The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-04

zaon, and even christianity, have sometimes been
IPropagated by arms where they would otherwise have
been hopelessly excluded Thus, the very passions
which seem fitted only TO desolae human society, may,
IN The hands OF Providence. become the agents OF It's ad-
vancement Let us, then hope and trust that the contest
IN winch we are engaged with the nelghborng pow
depoabe as we all consider it, may be an instrument OF
social and political amelioration to our adversary.
The senator from South Carolina has sand, IN ps en-
phatlc language that we are tied corpse" 1t is a
striking hgure, Mr. President, and parakes strongly OF
the holiness IN which The illustrations OF that disiin.
gushed senator are always conceived Mexico is indeed
prosraie-aifnost politically lnanlmaie II you please
under The expressions which have been heaped upon her,
year alter year, by INSCRIPTIONS rulers But should be
sorry to believe her beyond the power OF resusctaon,
even by human means. do not expect as our contact
with her becomes more intimate To see her, like the dead
body touched by the bones OF the prophet spring. at
single bound, 10 HE and strength But hope TO see her
POSSIBLY through fundamentally from the
despoc sway OF her military rulers, and rising by sure
degrees, TO the national Importance wish her TO pos
sess-order and tranquility first, next social I'M
proyement and stable government and at last an
honorable rank among the nations OF the earth.
contemplate 10 direct interference with her govern.
menno permanent system OF protection to be exercised
over Itno alliance with her, beyond what may be neces
saTy to secure to the objects OF peace. But do con
template treaty, STIMULATING for commercial arrange
ments, Tor protection and security TO own citizens in
Their future intercourse with her, and no withdrawal OF
our forces without lta least until all chance OF obtain
ing one shall prove hopeless If were to retire now
all commerce between her and us would cease, and be
transferred to our rivals our frontier would be line OF
war-not a boundary between peaceful neghbors and
unless the tide of conquest should be poured back upon
her under the provocatons such condition OF our re-
iaons would almost necessarily supernduce, no citizen
OF the United States could be expected for years to come
to plant his foot Mexican soil. War dissoves the
political and commercial relations of independent States
so far as they rest upon voluntary agreement 1t is only
by treaty of peace that they be revived, new re-
ations be substituted for the old.
Mr.. President advocating | do the occupation OF
Mexico until she shall consent to make peace, 1t may be
Incumbent on me to state in what manner think il can
best be maintained And here | must say, think the
estimates OF the effective force in the field have been
greatly oversated propose no specific plan for adop-
ton leave all practical measures in the hands OF those
TO whom they belong only purpose to state what sug
gests itself TO my mind as advisable think we should
find II most advantageous 10 remain much are, ex
cepng to occupy such ports on the Pacific as our fleet
may reduce and maintain as commercial avenues to the
interior Ii may, however, become necessary to occupy
San Luis Potos and Zacatecas for the protection of the
mining operations in those States. and the agricultural
districts the city of Mexico TO command supplies for
the army should consider army OF Is 900 well-ds
cplned, effective men, the smallest number adequate to
The purpose OF maintaining positions keeping open COM
muncatlons IRON the coast TO the interior, and dis
perslng the enemy troops If they shall be reemboded;
but, in order to keep up such force we should re,
CURE nominal organization OF at least forty thousand
with full thirty thousand under pay Without the
general saii the twenty-five regiments of regulars now
service and the ten new regiments proposed by the
bill, Will constitute such force and when the latter
shall be raed and brought into the field portion OF the
volunteers may be discharged, if it shall be found pru
dent 10 do So Many of the regiments arc greatly
duced in numbers, and, understand, are anxious to
return home. doubt now whether there more than
twenty five thousand effective men in all Mexico though
the rolls show over forty thousand General CAss chair
man OF the Committee on Military Affairs, here said, the
Adutan General was of opinion that they did not exceed
tyenty-fo thousand Some of the returns which
the Adiuant Generals report is founded, of early
date August last 1t will be recoected that last
summer, when there great anxiety in relation to
General Scott, statements of the number of his troops
published here. They were founded on the
turns in the Adutant Generals Office and in his Off
cial report of the battles before the city of Mexico,
General Scott complained that his force had been greatly
overstaed He said it had been trebled" in these
turns if recolect rightly, and that the army had been
army should in like manner, be subjected to great
deductions, order to obtain the real effective force II
the ten regiments proposed by the bill are authorized,
probably, the chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs has stated, give many more than seven thousand
men, and in the meantime the army will become con-
stanty diminished by the casualties of service For these
reasons, and for those givenand so ably given some
days since by my honorable friend from Mississippi, MR.
DAVIS, support the bill supports for another reason,
which has governed me from the commencement of the
war; place al the control of the Executive the and
deemed necessary TO bring II TO an honorable ter
mlnation
As hostlites are now suspended, the chief province
of the army will be to maintain internal tranquility sup
port the civil authorities in the execution of the laws to
free the country from the robber and guerilla bands by
which infested and subserve the great purposes of
government by afordng security liberty, property, and
e-a security the Mexcans have not often fully en-
loved The very exercise of these benetlcen agencies
will tend to disarm hostility towards with the think
ing portion of the population 1t will place our armies
in most favorable contrast with hers which have been
scourges rather than protectors to their cOunymen
would If possible have no more bloodshed would
make armies the protectors not the enemies OF the
Mexican people and render them subservent to the Grad
caon of abuses and to the institution OF better civil
administration, under Mexican magistrates, absainng
from all interference with the frame OF the government,
and changing in its action only what, by universal con-
sent requires to be changed II this to be
adopted and steadily pursued should earnestly hope its
effect would be, at no distant hme TO make the capital,
under our protection the centre OF an influence which
would lead to the reestabshmcnt OF the federatve sys-
ten on durable basis, and give TO that distracted
country the settled order which is alone necessary to
make her happy and prosperous
To abandon the city of Mexico would, fear put an
end to all these prospects and hopes That city is the
political as well as the financial centre OF the republic.
is there governments have been instituted and deposed
armies levied revenue. systems devised and carried into
execution. So long as hold it and control the adj
Joining districts ! believe nothing but mprudence or
mlsmanagement can raise up formidable opposition to
us II we abandon it, all the resources OF the country,
which it commands, will again be at the control of its
rulers 10 be employed against in the renewal OF active
hostes Before II captured, energetic movements
seemed to me our true policy Now that 1T is in our
disputed possession, leading object should be to IN
roduce better commercial and financial systems and let
them work out under our protection their legitimate re-
suits,
Great qualities are necessary in him who is charged
with the execution OF these delicate and responsible
functions. He should have prudence, selt7control, a
knowledge of civil affairs of the country, OF the people,
and their character, and, If possible, their language.
Established institutions existing usages, sometimes pre-
ilJces even, must be respected Some OF the most dis
ka,l