The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-12

territory until Mexico agree terms Of peace prefer

Il ~
territory until Mexico agree Terms OF peace prefer
the last.
MIR President in saying that prefer the last do not
wish to be misunderstood prefer the last if the end to
be obtained is not which, in my Judgment. would
tansh the American name prefer the last, II the OBJ
ecl be accomplished is merely the vindlcaton of our
violated honor and indemnity for our heretofore violated
rights But II the purpose OF this with the President
oil the United States TO annihate the nationality OF
Mexcof i IS the forcble dismemberment OF her ter
rtory-hen say, on my responsibility as senator and
man, would not give HIM a dollar.
Sir, we live AT a time when character IS OF immense
value WIN nations, as we know II 70 De WIN individuals
STAINS national character, II is using national power
to nilct national injustice And II there be any ma
tonal crime crying and enormous, IN the opinion OF
all Chrstendom, than any other il is the forclbe dis
membermen OF the territory OF a weaker nation.
When say, Mr. President, that am Tor fighting the
out mean that am for fighting It out IN order 10
accomplish the purpose which we seek TO have accom-
pshedhat is, TO have American rights recognised, and
American honor indicated; and so recognised and so
indicated 10 furnish full and complete security against
any subsequent violation.
The two first points 10 which have reierred-he prop
osition for withdrawing the troops ana that Tor taking
defensive hne--l have already said cannot concur IN
To withdraw the troops altogether, IN my Judgment
would be national dshonor; and cannot therefore, en-
terrain the idea for moment To take defensive line,
would not in my Judgment lead to peace but would, on
the contrary be perpetual war; and so lar as expense Is
to be mentioned in any comparison with the other calam-
tiles of war, would be attended with Infinitely greater
expense than that of fighting II out Now, SIT, the OBJ
lection carrying the is the expenditure OF mon
ey with which it will be necessarily attended ana lne
consequent arrangement of the whole financial condition
of the country. My impression Is, from some exam
nation which have given the subject, and with
an anxious desire TO arrive at satisfactory result
that The war may be carried on in Mexico with
out the expenditure of single American dollar; and oil
course without affecting the pecunaFy condition OF the
American people or the pecunlary condition Oh lhe gov
eminent itself ~
The resources of the Mexican government, Mr. Pres
den even under all the dsadvantageous circumstances
hau
greater, it to me, than is generally supposed Inc
fact is, that until comparatively ecent perlod-ndeed
until short time before the comm OF the war
with ourseves--the expenditures OF their government
have been about $2l 100000 annually; and mas been
appropriated 10 these purposes They have had an army
OF 10000 men always on pay, costing the government
about $6,O0O000 and interest to be paid on the pubic
debt TO the amount OF $4,000 0oo--making $2 ,oooooo
Their army has been punctually pad; their civil list
punctually met; and the interest on the public debt
until Gas | have said) comparatively recent pc
ROD has been met with equal puGoiuaiiiy. FROM
what resources sr The products OF their mines, when
they in full operation; and Tor series OF years
when in such full operation, they have produced S2o
100000 per they charge wna from Is f b un
it reaches the port OF expectation ms transit unty Is
paid in the form of permit granted on the part OF tue
government, to convey the bullion from town TO town.
the permit being renewed at each terminus until reaches
the place Of expectation; and when 1t gets there IL Is
subject TO export duty OF one per cent Inc average
amount OF these transport duties, until the bullion reaches
the place of eXportaon about two and halt or three
per cent The gross amount of bullion drawn from the
mines, have said, is about Sa5ooo9oo me senate
will easily perceive, them the amount derived IRON tins
source with average OF two and hall or three per
cent transit Duty and with specific export duly
IF 1a es sg and the
amount that if raises, il is almost impossible to calculate
or rather ITO speak more correctly the amount II would
raise if peace restored to Mexico, thai country
was restored to quiet and business operations were
| permitted to go in their ordinary course. ms
source is the stamp tax Ihey charge whal -
transferring every description of property OF or ex-
ceeding the value of $500. That is TO say every con-
tract between man and man, relative to properly TQfth
$500 is 10 lie written upon stamp paper Tor when the
parties pay the stamp officers SIX dollars But, accord
ing to their laws, contracts of this description are lett ~
the hands of notary and recorded among the Oh
fetal transactions of the notary making il necessary c.
the parties the contract # they desire TO have IN he
possession evidence OF the contract to obtain ohcal
copies and the result that each one OF the parties al
most invariably takes cory of the contract Inc cory
is also written stamped paper and Tor Inc copies ueie
| is paid SIX dollars each. b.
There is another source and that is duty on the sale OF
everything that sold Nothing passes from hand 10 nahd
by way sale, that does nopay specific duty
by the amount OF the value OF the articles 50 MN
| will not estimate the anouai thus derived II Is sum
cen, for my purpose state the fact as the
fact 10 beat the amount OF revenue received from hes
sources has been abuRdany sufficient TO enable the gov
eminent OF Mexico to meet puhcrfy us asuuisee ,.
to the amount of is2l 100000. This amount WaHd sup
port any army which we might put INTO the neid; ana
this we would have perfect right TO appropriate Not
to seize and coniscate individual property Whcn is ao-
horren to every sense of ustcewhch would be an act
of babarism dshoRog to the age in which we live,
and stain upon national character; but to appopIi-
ate the public revenue OF the country TO enleebe the
power of their government TO reduce the military 70 the
same standard private citizens, anu prove by the TACT
that we are thoroughly able enforce IT, that the resoIa-
ton OF peace depends their submission Now, be-
eye as confidently as anything OF which we have
any certain knowledge that by pursuing course OF thus
description Tor the purpose OF enforcing termination OF
this war, we shall not only obtain money as much as Is
necessary for the support OF our army bpt lla OF lhe
money spent, portion OF will come from the peo-
pie of the United States,
Now / know the objection that may be raised az to
the eonseq uence that may result from taking possession
of the whole country think can see almost as clear
~ as does the honorable senator from South Carolina
[Nr CALHOUN the result of Incorporating the whole OF
Mexico into this Union and if believed that the object
was the incorporation of the whole OF Mexico INTO the
Union by the further prosecution OF the war, much as
should hang my head in modification and shame Tor me
honor of my country, \ would willingly submit TO the
withdrawal of the troops rather than prosecute the war
an honr longer But do not believe that such is to be
the result do not believe that the people OF the Uni
ted States would suffer executive officer TO perperate
such wrong il the Executive had in contempa-
lion do NO: believe that they would ever themselves
! assist an Executive 10 accomplish such an object J
would have much less confidence ~ iEem than have
thought possible that the mere last Of rapne The mere
lust of territory, would lead them to dshonor the Amer
can name by biong from existence neighbofng and
S lfeebler nation.
/, am for prosecuting The war, because believe the
consequence will be to bring Mexico the earlier to her
senses, and to prompt her cheeruy TO accept terms OF
peacp And this brings say awOrd what