The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-24
tn + UNION.

settled conviction of their superiority to us-and prone
ness to attribute their reverses to anything rather than
their own lmbecllty. SO much for the masses The
more informed portions OF society may well study the
doctrine OF chances. and, looking to the divisions which
prevail in our councils, and 10 the opposition which the
legislative measures OF the encounter, may hatter
themselves that exertions will become relaxed aud
the Executive unable TO prosecute any further operations
The remedy Tor all this is pa pable one it is founded
IN human nature increase your force-extend your ope
atlons-overun district after dstrict-establish your
self in city after city-awaken the Mexicans from
their ethargy OF false hope and let them feel that they
have no recourse bat to do justice And add to all
this union IN our councils at homewhch after all, is
the first element OF prompt Postpone inter-
nal dlIhcules I'LL our external adjusted. One
unanimous vote IN each OF these two halls evncng
determination TO prosecute the with all strength,
would be better than an army with banners II would
be moral force that would proclaim power, and con-
do this shall succeed in three months; shall find
government ready enough TO ratify the treaty 10
make another and nation ready enough to observe It's
stlpulaons Mexcans are like all other people, and as
remarked a few days since, they must and reap,
and be clothed and preserve the institutions OF society
and the cherished relations OF social life. They do not
all mean to be killed. nor voluntarily TO abandon every
thing that makes lie desirable Let go on then, and
time and perseverance, we may hope, will bring with
them their Just reward.
And now for the objects of the war This subject has
occupied much OF the attention of the Senate; "indem
nifty and security" have been banded about though
they were mysterious words, employed to conceal some
great end darkly Swallowed torth-a kind of 'open
Sesame" enabling political necromancers TO conceal
their work OF niquty and deception. | am not going
over this ground again, sir. have only TO say, that
there is single word which fully expresses my views
upon this subject, and that word is ACQUISITION.
The object OF the war is an honorable peace, and that
peace can best be obtained by adequate compensation
for the injuries done us by Mexico; and that compensa
ton must be made in territory, as it can be made In
nothing else There is consideration, Mr. President
IN all this question OF territorial compensation, which
has great weight with me- While | trust shall act
as fairly by Mexico as her conduct will permit, do
not conceal from myself that my reluctance to annex
portions OF that country to Is much less than
would be, were not convinced that the permanent hap
plness of the people would be promoted by the
believe it the happes fate that could beall them; and
believe that this war, injurious in many respects as
may have been and must have been destined to work
great good for the Mexican people | believe it will
meorae their condition, CIVIL religious, social and po
cal. | believe that the contact with citizens will
bring many advantages permanently beneficial. The
country will be laid open to the world and the inteec-
ual lessons OF Europe and America will elevate de.
pressed population and bring them to knowledge of
their rights, and OF the means of enforcing them.
Man cannot fahom the designs of Providence; but
experience teaches U.S. that great political changes are
among the employed in the moral government of
the world and that they often to renovate decrep
ID nations, and to give new vgor to the human faculties
The existing race in Mexico has proved itself ignorant
feeble and, if not rerogradng stationary Another ca
reer may be opened to themthe abuses of generations
may be swept away and the route of armies may be-
come avenues of communication by which light and
knowledge may spread over Mexico and the past remem
beed only to make the blessing OF the change evil
dent and acceptable repeat, sir, that the claim set
up Is Tor compensation for injury and yet gavely
eproached iii the American Senate in this middle of the
nineteenth century, with the adoption of barbarous prn
cpes, well as barbarous usages, because, state of
war, when the appeal to arms and when the decision
rests on strength and not reason,
demands by our own of Justice, and claim what
we think right and intend to take what we claim. And
an honorable senator from South Carolina Mr. BUTLER
seems to have made it particular of grievance,
he considers il extraordinary measure in diploma
Cyl that should have defined the line mean to
absh and have said to the enemy, make that the line
of your cesson, continue the war Why, Mr. Presi-
dent did that honorable never hear of uli
matu'n IN national lntercommunlcatlon' What is
once determined upon Its than to say to its adver
sary, there is lowest offer; accept it, do better
The history OF the world is full Of these examples and
must confess IT was with no little establishment that
heard the honorable senator add this to his catalogue Of
eproaches against the administration He told us there
were some OF us ready TO vote for anything. AS have
voted, and intend to vote, for all the necessary
measures, suppose may consider myself in this cate
CORY OF everything yer and anything members.
Mr. BUTLER Certainly not! only remarked, that
was inclined TO think that anything coming with Elk
ecutlve recommendation would be swallowed whole i;
and, indeed, | confess that think so yet!
!, Mr. CASS we all know the courtesy of the honora
Bile senator, and will not believe he intended all the
words import; and, therefore, shall not make retort
which readily presents itself But will say. it requires
for making manly and frank proposal, and for avow
ing lis determination to stand by it to the last And
what other rule sir, there, there be- for the
duct OF nations than the rule of the strongest where all
pachc means OF procuring justice have been tried and
found wanting They have no common umpire, and
when they commit their the battlefield they do
so with full knowledge of the consequences Security
and indemnity # NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and CONCESSIONS if
vanqashe1; and all this, harsh may appear, has
much good sense in its favor, as, indeed, has almost
every general rule which the experience of the world
has adopted Man is naturally pugnacious as his
tenants OF the EARTH whether walking two legs
on four. He is kept in restraint by the institutions of
society," and by the salutary operations law But nations
are Independent; they acknowledge superior, and
much that Restraints them--not ALL indeedfor the opn-
ion OF the world something, and moral principle
thing more; but the greatest restraint which keeps them
from perpetual collisions the certain injury and the
the battle to the strong So says the book of inspa
ton Numbers do not insure victory, power always
command success. So says the book of human expe-
renee And this uncertainty is salutary check upon
the ever active prompings of ambition But dvest
OF Its legitimate consequences which have belonged to it
from the earliest periods of misrepresentation the prnci
pie which this new kind of sickly magnanimy seeks to
lay down, that there is to be neither security ndem
nifty, or that the conquered, and not the conquering
power Is to be the judge of both-and where WEI
Where would be the peace of the world, or where the
discharge of national obligations if there were no penalty
Tor nusce and none of the motives to do right which
spring from the fear of the consequences of doing wrong
An honorable senator from Connecticut Mr.. BALD
WIN informs us that Mexico has money TO indemnify
us, and that she cannot cede any portion of her territory
for that object, because her constitution prohibits it.
Well, sir, suppose she may then set the world at def
ance, and become the shmaeite of nations-wth, how
better fate than shmae of old for his hand
against every man, and every mans hand against him
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