The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-11

statute ackno wedging its existence The bill now upon
table, If il should pass will be the first act BY the
making power giving sanction 10 this war Fol
this undeclared, unacknowledged unlawful Executive
war; will not vote dollar nor Upon this
point take my stand, and make the issue upon the
quest of Mexico and its annexation 10 our Union FoI
the accomplishment OF such an object cannot dare
not, and will not give to the Executive either men
money.
But il is said that the Executive does not intend to
prosecute the to this fatal result Whatever may be
the intentions OF the Executive know not; but think
have already shown that the policy laid down in his
late message for the future prosecution of the war must
inevitably lead to the humiliation of Mexico In addi-
ton 10 this much evidence has been elected during this
debate TO satisfy that il this result is not designed it
| is certainly expected
When the distinguished senator from South Carolina
introduced his resolutions against the annihaiion of the
nationality of Mexico the senator from Michigan [Mr.
CAssl called il an abstraction; and that senator
much surprised by the monsrosy OF the proposition,
that he Involuntary exclaimed from his seat, "Who
thinks of it," II was thought too monstrous to be
entertained for msment Yet sir, but few days pass
and that honorable senator does ''thnk of it."
Mr. CAss said, no; he had thought of any such
thing and hoped the senator from New Jersey would not
| Mr.. MILLER. certainly do not wish TO msrepresent
that honorable senators and think if he will hear me
little further he will be satisfied that have such in
tention do not say that that senator favor of the
project for know he has dsclamed several times in
the course OF this debate, and am happy 10 hear him
dsclam it now; but certainly that senator must admit
that he has since thought of the subject thought of
too, with complacency; thinks the thing can be done
without harm-for he has said that if should swal-
low all Mexico it would not kill He has also
been thinking about public opinion relative to this sub
ect, and has told that if the people of the United
States make up their minds to have all Mexico IT would
be vain in TO attempt TO defeat that opinion
sst the cataract of Niagara This is an apt smile for
the subject. | have no doubt that the public opinion,
which shall compel us to swallow all Mexico, will be
of the cataract order For public opinion collected into
such rioous, tunutuous ungoyernable torrent that
may have some fear, but can have respect Yet
think the honorable senator Is than half inclined
to push his bark into it, and, with the current leap the
cataract.
But we have something more than mere thoughts and
opinions upon this subject The abstraction of the
ato from South Carolina is rapidly getting TO be reality
One senator tells us the thing may be done without
harm another us how il is to be done third points
out the mode and in which shall dispose of
the people of Mexico after we have annihaied their
government; and then comes the senator from Mssis
spp MIR FooTE,] who, to satisfy the consciences of
Christian people that the conquest lawful, gives us
Divine authority ior the act He refers us to he con-
quest of the land of Canaan by the Israees. Without
stopping TO inquire whether there is any second Moses
among U.S. who has the burning bush or heard the
voice the mountain, would merely beg leave to
mark that the senator's authority does not suit
The children of Israel were savesin Egypt they left the
land of bondage and went into the land of promse-the
land of their fathers, tooor the purpose of obtaining
religious and political freedom but in exodus
to go from the land of bertyhe land of our fathers
our fathers have never been The only similarity in the
two cases will be found in the journey through the will
derness of fiery serpents and deadly plaques.
We next have the acts OF the government in the gene
raj order lately issued by our commanding general in
Mexico, under the direction OF the executive BY this
epubc Of f Mexico Then i the order r directs a Hs
son the occupation OF the principal point or points in
any State, the payment the federal government of this
republic of all taxes dues, of whatever kind,
heretooresay in the ls4fpayable collected by
that @ int 81 pro as al suah
for the support of the army of occupation.
The Internal dues referred ]. direct
n 90 silver. 3
melting and assayng dues; T. the tobacco rent; D. the
2, the s Of o 81 as
In addition to this, the chairman Military Affairs,
speaking by authority informs us that the increase of the
army is required to enable us to take possession OF every
State capital in Mexico, to go from town to town,
der to conquer what ne calls the subbornness Of the
what must ii result' Hitherto we have been warning
against the government OF Mexico We have been fight
ing for what called national rights part against
national wrongs and ressions the part of Mexico
We have, with our own men and money, hitherto carried
on this war. We have met the national enemy in fair
tight defeated all his armies, and overthrown his govern
ment. What do propose to do now' Why, sir, to
make war upon the people of Mexico in their private
and social relations To go from town to town. not to
contend with armed men, but to tax unresstng citizens
not 10 national forts. but to nrude into every
mans CASTLE his dwelling house; not to capture national
property magazines arsenas, and fortified cities. but to
collect tobacco rents playing card rents and stamp paper
rents If this be the kind OF service in which these ten
regiments to be employed agree with the senator
from Mississippi MIR DAvIs] that they should be 'com
posed OF lower material. 1T rs no mt service Tor the
gallant citizen soldier Police men, tax gaherers, and
consabes and old custom house officers the mate
rails fer this army 1t is no place for the heroes of the
last campaign and congratulate the SENATOR as one Of
those honoed heroes upon his having retired from such
service this II is well that the gallant Qutman and
the heroic Shields should have leave OF absence 1t is
right that the old hero of Buena Vista should be permitted
to return to the comforts of his own Preside.
Yes, sir, this be the kind of warfare you intend to
carry in Mexico, call home--don't suspend-call
home, under any preence you may please to assign the
business
Wellington of the New World. Although the first of
generals, he will make but poor collector of taxes.
| Mr.. DAVIS Of mississippi Will the honorable sena-
tor allow opportunity to correct the misconcephon
he has fallen into of the meaning of my remarks
which he has Just made special reference The
tor has greatly msapprehended my meaning greatly mis-
understood my feelings, if he supposes that said or
thought the regular soldiers of army should be drawn
from class morally degraded described the duties of
holding posts upon military lines, when active service
not anticipated, where the presence OF danger did
but little TO support that military enthusiasm which draws
the militia man from his home appropriately and
benefcialy to be performed by REGULARS" | spoke of
them class OF men whose commercial and family
ne not such 10 make it great sacrifice TO
continue in whose condition reconciled Them for the
pay OF soldier to take and follow as the pro-
fession OF their life. Upon such standing IN such
relations to the government, If is admissible is Just 10
impose duties which should not require to De per-
property, and family interests suffering in his absence
patriot whose became deaf to every other voice
when he heard his country calling for men to sustain her
standard in foreign surely never intended to
degrade in his uses his character, my Old comrade,
the regular soldier In my estimation we nave no class