The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-19

raised universal expectation OF pf0HunclameO, Oy
which MIR. Polk would be turned out of the White
House, and certain distinguished gentleman from Ken
lucky be brought in; from whom such peace could be
obtained as would accord with their notions OF justice
and humanity. state that matter OF fact we All
know that this intelligence circulates IN Mexico NO
deny it. did not charge any bad intentions al
made sUessS Bu Ss .ee has BEEN
which predicted at the time By myself ana 'housahos
of others.
Mr. CRITTENDEN. do not doubt that such let
ter has been written and that such the OPINION enter
tanned by the writer The gentleman is well known, and
with him have always sustained the most friendly rela-
tons but although DO not know what eject ms milary
most heated character when he went TO Mexico. pre-
sumo he those opinions, and Is therefore very
ready from his political bias to place upon any act of the
honorable gentleman alluded toone of my most dstin.
gushed fellow ciuzens, Mr. Clay-we need not conceal
his namean unavorable construction 1t is quite likely
that General Marshall may have entertained the opinion
that we should have had peace before now had it not
been for Mr. Clays speech but pat in all candor TO
the honorable senator from Mississippi to say whether
speech delivered by Mr. Clay in November last in Ken
lucky has found such access to the mind OF Mexico as
TO preseDt----
Mr., FOOTE do believe that his magnetic influence
may have been as great as that The Mexlcans are a
peculiar people-sem to pr0nun
ciamentos, and of course, Judge our country by their
rather think, from the evidence before me- that
they expect prOnuncdmento here, which thnk they
will expect long time before II arrives.
Mr. CRlTTENDEN. am glad that my honorable
friend from Mississippi cannot say that he beheves nat u
might possibly have been but he Is not quite satisfied
that it is So And how he-how can any man believe
that few scraps OF newspapers, ana nanuoa or Two
really turned the balance and inclined them in favor of war;
WHY what do know Of Mexico? We know that
the leading men want peace. They cannot make peace
and WHY Because the of the people have become
exasperated against and those holding the rens OF gov
dare not for fear of popular vengeance, make
peace The great masses of the Mexican people cannot
reaithey know nothing about speeches. and nothing
about parties, and yet they the people that are for
They are the exasperated people that nslst-mady
nsst-on continuing this contest That is the account
which receive That Is the general tone OF all the
counts 1t is natural and reasonable. But the idea is
absurd that the people OF Mexico, with patriotic feelings
as strongly felt our case, should be, Ink a
weather. cock, moved by an article IN newspaper
speech Massachusetts, Kenucky-or any process OF
logical reasoning Yet put forward to the pubic az
having an effect of that kind; and that is insisted upon
for the purpose of controlling and regulating our conduct
and opinions here Well, trust that am incapable, IN
any circumstances OF making speech that can be Justly
or truly or any particular sense considered as hostile
TO my country trust that, having the liberty OF free
and full discussion, whenever and wherever l think
that my duty requires its exercise, It is my pleas
ure to use it, that shall freely exercise it. That
is the reason, sir, why boast that | am an Amer
lean citizen-why all boast that we are Ameri-
can citizens But the moment we have war, we are
TO be silent; and the more questionable may be the char
of that the stringent is to be the denial OF
the right of freedom of speech! Why sir. that is the
very time when ought to speak out If Mexico is so
sensitive to the principles and opinions upon which we
act and by which governed IN this country she
legislative capacity, the justice and propriey of this
war; long it connues-so long it Is national
war; made by our laws everybodythose who think 1t
Just and those who think unusunlte their strength to
carry that the strength of the whole to execute the
will of the majority That the fundamental principle of
our government, and that Mexico ought to know What
''comort," them Mexico derive from questioning
the propety OF the war? If she knows how to estimate it
Alright she will the formidable of all enemies in
that very community which, while its members discuss
the proprey of anything, they fully unite in their COM
bned strength in executing whatever the will OF the ma
jority may determine. And that is what Mexico must
know and learn if she reads to any advantage what we
say and publish But the effort of certain portions of the
press has been enforce silence this whole subec-to
control by sort of newmade editorial sedition law
few scraps of newspapers have been found in Mexico
and oh forsooth, what swelling TRADES of treason
neutrality-suspicious. OF our own countrymen agains
our own country and a , OF Of Mexco Can any
OF liberty of discussion and freedom OF the press which
is thus dispayed'
lregret that have trespassed long the time o
the Senate believe that owe you an apology. rose
simply to make few remarks on this resolution, IRON
which have so far departed, that it has almost been
forgotten. hope the question will be taken on the reso
luton.
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi Senators will not expect
enter into this discussion. regret that it has been
thus far prolonged and with Difference to Others regret
that they have considered its introduction necessary or
proper.
The wisdom, the policy, the justice OF war, ques
tons to be settled by those who declare its existence
questions which it part of soldiers duty to inves-
tgate With him. to know that it is the of his
try, makes it his own How, them under this resolution
of thanks, properly discuss the origin and objects
of the war!
The senator from Kentucky defined the relation of Off
GERS to the laws of the country have understood it;
and, far my knowledge extends has been
ders'ood in our army. The obligations of the officers
commission require obedience to the properly constituted
authorities; and the only exception, in favor of his dis
creton, is where there is palpabe violation of the
suton he has to support To declare war, the
function of Congress- No so declared be
sutiona; and an officer ofhe army is bound to execute
such orders he may receive for its prosecution We
now thus formally and conshtutIonaly engaged In
foreign war; and this resolution is to return thanks to
officer for services rendered his country in the conduct
of campaign which has added bright page mill
iary history, and shed unfadng lustre national
character
This sir surely not occasion which justified
examination into the causes of the war, or which
could have been expected TO stir up the bitter waters OF
party elimination and political strife Foreign the
there be but sides one, that of country
the other, that of her enemies and If there be cement
which might and should unite our people as one mass il
is this Under such circumstances, parties have no egt
innate existence To maintain national rights to sustain
national honor the government has right to expect the
undivided support OF whole population-the COM
bined energy of all parties. AS exception to the
general harmony which patriotism produces, factions may
exist; they always have existed--probaby always will
exist among When, at the close of our revolutionary
struggle, the thanks of grateful people burst forth in
harmonious accord, and rose grateful incense to the
Author of all good who had held them in the holow oil
his hand vouchsaed their national independence and
joyment of civil lbertythen, then, Gas emphacal
,L.Jh 81