The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-14

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from Virginia MIR GoGcN1 in the general views he bad
aGen but he proposed amend the substitute BY add
ing 70 the FIRST section, after the word empow ered in
'he 'hlrd ne the words from and after the - day of
Mr. said that as this was measure of retaliation,
would be well TO apprze those upon whom il to
act OF us enactment; and, 10 this end, he moved
amendment f providing that the act shall take effect at
some future day There dignity and courtesy
IN ms mode OF proceeding than IN pTecipitale act
Mr GVGGiN remarked, that the act had been con.
tempated IN the correspondence and understood
that each government would legisate for itself We
VIII take care OF ourselves, and You Of yours.
stated that there had been parliamentary action on
the subject. 1t left to the lords Of the treasury
who made the order of the 9th June What they had
done in secret ncave he did not know but this was
the only action that knew Of They had done
nothing for the relief OF American postage.
Mr. INGERSOLL said there had been correspon-
denee with Lord palmeTston1,, who was Proy1erOiay
be equally quick He thought some delay, some
tee Of the blow intended TO strike, ought to be given
"a temper that infused itself into HIS acts OF
diplomacy. The action of Great Britain has been under
portion of its ministry, and not in concurrence with
Parliament. What our Postmaster General had done
was very correct; and the negotiation part had
been ably conducted We ought to be cautious in taking
offence as individuals should BE- The reason s given for
remained unanswered But that might be explained, and
the evil OF which we complain may be amended
The step was proposed to be taken under feelings of
some excitement, the remarks of gentlemen had
shown and therefore he wished 10 relieve it from the
appearance of provoking quarrel: Let us give three
months time before the bill shall go into operation.
MI. MCKAY would be glad if the gentleman would
MAJ, r. INGERSoLL would name two months
Mr., MCKAY said it might be well TO give some notice,
in the of other bills making radical changes but
ne suggested that the President have power of giving
tee by proclamation that the retaliaory arrangements
should take effect after forty days He dsapproved high
ly of the manner in which steamer Washington had
been met in Great Britain, and thought it necessary to
say TO her that unless she retraces her steps, we will re-
Mr.. lNGERSOLL accepted the modification.
Mr.. POLLOCK SAID our propositions had been five
months before the British ministry, and il was time for
act He regarded this measure, like the Oregon
ce as the means OF avoiding quarrel for will show
that we kn9w OF, our rights, and will maintain them ~,
M o the bill left asddfss 0t hs
Postmaster General under the direction of the President
He not required to act at he would act with
deiberation. If the amendment to be adopted he
hoped would be at the end Of the bill not at the begin
ming for if we were strike blow, he would do it
first and offer the qualification afterwards;
The question being then taken upon Mr.. lNGERsoILs
amendment it was rejected
After action upon various verbal amendments,
Mr. GOGGlN moved TO fill the blank at the end OF the
ID secon RELAXING to the penalty of violation OF this law,
with the word 1--we ;" which was agreed TO-
Mr. HUNT again moved his amendment in relation to
postage upon newspapers, stated above.
Mr. GOGGlN renewed his question OF order, Directing
TO the amendment for irrelevancy.
The CHAIR ruled the amendment out OF order.
Mr. HUNT appealed from this decision, citing prece-
dents to sustain the appeal He con,ended that, as the
bill brought the general subject OF the rates OF postage,
his amendment was strictly in order.
The question being taken upon the appeal, 1t was de-
clded in the negative.
So the decision OF the Chair was sustained.
The question recurring upon the adoption OF the sub
sute was put and decided IN the affirmative; and the
bill lau ASIDE be reported to the HOuG0
REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONS.
The committee resumed the consideration of the bill
making appropriations for the payment Of revolutionary
and other pensions for the year ending June 80. lS49
Mr.. VAN DYKE said, when he obtained the floor the
committee as he thought, was on the West Point appro
pration bill and he did not expect now u make speech
revolutionary pensions He proposed to speak of the
war with Mexico and to examine the democratic record
OF that The democratic party were responsible for
examine its record with our-iod purpose OF consider
bracing first discussion OF the causes OF the
war; secondly Of the in which the war had been
conducted thirdly, of the object of the administration
prosecuting the war and, fourhly, the advantages
ected to be derived from it. His remarks were made in
of the fact that the now
ing anything to give !" aid and comfort to the enemy"
The controversy between the people and the admin
straon who had brought on this war. He then exam
med the causes which brought the war; reading from
the first message OF President Polk, where he approves
the of his predecessor with reference to the an
nexation OF Texas, which placed this country in state
Of the House of Representatives that the President
brought oh the war When the President and the Con
gress at the first declared that war existed BY the
act of Mexico, both referred to the conflict on
the Rio Grande which, perhaps, and according TO the
position of the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr..
RHETr,l was not technically, if it was in fact
He continued further to show that annexation led
to the war necessarily, by examples from history; and
affirmed, also. that the administration was the first
to provoke war; by going down to the borders, OF
Mexico with our troops, and sending our navy on her
coasts He asserted that Mexico did not require the
abandonment of the whole of Texas, but would have
been content with the Nueces boundary; and he read
from the Presidents message to prove this, quoting
should only retire beyond the Nueces. We took the
most offensive position with regard to Mexico, pointing
our guns into her city, and blockading the Rio Grande
1t perfectly idle TO say that General Taylor did this
True he had specific ORDERS only he ordered TO
do what necessary He asserted that from the first
expedition up the Rio Grande in quest of enemy. to
the last battle in Mexico every conflict commenced
by troops, except the hattie of Buena Vista alone
He asserted this fact particularly with reference TO the
battles of PaIo Alto and Resaca de la Palma and con-
tended that after these battles the would not have
been continued if troops had not further invaded the
territory of Mexico
With reference to the prosecution OF the war, ne as
serted that in the general conduct OF It, was he most
imbecie affair that could be conceived lis success was
entirely attributable the noble daring and energy OF
our men There was only enough troops kept IN the
field 10 tempt the Mexicans to stand conflict with the
hone of succeeding by their superiority OF numbers alone
The objects of the were not indemnity and security
hut Land land land Mr. Slidell was, in the first place.
s,cted TO purchase to the Rio Grande; in the next
nIace he was to propose for New Mexico; and in the