The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-13

speech Of Mr.. Senator johnson.
We have already alluded the futterng in the wing
ranks IN relation to the and the policy of the war
The speech of Mr.. Senator Johnson delivered on Mon
day and Tuesday add to their embarrassment In
by Tar the ablest and elaborate argument upon the
commencement OF the which has vet been produced
on the iohg side OF the Senate chamber Mr. Johnson
fully demonstrates that the war existed on the 18th of
May, ls46, las declared in the war bill by the act of
Mexico herself that the our part was just; that
the part of Texas lying between the Nueces and the
lower Rio Grande in other sense disputed terri
tory than the ote of Texas to the Sabine was SO dis
puted that the coonsts of this territory living between
the Nueces and the Rio Gande were represented in the
revolutionary convention of Texas, which in 1896
declared her independence, and that they took part
IN her revolutionary itself that the same
people took part in the legislature of the State of
Texas IN 1884, that Texas had thus established
her revolutionary title TO the territory by an occupa-
ton and jurisdiction sufficient to sustain her revolution
airy title under the laws of nations even as our own title
to the unoccuped regions OF own thirteen original
States was established by our revolutionary war that
admitting, however, the territory to be rghtfuy in dis
pnte, the advance of General Taylor the Rio Grande
was just and lawful of precauton and de-
fence TO repel the meditated assault of Mexico and
therefore, IN any view of the subject Ito use his own
words) that, between the United States and Mexi-
co, the former had just of the 18th May
ls46, when the act of that date was passed; and
that on that day, war in fact existed by means of the
unjust and illegal act of Mexico"
Some of our readers may be surprised to learn after all
this, that Mr.. Senator Johnson still claims to be qctig-
in fact, more of wing than ever He indicates this
partisan character for himself on the question of the war;
by series of subsequent positions in his speech which
not his practsdd ingenuity can in any degree recon-
cile with his opening and with each other
The first of these declarations is that the President ia
responsible for the and all its horrors because Gene
raj Taylor did not take men enough with him in his
march to the Rio Grande The answer is at hand, and is
conclusive: General Taylor had all the men he ucanted
He had full authority to draw volunteers from Texas and
Louisiana when he fit, and thus TO swell his army
il he chose, far beyond the 5000 or 1000 men indicated
as sufficient force by Mr. Johnson himself Gen Tay
lor made no such draughts those States He fought
and won his first two brilliant battles without such
aid. II the smallness of General Taylors victorious
force to be taken throwing the responsibility of the
war upon then, surely, that responsibility fall where
1t may does not rest the President and his cabinet
They had placed larger forces at the command of our
General He declined to them, and is supported in
his judgment by the victories he has won But if this
were not is it quite logical in Mr. Johnson to say that
Mr. Polk is responsible for the war, because he being at
Washington, did not overr,le the judgment of Gen. Tay
lor. who was the spot, to the proper amount of
force, and embarrass his movements by giving him
troops whose presence that time his letters show
that he positively dreaded
But MIR. Johnsons next position is still more remark
able He the Executive most gravely for the
rant of rgor in the prosecution of the war; and them in
the next breath, he says that have triumphed
upon "every OCCASION" and that the glory OF their tr
umph is signal and splendid, that need ask no other
indemnity from Mexico. She has given fame enough
Mr. Johnson thinks fully to pay for all our losses and
hundreds of millions more! Surely very strange re-
suit, this, of eighteen months fighting in prosecuted
ach censurable rant Of uigor, Want of vigor! Does
Mr. Johnsons historical reading afford him an instance
of the power of any other country extensive so en-
trenched and distant from its foe completely broken
in pieces by war in short time our arms have
taken utterly to break down the power of Mexico
AS to Mr. Johnsons doctrine, however, that our fame
great it is in this just war, is indemnity enough from
Mexico feel bound to remark, that this may be very
good sentmen-not to say sentimenalty- we think
ship In matter of International indemnity states
manshp looks for values ascertaned more prosac
and more practical, than the proudes aures that ever
waved over the brow of the soldier Indeed if this war
terminate without such substantial result of
reparaon, its very glory would be sadly marred and
dimmed 1t is in the soil of just territorial indemnity
that even its honors will take deepest and most lasting
root California and New Mexico added to our Union,
will form the worthest trophies of our arms
Indeed, Mr.. Johnson's own view, though he opposes
territorial indemnity, seems akin to this. For he
would by means retire troops take, with Mr.
Calhoun defensive line but he would as the Presi-
dent recommends wage the war with more vigor than
ever in the heart of Mexico For what purpose on
Mr. Johnson's view' For fame He says we have
enough OF it. For indemnity He declines it. For re-
venges The eloquent picture he has presented of the
evils of the war, shows that he would shrink away from
any such declaration In what motive, then, would he
have fight on "To bring Mexico to her Senses. he
tells us, "and make her accept terms OF peace" We
shall make Mexico accept terms of peace by ex-
hibtng willingness to surrender that reparation in
which character is involved and to which our nation
al force is pledged We shall never bring Mexico back
to her senses by thus losing own
supper n jackson Hall.
The syner which was given in honor If the 9Th Of