Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-09
Mr. CLAYTON. viii the Senator allow


strike out the preamble, as the Senator
from Vermont has stated, put to the gentle
men on the other side the excessive hard.
ship Of calling upon us to vote for bill,
the object Of which was to send supplies for
the army, with preamble containing a
statement Of matter Of fact Of which we
had moi evidence before US. We repeat
eddy demanded the separation of the two
propositions, but the separation was rcius-
ed, the President OF the Senste deciding
that we had no right 10 call for division
Of the question. Then we insisted upon ii
that we should have the right to vote upon
the bill protesting against the preamble
And the Senator from Missouri now in my
eve will recollect perfectly what he said on
that occasion, that such would be our right I;
and such was The understanding, that If we
gave our votes in favor of the bill, we were
to be regarded as voting for the supplies,
but not in favor Of the preamble. This is
the simple fact Of the case, aud that such
was the understanding i. well known. A
Senator now deceased Mr. Speight,) dis
tinc,ly, and over and over again, said that,
such was the understanding with regard to
our vote. II is gross misc0nceplon,
then, 10 suppose that we voted for the pre-.
amble, or ever meant TO vote for IT, | hope
this statement will be sufficient To prevent
any injustice being done us upon this sub
ject in all future time.
Mr. UPHAM thank the honorable Sen.
aior for the additional information he has
given upon the subjec,-ihe country should
have the whole truth in regard TO the mat.
ter. Appeals were frequently made to Sen
alors on the other side of the chamber, to
strike out the preamble to the bill, as no ev-
dence Of its truth had been exhibited, aud
take a unanimous vote for the supplies hut
they refused TO do it, We must vote for the
bill as it was, they snid, or take the respon-
siblity of voting against it. General Tay-
lor had been ordered 10 the left bank Of the
Rio Grande with a small force, and fears
were entertained. that he would be unable
TO sustain himself without reinforcemenls /;
and the bill was passed for his relief No
in,imatlon was made by the Executive, tina,
the war had been waged with a view to the
permanent acquisition Of Mexican territory
by conquest. The message declared it 10
be war Of defence, and not Of aggression.
Mexico" says the message, "has passed
the boundary OF the United States, has in
vaded our territory, and shed American
blood upon the American soil" To en-
able the President to repel this invasion,
and ''to prosecute the war TO speedy and
successful termination" voted for the hill
Of the 18th May, Is46. Well, sir, what
said the Presiden, in regard TO the war, in
his message OF December, 1876! Hear
his language:
The war has not been waged with a
view TO conquest but having been COM
menced by Mexico, it has been carried into
the enemy's country, and will be vigorous
ly prosecuted there, with view TO obtain
an honorable peace"
Here, sir, conquest, with a view 10 per
manent occupancy of Mexican territory
is tlisavowed. The war had been carrieC
into Mexico, TO cripple her power, an'
compel her TO make an honorable peace
Again, sir. the President, in his message o
} August 4,h, 1916, says:
! Equally anxious to terminate, by
! peace honorable to both parties, as wa
| originally TO avoid the existing war, hav'
deemed il my duty again to extend the div,
branch to Mexico. Should the Govern
{ ment Of that republic accept the offer, II
! the same friendly spirit by which it was die
: taied, negotiations will speedily commenc
n for the conclusion Of treaty"
d, ~ peace honorable 10 both parties" wa
j the object desired "'rhe chief difficult
e to be anticipated in the negotiation" say
n the President
e as the adjustment Of the boundary bt
n tween the parties, by line which shall b
Il at once satisfactory and convenient TO boil
j. and such as neither will hereafter be il
- clined 10 disturb. This is the best mode
# securing perpetual peace and good neigl
e borhood between the Two republics
o Should the Mexican Government, in ordt
n TO accomplish these objects, be willing
:: cede any portion OF their territory to ii
IF United States, we ought 10 pay them ia
1t equivalent Just and honorable peac
lie and not conquest, being our purpose in II
3 prosecution Of the wal"
lie The boundary question was the matt
10 in dispute between the two countries ar
lie should The Mexican Government. for II
lie purpose Of establishing line conyene
for both parties. be ceiling 10 eede a pOrtit
m Of territory to the United States, zoe oug
!, to pay q fair fguirditnt for il. No &c
r.. sion Of territory was 10 be required witho
:. the free consent of the Mexican Cover
~ meni. Blu, this is not all, sir the Pres
e dent asked for an appropriation Of So, GOT
as 900, TO enable him TO advance portion
81 the consideration money, for any cessi
. of territory the Mexican Government. mig
~ ~ be willing to make. The character al
r ~, objects OF The war having heen thus a
nounced 10 Congress and the country,
H. with most OF the Senators on this side
n, the chamber, at the las, session Of CO
IF gress, voted men and money for its pro-
~ ecution.
m But, sir, will leave this subject and pi
al TO brief review of the measure which {
NC casoned the war. viz: the annexation
m Texas, and the order Of the 18th of j
m uary, 1916, for the march of the army FRI
W.. Corpus Christi TO the eil bank Of the
er Grande. For these two measures the de
ocraiic party aud the President are resp,
sible. And therefore charge upon tn
Use this war. and all the blood and iIeasur,
Ipr has cost the country. The annexation
les Texas was party measure. 1t was