The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
sPE ECH OF MIR. DOWNS,
sH OF LOUISIANA,
Ia the Senate, January 81, is4s-On the ten regimen

Ia the Senate January 81. is4s-On the ten regiment
Mr.. DOWNS. / had no Intention Mr. President,
when this bin first up in the Senate to say anything
upon the subject thought, sir, that our progress IN
this war with Mexico was suchwe having M %
ts and accomplished everything, practically, that the
army and the President could accomplish--hat at the
meeting Of this Congress, when Il came together, 1t
would in its deliberations upon this subject, rather In
dcate what further steps should be taken in the matter
and would occupy their time in action rather than words
had no expectation whatever, when tins bill was rst
Introduced that il. passage would be delayed and that
the measures recommended by President would be OPP
posed.
When proposed for the first time, to take up this bill
happened not 10 be in the Senate on that day. and be-
eye was the only day in which was absent since the
commencement of the session; but, upon nqurlng,
found that opposition was made to such consideration,
and there was very close vote as to whether the bull
should be taken up understood from that FACT at that
tme that distractions would be thrown in the way
OF its passage but still did not anticipate that decided
opposition TO the hill which has since been manifested
Inc other side of the chamber
Mr. President, we have had so much discussion and
SO much difference of opinion TO the origin Of this
and as perhaps shall hereafter have difference OF
opinion to the question by whom the opposition to the
bill was commenced, wish to place record the hsto
~, as understand it, Of this debate. In SO doing, it
will be necessary for me to aude to the course OF certain
senator's upon this al-mporan subject; for in relation
10 the history of the action OF the Senate in the debate
this bill, do not for one, desire TO have the question
left in doubt who commenced protracted this
OF discussion When the attempt was first made sir, to
call this bill up for consideration, the objection, as
dersood from the "Ofcial Proceedings, to taking it
ply whether il should be taken up not at that time
All all events, that appeared TO be the light in which it
was regarded by the chairman of the Military Committee
We soon however, to another stage of procedure
in this matter Some days after when the bill again
called up amendment was offered by the senator from
Kentucky Mr. CRIrTENpENl 70 change the provisions,
&C. Still did understand that to be opposition to
the bill for, if understood the senator's remarks on
that subject, ii not denied that the President should
be properly sustained in the conduct OF this war; and
confirmed in that opinion from an incident that
occurred about that period In some preliminary discus
sion at that time ecollect very distinctly that the hon
orabe senator from Kentucky seemed to be very much
surprised at incidental remark that fell from the sena
tor from Mississippi viz: that the prosecution OF the
had been delayed or procrasnated by Congress.
confess that was very much OF the opinion Of the sna
the senator from Mississippi not well founded as
he affirmed it to be- supposed that there had been no
serious objection at the former session designed against
the particular measures recommended for the
of the war; did not understand, from the amendment
Of the senator from Kentucky that such opposition was
ion to the details Of this particular measure But Mr.
President, arrived at other stages of this bqsi-
1t was remarked the other day by an honorable
that the chairman OF the Committee Military Affairs,
and those connected with him in the support Of this bill,
Ias 81 a 81 s a +.
that he seemed to be disposed to regard it as not
70 unreasonable or monstrous; that such an idea
Now. I must say in reply. that those who are thus
charging with Inconsistency, are changing the position
which they had assumed at the commencement. very
pdy. 1t is they who have been making progress; but
must be allowed to say that i is progress backwards
from the time when the bill was first proposed to the
present moment they have manifested an increasing OPP
position to the prosecution OF this war. Not only do
they find fault with the suggestions OF the President OF
psr,ent - the reports Of Ire Chairman on Military
Afairs-and with all the authorities usually allowed on
such occasions but they resist and contest them at every
point, and have denounced in the strongest terms, the
prosecution OF the war. That was the stage in the
course of their procedure upon this subject marked out
by the senator from Delaware But they did not stop
stop in their onward career cannot says for soon after
another honorable senator-the senator from Connect
offered resolution which took still! higher ground
in the first place that Mexico had public domain; and
secondly she had she had power to cede any OF sa
territory 10 us and therefore, idea of acquiring terri
tory for indemnity was altogether futile Such has been
the progress of the opposition to this BILL and must con-
TESS SIR that every additional step that has been made has
but astonished me the These latter positions
ny S ban al he les ape Wsy
nothing from her Well sir, viii not stop to discuss
that question for care little whether shs Sss an
differently understand that Mexico has PUBIC 40
main Think il very immateral. and that the acquisl-
Sn ol 10 or the public anG repaa to public
lands generally and in respect particularly to the i'm
mense territory have held think they bring IN but
very little income to the government venture TO say,
mat on examination in respect to the value OF the Pupc
lands this country that after deductng the expenses
surveys purchases and the other necessary expenses
would be found that it has been by means money
making business There other advantages in the &C
QUESTION Of territory besides the value Of the land
The increase of population OF commerce. and consequent
y OF revenue, resulting from such acquisition must be ia
kennto account Suppose we had never dollar
out Of the immense territory acquired by the acquisition OF
LOUISIANA; would not the acquisition, considering the mil
hons OF received New Orleans, have been sui
hclent lnducement TO its requirement. believe Mexico
mas public domain to cede but whether she has or not
40 not straw We want the territory for the spread
OF population, the increase OF commerce, and the ex
tension OF our liberties, just we wanted Louisiana and
Inc valley OF the mississippi, Floridas, and Texas
shall not follow the senator in his argument on this
point He cited from work on international law. OF
which profess to know but little shall not then, fol
low him in that quotation. But should think that such
law as that which he cited is at varance,wth the prac
De tolerated in this age of the world Howl would ask
DID we acquire the very ground on which this Capitol
sands Tradition records, that the Indians once lighted
helr council fires this very hill; would the Senator
men have IT, that we have title to this the site of our
eaPol and that the remnant of these Indians could at
any time justly eject us from its possession But if the
senator's argument should be correct, that Mexico has
no power to cede territory, how will that help his
will only make it the more necessary for us to take it,
1t she cannot cede it,
Such, then, sir is the history of the opposition thus
lar to this bill Before proceed further however will
from Vermont who last addressed the Senate In the
conclusion of his remarks he complained of the exercise
OF what he pleased to term an almost despotic mill
ary power, in the hands of the President of the United
States, in Mexico, and acclaimed at some length against
the dangers of abuse of military authority But does
not hn Al