Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-04-13
unitrO 5totrs Gou0rrss.
SPEECHOFHON. DANIEL WEBSTER,
In THE U. S. SENATE-MARcH 90, 1848.
ON THE WAR

The Senate having under consideration the bill
from the House of Representatives, says the Intel
lgencer to authorize loan not to ex ceed sixteen
millions of dollars Mr. Webster addressed the SEN
ate on the subject of the Mexican War in speech
of considerable length of which we find the fol-
lowing account in the Senate's Official Report:
Mr.. WEBSTER said: Mr.. President, on Fri.
day bill passed tho Senate for the raising of
ten regiments of new troops for the further pros
ecution Of the War against Mexico, and we have
been informed that the measure is shortly to be
followed, in this branch of the Legislature, by a
bill TO raise twenty regiments for the same SER
vice. ! was d2srous, sir, on Friday, TO express
my opinion against the objects Of those bills
against tho supposed necessity which leads to
their enactment, and against the general policy
which they are apparently designed to promote.
Circumstances personal to myself but beyond
my control, compelled mcto iorego on that day
tho execution of this design. The bill now bo-
fore the Senate is measure for raising money
TO meet the expenses of Government, and to
provide the means rs we'll for other things as for
the pay and support of these thirty regiments.
Sir, the scenes through which we have passed
and are passing here are various. For fort
night the world supposes US to have been occu-
pied with the ratification Of treaty OF peace,
and that within these walls
."The World shut out
notes Of peace, hopes of peace, nay, strong as
surances of peace, and Immediate, real peace,
have been uttered to console and to cheer us. 1t
has been over and over again stated that we have
ratified n trealy-ol course 4 treaty Of peace /;
and as the country has been led to suppose, not
of uncertain, and empty, and deluSivo peace, but
real, gratifying, and enduring peace; peace
that shall Stanch the wounds OF war, prevent the
further elusion of blood, cut off these enor-
nous expenses, and return or friends, and our
brothers, and our children, (f they be yet lv-
ingO from land of slaughter, and land of still
more dismal destruction by climate, to our fire
sides and our arms. Hardly have those haley
on sounds ceased upon our car until, in resumed
public session., we are summoned to fresh war
like operations; TO the creation of new army
ot thirty thousand men for the further prosecu-
ton OF the war-to carry our power, in the Ian
guage oil the President, still more directly into
the vital parts OF our enemy, and 10 press home
by the power of the sword the claims that we
insist upon against q fallen, PROSTATE, and had
almost said an ignobo foe. If | may Judge OF
the opinion of the honorable member from Mich.
igan, or other speeches delivered in this cham
Der, there has not been time from the com.
mencement of the war when it was more ur.
gently pressed upon us, not only to maintain, bu
TO increase our military means; not only to con-
tlnue the war, but to press it with moro vigor
than at the present time. Pray, what does all
this mean! Pray, sir, ask, is it confessed
IN mp
were when We snatched up Bit of paper called
or miscOlled, a treaty :, and ratified it! Have we
yet to fghit out to the utmost, as if no pacifca-
tion had intervencdl wish 10 treat the pro-
ceedings Of this and every department of this
Government with the utmost respect. God
knows that the Constitution Of this Government
and the exercise Of its just powers in the admin
istration Of the laws under 1t, have been the
cherished object of all my unimportant liGe.-
But II the subject were not too deeply interesting
should say that our proceedings here might
we'll enough cause u smile. In the ordinary
transaction OF foreign relations in this and all
other Governments, the course has been TO nc.
gotlate first and 10 rati(y afterwards. This
would seem 10 be the natural order of conduct.
ing intercourse between foreign States. We
have chosen 10 reverse the order. We ratify
first and negotiate afterwards. We SET up O
treaty, such as we find it, and such as VIC choose
TO make it, and then we send two ministers plcn.
lPotentory TO negotiate hereupon in the capital
oil the enemy. One should think, sir, that the
ordinary course of proceeding was much tho
wiser; that TO negotiate, hold intercourse, come
10 some arrangement by authorized agents, and
then TO submit that arrangement 10 the sovcr.
egn authority, to which those agents are res
ponsible, would be always the most desirable
method Of procedure. 1t strikes me that the
course we have adopted is strange, is grotesque
So far as know, it is Unprecedented in the his
tory of diplomatic intercourse. Learned gen.
tcmcn on the floor of the Senate, interested lc
defend and vindcalc This course, may, in THEN
extensive reading have found examples.
know none,