Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-02-03
SPEECH
I'M r.. Nj c. L A n e,
OF MARYLAND,

III tHe rouse O/ RepTeSeNuttCes, jan
10, lS49, on the Var Question.
Mr.. McLANE next addressed the
committee, and said he somewhat re-
GREETED that it was his fortune to follow
in debate the gentleman from New
Hampshire, (Mr. TUcK,) whose aIlu-
sions to the subject of slavery were Of
fensive 20 the pride and refinement of
every gentleman, he hoped, from every
State of our federal Union, who re-
spected and venerated our federal con-
s:i'ution. If, in ,he course of his re-
marks, he should have occasion 10 re-
fer to the same subject, he should do
so with great respect Cor the local IN
s,itutions of every State in the Union,
be it free or slave, however much he
might, as the representative of slave
State, feel wounded a, the offensive
alIusiors so freely offered in the House
by gentlemen who regarded them
selves as men Of a single idea.
Mr.. Mel. continued, and said, that,
but for the extraordinary declaration
made by this House, at the motion OF
an honorable gentleman from Massa-
chuse,,s, Mr.. AsHMUN, denounclnss
this war as "unconstitutIonal," &c.
&C., l. should not think it within my
range to engage the attention OF the
committee with the origin Of the Mex
lean war. Whatever opinion l might
have entertained, could not have re-
conci:ed myselfto voluntary express
sion of sentiment, the record of which
on the journal of this House necessar-
lily discredited our own government,
and falsi6ed the record. of both branch
es of,he national Legislature. Sir, had
we though, i, wise TO abandon The wa,
and Withdraw our armies to the east
of the Rio Grande, and adhere for the
failure to defensive war with Mexico,
it would be, in my judgment, unne-
cessary, if not derogatory, to raise an
issue Of veracitv with former Con-
gress-appealing TO partisan zeal at
home or abroad 10 determine whether
zoe or our predecessors have voted "a
faIsehood." But TO make sech a dec
iaration after we have refused to with
draw our armies, exposes TO insult and
shame the Brave men We have pushed
forward into Mexico-aidia'g and COM
fortine and encouraging their enemies,
while we chill and demoralize public
sentiment at home, aud fender it i'm
possible to raise succot and reinforce
ment for those whom we refuse to re-
call. on the same day and hour that
we discredit and dishonor their ser.
vice.
Irepre, that a majority of:his House
have taken a very different view Of ou'
mutual obligations; and, in my Judg-
ment insensible to the honor of the
povernmen, and the pride of our illus
t,;ous soldiers, they have attached their
Justification Of the national record 10
vote Of thanks. by which it was pro-
Snsed that the Congress Of the United
States should convey to General Fay.
ior some light expression ofthe respect
and admiration felt for him by his fell
low citizens. This association of such
declaration with the name Of Gene
raj Taylor, will appear still more I'M
fortunate when some reference is had
10 the particular acts of the President,
which constitute the illegally or un-
constitutionality Of the war. There
are those in the opposition, sir, who con-
slider the annexation of Texas as the
fist and great violation of law that
caused The war. and the military and
civil conduct of the President as the
immediate occasion Of the war; others
who Justify the act of annexation as
LEGAL and constitutional, without re-
gard to its,wisdom or expediency, are
obliged to rest The illegally or uncon-
additionally Of the war upon the or
ders of the President, which they al
leae were issued without the concur
renee Of Congress, and Immediately
caused the war. 1t would be difficult,
Sir to determine which ofthese prop
ositions involves the most inconsisien-
cy. supposing either to be the ground
Of complaint against The government OF
The United States. If the annexation
Of. Texas was the illegal and unjustiti.
able eqsu.. belh, then the occupation q