The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-12
SPEECH OF MIR. BALDWIN,
OF CONNECTICUT,
ON THE TEN REGIMENT BILL.

ON THE TEN REGIMENT Bill.
In SENATE, MARCH IS, 1913.
The bill TO add regiments of regular soldiers to the
limited States army being before the Senate for its third
reading
Mr. BALDWIN said | regret that this bill should be
messed at this time for many reasons some OF them
known 10 senator's but which am not at liberty TO state
in open session. perceive no reason Tor lis passage,
and am utterly opposed to IT. There Is not only IN my
Judgment no NECESSITY for this augmentation of our
forces in Mexico, bat hardly plausible apology even for
The Executive patronage II Will create.
All our advices from Mexico show that the war is viz
uay al an end There battles TO be fought
mo new trophies TO be acquired Our sister republic,
with institutions proessedy based the principles
as our own whom, in her early career, the wamest
sympathies OF the American people extended,
lies PROSTATE and crushed TO the earth by our invading
army Her government, driven from place to place, has
hardly been able to find resting spot where it could
main long enough to consider the question OF peace
She exhibits the sad spectacle of nation Of seven mil
lions of people dssociaed and disorg with
" form of government existing and all the functions
Of her general and local administration conducted
uoled under the influence OF martial law;
Our gallant army, sir has only paused IN It's career OF
victory because has found no enemy to oppose It's pro-
gress and, instead of being employed, at the present mo-
men in wagins battle against an enemy, Il Is occupied
in the ignobe employment of collecting military conr-
buttons for its support from an Impoverished people
They have only seized upon the revenues which have
hitherto been relied upon for the support of the govern
men OF that republic but they have also seized upon all
the appropriated to the support of her municipal
institutions and diverted those means from their proper
uses Are we to send new troops TO Mexico to aid in
this employment! Is there any necessity for additional
troops for such purpose What army there in Mex
leo for troops now there 10 combat What resist
they meeting with Ii there be any reliance to
be placed upon the rumors which we have to-day from
Mexico, armstice now exists. rendering entirely
necessary any addition to military force at the present
time.
pat OF il anxlousy desiring and hoping for peace
they expecting anything rather than an augmentation
Of psrsent forces in Mexico. Nay, sir believe that,
NJ %. moment the people OF the United States
ccng inat instead of augmeng our forces. measures
viii be taken for Withdrawing the troops already there
asspeedy may be. consistently with the public inter-
men OF this description Why, the streets and
OF this city filled with officers returning from Mexi-
CO, because they have found no further employment
there; and portion OF those who remain hndng no
enemy to fight WITH To be turning their hoslili-
ties against each other. For what useful purpose,
ask again. this large armed force he raised and sent
message of the President! Are called on to send
this large force to Mexico not for the purpose of cong
peling that government to do justice 10 our injured clti
zens, but to dismembcr itself and cede to portion OF
the territories of the repubic' II So is for object
which does not meet with my concurrence, and which
cannot give my vote to sustain. want, Sir, none OF
the Mexican terrory my constituents do not want 1t
do not believe the country wants it. The country de-
ses peace, and settlement OF the existing controversy
with Mexico upon fair and just terms of indemnify for
the injuries that have been done TO our citzens Ii
Mexico inflicted any wrong for which the honor of
this country required that she should be punished surely
we have obtained our full measure OF redress. II we
are called prosecute this for any legitimate
purpose, is simply to obtain redress from the Mexican
republic Tor wrongs done to our citizens Now, be-
sve these wrongs be redressed without sending an
army 10 Mexico in addition TO the large force already
there believe that Mexico would be ready at any mo-
nent to accede to such terms this government may
dictate, having Tor their object imply just indemnity
Tor the wrongs committed by her. 1t there is any rcluc-
lance on the part OF that government 10 make peace
upon the terms proposed by us, that reluctance will
arse not from any unwillngness, under existing cir
cumstances, TO provide for Just claims, but from
unwllngness to cede to for price to be paid to her
portion OF the territories and people of that republic
without their consent, TO be governed BY us.
am not willing thus 10 acquire territory from Mexico
whether be deemed acquisition by conquest by
purchases for, sir, government has hitherto prded
Itself having adopted the principle OF demanding moth
ing but what right and submitting to nothing that
wrong. Will any senator say that is not demanding
something which is not right to go beyond the fair and
Just claim which we have against Mexico, and compel
her to cede TO u.s. by forced sale portion Of her terri
tory' On what principle can this be justified On wha
principle the President ask to send additional
troops to Mexico for the purpose OF driving bargain
with her in the purchase OF her territory And yet this
must infer to be the object of the President from the
language made of his message Indeed, he states
explicitly that his object is the acquisition OF territory
would not have made to him the liberal grants they have
made of and money, in compliance with his request
Sir our object to acquire territory ls this the OBJ
ject of Congress? | am not now addressing myself to
the Senate ordinate branch OF the treaty making
power but as a co. ordinate branch of the Congress oil
the United States and ask whether il is the intention
of the Congress of the United States to prosecute the
war against Mexico for the purpose of compelling her to
cede to portion of her territory for such price
may choose oter This is the question: and addresses
itself to members of the legislative department OF
the government, and not coordinate branch OF the
treaty making power
Sir, TOR what purpose was this war declared! The
constitution, which authorizes Congress to declare
seems to contemplate, by the language il uses decara
non OF the causes and purposes for which the war is to
be waged The language in the constitution used
In reference to the common usage of nations In ancient
as well as IN modern times. AT the commencement OF
war has been usual to set forth its and purposes
by public declaration Hence, when the constitution
says that Congress shall 'decare war;, it must be deem
I to intend that Congress shall not merely enact that the
fact exists, but shall set forth by declaration such
the usage OF nations sanctions the causes OF the and
the purposes for which it is waged. commence
ment OF hosties of armies brought suddenly into con
ct with eachoher, without the prior act OF the govern
ment OF either party, does not constitute war 1t mus
hrs receive the sanction OF authorized declaration
and, in the Of the Mexican republic and il
nose governments before state OF war could exist
What, the immediate origin OF this und how
did Itcommencei PROFESSIONALLY II owing to the ad
vance OF Gen. Taylor TO the Rio Grande And the Exc
cuuve IN ordering that advance, appears to have deibc
raley determined that any hostile act, even Of
hostiles, to which il might lead, the part OF the Mex
can forces the other side of the rver should be
garded as amounting, in effect, to declaration OF war by
me Mexican government; and the Secretary OF Wan
Therefore instructed Gen. Taylor, when he about to
approach the Rio Grande with the American army, that
he was attacked SO as to render proper
L. his judgment, to repel the assault he was not
merely on the defensive, butte carry aggressive OPP
eranOns, "and, II deemed practicable and expedcn To
take and hold possession of Matamoras and other places
IN MeXco' That sir was the language of the Sscreta