The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-12

will allow me- must repeat the correction which made
the other day. and at the same time refer hun to the stale
ment presented but few minutes since. | repeat sir
that the provision for raising 10000 new volunteers does
not bear upon the question before us Not man will
be raised dollar expended, unless state Of things
should happen which cannot be reasonably anticipated
and in such event. prudence requires that the govern
should be enabled TO act and to call out an
force. which is the object OF that portion oil the bill
Why the honorable senator includes 1900 seamen and
marines his estimate of the means for prosecuting the
war in the interior OF Mexico, cannot conjecture Sure
y they will add nothing to the force to be employed by
Gen Scott in the subugaton of the Mexican government
and people repeat sir, the OF the honorable gen.
teman consists in his considering the legal establishment
and the aggregate force the thing have shown
the deduction it is necessary to make from the former,
order exhibit the real amount OF the latter After this
is done. the senator will find thai the force have stated
OF from 900 to 40 900 is the true which will
be placed the disposition OF Gen. Scott and which is
less by thousands than the force he considers
cessay to carry on The plan Of operations recommended
calling upon Congress pass the bills under consdera.
ton. has had the best au,hoythat of the commanding
general himselfor The amount OF force recommended.
ties to which the army in the field is subject and espe
ciay when exposed to such climate that of Mexico,
which renders very difficult TO know what portion OF
the troops eicient and only stated that from the Of
fetal returns, there appeared to be as, 900
Mexico.
Mr. CASS (In his seat) Forty -three thousand
Mr.. CRITTENDEN. And the two regiments from
Michigan which the gentleman supposes will be very
Mr.. CASS. Will the senator pardon me il interrupt
him one mpment! These twenty-five hundred men will
more than suffice to fill up the volunteer forces.
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN. Still there would be left, in
round numbers, $4,000 men, together with the 5000
seamen and marines actually engaged in this war,
making an aggregate force OF $4,000 men. in Mex
Of the casualties of battle and of climate 10
which the gentleman referred cannot well make
calculation; but startled at the estimate which the
senator presents that oneourh of these to be struck
down! Why, that cannot be And, sir, the gentleman
must recollect that, under these inevitable casualties
which admityou have been all the time endeavoring
to supply the ranks OF enstmens throughout the coun
try Enstments have been continually going on You
can hardly take up newspaper IN which yon do not
find notice OF the, sailing of some detachment OF
troops for Mexico. Not week passes in which vessel
with soldiers does not sail from port in the United
States. That has been the case throughout the
Mow ban that vdn tins des sSn .m war
Why, when was journeying to this place, there were
some hundreds OF regulars going from Newport on the
Of the transportation of troops to Mexico. We have been
all the time diligently recrung and will not the de6c,
be supplied in that way' Another thing is be borne
which have been thus despatched have not encountered
the casualties OF the field. The casualties which battle
brought upon the forces occurred before the arrival Of
have gone there lately have not been engaged in single
battle They arrived in the healthy season. They were
healthy and robust men that went. Is it, indeed, true
that twenty-five per cent Of all these fresh troops have fall
len under the influence of the climate and disease, No.
trust not We have not less than IS 900 men, making
every possible deductions besides those sick and tempo
rarly disabled. Is not that sufficient force Mexico
sir will be conquered in six weeks; and we shall all
know It, and admit It. The question will then no longer
DC about defensive Inn nes and about diplomacy and nego
our feet Beyond all doubt, the question then will be-
"What shall we do with this conquered price Sir
San Luis Poos and Zacatecas, venture to saw will be
taken from every account in less than six weeks from
this day. Will Mexico then be conquereds She is now
conquered as everybody knows. There is nothing left,
spacious that scarcely describe them BY their proper
names-and dare say am correct in tie pronuncia.
ton now and QIeretaro is spared only because there
gimmers the last Pickering light OF government which
rests in the country THERE'S the phantom OF congress
and government; and Queretaro remains uncaptHred
not from any want Of power, but because you would
you can make treaty. Why, see that General Scott
has been giving passports to the Legislators who cons
,ae this io gq safely to what they call their
in Mexico Surely, surely we may now safely assume
that Mexico is conquered.
Mr. CLAYTON have not yet obtained from the
fairs the precise information which sought did not
desire to excite discussion on the question as to the
amount 81 military force at present in Mexico but put
the question: whether our military commanders in Mex.
co had recommended this measure upon which we are
called to vote In reply to the inquiry as understand,
them-Gen. Scott-dd, time during the last year,
write letter recommending that in certain event. the
military establishment in Mexico should be increased 10
oo'ooo "iou senator tell the dale
of the letter!
Mr.. CASS. II was written after the arrival Of its
writer N n, Mexlc9 but how long after, do not know
Mr.. CLAYTON. After the capture of the city,
Mr., CASS. Certainly; he distinctly aludes to that
event.
Mr.. CLAYTON. 1t was written, then, after the CAP.
lure of the city of Mexico There is no intelligence as
understand, from General Taylor, that any additional
forces were requisite. Am right in the conjecture
Mr.. CASS, What did the honorable senator ask
Mr.. CLAYTON. Did General Taylor, on any occa.
SON. recommend such an addition to the military force
Mr.. CASS. | understand the senator as inaurng
whether General Taylor had made the recommends
ton General Scott | have told all know aboutthe
recommendation Of General Scott, and do not know
whether General Taylor made similar Recommendation
Mr.. CLAYTON. There is nothing, then, from Gene.
raj Taylor lie has made recommendation to add 10
the troops in Mexico And as to General Scott the hon
orable chairman is able to inform me- that some time
last year, he thinks, after the capture OF the city OF
Mexico, General Scott wrote to the department inform
ing them that certain things intended be done by the
administration Were attempted $4,000 men would be re-
quired to be added to the army
Mr.. CASS. beg your pardon, sir; raise the force 10
$4,000 men; not add that amount.
Mr. CLAYTON. That is the very understanding |
had, and corrected in it, Well that increase of the
army to 10000 men, understand from the reading OF
the letter from General Scott be made in case the
administration should design to subjugate-to reduce all
Mexico.
Mr.. CASS. Oh no.
Mr.. CLAYTON That is the amount OF il, as UNDER
stand. If in error, will be happy to be corrected
Mr.. CASS. The senator is at liberty to put his own
construction the letter. but the object stated 70
be ito keep the central government in notion. will
read the passage again