The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-07

who has seen service, that he will revert to the period
when he returned from his campaign, and met the aged
patrot who wrung his hand aud for his son who
had died the field OF battle-when he met the mother,
who, with tears streaming down her cheeks put to him
the same ston-he will al once say however
may be to call forth the chvalry OF the country TO fight
It's great battles, let not send such men to be wasted in
The mere duties OF the sentinel, by the attacks OF
disease and untrlendly climate, whilst engaged
in service where neither patriotism is elected nor glory
is 10 be won. II this country were invaded, would
to the great body OF the mia-for use the terms
f" volunteers and "mtla as synonymous-ior Its de-
fence. But when we carry on foreign war, and espe-
caly when defensive operations merely are carried on
we have reached point where regulars are the force
which should be employed the nice routine OF the
vice, in which the duties not sufficiently important to
Justify that disruption oil society, that injury TO the
merca interests OF the country which would result from
bringing of that high class which the honorable
senator from Kentucky has correctly said constitutes the
great body of the volunteers There is great difference
in the material of the volunteers and the regular force
There is enthusiasm that speeds every neigh
bohool when the call for volunteers goes FORTH When
Kentucky is called on to send her regiment and every
county its company enthu bursts out everywhere
and the Stale pours forth its best maeria-naerla too
good for common
The gentleman inquiries why it is that we prefer regu-
they are cheaper secondly, because they be main
tanned in better discipline They will MAINTAIN better
state of police They will be healthier, and therefore
garrison duties As long you keep the high bred gen
emen for the battle, they will bear any privaon, sub
nit to every restraint and discharge to the utmost every
broken all the endearng ties OF home IN order to fight
their cOuntrys batles will sacrifice themselves to the
mere duties OF the sentinel will be content WIN the
performance of the police of garrison' Will they be
suited better for the One well for the other, men
of lower grade in society," and more accustomed to such
dutiesl
But the gentleman has made an Argument which re.
gard congenlal TO his feelings. He has alluded
TO the galantry of the army and the battles won by
small affOrdng evidence against the necessity OF
this increase of force But it is thing TO beat
the enemy and another to hold him in subsection; and
the argument of the honorable senator, which rests upon
the supposon that Mexico is conquered hold to be by
means indisputable Is Mexico conquered? Is any
part of it conquered Conquest, laid down by some
writers, of three kinds Ruin is of heee kinds OF
God forbid we should The moral feeling OF this
country would never justify such course. Another
mode of conquest is to hold country by controlling Its
government That is not suited to the genius OF our
country We send pro consul abroad-no provincial
army to direct the government OF the country we recos-
Mise as the great basis of all institutions, sefgovern
ment. The other mode of conquest is by colonizng
country We cannot do that In neither OF these NODES
then, have we conquered Mexico. We have not even
suppressed the hostility of the Mexican people hazard
the assertion that there is more hostility against us in
Mexico now than there was at the beginning OF the war
Mexico is not conquered.
But the honorable senator asks how will you employ
this large force Not to take cities. Not to fight bat
ties. And agree with him that our army could now
march through all South America, and defeat every enc
Mexco-to convince the Mexicans that resistance is
ide and, beyond all this, to afford protection to all the
citizens OF Mexico who are ready TO recognise oar au
great objects to be obtained To effect them large bodies
ofmen will be needed. We must garrison posts with
forces adequate to make soe if necessary and not be
shut up when any partisan chief chooses to and sit
down before their gates
Again, the army Of Gen. Scott, which achieved such
victories before the city of Mexico, did it at heavy
rce Of blood and that resulted from the want of force
The length of his lines far inferior to that of the
enemys Our gallant fell under the convergng fire
of the foe and therefore their blood was spilled like water
American courage, the skill Of the officers and the sci
ence of Incompatible staff achieved those Victories
and God forbid that they should ever be tested again at
state, is combined whilst there many posts with
out a garrison, which we ought to hold.
Them again, the resources Of Mexico must contribute
to the support of that army. We cannot afford to keep
down anarchy in Mexico at the expense of our treasury
We must not depend the petty amount of property that
might be wrung from the poor rancheros. Such thing
has never been contemplated by government nor prc
tisea by officers. In Zacatecas you have pos
session OF the mint In Potosi the richest mines in
Mexico; and it, has been stated, the annual produce
of these mines amounts to nearly twenyh five millions,
and we claim the revenue which the Mexican govern
ment extracted from mining operations and by protecting
the of goods into the country, furnish new
source of revenue from the duties on imports then we
have something to support armies without touching
private property and the expenses of the borne
by Mexico herself
The object now Isl not to prepare to fight battle, but
to prevent battle. The great object is, to allow
the ability which yet remains in Mexico to establish fed
eral government on republican principles to exert itself
We have taught Mexico sautary lessons. We have
convinced them that they not what they supposed
they were; and hope it will not excite laugh when
mention that supp0sion to have been that they the
greatest military power the continent For not
until after the battle of Buena Vista that they began to
doubt it, Let us give them opportunity to create
government somewh hat stable, and capable of adherinS
to its obligations reject the idea of taking her federal
government under protection altogether lmprac
CABLE and because would certainly tend to render it
odious to the people Our policy should be directed by
the purest and most patriotic motives to that end
which will hasten peace, and leave Mexico the power
to erect again her nationality.
If | believed that this additional force
sary, should vote against the bill If believed that
regulars not better calculated to occupy garisons
and that the galantry of volunteers in the field
should decide this question, ! would vote against it
But believe the force to be necessary, and that these
regulars the proper force. The senator from Ken
lucky spoke of giving discretionary power to the Pres
ident to call out 600 volunteers Well, doubt not
the wisdom of the Executve-I doubt not his nerve to
encounter that responsibility would be quite willing
TO make him responsible and to rely upon the good feel
ing, patriotism and intelligence of the country to sustain
him in calling out these for the present purpose and
still further for the ultimate object. when the forces
may be reduced, of recalling the volunteers making
sacrifices beyond the duty which they undertook per-
from South Carolina before me- recalls to my mind
appropriately in this connection, the fact that the reg
ment which has covered the Palmetto with aures and
cypress numbers only about hundred and fifty
tit for active service. would recall that regiment at
once. | would return lis members to their social and
commercial duties, and substitute for them regular regi
ment equally able to perform, at all events, the duties
they have now to discharge.
did not rise for the purpose of making any extended