Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04
DEBATE
runRspAY. March 2, ls4s.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

Mr. THOMPSON, of Indiana, who had the floor from
yesterday resumed the debate in speech which occupied the
time allotted him by the rules OF the House, directed principally
IN olv 10 the remarks made yesterday by Mr. McLAsE The
Renoriers sketch this speech is deferred for the present
Mr. SMITH, of Connecticut, next addressed the commit
Tee directing his remarks TO subject which seemed % him
had received that consideration from the TWO Houses OF
Congress and from the American people which its importance
in his judgment, required VIZ to the objects and purposes
which this Administration had been seeking TO accomplish by
the prosecution of the existing with Mexico Passing
over the question OF the origin OF the and admitting of
the sake argument that the President Of the United States
had right 10 order the army to the Rio Grande assuming
for the sake OF argumenand he made these admissions anu
assumptions for no other purpose-he validity OF inc Clam
advanced by the Administration OF the clear and indispusape
nature Of title the Rio Grande assuming that the
,eraed reservations of the President o the United States
that Mexico the aggessor were well ionnde mat she
invaded the territory Of the United States and that oy an al
tack Capt Thorntons command the 24lh Apnt lS4b
she guilty of shedding American blood upon American son
he asked if the aggression thus made upon our territory was
not Iepeled il the victories of Pao Alto and Kesaca de la
Palma not sufficient indications OF the honor and IN
teprity of our country Was moi sufficient for army,
under the lead Of the gallant the successful Taylor TO have
scattered the Mexican forces before them as chat mad we
been content to remain on tins side OF the mo uaD0e dd
any human being believe that tb sgasconadng,
cowarv race Mexican would have dared to come OF
this side of the Rio Gande for the purpose OF assng the
American arms
But this Administration, not content with repelhng aggres
SION as they claimed had fit invade the republic OF
Mexico to send an amy into Upper Caifonis and New
Mexico 70 organize an expedition ola very extraordinary cha
racte under General Wool to capture Chihuahua and TO take
possession of Iamaupas, New Leon, and Ceahuila Not
satisfied with thus capturing eight or ten OF the northern
States of Mexico the interior of the country was eeraied
the President would have it, expanding O0d 900 Of money
and, he verify believed, at least $4,000 lives oil The Ame
citizens
And why had all this been done 2 What had been the
policy Of the Administration IN thus prosecuting this IN
this most extraordinary would be impossible, he
said him discuss this question fully under present CIT
custances without referring the treaty OF peace which
was said had been negotiated in the city Of Mexico either with
or without the authority of our Government, which had been
brought TO this city, and pending before the
other branch of the National Legislature. In speaking Of
he spoke from of information except those
all the members OF the House; and he spoke on his
sponsbity alone He also intended speak with modea-
ton, with caution, subject of the utmost deicacy
of the utmost importance.
Was not extraordinary that should have pending
before department Of this Government the question whe
Their the boundaries the United States should be extended
immense eSten whether vast regions of country should
I've brought within jurisdiction and subjected TO laws
that the question should be pending whether foreign people,
who speak language who know nothing of in
tuions should be brought within the limits of the United
States of America whether the Government of the United
States should be committed, in addition to all its expen-
dures in the prosecution of this war, in addition the
500 600 0eo and he thought he might safely say the
$50 600, 000 and the fearful sacrifice of e-was
strange that the question should be pending whether addi
ton all these should put ourselves under obligations
aves of the people be informed word about 1t
might be said that they would have opportunity pro-
upon il when, after II raiifed-in should
be ratiedhe House of Representatives called upon
vote appropriations to carry into effect Bot did every
know that they would then he placed position where
they would be forced TO appropriate Yet word
communicated by the President TO the representatives of the
people upon this subject
He knew that the Executive under constitutional
obligations take advice Of the immediate representatives Of
the people, but ne should suppose, when he entertained
extraordinary proposition this, that he would desire to
learn what might be the views of the House of Representa-
uves upon for, he repeated, when the treaty should be
ratified would be the supreme law Of heland The terri
tory would have been acquired and subjected laws the
people would have under jurisdiction and the House
Of Representatives would be forced make the necessary APP
preparations TO give effect The obligation rested on the
House II held by Gen Jackson and the two Houses
Of Congress in relation to the French treaty 1884, where
the French Government agreed pay % 600 900 francs by
instruments and the French Chamber Of Deputies refused
make the appropriation. Did Government that
as most outrageous breach OF faith and were we not on the
very point Of going with France enoIce that treaty
What objects and purposes then, had this Administration
been seeking TO accomplish by this war; and what did it seek
by this treaty Whether il should be ratified not
matter in reference TO which he did express any opinion
II that question thrown into his hands for decision he
should feel that there devolved him fearful RESPONSE
bliiy choice on the hand between which
fraught with awful evils country and on the
other hand treaty which be greatly feared would ultimately
produce caames less dire the country than the pro-
secuion Of the ITSELF
lie called the attention Of the House and the country 10 the
surprising change in the language made By the Admin
uauon and us friends, in relation TO their objects and pur-
poses during the progress Of the When il was first
commenced we were told ha, their object to conquer
peace and the friends Of the on this aoor and
elsewhere insisted that should short war and gIo,op
war Dut not turning out bad become necessary
President and his fnends 70 modify their language ana h
then insisted that the objects Of the war were a.
the past and secony for the future" VIVA, was meant H.
these words human being able 10 tell n III annual
message at the commencement Of the last session AZ onar
the President totally dsclaimed all idea Of copaues, m, .
the present session he modified his language and said hat ~
object conquer Mexico'-meannu The whole !,
Mexico-ihat he did desire extingus her nationaIv
but that she should continue exist separate and indie
pendent republics and then he wound up Ivy telling US in very
signihcan; language that have "indcmnty r the
past and security for the future" "Indemnity" f,r yh,
For the debt which Mexico owed citizens prior 10 the war,
Why did be not say So "Indemnity for all the expenses
OF the war Why not say so, il this what be meant
Indemniy for all the blood and oil the sacrifices made in the
prosecution Of the war He said no such thing.
We'll, p this security" What did he mean by that
II seemed that he wanted put Mexico in some way under
bond for good behavior Exactly how was 10 be done he
could not perceive, except by bombarJng her cities
blowing up her castles, dispensing her armies and sending
wdowhood and orphanaze thousands of homes of that
public. He wanted security for the future in some way
AZ length this treaty had come and afforded new light on
he subject
lie referred TO what understood be the terms Of the
eaiy-he cession Of al the country this side Of the Ri,
Grandc and oil 81 New MEXICO and nearly all Of Upper Cali
forna and be said that hs Rad evidence before him. which
he would emJOdy bis printed speech sufficient 10 satisfy