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

and bring their whole force TO operate upon part
ours II we defeated, we are destroyed for we have
no reniorcements to order up nor to fall back on Gu
point OF support might be 1000 miles OH II the enem
are defeated they retire beyond enchanted ne when
| danger cannot come. a
But, after all, what good would this do, even if thu
line could be defended How would it bring peace
what possible motive would the Mexcans have TO make
peace IN such state OF things They have il at all times
when they desire it for fhe line is Chinese wall be
yond which we may look indeed but pass For
IL we should pass II, we should that moment abandon
our plan, confess It's ineiciency, and commence
system OF operations to the ground from which
we naa Tes a before entering upon this dangerous
pertinent We assume our line. We take position be-
hind II, covering the country intend to hold 1t is
sine qua non and we will not treat with Mexico till
bas sh e all right to the sCn claim What
the cesson No exemption from the evils and caames
of for she is Just as secure behind the line while the
sealed, ratlfei and promulgated If she choose to sill
still there is peace if she choose to attack us, she
acks us; and if successful, follows up her advantages
till she strikes decisive blow but if unsuccessful she
retres behind her barrier and awaits better opportunity
to renew her efforts. Such state of things would be
nteminable, for anything see. No government could
maintain it. No public sentiment could bear it. Mexico
would have every motive to continue it, because the
chances OF the future might give her and restore
her terory whereas they could do her no injury; and,
n the meantime she would not put the seal to her own
dishonor.
The senator from Virginia [Mr HuNrERl proposes a
ine for different purpose-as a base of military opera
tons. His line, it understand it correctly, would run
considerably south OF the one proposed by the senator
from South Carolina accommodating itself to the nau
RAJ PaGtefs OF the county but still stretching from the
force necessary to occupy and defend this line at twenty
thousand and to keep that number actual service,
he supposes thirty thousand must be provided for Well
sir this large force equal to the force have in
the interior of Mexico. | have made some inquiry from
intelligent persons, who have returned from California
lines would traverse find the interior of it is very lit
tie known, but it is certainly broken, barren REGION
and many portions OF destitute of water How troops
to be maintained under such circumstances, unless
as the senator proposes it, not defensive line,
but as base OF operations when army once
Of operations | understand to be line along which
an army moves with some definite objects, and upon
which it establishes its depos of supplies necessa
nv to its plan of operations These must be protect
ed and secured, and communication thus kept up, 80
that provisions and ammunition may be always within
reach. These lines of operation bases whence the
movements OF hostile armies are made They penetrate
into the country which is invaded and are not lateral
lines, like the one proposed by the honorable senator.
which would run some hundreds of miles through
trackess forest What an army to do stationed along
such line! To push its operations into the enemy's
country, with view to assail and overun it We have
got much better line than that now, and much
capital, and whence the whole republic is open to our
military eorts-a line supplied with vastly more ease,
maintained with much less difficulty and enabling us al
any moment to strike where we please Now, sir IT we
cannot terminate this successfully, by maintaining
our present base OF operations, nothing can be ceaer
than that we cannot terminate 1t by adopting the lac
proposed by the senator from Virginia line like thai,
covering so many degrees OF great circle OF the globe
has never been known in military operations since the
wars of the giants and history of that period is
rather confused, the events which then passed will not
furnish us with any lessons that can now be useful.
AS TO the defence OF line between cotermnous coun-
tries it rests upon very plain principles the countries
a q w mn he wv
cross it. Neither will main behind their line, for the
avowed purpose of defending it-uness indeed, OF
Them is weak, that offensive measures would be i'm
practicable Ii an Eruption is made, the parties making
il have necessarily some military operations in view
which, if successful. they pursue: but unsuccessful
they abandon ID return The defence of the line itself
in this state OF things becomes secondary object yield
ing to Interior considerations involved in the plans OF
operations An invading force. repealed. must be tol
lowed and if followed, must be pursued to its places OF
refuge the battle field, whe the fate Of arms must de-
eide the contest Any contest between nations involving
other principles. would be rreconcabe with public sen,
tmen and incompatible with the painest dictates OF
policy No, Mr. President, let 90 in The od-fash-
Toned way. will not say the good old fashioned way,
because the term would be napplicabe and improper;
but will say the approved Oldashloned way and wage
this our fathers waged war before us, and as our
will probably wage it after if driven TO this last
appeal of nations. Let discard these untried plans,
and place faith in experience, not in experiments
Let push operations firmly need be, but merci-
fully may be, till have conquered enough OF the
country to overcome obstinate injustice and thus to con-
But principal object of the senator from South Caro-
lima to be- to place the administration in the wrong
the it has directed to be taken, for levylng
contributions for the support and subsistence OF our ar
my in Mexico To do this, he has commenced with
what consider fundamental error that when we enter
an enemy's country in war; take with us all the pow
es of our own constitution If it is meant by this, that
an invading army hasa right to exercise all the powers
fairly dervable from the constitution, and relating to
state OF the proposition true, but entirely useless
for the purpose of the honorable senator's argument But
it meant that the guarantees of the constitution &C
company the army and operate npon the OF our
troops hostile country nothing can be more erroneous
in principle, will be more injurious In practice Inc
slightest reflection will satisfy any one. that the extern
sion of our constitutional guarantees over countries oc,
cuped by armies would be utterly subversve OF all
the rights of We could not march step, without
finding impedimens that could not be overcome The
provisions of the constitution are
" That Congress shall have power
declare grant letters OF marque and reprisas
land and water;
" To raise and support armies
To make rules for the government and regulation OF the
land and naval forces
The constitution further provides that
"The President the United States shall be commander
in-chief of the army and navy" NC
These are all the provisions of the constitution bearing
upon the war making power
In the whole history of our legislation, there are but
foreign countries, and these coeval with the govern
ment having been first passed in l775 and again in 1906
and forming thus permanent part OF our military cole
These provisions in articles iftyone and fifty
five of the Rules and Articles of War The former de
clares that
sNo officer soldier shall do violence any person who
brings provisions other the camp garri-
rsofth p af