The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-19

cessful issue But it does seem to me, that if we
grant seven thousand regulars-to be added TO the
army, III the manner l propose, which is as much
as has been employed under any general OF this
country IN the servlce-lt will be sufficient for any
purpose that be desired in order to bring tins war to
close and trust in God II is the last war OF Invasion
| IN which we shall be engaged But while have
thus ntlmaied my purpose TO concur TO some extent IN
raising me number OF men which the president may re-
qulIe Tor ms Immediate purposes, cannot shut my eyes
to the tendency OF the which are likely TO be
adopted as The permanent policy OF this government
The President has told you his message that II is not
hls design 10 carry this for the subjugation of all
Mexico. or the destruction of her nationality. But
have seen enough sir, to satisfy me that the current OF
consequences carrying the recommended
! by the Executive himself far beyond his control.
Since the discussion OF this subject commenced, within
the last fortnight there have been demonstrations of pub
lie opinion not TO be mistaken. | have heard ii openly
avowed that thus war is not to be carried merely for
the purpose OF making peace with Mexico under salts
factory treaty, but that it to be prosecuted with the
more obnoxious design of conquering Mexico and bring
ing her into subsection, either independent prov
ince or TO be annexed part of territorial govern
ment Sir it is not to be disguised. When my colleague
first intnaed that such would be the tendency of the
measures recommended by the President, the friends of
! the President on this loor-and have doubt they
spoke by authority Hated the idea and said that
nothing was further from the intention of the President
than such design Il cannot mpute to the Chief Magis
tae any design under the OF any ambiguous terms
He has saidand believe he was honest when he SAID it
that was not hs purpose to snbngate MeXco and de;
Sstroy her nationality But i the President should
|
ures, what difference will 1t make to the people wheth-
er the result arises from design from ignorance, or
from his inability 10 control the tendency OF the meas
ures which he himself proposes' The effect will be
the same; Are we any nearer peace now, than we
were at the commencement of the campaign, which has
fulfilled the most sanguine expectations of all those who
were interested in the accomplishment of the designs OF
the Executive never forget the time when that
campaign was under discussion in private circes-the
deep anxiety that felt on the subect- mean the cam
palgn which may be denomnaed the Vera Cruz expedi-
tom There, were who foreboded the greatest
evlsmen who looked at it with distrustful eye-who
denounced it as rash and unmilitay and one likely TO
result in disastrous consequences. Gentlemen will rec
ollec the deep anxiety which felt by all who had
landing of General Scott at Vera Cruz And when it
ascerained that they had landed in safety upon that
soil which was destined to cover the bones OF so many OF
our gallant soldiers the common feeling throughout the
United States was feeling of JOY at the prospect OF APP
preaching peace. Peace then confidently calculated
in the most difficult of all situations He had not
only to fight his way against an enemy-and a form-
dable enemy-but he had to fight for the escape of
his army from the effects of the climate, to save his
from certain desucton for if he had not been able
to pass the heights of Cerro Gordo the climate would
have destroyed than would have fallen by the
sword of the Mexicans And with what number OF men
was that General Scott landed Not over thirteen
thousand and with not over eight thousand he passed
the heights of Cerro Gordo He obliged to the
utmost expedition risk the consequences to be appre
hended from the diseases of the country. He was re-
duced to the necessity of rskng the issue of an.nequal
contest in passing that which was regarded as the most
impregnabe of any position which had been erected by
the Mexican government If the incidents and events at
tending these battles had been written the reader would
have felt his cheeks glow in reading them. lie would
have found recorded names which are destined to 20
down to postery at whose mention the American heart
will exut There many who did not feel the excite
men incident to the first and perhaps may say, the
most important victory which was gained during this
eventful campaign - If not the most nos important !,
achievement of the campaign | shall not under
take to describe the achievements before the walls
OF Mexico. 1t has been better done by the honora-
from New n theSe ba
bring peace. The army is in Mexicois there peace!
Have not the right to ask the question, what have
did and magnificent vctores' Their soil has been en-
riched by the blood of those who have sacrificed their
their country But, Mr.. President while we can take
pride in the herosm of our countymen, and rejoice with
those who survve-and every one can profit by the his
tory which will be written of the deai-we must recol-
lect that that history is written upon tombstonestha
will be found in the neglected graves OF our soldiers
whose bones and blood enriching foreign soil
lin the tears OF widows, IN cries oil orphans. and IN
statutory provisions for your manned soldiers These are
the only fruits, far we have of those splendid
achievements Have you a right to expect any other
hope there may be other results
The President has told that the only mode by which
he obtain peace is by the entire subiugaton OF the
people OF Mexico, to reduce them to uncondl-
tiona submission. That is the only alternative left
But there other and more prominent why we
have peace and one is from our own divisions. This
war has encountered most formidable opposition al
home and all Europe Is against us Where IN all his
tory nave you SuCn OppOSltOn as tnere
war this very time | do know what party ought
to be responsible. The majority of the popular branch
understand to be against IT. and have only to look
at this Senate to the formidable array of those who
countenance that opposition. wise magistrate should
take counsel from the signs OF the times Lord North
pushed the current OF his far that he could
not control hem because he would take counsel of
those eminent statesmen of their time-FOX Pitt and
Burke have right to allude to names but let the
Executive understand this much, that some of the high
est names OF this country now giving him counsel
not directly but in the form of expressed opnionsto
which, il he is wise, he should give something like the
attentive consideration that is due to so formidable and
imposing exhibition of public sentiment.
| cannot concur, mysef--and have said another
occasion-in the mode in which those who opposed
TO the war propose TO terminate it, In my opinion, 1t
would have been best for to in the most eec
be that we had all concurred in passing measures for
bringing this to close by this time Mexico would
have found hopeless to hold out any onger but she
has taken hope from the opposition to the which has
existed among ourselves. But that is not my OPINION
the most prominent source-ceainly it is not the only
source-of her lnducement to protrac this think
Mexico has right to complain of the exacting terms
which have been demanding of her as the price of
peace. Why, sir when the ten regiment bill was under
discussion at the last session. recolcc the honorable
chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, acting,
no doubt the organ of the administration, advertised
the whole counrybeore sir the territory reduced
to subsection by arms and before had any right
of conquest itthat the least that would be demand
ed of Mexico in any negotiation for peace would be
New Mexico and all Of California
Mr.. CALHOUN, lin his seat) Upper California.
Mr.. BU TIER. All of California, Upper and Lower.
md nj tlIatit IS