The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-24

extended to the Rio Grande. then we did only what
had right do, marching forces to that river, and
are responsible for results Both of these points
have noticed and the last has been concusvey estab
ished by the excellent views taken of the title OF Texas
by the senators 10 whom have referred
q If the title to the country from the Nueces TO the
Ro Gande was III dispute between the partes-and be-
ieve no one here has venured to deny that had
well-ounded claims TO it-and Mex preparing TO
take possession OF II, had right TO anticipate her.
and thus TO assert our own title
But taking the strongest ground against ourselves
mat we had no title whatever to the Rio Grande still
had right TO go there II considered such measure
necessary TO our defence, and II the preparations OF
Mexico announced design 10 attack us.
Dd lhey announce such determinations No one
hee SIR VIII deny that fact shall not detan the Sen
ate with the various proofs spread through the history OF
our INSTRUMENTATION with Mexico from the first sug
geshon respecting annexation al her army crossed the
ter here-the declaration of her governmentlts formal
annuncaton to the European diplomatic agents accredited
to 1.-THE public order of its generals, and the collection
and movement OF It's forces left doubt OF It's designs
and II they had the result would have disclosed them
The movement OF our troops, under these circumstan,
ces, became defensive measure; for has been well
remarked by the honorable senator from South Carolina
Mr. BUTLER, IT Is not necessary for the justification OF
nation that it should await impending attack. That
power IN TACT commences the which makes the first
threatening preparations for it, and not the which
merely strikes the first stroke. Ii government collects
lis forces, marches them to It's frontier and makes public
preparations for passing it, and thus for war at the same
both the reason OF MANKIND and the usage of nations au
thorize the people whose peace is thus threatened to
anticipate Their % and to eRe the threatened at
defensive, and modern history abounds with examples IL
Illustrative OF the principle.
So much for the question between and Mexico, as to
the commencement of the
AS to the internal question, relating to the conduct of
the President, it admits of but answer That cases
may occur in which it is his duty under his constitutional
power to repel an actual or threatened invasion before
Congress act upon the subject doubts and.
for myself, could never any Just constitutional or
legal objections TO the course he pursued in this whole
affair But there one other consideration, which is de-
csve and that Is that the orders for the movement of the
troops to the Rio Grande given by the President on
the 18th of January 1896 and thirteen days before that
an act OF Congress had been passed. recognising urs
dlction west of the Nueces was the duty OF the Ex
ecutve to carry it into effect and thus consider the boun
dairy OF Texas extended beyond that river
AS the " initiative" taken by adversary, we
took the defensive and the attack being inevitable it was
for to choose where to receive it Such, repeat is
the law of nations and such the practice of nations
SO much Tor the commencement OF the war
had anticipated many modes OF attack upon the ad
mlnstraton, and many avowed causes OF censure; but
must confess had not anticipated the charge of the hon
orabe senator from Maryland, Mr. JoHNsoN,] that the
administration had proved itself feeble inefficient and
that the war had not been vigorously prosecuted. am
leave that to the people, who sent us here, and the
measure OF whose glory has been filled by brilliant
achievements which will yield in their renown to few, if
any, of the great martial eats of our age. 'We have
had osenatious and asserted vgor" says the honor
able senator but we have had nothing else, so far
the President is concerned
An ostentatious and asserted vigor! Well, this is
strange world, and in my time have seen and heard
many strange things in it. but have heard few stranger
things than this The act recognising war was passed
on the 18th day of May 1916, twenty-five months ago
AT that time we had army whose total of rank and file
consisted of 1923 They occupied thirty seven forts
and positions in the interior of the United States and
space almost equal 10 half Europe And the portion of
this force under General Taylor upon the Nueces amount
ed TO 1901 men This was our preparation for meeting
ect, sir that our situation is far different from that of
the martial powers OF Europe. War is there both
trade and science, and its governments are always
prepared to meet contingencies, which cannot, indeed,
be foeseen, but which, il not provided for bring ruin
and disaster in their train AT time the people
OF France were great army-the country vast camp
fields, of supply for the immense living machine,
whose movements always so tremendous, and often
irresistible Well, sir, we had nothing OF all this
We had army, for little force scarcely deserved
the We had no conscrption by which to increase
it, And all the mater necessary for the subsistence
and transportation and operations OF our troops had TO
be collected through the country, and conveyed to dis
tant scene of warfare. This scene 5000 miles off; and
little did the government or the country know of the con-
dition of Mexico-of its fortresses their state Of prep
aration-of its armies, their state OF efficiency dis
cipne of the roads the bridges the means OF transport
ation and subsistence and the thousand other points
essential to military operations and which, in the various
countries of Europe, are studied and known,
Now sir, in the face OF all these obstacles what have
we DONE We have sent troops to the shores OF the
Pacific, by routes the continent and around Cape
Horn; we have subdued Upper and Lower California and
New MeXco we have taken possession of the rich and
Popuous districts upon the Rio Grande we have carried
the into the heart OF the republic, after attacking and
reducing the renowned fortress which commands its
principal maritime entrance, the capture of which alone
was glory enough for France have taken its capital,
dispersed its armies, made its government fugitive and
reduced to subsection large portion of its population;
have fought at least fourteen important actions of
which eight were pitched battles, and every there
was disparity OF force against and many Unequal
y which carries back for similar examples of desperate
struggles the early ages OF the worldo the combas OF
the Greeks and the Pesianswhich they eemble rather
tory judges and records We have captured score of
great cities, some of them fortified and defended, and
Fable of strong resistance Time would fail me to
tell all we have done nor it be necessary, for is
1t not already written in impershabe letters upon the
records of history, and in burning and shining char
acters upon the heart of every American Yet you
have not done enough. says the honorable senator
from Maryland to the administration you have not pros
ecuted the with sufficient vgor You have done too
much, says the honorable senator from South Carolina;
you have prosecuted the too vgorously much 50,
indeed that the great danger have apprehend,
is the humiliation of Mexican national independence,
and the annexation of the whole Mexican territoy and
the only remedy for the false position in which your
untlmely energy has placed u.s. Is abandonment OF
much you have gained and retreat behind ne where
you can curb your martial popenslties and restrain your
desire for aggrandizemen | shall not thrust myself into
this controversyit in better hands than Mines but must
confess 1t appears TO that the senator from South
Carolina is much the mark than the senator from
Maryland; and that offence, if there be- Is
offence of commission, and not of omission.
thu hInlyo all