The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-04-11
SPEECH OF
MR.. UPHAM,
OF VERMONT, ON
THE TEN REGIMENT BILL, AND
THE MEXICAN WAR.
OF VERMONT, o.

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shall be able, in the humble part am about tc
take IN this debate, to impart anything of in
terest or freshness to the subject, or TO bring
any new contribution Of facts to bear upon the
the questions propose TO discuss. Almost ev-
ery topic connected with, or growing out OF
the existing war with Mexico, has been allu-
ded to and ably commented upon by honora-
bic Senators, who have preceded me on the
floor. But, sir, exhausted as the subject Is,
cannot content myself with 4 silent vote on
the question.
Believing, as do, that under existing laws,
our force in Mexico can be increased TO near
~ sixty-ive thousand men, and that the more
vigorous prosecution Of the war for the pur-
poses nor avowed, would be dshonorabe to
the country, | shall be compelled to record
my vote against this bill. But, shall do It,
sir. with no view to embarraSs the Executive
in his efforts for an honorable peace; but to
prevent the forcible dismemberment OF a
weak, distracted sister republic, and to pre-
serve untarniShed the fair name of the coun-
try, which prize infinitely higher than any
territorial acquisitions we can make, or any
glory we can win, by the success of our arms.
The honorable Chairman of the Committee on
Military Affairs, in his eloquent remarks the
other day, in support of this bill, expressed a
desire that the bill might pass without opposi-
tiGn and that the discussion, which he was a.
ware would arise upon the war policy of the
Administration, and which he had no desire to
avoid, might be had upon some other meas
ure hereafter to come before the Senate.
! This bill, he thought, was safe and common
ground, upon which we could all meet and
act together. Sir, safe as the honorable SEN
ator may think the ground TO be on which he
stands, cannot occupy it with him, because.
in my judgment, it is dangerous ground.
| This bill is the first of Il series of measures,
which, if carried out to the full extent of Ex-
ecutiye recommendation, must bring our free
institutions into great peril, and, fear, in the
end, overthrow them. The recommended in
crease of the army, from sixtv-five thousand
10 nearly nincty-iive thousand men, to be en-
gagged in the conquest OF foreign States and
provinces, is proposition too startling for me
to support. Here, sir, | must pause, and here
must stand until | am well convinced that
this measure is necessary TO vindicate the
rights ana maintain the honor of the coun-
try.
The cry Is onward; and onward, at all haz-
ards. the Administration seems determined to
20, until the whole Mexican republic falls be-
meath our conqucring arms. We preach the
doctrine Of nOn-inteIference in the affairs OF
other nations, and still raise armies to invade
and conquer neighboring republic. We
proclaim the great principle of self-govern-
ment, and the right OF every people to form
their own institutions, and at the same time
we send our cOnquering armies 10 force upon
/ distant and reluctant people, forms OF govern
ment which they have no capacity to main
-ain. and 10 which they are utterly opposed.
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the annexation of the Republic Of Genoa to
the kingdom of Sardinia, and the absorption
Of Venice by Austria. and still we 90 on with
TIE work OF di>membement and annexation
ourselves We dcnounce RUSSIA Prussia and
Austria, for the ii memberment of Poland,
and at the same time we are attempting to dis
member sister Republic and fshe refuses
to submit to our demands, the absorption OF
her whole territory, the honorable Chairman
Of the Committee Oh Military Affairs says.
may be the penalty she will be compelled 10
pay for her obstinacy.
Mexico, sir. is in our power-she lies quiv-
cring and bleeding at our feet-we can de-
strov her nationality and blot her name from
The map of nations-but such an act Of inius-
,icc violence and outrage, would bring down
upon heads the Just indignation of all
ChriStendom, and brand Us as 4 nation Of rob-
BEES.
Mr.. FOOTE. l am quite sure that the
Senator has no dcsiIe to misrepresent any
Senator on this side of the chamber Ger
tainlv he has not heard either the Chairman of
the Committee on Military Affairs, or any
other Senator on this side, give expression to
the opinion that it might become polite TO alb
serb the whole OF Mexico. The absorption OF
: Mexico has been uniformly spoken of by us as
a thing TO be deprecated, but from which, #
forced upon us, we were to deduce all the
good that was possible.
+ Mr.. UPIIAM. | have no desire to misrep-
resent any Senator, but l understood the
honorable Chairman of the Committee on
Military Affairs, in abiding to this subject, to
say, that it might be necessary, in order to
bring the war to an honorable close, to absorb
the whole of Mexico. However, l have his
f remarks before me, and Will read them. In
the debate on the instructions to General Scott
to occupy the republic of Mexico, the Senator
said:
Il repeat what before said, that the longer
Mexico continues her obstinate rejection Of
reasonable indemnity, and the greater the ex-
ertiOn she compelS us to make, the greater
Will be our demands and the heavier her loss
p es. What we would have accepted last year
Q or even at the commencement OF the present
campaign, we may well refuse now; and what
= we would accept now, we may well refuse al,
o ter few months. And how much the pub
lie sentiment of this country may demand
year or two years hence, if the war continue:
: so long, | do not pretend to predict. We
= may have to make the great experiment SC
:. dreaded by the Senator from South Carolin;
and the Senator from Kentucky, and annex
the domain of Mexico TO our own. This is the
o penalty which national injustice has otter
;, been called to pay, and which Mexico may bt
5 preparing for herself"
' Mr.. CASS- have again and again beer
called upon to state the purport Of the re-
marks to which the Senator alludes, and
do hope that it will not be necessary to enter
into any explanation with regard to them
hereafter. | am confident that the Senator
does not Intentionally mistake my views but
will repeat, that all along have deprecated
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