New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-03-25
SDeech of Mr. Webster.
ON THE TEN REGIMENTS BILL.
From Hou,ton. R,sor'I IssrsArr, March

Mr. PRESIDENT: On Friday bill passed the
Senate for the raising of Ten Regiments OF new
troops for the farther prosecution OF the war against
/ Mexico and we have been informed thatthe nes-
sure is shortly be followed in this branch Of tne
/ Legislature BY bill 70 rs,se twenty regiments OF
volunteers for the same service. ! was deslrous'
/ Sir on Friday. 20 express my opinion against the
object of those bills-against the supposed neces-
sity which Leads to their enactment ana against
the general policy which they are apparently oes.neo -
nrornote Circumstances personal 10 myself but beyona
NV control compelled me forego on that day me sXeen-
uou Of this design. The bill Dow before ne senate j.
measure for ra.ng money 70 meet the expenses OF voc
Government, and 70 provide the means . wei ior oue
,h,,g a. fr the pay and support these hlsy regiments
s The scenes through which We have passed, and are
,ss,i,v here are various For fortnight the wOrt sup
poses US have been occupied win me retDeAuou VI
/ Tresty Of Peace, and that within these walls
"The world shut OUT
notes f resoehopes Of reecensy strong ASSURANCES Of
nesce aud immediate peace have been uttered 10 console
u, and 10 cheer IL has been over and over ssaih
stated that have ratified IreAy-oi course lteAy
o. Feace and as country has been led 20 suppose not
Of uncertain and empty and celufive peace, cut real
gratifying and enduring peace peace nat shall san GO
the wounds Of war prevent the farther endson OF Dooo
cut of these enormous expenses and return our le1s
o,s onr s-o,bers our childrenf they yeviLg -
from land Of slaughter, and LAID Of stu ore asna
destruction By climate, TO hresde ard our arms
Hardly have hoss haley sounds our ear until
M resumed public session, are summoned u fesn WAL
Ike the creation Of anew army o. 5OOOmen
for the farther prosecution II the wlr-to carry our
IN the anguage Of the President stu more directly INTO hr
vital Parts Of our enemy ard 10 press home By the owe
NJ IN. sword the CLAIMS that Insist upon against
fallen. prOstrateIhad almost ssid-an ignooe Toe j. ]
msy jusge Of the opinieu o the non Genbsr ron Ml-n
igan, Other speeches deiVeTel ia ms cl-btf tNe1
has not been time from the commencement Of the var
when Il has been urgently pressed upon us no, on
u maintain, bat % increase our military mesnLol OBJ
10 continue The war bu 10 press twin more vgor-than
AZ the present time. PRAY, what docs AZ this mean
Pray Sir / ask, + Il confessed then. that We are no
nearer % peace than 20 were when we snaichet up
A bi. Of Iaeer called, miscI.cf Treaty, end fat
hsd? Have we yet to fight ont 10 the utmost. a. u
no pacfcation hal interviewed wish 20 treat the pro-
coings OF this and every department " his government
with The utmost respect. God knows that the clnstu-
ton Of this government-srd the exercise Of s just pow
ers IN the administration Of the laws under H. have been
The cherished object Of all my umpor;ant ie But me
SUI ct were not too deeply interesting. should say iha
eur proceedings here might well enough cause smile IL
the ordinary transaction Of foreign relations In ih ana s
other governments the course oas been 70 negotiate ~
and 10 ray sfteTward. Ths would se' 70 be the ma
tursl order Of conducting intercourse between toieg
States We have chosen % reverse the order. We ~
tfy first and negotiate aterward. We set up irea-
ty such md f., ard snch as we choose TO mske
IT, and then we send two Ministers Penpoteniiay 70 ne.
gotia:e thereuPou in the Capital OF the enemy O1e
should think SIR that the ordinary course o. proceeding
was much the wiserthat TO negotiate, hold intercourse
come TO arrangement by authorized agents, ana
he 10 submit hlt arrangement 10 the sovereign author
iiv 70 which those agents are Tesponsibe-would Pc
always the most desirable method OF procedure. II
qfrfkps that the course We nave dlOVitn "
is grotesle SO Jar as know, II is Unprecedented In the
history Of Diplomatic intercourse. Learned gentlemen on
the floor of the Senate interested 70 defend and vndcate
this may in their extensive reacng hsve iound
exsmules: know none.
