The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-04-14
The Speech Of Senator Breese.

and have not been disappointed in our ex-
pectation of finding it one the ablest of the
session. We wish it could be placed in ev-
cry hand, for as IA vindication Of the course
OF our democratic administration Ia reference
to the war it is perfect. Senator b. settles
the question to the entire satisfaction we
should think ofeven "Spotty" Lincoln, that
the spot on which American blood was first
sjed in this war was OIL American soil. He
shows also, that, the party who at present
oppose the war, are in motive, principles,
and feeling identical with the federal OPP
ponents Of the war Of 1872; that our country
was forced into this war against her will ::
and thatshe cannot now withdraw her ar
mics from Mexico without having obtain
ed indemnity for the past and security for
the future, but in violation Of every princi-
pie Of honor and self respect. In the event
OF failure on our part to obtain peace on
honorable terms from Mexico, Senator Il
would prefer infinitely the subjugation and
annexation Of the whole country, to dis
graceful retreat, and he shows by the clear
est arguments, that such 4 course, instead
of injuring would benefit both our own coun.
try and Mexico.
We suhj0in that part Of the speech in
which the able Senator establishes the iden.
tity of the present anti war party with that
Of 1872:
Although, practically, war had conmen.
ccd on the oath Of April, 1916, by the attack
81 Mexico on detachment Of our troops.
and again on the 9Th and 9Th of Nav, and
existed on those days as perfectly as the
hostile acts of "A foreign Power can cause it
to cxi>t--they not being predatory incur.
SionS, made without authority or without
apparent cause, and with a view TO plumber,
but undertaken in pursuance of previous
official notifications to our Government.
thatthe war should follow the annexation of
Texas, which Mexico regarded as a revolt.
ed province, and to which her right had not
been at all invaldated by the act of annex
alton, yet, so FAR as we were conccrned-so
far as our relations, nationally and indyih.
ualiy, were involved, the war had its con-
stItutional existence on the passage of the
act Of the 18th of May, 1916. The act chan
gcd our relations from peace to war-re-
cosnisod the practical fact, that the act of
Mexico had produced it-and we gave il
our sanction, and published orr ackuowl.
edgment Of it to the world IN the usual mode.
The phraseoluGy OF the act declaring it is
nearly Identical with that Of the 18th ,of
June, ISL, rs Senators may see who viii
examine. Both proceeded from message,
OF Presidcn; detailing the causes, and both
were announced to the world by proclama.
tlonS; aud, yielding TO no one in my sense
of the justice Of the war of 1872 with Great
Britain, am constrained to say, sir, that
the Justice Of this loses nothing by the com.
pariSou. and as that war was denounced as
"JIm Madison'S war; as unjust and ag.
greSSvc, so is this denounced a Mr.. Polk'S
war. and with equal boldncSs It's injustice
proclaimed. The causes nfthe war of 1912
have been alluded TO by the Senator Of Ken.
lucky, Mr.. UNDERwooD:l they were good
causes, with one heart, to raise up and de
tend its rights and as that had, so will this
have glorious Issue. But. sir, our then
enemy had not invaded our territory, had
murdered none Of orr citizens, though they
had iorciby impressed them in their naval
service and hacran,ly invaded our neutral
rights. To bring on this war, and to add 10
the injury inflicted upon us bv the robbery
and murder of our citizens, Mexico invaded
the soil Of one of our sister States, threat
ened 10 subjugate it. defying alike our pow
and our right. Mexico commenced the
war for conquest, avowedly 10 conquer
Texas. Of which she alledged she had been
mjustly despoiled by us; and as she has
repeatedly declared she would do, she
sought by force to recover it, aud the whole
of it, TO the Sabine. She sought conquest
sought 10 rob us Of one Of the brightest gems
III our na'ionul coronet-and though the
issue could not be doubtful, yet the attempt
was an indignaty, adding insult to former
injuries, and should have been met and re.
pulsed, rs it has been, by the power of the
nation. and meri.cd chaStiSemeut inflicted.
Can Senators tell me for what purpose the
NeNIcan army was on the bank of',hc Rio
Grande, II It was not tn carry out the oft re
pea'ed threat to recover Texas by force p
II was for no other purpose, and its leader
embraced the first favorable opportunity tC
make the invasion. and il has never been
diSavowcd by the Government. Sir, rs e
the justice of this war. in view of all these
things. il loses nothing in comparison with
that of lSl2; aud that war was denoun
ced III terms equally violent and unmca
>ured with this. The party at that day ar.
rayed against il when twas declared, wa,
eager 10 get the nation into il years hrfnr,
Congress acted. Every effort was made I,
influence the minds of the people agans
Great Britain. and appeals Of the most in,
tiamna'ory character, accompanied by at
tackS upon the Administration. of the wan
oi spirit aud patriotism. were constant,
made and they asserted that it was Sc
tame and spirilrss. that it could not "b,
kicked into war; As early as 1906, :
leading Federal print of that day, declared
that "the disputes between this country an,
England. so long attended with rigOr on he,
| part. and injury on ours. will not admit u
much longer vain complaints and harsh re-
ordinations. They must terminate short
/ ly in the silence Of war or peace" Gan,
again, IN the same year, it declared. "thc,
the Democrats in Congress- dare not re-,
sist all agrcssions alike, and assume III,
part of spirited impaitialitv, as magnani
nous policy requires. lfwar is called e.,
by the insulted honor of the country 18th,
cup OF Cancellation is drained to the dregS
B aS they declare it 10 be, L., the war he de-
clared let an embargo bc laid adcgnat,