Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-04-07
Mr. Webster's Speech
Oh THE TEN REGIMENT BILI

"
Webster took occasion, on the "Ten Re.
giment Bill" to express his opinions on the
course and condition of the war, upon the
treaty. aud the prospects Of peace. He
promised 10 speak more at length on the
Loan Bill. We take from the official re.
port, the following sketch Of Mr. Webster's
speech
Although l%aboring under deep depres.
sion. still feel ii my duty, as at early a
moment as ] may be able, 10 address the
Senate upon the state Of the country, and
on the further prosecution of the war. I
have listened, sir, silently but attentively,
TO the discussion which has taken place up-
on this bill, and upon other connected sub.
lects, III this Senate and i, is not my pur-
I'ose to enter into the historical narrative,
or the historical argument which has ac-
conpanied its discussion on the one side or
on the other. New events have arisen.
bringing new questions and since the re-
sumption OF the new discussion upon this
measure, " or three days ago, these events
have been alluded to, first by the honorable
Senator who conducts this bill through the
Senate and, again, BY the honorable Sen.
alor before me, from Carolina. By both
these honorable members these events have
been declared to be well known to all the
world; and by one Of them, Mr. Cass, il
was remarked that there need not be any az
iectation of mystery. Since these state
menis were made. | hare heard the gentle.
man from South Carolina express his views
on the question. | have heard him on va
nous aud momentous subiecis-on many
Interesting occasions and ! desire to say,
sir, that ! never heard him with more un-
qualified concurrence in every word he ut.
tered. The topics which he discussed
were presented. it appears to me, ia their
Just light and he sustained his own views
in regard to them with that clearness and
power Of argument which always character.
lze his efforts in debate. | thank him.
] thank him especially Tor the manly stand
he took upon one point, which has not been
so much discussed here as others-I mean
the plain. absolute unconstitutionality and
illegally Of the Executive government in
attempting to enact laws by Executive au-
thoriiy, in conquered territories, out Of the
United States. Sir. whether the power ex-
lists ia the President or not, may be infer
red by answering another q~ue.iion--does
he wear a crowni II he wears a crown-
if he is the king Of the country-il we are
his subjects, aud they who are conquered
by the arms of the country become his sub
jects also, aud owe him allegiance, why,
then. according to we'll established princi.
piles, until the interference Of the legislature,
but no longer, even then, he may q
he may g%overn-he may impose laws
he may lay taxes-hc may assess duties
The king ofEngland has done il, in the va
rlous cases Of conquest, from the conquest
Of Wales and Ireland down TO the conquest
Of the West India Islands-in the war Of
SO, and in the wars growing out Of the
French Revolution. The King Of England
has done it doue j, by royal ~prerogsiive 4;
done IL in the government of his own sub
jects, existing or inhabi,ing territories not
under the protection Of English law. Now,
sir, there was laid before US at the con.
mencement Of the session, a system Of le-
g~islation for Mexico, as for a conquered ter
ritory. Let US not confound ideas that are
in themselves separable and necessarily dis
tinct.
This is not the question whether he
who is in an enemy's country at the head
OF an army, may not supply his daily wants;
whether he may not seize the granaries and
the herds-if he choose so TO conduct the
war-of the enemy in whose country he is
that is one thing but the question is
here, whether, sitting in the Presidential
House. by an act Of mere authority, when
the country is conquered and subdued, the
President Of the United States may, by,
and OF, aud through his own power, estab-
lIsh IN Mexico a system OF civil law.
We have read, sir, and some Of US have
not forgotten it, in all books Of authority
treating of the laws of nations, that when a
country is conquered or coded, its existing
laws are not changed till the competent au.
thoriiy of the conquering power changes
them. That hold to be the universal doc
irine of public law. Well, here is a sys.
tenn OF levying taxes, repeating old laws,
and making new ones; a system behind that,
OF which | read with pain and modification,
for find in this communication ofthe Sec
rotary. sanctioned by the President, that
our brave troops las they are always called
ten times in every page were directed to
lay hold on all the little municipal treasures,
all the little collections for social purposes,
that carried on the interior, the municipal,
what we should call the parish concerns of
Mexico They were directed TO seize
them all The War Department issued
orders to chase the government Of Mexico
like a partridge on the mountain, from city
to ciiy-to give il no rest for The sole OF
its iOot-to exterminate il and another
order issued from the Treasury Department
at The same time, directed the seizure Of
all these small and petty sums of public
money, ! am obliged, therefore, 10 the
gentleman from South Carolina for having
brought this subject TO the attention Of the
Senate.
am happy in having a. opportunity of
expressing my %repngupnce 10 all the doc
irine and all the practice. Where will il
lead to 7 What does the President do with
this money Why. he supports the army
But this money never passes under any ap.
preparation Of law. The constitution Of the
United States says that the Executive pow.
er shall have no appropriations for military
purposes for more than W years. But
T here there is a standing appropriation, put