms
refuse a measure of supplies which was man.
hostiies But, sir do maintain ina. me con-
duct of The war is in The main an Executive
function, and il must be an extreme case ~ JUS
tify the interference OF Congress in relation 10 the
plans of campaign. In declaring these my views
as 10 The manner in which The war snouiu NC
conducted il is not my purpose 10 contribute ny
nv vote in making any plan OF campaign a con-
dillon oil The supplies No such extreme case
has occurred as would justify Congress, In my
opinion, for such an interference. Inc rsspon-
sibili,y OF conducting The war IS upon Inc eresi-
dent, and am not disposed 10 take II upon my
self by forcing on him plan OF campaign which
his own Judgment rejects. shall vote tor The
supplies which he now asks, and has declared 10
be necessary as the means TO enable him 10 meet
his responsibilities, and ofer my views as 10
The conduct OF The war for no other purpose than
TO contribute 10 a full comparison oil opinions
upon a subject which engages SO much OF puohc
attention al present.
would not change the present plan OF opera
tons until we ascertain that there is no chance
for peace from the patty coming INTO power I'M
der Herrera; but il no treaty should be oo'aln'a
in the course OF few mon,hs, lhihk theh we
should adop, what has been GenomlnaIed as Inc
cline policy first suggested by The Senator from
South Carolina. | do not mean, sir, mere Ter
riorial line, bounding the portion OF country
which we design 70 acquire, but military line,
comprebending more than we proposei 10 take, ana
fitted for purposes Of defence or offence, as future
exigencies may require. believe, sir, ina! ms
plan would have met with much better Tecep-
lion, il il had not been misunderstood, ana sup
posed TO be a scheme of d, fensve war; when III
reality il was offensive war, but in another form
from that which is now pursued. am IN favor OF
occupying such line, MIR. President, because II
would secure TO US all the legitimate Objects OF
The war, as speedily, perhaps more so, than any
other plan which has been suggested; because II
would save much money and suffering in The tu-
tu;e prosecution q The war; hecause !! wouo
diminish the vast patronage arising out oil the pre-
sen, system Of military operations; and lsl but hol
least, "diseulangle Us" as the Senator from South
Carolina has expressed i, from dangerous con-
neclion with Mexican affairs. Several military
lines have been suggested, all Of them presenting
advantages and having something 10 recommend
them. | take one for the purpose OF comparison
which has been suggested % me by my Trend, Inc
distinguished senator from Mississippi, MIR. DAVIS
whose knowledge OF the subject and military ex-
perience give great weight 10 what ever opinions
he may express upon Ibis mailer This line
runs from Tampco up the Panuca river 10 The
Sierra Madre, with this range and thence 10
Aqua Nueva thence 10 the range OF mountain
spurs skrting The desert, and forming species o
table land whose streams empty into The Gila
and with this rapge 10 point below The junction
OF the Ga and the Colorado and thence 10 San
Diego. This line, he informs me, can be inpreS-
nably defended, so ial as Mexican means OF Oh
fence are concerned, by 10000 efficient men,
This is a larger estimate than have seen made
Tor any other oil the proposed lines, bnl this IN
cludes more territory, and 10 make The compail-
son fairly, take the largesi. With sea-coasl
battery al Tampico, covered by larger force al
the head OF navigation on the Panuca, compa-
rativey healthy place. three, or perhaps four 9TH
or posts are all that would be required To be of any
magnitude Along his line there are bur three
or four passes ever which artillery could be car.
ried on its wheels The cop &c 13hssffr por-
tioH OF The country through which our military
line would pass, would increase lis seli-suppor-
ing capacity, and facilitate concentration OF
troops il any military e1isency should reqnire IT,.
Alter passing Aqua NGeva liule, the country
is already he'd against Mexico by Indian tribes,
and probably no formidable post would be Ie-
quircd until We reached San Diego. Sir, have
his high authority Tor saving that such line
could be so securely held by 10000 efficient
men, that the people on its northern side woula
resume their agricultural operations, which are
now disturbed by MeXicans iorays. The troops
would thus be enabled 10 draw their supplies
from tbe country on far cheaper terms than
they obtain them al present. This line would
cover territory enough TO give us indemni-
" for the past and security for the future; tor il
would cover vastly more territory than we ought
10 wish to acquire, or Than the Executive has al
ready proposed 10 accept. II would cover some
of the most valuable mines OF Mexico, and place
IN our possession The passes Indispensable 10 the
trade between The provinces north and those
south OF The Sierra Mad,e, amongst which would
be that through which The trade between Tampi-
co and San Luis Po,usi is conducted. Both the
domestic and foreign interests OF that province
would have deep concern in the speedy resto-
ration OF this commercial outlet 10 The Mexican
people. We should thus create a strong interest
for peace with us in the Mexican councils, and
possess The means of enforcing treaty which
would secure 10 US all the objects which can be
fairly proposed in the war, Inc acquisition Of ter
ri!ory and fair commercial treaty. Nominal
war we might have Ter 4 time, but we should es-
care most Of its real evas. This line, fitted TO
become the base OF future offensive operations
should they become necessary and impregnable
for defence, would be secure against any Mexican
attack worthy OF seiipGs notice, al least until they
had settled their divisions and ret established their
governments; and The moment this last was effect
ed, il il was strong enough 10 stand al home il
would have the deepest interest in making trea-
ty with US and recovering the territory which we
were willing 10 restore. Our trade, too, would
continue 10 be conducted with the Mexican PEG.
pie 10 as great an extent as their condition and
capacities admcd-for no legal restrictions
could prevent The introduction Of our goods
through such a line into their territory. We
might have nominal war for willie, sir, under
this state oil things. rs SAID before; bur we should
escape most OF lis real evils. Even this nominal
war would probably cease as soon under The po-
Icy which | propose, rs with The system now
pursued. The Senator from Arkansas says thai
The paTchmen, tile is something, and that VIC
have The means Of holding hy force whatever
We acquire by treaty. This is so, sir; and any
arrangement which brings peace, aud which he
may consider enough, will not be, probably,
deemed too little by me. Bn, sir, such an ar
rangement would not give The security for the
future which the other plan would attain, nor
would il probably diminish The nominal duration
OF The WARRIOR the probability is, that the sha.
dow oil a government with which we might
treat would be overhrown the moment, our troops