The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. FOOrE.
or MISSISSIPPI.
Uf MISSISSIPPI
~ u~ SeHdte OF INC United States, January 20, lSiS-On
the ten regiment bill
CnNrI faarlnN \

. VI Icsueht 4 thlnl 1t must be acknowledged that
ms ueoe mas been marked with peculiar rancoT on the
other SIDE OF The chamber, and that terms of scurous
eoach nave been freely INDUCED towards the Pres-
dent OF me United States equally derogatoy the dignity
OF ms body unhl to be applied to the first magistrate
ms great nauon and entirely nmerited point OF fact
one gentleman has not hesated openly 10 charge the
Necuye win ialsehood, in regard TO his declaration OF
the oDects OF The war; which nothing more than a
coarse version OF what is reported in paper which
hou IN my hand, TO have emanaed from distinguished
senator now IN my eye, at Springfield last September,
ABOUT piecXts, eyasons, preences afterhoughts" &c
&c; Another gentleman charges falsehood by nnuendo
and assumes with something of peculiar grace and GER
to blush for the President Another charges dishonesty
robbery, "pllage, and " murder !" another hypoc-
flsy another violation OF the constitution; another,
Now, If the President be half as gully as he is accused
BY honorable senator's of being, he ought for the honor
81 me country, to be Immediately impeached and a
Iittle wonder, under all the circumstances that great
Hastings affair has not been before now gotten up; con
sIderng the lusty menaces which know TO have been
numbered forth IN various quarters, and the preg
nant fact that at least one member of this body IS re-
ported to have already declared that he is impeachabe
wish distinguished senators would recoect the wise
requsluon OF the common law, that even Jurors who
only determine the facts of the case, must be m0jores
omnt erceptione and that Justice by the ancients
painted blind in order to indicate that all who approach
ed her sanctuary should do free from all preconceved
prejudice, and exempt from all exterior influence take
the liberty OF reminding honorable senator's whilst in
dulging these suggestions OF one of the most imposing
judicial scenes which is recorded in ancient annaIsthe
| L
htulsenences with which julius Cesar commencedhisno
Bile speech on the occasion, contain maxim which fear
almost too elevated for this Christian generation
Omnes homtnes, qu de rebuS dubs conSuiant ab odio
dmtcfd, IRA, dfque miser,coda, deceit Haud
faeile anin,ts uerun propdet, ubi lila otfcat Negue
qu,squdm omnium lubidfni smm ct ,tsui paruit tb
tntenderis angenium, uale 81 iubdo poSside ca do
ntnattr; animus nhH oaef" Now, if certain mena-
which we have all heard of in regard grave pro-
ceedngs elsewhere against the first magistrate of the
ton, were as honestly announced they have been
decenty paraded before the country, there may be yet
some possibility of ustrous senator's when called on to
perform high judicial duty with the Chief Justice of the
United States presiding in this chamber, either callen
cling themselves, being challenged by Others on the
of ncompeency to discharge the highest functions
full and perplexing predicamen; but if il should occur
would perchance not be without sautary influence in
! the way OF example.
Mr.. President Before | conclude what have TO saw
possible in degree 10 counteract, certain views ex
pressed few days since by the venerable senator from
South Carolina; and. in doing So believe that he at
least will not question my sincerity in declaring that such
my high respect for his extraordinary powers of intellect
and his numerous virtues that TO most painful to
differ with him in opinion any great public question
1t would certainly be my wish to remain silent notwith
standing my dissent from his views, but that shall be
compelled, by sense OF duty to vote in opposition the
honorable senator's profound and ingenious easonngs;
and if fail 10 state sound and substantial grounds for
doing shall incur the risk being misunderstood by
the whole country
understand the senator from South Carolina TO oppose
the measure under consideration the ground that
additional troops necessary for the attainment of any
legitimate object, for any object heretofore avowed by
the Executive He argues that the conquest of the in
terror regions of Mexico has advanced far that if the
troops now there are notspeedly withdrawn TO what he
calls defensive etc Inc we W ncu, the hazard Of ami
obtain treaty of peace at ALL for want of valid govern
ment with which to conduct our future negotiations. Mr.
President, will not undertake to decide whether or moi
the senator from South Carolina be supposng that
Mexico is in such imminent danger of losing her
tonaty This may, may not be the Ii is certain
that those who best acquainted with the precise
dtion of things in Mexico think otherwise The Pres
dent still continues to avow his warm desire and conf
dent expectation that treaty will yet be effected with
the Mexican government, which will be at the same
time honorable u.s. and neither unjust nor ungenerous
to our obstinate adversary and such my respect for
his wisdom and thorough sincerity of heart, that do
not feel at liberty to refuse him any aid which |
capable of rendering for the eventual attainment OF this
longsought object General Scott, too, seems still TO
calculate upon an early paclhcaton and has just
nounced most imposing, and as think, most ludicous
PLAN for bringing it about; and have too high esteem
for him, also, both commander and patriot not to
feel most decided Difference for his judgment about this
matter Gu libe Crcdenium est an drte, much
maxim in military affairs in the concerns of civil life ,
and freely acknowledge that the commander chief
in Mexico, with his extensive experience officer,
and his familiar acquaintance with the resources de-
vices and present temper Of the foe to be presumed to
enjoy peculiarly favorable opportunity of determining
whether. not will be at all likely to succeed in
ultimately conquerlng peace and so long as he seems
to testify generous confidence in his being able evenu
ally to accomplish that for which we have been so long
struggling, should as soon do anything else which
might be calculated to put the honor of the country in
danger refuse TO vote HIM supplies of men and money
any extent which may be Judged necessary to the
pete and early success of his military operations can
| never consent, for one, to withdraw army to
any merely defensive hne long any hope OF
obtaining treaty OF peace may remain will con-
sent do so, long there may be chance of prac
teal paclfcaion OF nature to be relied Independent
OF treaty, provided treaty turn out TO be unatalnable
cannot perceive any possible advantage which would
be likely to from the adoption OF defensive line
but the contrary, behold manifold evils and incon
veniences too obvious in themselves, and too often Inv
sisted upon heretofore different forms, TO need any
special citation at this time. This defensive-lne pro-
iect seems be, with the distinguished senator from
South Carolina, perfect panacea for all the troubles of
| this Mexican war; IN whatever stage OF it may be-
Last winter when General Taylor had only penetrated
the States in the neghborhood of the Rio Grande, with
drawal to defensive line earnestly recommended
Now have attacked and captured the strong castle of
San Juan dUllOa, taken Vera Cruz, Jalapa Peroe Pue
ba and Mexico, and proceeding rapidly to seize all
the remaining strong places to possess ourselves OF the
public revenues put down guerilla warfare and reduce
the enemy to such straits must inalliby render him.
in short tme altogether hopeless of being able make
further resistance and the senator from South Carolina
with consistency which to bid proud defiance
everything like change OF circumstances is heard to ex
claim, still more emphatcaly than before, Why do you
not fall back to my defensive llne'" with this notable
alteration, (Which the events of the last twelve months
have been able alone to eect that the honorable
does find it convenient to tell where this
same defensive line of his should runs and he proposes,
therefore, to eonvoke council OF officers to settle this
by, it would be composed necessarily of gentlemen,
all of whom would infalhby and very promptly declare
their opinion to be- that nothing earth could be magn
ed more inudcious perlous than the adoption of any