Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04


to the sole control OF its author who still holds the power oil
preventing peace, will in my opinion not only fail ia get
Ting rid OF the but also deepen its caamtes Ii must
be remembered that while the President is the author Of the
war; the country is It's subject and be told that
when sustain the country under the infection, that thereby
justify or even counenance to him who Inflicted the evil
II an unconstitutional forced no claim tor support upon
those whoxere opposed to it, such would bring but few
evils in It's train II this very obligation for support which
it upon the innocent that gives to illegal war It's deep
and damning dye My opposition to this bill founded upon
other considerations, and will now proceed TO state them
On the 18th of May 1885, by the which have already
called the attention of the Senate authorized the Execu
tive TO accept the services Of fifty thousand volunteers to
twelve months during the Since that time have,
by several nct increased regular army, rank and file
30350 The naval force has also been increased esma-
ted TO 5000 sailors and marines making grand total OF
military and naval force authorized by Congress for the pro-
secuton OF this war, OF $3.50 Congress has also
placed in the hands of the Executive ample to equip
and bring into the field this immense force
On the 30th Of November last the date Of the Adutant
Generals report had Mexico and route of regulars
2l5l9 and Of volunteers during the % or leaving
unexecu,ed authority in the hands of the Executive
stated in that report enlist OF regulars and of voun-
during the l250i in all ,9s5 men still 10 be
brought into service and which, when brought into the field
will make army in Mexico 60, 600 rank and fe
Now sir, with army in Mexico OF AZ, 600 men,
and with power increase CO. 900, the President
here in the first week of the session and axis authorize
him TO enlist 10000 regulars, and to call 20 900
more Volunteers making army, to he authorized by Con-
gress for the purposes Of this war; Of 80, 600
have heretofore fell it to be my duty to all necessary
supplies Of men and money for the support Of army in
Mexico and still willing do if the safety Of the
try should require it but it does appear that this
force cannot be defended upon any plea of necessity
know that the demands of great and frequently past
finding out but this is to be confined to the objects
heretofore avowed cannot imagine emergency that would
require this additional force In coming this conclusion
look at present military position and power Mexico
We have the possession OF all her seapr she has navy
to dispute our occupaton The President informs in his
90 bnray
rious, having subjected 10 large por
ton of the enemys country, including her capital" New
Mexico and the Califonias he says, in our unds
puted possession and occupations and have been s, many
months all resistance the part of Mexico having ceased
within their limits We also occupy all her military roads
and all her communications the seaboard We control all
her resources external and internal We have the
OF all her strong castles and military positions We have met
and ovehown all her armies positions selected BY them
selves We have stomed her fortified towns and destroyed
all her military magazines Our victorious army now eve
in the halls of her capital and its two hundred thousand
habans submit TO protection. Her military cheans,
without armies command making war upon each other
Her people, longer able to defend their country trembling
E beg you to spare their private property Into such
try or rather the ghost of country, thus mulaed in limb
and mangled body, and pierced in heart
send 100000 men to carry vigorous Truly the
President and his Secretary heroes but heroes of the Fa
stall order They into the field alter the DEATH and with
their uneshei swords prick the stricken foe What the
force employed reduce Mexico this hopeless situation
Why, sir, not 30, 900 men,
On the 18th Of April lS47, General Scott commenced his
march for the city Of Mexico The number Of troops assign
ed to that great military expeditions given by the Secre
tay of War; but he does inform that the entire
Cerro Gordo did exceed 500 and at Jaapa 700
lnneers whose term Of service about to expire dis
charged The army thus reduced to about $1,000 remained
at Pueba until August, when it reinforced with about
5000 and then commenced its upon the
city OF Mexico. This little army of 10 600 men, off from
It's base line, with little hope of reinforcement abandoned in
a measure by It's Government home and left its re-
haart
try descended into the valley of Mexico contended with
Amy three times its number, strongly fortified in chosen posi-
TONS and fighting in defence Of their country, beneath the
walls Of It's ancient capital The least mistake the smallest
bunder the part OF commanding general would have
been destruction little army but there blunder
mistake there. Through dees down rocky pre-
cices along fortified causeways srmng embated castles
that heroic band fought way the walled city of Mex
and ou flag triumph its ancient palaces
All this has been accomplished by army of less than
thousand men, Well might the Secretary Of War in his
report that the undertaking to be achieved compared with
the means employed, Of unexampled difficulty and
daring, and to secure required wonderful combna
uon Of military science, Skill and disciplined
,alor y
that General Taylor is LEFT there TO maintain delen-
position with force Of only five thousand men, the pn
ciPa part OF which troops lie leit there
me too when known the Administration here that
the enemy in the field with large force, ready strike
at the weakest point Of our ne Anna with the know
ledge OF the reduced force under General Taylor and of his
exposed POSITION not long detecting what he supposed
to be opportunity afforded him regain his sinking for
tunes, enable him fulfil his prior engagements with
Executive to put end TO the but in this he
sadly disappointed Our little army Of five thousand received
the shock OF twenty thousand men, and drove them back in
disastrous flight.
Now, Mr.. President while the world accords all praise and
honor 10 army Mexico for unparalleled deeds Of skd
and yodeeds 50 hazardous dpropooned 10 the force
employed that dea instead of had been the result
Of their superhuman efforts spot Of dshonor would have
fallen upon either officers menyet the country will in
qulre why was that small force employed in the
execution Of enterprises dispropoionse its strength
Was because the country required the sacrifice Was il
because Congress hal refused grant and money
No, sir all for, before and the very time when
armies exposed to these unheardof hazards the Pre
dent had full power increase force in Mexico 10 forty
thousand will say that the President is blame
IN not sending this force into the field time when
requred difficulties attending the enlistment Of troops
1r this may have prevented it. But certainly neither
Congress the Wing party I've condemned for leaving
General Taylor with five thousand contend with
y thousand aethey be held responsible for directing
General Scott the grand campaign Of Mexico with
only ten thousand men, when by every rule Of twenty
tive thousand would have been small for enterprise
Of such difficulty and hazard.
twenty thousand have accomplished all that have
stated IN Mexico will present authorized force
ing 70 fifty thousand men, be sufficient for the protection
% our army and the maintenance of positions there Yet
now after the campaign passed. after all its hszrds have
been enc1unred the victory won, and the enemy helpless
and harmless feet, the Administration wakes up to
sense Of duty towards the army Mexico talks about m pc
fiou position, and the chairman Of the Committee on Mill