The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-02

| Mr.. FOOTE. VIII the honorable senator indulge me
momrnt' have had confidential communication
on the s sn|sc, yet feel authorized 10 state one fact
Mr.. BUTLER. What is that
MIR. FOOTE. There was a meeting of the members OF
this body who favorable to the passage OF this bill
and the understanding arrived at, was that there were to
be no appointments made unless there actual ne
cessity Tor the troops TO be despatched to the held and
do hope that that meeting hatever IT may be
called VIII unite in enforcing upon the President tins
MIR. BUTLER. These are assurances which in some
measure relieve from the apprehensions which have
entertained could have preferred however that the
bill should have been recommtted and clause en-
bracng such provision introduced proviso to the
bill. majority here however, has declined TO recon-
init the bill with TO amend it and must there
lore take it, suppose, according TO the provision con
ians, and pass subject the discretion of the Presi
dent There are contingencies under which would put
these troops at the disposal of the President unhesating
ly; Tor ii be determined to withdraw the army to
line OF defence, strongly inclined to the opinion
that the nhmber ot troo's that we have III Mexico al
present is not sufficient 1t appeared to me to be crIm
nal disregard OF human lite to send only about ten thou
sand men under General Scott to nva lie empire with
population Of eight millions though, it criminal sir
a rash reliance upon the galanry skill and patriotism
Of our citizen soldiers which government on earth
had right 10 expect IRON lis people Success, however,
has indicated The OF the acknowledgements
repeat, has vnicaed ne act and averted the force of
that Indignation which would had the result been other
wise, have deservedly fallen upon the administration.
But whether that success depended the wisdom OF the
measures which they DEVISED or upon the gaantry and
lptrepdliy OF the officers and men who performed the
work, question which leave TO Others TO determine
| Nj. CLAYTON A few words in reply to the senator
from Illinois He has undertaken to defend the conduc,
OF the President in admitting Santa Anna into Mexico
first upon an allegation OF his own, that at that time, it
was customary to admit MeXicans into Mexico without
any restriction. Sir, this new to DO not believe
it 1t is impossible that fagronfe beHo-aiter
observation-disclosures could have been standing order for their
| admission. Does the gentleman mean that
| Mr.. DOUGLAS. mean only what said said not
word about orders but ask the gentleman to show
me order prohibiting the entrance of Mexcans into
"A nj he W.
What said was, that there was blockade against the
Introduction OF munitions OF war, merchandise, &c, but
not against individuals; ami refer the gentleman to the
fact, thathere continual passing and repassing be-
tween Cuba and Mexico.
Mr. CLAYTON Well, now, what answer is that :
Why pass given, every one had right to enter
the country and who heard before that, fdgrane
6slo any aai every person might Pass SIR, the con-
-tructon put upon the matter by the President was the
gnt one; if necessary for Santa Anna to enter
Mexico, it necessary for the Secretary of the Navy
10 give him pass.
Iue gentleman will recoect the great noise that was
male by government IN consequence of Paroles be-
Ing Struggled INTO Mexico in English vessel. do
mol choose dwell upon this But the gentleman says
,ni It the first time ever heard ltthat the President
did most praseworhy tnng passing Santa Anna into
eXico becanse at that time, Paroles at the head
Of mnnarchcal party, AMI that the admission of Santa
Anna the OF dlsplaciny him. Why what
manner OF aoning is that Did the President prefer
go to with republican party instead OF monar
chica one Do our rpubcan institutions teach such
doctrines tnese Ii Paroles the head of the
nonarchcal party, he the very man for to put
down. With regard TO the employment OF British gold,
undertake. 70 say that II such hal really been the case
and the fact hal become known in this country, would
had the effect OF uniting the people The
President would have required no better circumstance
than that foreign government was sustaining the Mex,
cans to enable him TO procure the instant and unreseryed
cooperation OF every man IN the country.
But to come to the real merits OF the case. Who
heard before that Paroles would have been for
midabe antagonist than Santa Anna? Does any man
suppose that forty such Paroles could have rallied
great force Santa Anna He could collect thousands,
lrnt,
advert briefly two other points, reference
which the Senator from Illinois has spoken. have
planned that the troops under General Taylors command
were Withdrawn in the face OF enemy Of four times
their number thus leopardng his safety, and compelling
him to hight against vastly superior numbers COM
planned that that withdrawal was act Of the admins
ration The gentleman tells me- in rely, that the ad-
ministraton not censurable for this, but that General
Scott is alone answerable. And in proof of his po-
seen nothing in the public prints to justify the charge
the War Department the administration had done
more than appoint General Scott general n-chef
over the army-givng him the general power to act
IN this matter as he pleased Now imagine that if there
nothing more, if the administration gave him this
general power, The administration is responsible for his
acts The honorable senator cannot screen the admins
ration by any ingenuity of his, from censure, if
is fall anywhere, because General Scott pursuance
of power expressly conferred upon him. ordered the with
drawal But think that the honorable senator will find,
by reference to the documents that the facts that the
administration distinctly understood before Gen. Scott
went to Mexico, that he to do this and that was
pagn which he TO wage. Where was he to get an
army sufficient for the purpose which he had TO accom-
plish How could he have avoided dong this! Is 1t
supposed tina! he to go without these troops Was
this idea entertained by the Secretary OF War? No;
make such accusation. And does any doubt thai
the whole plan of the campaign settled here Does
any doubt that before Gen Scott left this city, it
perfectly understood that he was to receive from General
Taylor the forces with which he to capture Vera
Cruz? do not charge upon the administration the alb
urty OF ordering Gen Scott to take Vera Cruz without
troops
The honorable senator also cOndescends to reply to
another part of my remarks have said that General
Scot complained that he was left long time without
sufficient toop Pueba. This the honorable senator
tells the be 40, be General Scott discharged
great number OF volunteers before their time of service
exmrei-,nus proving that he hal sufficient force to
enable him 10 take the city OF Mexico without them.
charged these volunteers They were men whose term
of service had nearly expired; and 1t would have ex
prel before they could possibly be made servceabe,
ana they ha refused 10 reenlist. lie informs the gov
ernmenl that he found 1t would be better, under such
circumstances the trouble and expense OF feed
ns them any longer, by allowing them to go home; but
that moment their services and the services OF many
more, requisite in order to carry on the war with
SUCCESS.
Next, the senator from Illinois tells that must
stop complaining; that this is of aggression
and conquest because, forsooh, he says voted tor the
war, al Tor supplies after the was begun thought
that everybody here and the honorable senator says he
was present in the Chamber at the time the vote was
given ) thought that everybody who heard that vote
distinctly understood my position We had debated the
bill day TO day. denying the truth OF the preamble,
and insisting on striking out that which we did not be-
leve If the senator here he heard US on this side
nthar IN uIVlI