The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-05
CONGRESSIONAL.
spEEc "A OF THE HON. $. w. iNeE,


IN he House of Representatives, Morch %, l5ison Inc
relations OF parties 10 the Mexican war
In rising for the first time 10 address this House, can,
not refrain from allusion 10 that mallgh sli W
parts which seems to actuate the majority anu whcn
has 10 The exclusion of everything else, influenced their
conduct since this Congress assembled And aude 70
il sir but to deprecate 1t and TO express my Ptoioun9
regret that at a time like this when the welfare and
bonor of the republic demand the united and Jealous ac
non of her statesmen the voice OF patriotism In ms nan
il SILENT and are vexed by the constant camos
Of party For nearly two years, the hres oil war nave
sddened the southwestern horizon and IN contemplation
# the brilliant deeds which have slgnalZed the tum
miami advance OF armies the heart OF inc haoh mas
hrobbed only with patriotic admlration 30 intense are
ne feelings which this bloody struggle with foreign
nation mas aroused among the peoples that they nave al
most ceased remember their party struggles at home
Lacking abroad upon the theatre Of war; They have seen
The ouck succession OF battles and OF victories, which have
a,shed upon the country and forgotten their own domes-
,c brols But the politicians who s opposite to me
seem to distinct class, nsenshe t. the glory OF our
arms and dead TO the sympathles which pervade the
masses Controlling, they do the action OF this cham
h the country looks them support the demands OF
the public service They look not TO the public service
or the national hono but to the ends and purposes OF
patv Their minds aspire to nothing above the dignity OF
a party issue successful parliamentary trick is, win
them matter OF more congratulations than victory
achieved over the foreign enemy and is question Oh
far more Importance 10 determine how the political wal
10 be carried on, than how the Mexican war shall De
terminated.
do not object sir 10 the existence of parties, SO long
m, very nature of things all free States, where the
mind OF man is untrammelled, parties must ever exist
This country much in lis pursuit OF political science
10 marty collisions of intellect from which truth has been
eliminated In every well ordered republic, history in
forms us of the existence OF parties did they cease
TO exist but with the free governments IRON winch they
snrung Parties and party discussion have ever been
coeva with liberty In the free States of Greece parties
existed the offspring of freedom and the parents OF elo
quence did they end till the flag OF Alexander waved
in triumph over the temples OF Perlces, 80 was II IN
,,h liz into
and parties continued to exist until the dadem OF inc
Casars supplanted the rbuni,ial power. believe sir,
the welfare of this country depends upon the maintenance
of the organization OF the democratic party the very Pu-
pose of that organization is the preservation OF THIS OBJ,
ec The policy and objects OF The antagonstlc party
shall endeavor to unfold in the of my remarks
The history OF parties in connexion with the Mexican
war in its origin progress and termination, forms Gu
rious chapter in American politics. shall examine lhe
relation of parties 10 this great question, with view Oh
presenting the conduct OF each to the impartial judgment
of the people and in my comments upon the course oil
that party opposed TO the present administration desire
to be understood limiting their application to poll
clans by trade The great body OF the American people,
however known BY party expectations, and divided by
differences OF opinion, moved by the same impulses OF
patriotism when the national honor is involved
The history OF Texas, Its revolution, and subsequent
annexation to the American conederacy, is so famary
known 10 the world to relieve me from minute detail
shall advert only to the prominent events upon which
my argument rests.
Prior to the wear 1891 Texas was an independent State
Of the Mexican confedeacy, under the constitution OF
1924 having similar relations to the federal government
and her States, which exist between the States and
federal government OF our own political system
Santa Anna, at the head Of an army OF mercenarles,
subyeed the constitution OF 1884, abolished the sove-
regn of the States and erected upon the ruins OF the
republic central military despotism The people OF
Texas demonstrated against the awess proceedings OF
the despot but remonstrance only named MS inst OF
power and he determined 10 crush opposition by military
force The invasion of Texns by a formidable army,
commanded by Santa Anna IN person. was mel py de-
termined spirit of resistance The battle of San Jacno
fought and won aud the independence OF Texas es-
sabished si 9.
Who will deny the right of revolution to the people OF
Texas under such circumstances They had been IN
vtei by the Mexican government 10 cOIOnZe the State
OF Texas then under the dominion OF the savage lrDes
of Indians roaned her fair plains, acknowledging
no law but their barbarous nOmadIc customs, ana
selling at defiance the feeble power OF Mexico II was
the policy of Mexico reclaim this country and erect
barrier OF civilized settlements against the lngress OF me
savage 10 her territory west OF The Ro Granue Inc
harry pioneers of our country invited popu
late Texas and to exercise all the rights of free govern
men and State sovereignty IN the land OF their adopon
They abandoned of the rights of freemen by their
migration for, under the federal constitution OF 1924 they
had the political rights in Texas which they had en-
loyed Missouri and elsewhere, whilst they were cit-
zens Of the United States The revolution was the re-
sutthe legitimate and lawful resuto tyrannlcal ag-
erosion by military usurper upon the liberties OF the
Texan people By their heroic and successful resistance
they vlndcaed their lineage from the sres OF the Aner-
can revolution
The battle OF San Jacino terminated the Texan war
with Mexico Immediately after that event. Santa Anna,
Then President of Mexico, and uniting in his own person
all the powers of government, acknowledged he Iuil,
entire and perfect Independence of the republic OF Tex
as with the Rio Grande the western boundary Our
own government and the leading powers OF Europe see
ing no effort the part of Mexico to establish her
power, and regarding her claim 10 sovereignty as aban-
ooned also recognised the Independence OF Texas
Eight years elapsed from the establishment of Texan
independence before the question OF annexation was
~hed 10 the American people tor consideration. II was
early foreseen from obvious causes that the State OF Tex
asWculd be restored to the American conederacy The
Paolc mind had been long contemplating this great ma
uona question before the submission of MIR. 1ylers
treaty TO the Senate for ratification This treaty
Jected IN the spring of 1914 when tine presidential can
Vass was opening and the slumberng passions OF the
people were awakening to the iocsn of party. The
friends OF annexation hoped, in view OF the great mpor
ahce OF this queston-appeaing as II did rressbly TO
e pecunary interests of the north and east and the sym
pahes OF the south and wes-that 1t would not become
paV issue IN the contest then approaching 1t could
o De doubted that the democratic party would favor 1t
N 1913 that party had acquired the broad and fertile do
man OF Louisiana, whereby the area OF freedom was
Tended over the valuable portion of the American
continent BY that acquisition, they were committed to
ne policy OF territorial extension The federal party OF
IooS had opposed the purchase of Louisiana, upon
grounds which then seemed plausible; but thirty years
au elapsed and her idle speculaons had been exploded
py The grand development OF events
Dul lhe national Importance of this question did not
reseVe IRON the Dissertation OF party. Believing that
.ne abolition feeling of the free States could be reused
mo opposition, Mr. Clay took his position against
uon IN his Raleigh letter OF 18th April 1874 Instantly
as by magic, annexation lost its nationality 1t was no
longer great American question: large portion OF the
AMERICAN people required 10 oppose II by the ukase
ol Their party leader The democratic party soon after
assembled IN convention nominated their candidate for
me presidency and proclaimed the aunexaton of Tex
as as one of the objects OF their policy.
thus sir, BY the action OF Mr. Clay and has friends