Sir we are in possession, By military power Of New
Mexico aud California countries belonging hitherto 10 the
United States OF Mexico We are i~omec b. the Prts-
dent that IL Is his pose 10 retain them-tO conscer
them as territories ut 70 be attached and TO be attached
TO these United staesof America and the military opar
atons and designs before the Senate are Intended to
enforce this claim of the Executive Of the United States
We are to compe Mexico 10 agree that that part Of her
dominOns called New Mexico and that other part called
Cal fona sh all bs ceded 10 We now IN possession
of these territories Il is said and she is 70 be compelled 10
yield the title This is the precise object Of this new
,rmy Of 30 600 men II is the identical object, Sir In my
Judgment for which the war was originally commenced-
for which II has been hitherto prosecnte ana Ia rher
suce of which this Treaty il 70 be used but az one OF me
means TO bring about the general result that general re-
suit depending after ALL upon other superior powers and
the necessity Of submitting 10 any terms which we pre-
scribe, 10 Standardization MsSico!
The NJ mbers composing the Other House-the more
nopuar branch Of Congrss-have all been elected since
had almost said faal-the remarkable incidents ~
the tn of May, 1876 and 1t has passed resolution
srmng that " the war with Mexico was begun uneon-
stitu onsy and unnecessarily BY the Executive Govern
mept Of the United ass.' concur In that sentiment
hod,ha the recent as.hentic expression OF
The will and the opinions Of the nspie OF The United
states. There is another proposon not 50 automatically
hitherto, but in NY judgment equally true
equally capable Of domOns,raon-and that IS inst thls
ar was begun has continued and is now prosecuted
and Leading purpose Of the acquisition Oh new
territory out of which 10 bring States with Mex
can population into this our Union Of the United States
If unavowed at first, this purpose Ola not remain /
unsvowed long However often It NAV be said that we
fd not 20 to war for conquest creda JadtW AptHal
vet the moment got possession OF the Territory,
L is said that must retain II and make " our own
Now, tbiuk the original object has not been changed
Sir think Il still exists in the eyes Of those who orig
nally contemplated iwho began the war for itiha II
is as attractive them. and from which they have no
desire to avert tner eyes low than they hsd then
have had at time since ~ Rave coieitd treaty
of cessou We know IN cur c0nscences that 4 IS
PEELED We use II an instrument. ard an agency 10
with other instrumentaes ard agencies oil
more formidable destructive character, 70 enforce the
scquescence of Mexico 10 the acquisition by US OF new
territory 10 form Sates-new states 20 be added 70
this Union Every intelligent man knows that there is
strong desire in the heart Of the Mexican citizen 70 retain
the territories belonging ths Republic We know that
the Mexican people part with their teritoy- part they
regret with papgs Of sorrow. That
know. We know the cession Is altogether forced ano
therefore, becAt know II must be forced-because
we know that whatever the Government, which Is our /
creature may do agree towe know that the Mexican
people will sccede TO the terms Of this Treaty bat
through an impulse Of absolute necessity and the inpre
sion made upon them by absolute Irresistible force There
fore propose TO ovefvhelm them with another army
We propose TO raise Immediately Ten Regiments CT regu-
troops and Twenty Regiments Of volunteers and 20
them in and upon the Mexican people
Now Sir should be happy TO concur, notwithstanding
all this tocsin and ali this cry Of all Tie Semproniuses In
the land that their vOca ia still for should be happy
TO agree and substantially DO agree, with the hon. men,
Der from South Carolina that after all the war with Mex
leo is substantially over-thGt there csn be fight
ing My opinion in the present state Of things is that
The people Of this country Will not sustain this war
They will not 90 the expense. They viii not ind any
qualification In pntng the bayonet 10 the throat Of
the Mexican people For my part, hope the Ten Res
ments bill Will never become law. Three weeks ago
should have entertained that hope with the utmost
hience Events since have struck me with pain and sha
ken my conviction St hope Il will not pass. And here,
I dare say shall he called a Mexican Whg." man
who stand sp hee and say that he hopes that what
the Administration projects for the farther prosecution OF
the war against Mexico will not be carried into ehec
L" an enemy 10 the cogntry; or, what gentlemen wout
consider the thing enemy the Pres dent OF the
| nitod States, and his Administration and his party
lie is a Mexican sir, think very badly Of The Mex
lean character high and low, out and out But 90
not terrify me- Beside. If sufferer In this respect
fI be made the s9hec o. reproach these stpendary
hired abusers Of the motives Of public
L have the honor on this occasion 20 be in very respec
table company. In the vupeIative-the accnsatvethe
ienuneisory sense OF that term DO not know greater
Mexican in this body than the honorable member from
Michigan At the head Of the Military Committee,
MI CAss-I should like the honorable gentlemen 20 ex-
plain whist sort Of 4 Mexican am.
Mr. WEBSTER Thar is exactly the thing now propose
70 do.
Mr.. CAST shall be glad 10 hear the explanation.
Mr. WEBSTER In his remarks this bill In the Sen
ae the other day the honorable gentlemen told Us that
bis object was frghien Mexicoit would touch his hu'
mainly to hurt her
Mr. CAss-Does the honorable gentlemen mean TO say