The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-08
Speech Of MI. Webster.
ON THE NEW LOAN BILL.


From Houston's Reports,] In SENATE, March 49,
Mr. PRESIDENT On Friday bill passed
the Senate for the raising of Ten Regiments
OF new troops for the farther prosecution of
the war against Mexico and we hsve been
informed, that the measure is shortly to be
followed, in this branch of the Legislature,
BY bill to raise twenty regiments Of volun-
teers for the same service. | was DESTROYS,
Sir, on Friday, to express my opinion against
the object of those bills-against the sup
posed necessity which leads to their enact
ment, and against the general policy which
they are opportunity designed to promote
circumstances personal to myself, but beyond
my control, compelled me to forego on that
day the execution of this design. The bill
now before the Senateis measure for raising
money to meet the expenses of the Govern
ment, and to provide the means as we'll for
other things as for the pay and support of
these thirty regiments.
Sir, the scenes through which we have pas
sed and are passing here, are various. For
a fortnight the world supposes us to have
been occupied with the ratification of Treaty
OF Peace, and that within these walls
"The world shut out -
notes of peace-hopes of peace-nay, strong
assurances of peace, and immediate peace,
us. 1t has been over and over again stated,
that we have ratified treaty-of course a
Treaty of Peace and as the country has
been led to suppose, not of uncertain, and
empty, and delusive peace but real, gratifying,
and enduring peace; apeace that shall staunch
the wounds of war, prevent the farther eff
fusion of blood, cut off these enormous ex-
penses, and return our trie nds land our brothers
and our children-if they be yet living -
from land of slaughter, and land or still
more dismal destruction by climate, to our
tresides, and our arms. Hardly have those
haley sounds ceased upon our ear, until in
resumed public session, we are summoned to
fresh warlike operations-to the creation of a
new army of 10000 men for the farther
prosecution of the war-to carry our power,
in the language of the President, still more
directly into the vital parts of our enemy, and
to press home, by the power of the sword,
the claims that we insist upon against fallen,
prostrate-I had almost said-an ignoble foe
Ii may judge of the opinion of the Hon.
member hom Michigan, or other speeches
delivered in this chamber. there has not been
time from the commencement of the war,
when 1t has been more urgently pressed upon
US, not only to maintain, but to increase our
military means-no: only to continue the war,
present time. Pray. Sir, ask, is it confessed
then, that we are no nearer to peace than we
were when we snatched up bit of paper cal
led, or miscalled Treaty, and ratified it p
Have we yet to fight it out to the utmost, as
if no pacifcation had interviewed Iwish to
treat the proceedings of this and every depart
ment of this government with the utmost
respect. God knows that the constitution of
this goveInment-and the exercise of its just
powers, in the administration of the laws
under it, have been the cherished object of all
my unimportant life. But if the subject
were not too deeply interesting, l should say
that. our proceedings here might we'll enough
cause a smile. In the ordinary transaction
of foreign relations, in this and all other gov
ernments, the course has been to negotiate
first, and to ratify afterward. This would
seem to be the natural order of conducting
intercourse between foreign States. We have
chosen to reverse the order. We ratify first,
and negotiate afterward. We set up a treaty,
such as We find it, and such as we choose to
make it, and then we send two Ministers
Plenipotentiary to negotiate thereupon in the
Capital of the enemy! One should think,
Sir, that the ordinary course of proceeding
was much the wiser-that to negotiate, hold
intercourse, come to some arrangement by
authorized agents, and then to submit that
arrangement to the sovereign authority, 10
which those agents are esponsible-would be
always the most desirable method of pro-
cedure. 1t strikes me that the course we have
adopted is strange-is grotesque. So far IS I
know, it is unprecedented in the history of
diplomatic Intercourse. Learned gentlemen
on the floor of the Senate, interested to defend
and vindicate this course, may, in their ex
tensive reading, have found examples; know
none.
Sir, we are in possession, by military power
of New Mexico and California, countries be-
longing hitherto to the United States of Mex;-
co. We are informed by the President, that
it is his purpose 70 retain them-to consider
them as territories fit to be attached, and to be
~ cd 70 tLoco II,,itod Mates of A meria