Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
IN sENATE-TunsDAv. JANUARY IS, ls4s.
INCREASE OF THE ARMY.

1
owe to the country and the State which has sent me here
could be performed by yielding the acquisitions Of the Ex
ecuve such supplies he may deem requisite for the prose-
cuton OF the war; upon plans for prosecuting which have
not been made known TO Congress-f believed that had
not high and controlling obligation exercise nv own best
Judgment for the benefit Of those whom represent and far
The general welfare Of the country upon every question sub
med to the consideration OF this body might disposed
to vote for the bill upon your table. IT, sir the yeas and
nays had not been ordered upon the passage of this bill
have been content to permit the pass as far
as am concerned without offering single word the Senate
uponts intrinsic merits But the yeas and nays been
ordered upon this BILL for it. shall record
my vote against and think is the country- feel
that II is due to mysehat the views and principles which
VIII govern conduct in giving this should be plainly
ard distinctly stated and should accompany the public the
vote ITSELF shall endeayor assign those and princ
pies I'D as short compass as is consistent with full exposi
uon OF what believe to be the truth this all important
SUBJECT and which every consideration obiges to put be-
fore those whom represent without any unnecessary mnu
tom without leaving out thing thatmay be required
iu and complete expression of the argument which, in my
mind, conclusive in regard the measure before you
shall offer my own opinions, sir with entire respect and even
consideration for the great minds body and
throughout the country, whom know to be arrayed against
me- Without intending towards them any disrespec shall
take the liberty to declare what the opinions which en-
ertain with regard to the origin of the war; the manner of its
prosecution the tendency proposed and the
schemes that are evidently entertained the Executive of the
country In relation to it. shall 60 far back SIR as an
honorable Senator from Maryland did a few DAYS ago RI
mean the honorable Senator from that State who first address
ed the Senate upon this bill but nevertheless shall be
under the necessity of going little back for the purpose of
making myself fully understood.
FIRST then, will lay it down. and endeayor demonstrate
that the war In which engaged with Mexico was
the Immediate result of the unlawful and unconstitutional act
Of the President of the United States. suppose sir that
there gentleman this floor elsewhere who sup
poses believes that the President of the United States is
vested with the war Of this country. 1t power ex
pressy and in TERMS conferred upon the Congress OF the
United States And the President would have no control
over it. direct Indirect except from the incidental ccum
the actj0p nf fhaf Ho,,
and except from the fact that virtue of his Office he the
chief commander the principal military officer of the United
States
maintain, them Mr.. President that when the Pesdentof
the United States moved the troops under Gen. Taylo to the
Ro Gande, and took of the left Of that stream
ne committed clear and undoubted of What is
war What do all the writers the law of nations tell us
IS They ALL in substance, define it to be contest about
rights which is carried maintained, by argument
but by force Il therefore, admit of question that
when nation claiming certain rights which disputed by
another undertakes support those rights by force she un
derokes to support them by war; Ear she con-
cerned is true if the act Of violence aggression on her
part be not resisted by the nation that suffers it if be pa
tenly and tamely submitted to, results To const-
ute war, is essential that there should be parties as
IS that there should be two parties treaty of peace
The Of nation cannot alone constitute war il ia like
the case OF an individual striking blow; if il be resent
ed no contest, no hae fight is the result The blow is
an act of aggression it commencing contest but
does not amount 10 perfect contest Whether this
he part oil The President was act Of war; Of hostility, of
aggression depends at all upon the question whether we
had tight to the territory of which he took orcbe possess
son War between nations pre-supposes contest about
nights The publcss who speak Of between nations
suppose them to contend except about rights Warts
contest about rights. Public contest between ma
lions about rights carried by force and by argument
IL therefore, assumed clear and unqueonable that
the title of Texas the United States extended to the Rio
Grande il is still beyond all dodb that Mexico possessing the
left bank OF that stream, having settlements there having
hcers there and exercising jurisdiction there any
dsposess Mexico occupy what she thus occupied and
what she claimed to be her own war 1t is an act
OF just and rghtful if the territory be ours lust and
rghtul the territory be unusty and improperly withheld
Just and nghu H. also, the act Of be directed by those
who represent the sovereignty of the nation Well SIR This
act directed by the President the United States He
ordered the troops to the Rio Gande They advanced When
they came into the Mexican settlement the inhabitants fed
before them in dismay; the officers abandoned the public
buildings and set fire to them and such circumstances
forces under the command Of officers the United Staies
took from Mexico that which she possession Of and by
force kept possession of the territory and placed under the
jurisdiction Of the United States. -
Now, sir this subject had the honor at the last ses-
sion bring the attention of the the action of Mr.
Jefferson, during his administration Of this Government un-
der circumstances Of very similar character with this differ
that the title of the territory withheld from US truly
and clearly ours In every other respect the like this.
The territory withheld by another Power and DISPOSE
on manifested by that Power deprive what we owned
Under these Mr. jefferson conceived that he had
had right to the military force of the country obtain
possession of that which withheld from u.s. though clearly
And he aes the referring the subject the
determination Of Congress- that relating peace and
belong exclusively to that body and him and
this movement might change the relations Of the coun-
tries from peace war; therefore II belonged Congress to
determine whether the movement should be made
But, Mr.. President have other authority. certainly
shall not that il is respectable i'm itself than the
horty Of Mr.. Jefferson. Idoubt very much whehe with
large portion Of the American people and Of the Senate
will be thought quite equal Mr. Jeersons But upon this
question: with respect the President the United States
the authority is conclusive and overpoweng upon
him what lawyers call eopp for am able show that
the President Of the United States has himself recognised
such this act Of hostility, Of aggression
On the ih Of July, s45, the Secretary Of the Navy
confidential communication to Com Conner then command
ing in the Gulf of Mexico. He says
The unanimous Of the Texan Congress for annexation
leaves doubt of the consummation OF that When
you ascertain satisfactorily that the Texan convention, which
assembled the 4th has also acccdc annexation, will
regard Texas as part Of colnyto be defended like
any other part Of it.
" the time every honorable effort is be made
peace with all nations The restoration of boun-
dy the southwest by the consent and choice off people
OF Texas due TO the strong attraction OF the principles OF
liberty, which endear America every OF its and is
tribute before the world the policy OF peace OF political
freedom, and Of union the principles Of freedom II is the
Presidents desire that this great event shouldbe consummaed
without the efon Of blood, and without the exercise
OF force believing that free institutions, IN their right
will achieve all that can be desircd.r
read this part Of the communication for the purpose of
showing that though this paper written on the lth Of
Juypro 10 the actual consummaon OF the act of annexa
onyet the instructions which propose particularly
call the attention Of the Senate given pospectvey,
cautiously and with view 10 the actual completion Of that