The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-02

sent home two regiments from my own State months be-
lore their term OF service expired and now find IT GER
tainly very difficult TO comprehend how is that General
Scott would have sent back these troops who had dstn
gulsbed themselves in the field if he need OF them,
| and could not have got along without them.
Now, word or two upon this question of robbery
Inc honorable senator from Delaware Pereeveres IN his
charge OF robbery and repeats the parallel he has drawn
before between this and the OF highway robbery.
This charge, let us recolect, is urged by senator
who has voted for the from the beginning. He has
voted for every measure, believe; but he says he
turned against 1t as soon as he found was OF con-
quest Pray how did he make that discovery Did he
find IT in the Presidents messenger If he had better
examine the message again The President informed Us
in his of last session that he had taken posses
sion OF California and New Mexico; and recommended
that provision be made for the establishment of civil gov
eminent in those conquered provinces He had better re-
Ter again to the message asking for the appropriation OF
three millions OF dollars Why did the President ask for
that appropriation He referred you to the OF the
acquisition OF Louisiana, in which money was required
to be paid in advances and also to the case OF the pnr
chase OF FLORIDA and after referring TO these illus
tralive OF the grounds upon which he recommended the
appropriation he asked for three millions of dollars Now,
not the demand of the Executive clear nace of
the intention OF the administration to receive territory
as consequence OF the prosecution of this war an not
only to receive territory but to receive sufficient for ndem
nty well for the claims due to citizens for all the
expenses of the war; These facts were before us the
last session, Every senator knew them; AMI the war
bills were voted for, at the last session, with full
knowledge OF these facts Still told that because
it is proposed to receive territory indemnity therefore
It is war OF aggression repeat that it has been well
known- has been proclaimed in both houses from the
begnnlng-thal the war was to bring territory com
pensaton or in iemny. undertake to say that do not
believe that there is senator this Aoor nor human
beng within ,h the sound Of my voice who di not know
menced, that territory was to be acquired. And yet,
though all knew lhis-though the President told
sothough he asked for money to pay the first install
men in compensation for the territory acqured-yet
the changes still rung the charge that has recently
become war OF conquest.
The war was forced upon us by McKee,. II was just
on onr part-aggressive on hers We tried TO avoid it,
and to settle the difficulty by collation. Mexico made
the attack we repealed that attack, and carried the
INTO The enemys country with view of getting ''in-
demnity for the past and. If you please security for
the tuture-secnrity that they never would commence
| Mr. CLAYTON. Did you get that security in the
treaty?
| MI. DOUGLAS. When the gentleman will show me
treaty OF peace, will examine il, and tell him whether
we have that security Bu am unable to comprehend
upon what groun! he afrms the immortality OF this
Such a charge, coming from gentlem IN who has sup
ported it from the begnning-who voted for yho did
not vote for it gnorantly-who knew at the time the
was declare that the Meyicans hal attacked ietach
nen OF our army is to say the least Of IT, very singular
The voted with full kno Wedge Of these facts
have Iookel sir, mo the debae-indeed. was present
at the time that vote given-ani not able
lind man VINO doubted he propriety of that declaration,
provided thai the attack upon troops author
lied The de nocratc asked parsA,
in orler to whether the attack had been authorizes
by the Mexcaa government and it at bat time that
memorable and novel distinction between hosties and
state OF war. The objection to the preamble that it
was doubtful whether war existed Still told thai
senators have found out, for the first time, that it
war OF conquest!
motion was here made to adjourn, which was lost,
Mr. JOHNSON, OF Louisiana, moved to recommit the
bill to the Committee Naval Affairs, with ructions
to amend by inserting at the end thereof the following
. Prouhicd homeuer, Tnat the President shall not be
other ACT in the OF tns act until ii shall be s
acorily ascerined that the pending negotiations with
Mexico for securing peace with that country by treaty
have aed"
On this motion the yeas and nays were demanded, and
were taken with the following result:
yEAs-Messrs Badger. Baldwin, Bell, Berren, Butler,
Massachusetts, Dayton Greene, Hale Johnson of Lousi-
ana, Masum, Pnelps, Underwood, Upham, and Webster
NAYS-Messrs Allen, Ashley, Atchison, Anterior, Bag
Mississippi Dcknson DIX, Douglas, Downs, Felch, Fooe,
Hannegan, Hunter Johnson Of Georgia, Lewis, Mason,
The motion therefore not agreed to; and the ques-
ton required on the passage OF the bill.
Mr.. JOHNSON, OF Louisiana, said had the question
place upon the treaty. should have voted for ii and
had the amendment which had the honor to otter to-day
been adopted should have voted for it but think that
after the which have recently taken place the
matter is totally changed treaty has been agreed upon,
and commissioner has been sent to Mexico and have
reason to believe that the treaty will be ratified These
forces, therefore, will never be called into the field The
amendment which offered was intended to prevent the
President from appointing these four five hundred o
troops until actually TO be
called into the field, which may be the case, and
thereby TO useless expense of two three millions
of dollars Under the present circumstances cannot
reconcile it with my OF duty TO vote for this bill
Mr.. Blu Tier. am very far from submitting to those
who have male arbitrary rule for deciding this matter
without debate and take leave to ask OF the chair
man of the Committee on Military Affairs certain ques
tons, to which expect to receive answers
Mr.. CASS / do not feel disposed TO answer ques-
tons.
Mr. BUTLER Well, if the senator is not able to an
swer the questions
Mr. FOoTE. hope the honorable senator will ask
me the questions that he proposes to ask
Mr. BU TIER. intend TO ask them.
Mr. FOOTE Ii the senator from Michigan does not
will answer the questions for the senator
Mr. Blu TLER fear my friend will answer them too
well. ask the chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs, whether 1t Is the intention of the President
this bill passes, Immediately TO appoint the oicers'
Mr. CASS | have not the least objection to answer
the question. do not know.
Mr. BUTLER That is not very definite answer.
Mr. FOOrE. If the honorable senator will allow me
to answer him, will remind him that the senator from
Ohio the day before yesterday, in anticipation of all
such questions, declared that if there prospect of
peace, the troops would march and if there was
prospect of war, they would
Mr. 81 rLER. | am not answered yet. The senator
from Michigan knows nothing on the subject
Mr. CASS. will observe, that some time ago hal
conversation with the Presl respecting the propose
ZION to make this BILL not absolute, but discretionary
allowing him to determine whether the force should be
rasei not. tie thought the suggestion a proper one
Mr.. BUTLER | believe that the senator has answer
ed inquiry kind spirit although the answer does
not altogether satisfy OF the proprety of passing this
Dbl / AN willing, however, to leave 1t with the House
OF Representatives to determine. But musl ask another
f. q -. Al. D.. -,