The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-26
THE UNION .

of consuest-to seek the acquisition Of territory by
forced eessipn from Sister republic, OF territory now
under the dominion of the people OF another government
We now seek TO transfer that people TO our Government
and transfer them appendage 10 this republic
or territorial appendage" in the language of the reso-
luton land perhaps that may be inferred to be the OBJ
ect OF the recepmendarn contained the message oil
the President But hardly suppose that il is now
serieUsy intended by any incorporate that domain
integral part of the United States, invite them to
come IN and participate the government OF this republic
II incorporated al all, asked 10 incorporate them
a g territorial appendage" TO this government Now the
object OF the resolution which have had the honor to
submit is 70 ascertain from the President Of the United
etafes whether he possesses any Information, which he
can communicate the Senate, showing ,hai such ces-
sion can be made ,ef the teeLic of Mexico, in con.
sistency With the fundamental law of the republicl
4 Mr. niNNEGAN. So far the first branch of the
resolution of the from Connecticut is concerned
do not know sir that have any objections offer pre-
sumo the answer TO II would necessarily be, that the
President has information upon the subject II
amounts to nothing pass, then, TO the second branch
OF the resolution The SENATOR IN the course Of his re-
marks, thought proper TO refer TO certain resolutions
which had the honor to submit 10 the Senate a short
time since ives moi IN The Senate on Thursday last,
at The moment when the senator introduced his resolu-
ton; and Knew nothing OF ITS introduction of its i'm
port I'LL heard II read this morning at the Secrearys
desk With regard to my own resolutions d not feel
myself called upon TO say anything on them now; but
with reference 70 'he second branch of the resolution of
iered BY The honorable senator from Connecticut must
make few remarks. object to that part of the resou.
ton on several grounds. And in the first place, re-
-
dent to communicate 10 U.s. is presumed 10 be as fully in
the possession OF the members of this body &C il can De
in that Of the President himself the resolution asks
the President 70 communicate information relative to the
fundamental law oil foreign government Well sir il
is, believe, to be presumed that ought to know as
much the Executive about the fundamental law of
foreign government The call is, therefore, altogether
| unnecessary.
The question discussed at some length BY the senator
from Connecticut is one, not for us, but for Mexico to
determine. Is for Mexico TO say whether, under her
fundamental aw--if fundamental law che has--there is
power to ceds any or every foot OF territory which she
ognised. She has already asserted that power Pending
me negotiations anterior to the annexation of Texas,
Mexico as every member of this Senate well knows,
ence, or condition that she should refuse annexation to
the United States thereby admitting that she had the
power to dispose OF any portion of her territory at her
did not catch distinctly the whole of The remarks made
by the senator from Connecticut; but if understood the
purport OF his arguments he holds that the power OF
but does lot exist in republic. The senator shakes HIS
head Does he then deny the existence OF that power in
monarchy II he does, he denies principle old, was
about to cay timecertanly co-exisen with the
monarchca form OF government. There never
monarchy upon the face of the earth where the question
could be raised as to the right dispose of her territory
or domnions, CT any part of hem-never. 1t is quite
enough to refer to the treaties OF peace concluded at the
termination of wars between great monarche, order
show that under that form OF government the power Of
ceing territory always exercised That right has
always been exercised in rsnarchcal governments and
will briefly snow that the majority has asserted the
same power in this country. But contend here that
arstocracy, but anarchy, must have the right
where. The senator speaks of fundamental law in
Mexico, about which he would call upon the President
to deliver message. What is that fundamental law :
What has II been from 1882 till the present hour! Why
sif has been nothing but the arbitrary will of each
ccssve military despot, who has raised himself to
preme power by his sword.
But with regard 70 the power of making cesson OF
territory in republican government, we know that the
majority have twice decided in this body that existed
here. First in the settlement of the northeastern boun
Diary, you find, by the unanimous vote of the Senate
corded upon your Journals that it declared that the
whole OF that disputed territory was the property of the
United States and yet by the Ashbuton treaty large
portion of the territory thus declared I'd be ours, was
surrendered. repeat, by d unanimous vote Of the
lieve am right0 the whole of that territory was
declared to be the property OF the United States; and
yet treaty, ratified by the Senate, surrendered large
portion of that territory and the most valuable in militia
ry point of view. Them again, the second instance is al
forded in that blacklist feature in hsorythe settle
men OF the Oregon questions in which, after almost every
department of the government had declared that title
to the whole OF Oregon was unquesonable. we yielded
up large part to England There exists, then in this
government, as in amonarchical government the power OF
cedlng territory and canno see why the exercise Of
that power can be denied in an anarchical govern
eminent, such that OF Mexico. AT any rate, to
what does the senator's argument amount, when we
come TO bring it directly home to the it exists
Mexico has Tor series OF years urged war upon
She has urged a war upon us by every act which has
ever been held Just cause OF nay, by series oil
acts, running through period OF twelve or thirteen
years. from the hour in which Texas declared herself in
dependent From the battle of San Jacino down to the
battle Of Palo Alto, there has not been an hour in
which Mexico was not resolved to provoke war with
the United States The whole history of the intercourse
between the two nations proves clearly as the sun
shine, that that the studied and constant effort OF
Mexico On another occasion, however. shall take
opportunity of entering at length upon that subject and of
demonstrating, think rreragably the soundness of the
position which have thus assumed. Mexico them
nruna uc nj his no us n
involving an immense sacrifice of life and expenditure of
treasure and at the close of this conflict the
from Connecticut, according to the doctrine this day
enunciated, would suffer Mexico to go scot Free in
ssng only that she should say she sorry for her
conduct
Sir, do not approve of such course of policy.
hold, that in with all nations that have
isted have right to make this offender pay the pen
atty of her transgresslon. She has no gold wherewlh
reimburse us, but she has land and that land want
and hope and trust we will get call, if it be in ORDER
for division of the question.
Mr.. BALDWIN. The senator from Indiana says that
the information sought by the resolution presumed to be
in the possession of every department of the government
Undoubtedly il is always presumed that acquainted
with the general historical facts regard TO the republic
of Mexico But when the President of the United States
recommends to Congress specific course-when he
recommends to Congress the acquisition of dominion by
forced cession of that republic-and when a knowl-
edge of the fundamental Institutions OF that republic does
not lead us TO the conclusion that she has the power
which the President asks to demand her to exercise
then appears TO that ii proper and respectful TO the
President himself to ask that he shall communicate to the
Senate the information which he possesses and which
has led him TO different conclusion have endeavored
to show that upon knowledge OF the fundamental