The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-19
On motion by Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana, il was
Ordered, That il be recommitted the Committee


Mr.. CASS moved that the prior orders OF the day be
postponed and that the bill making provision for in
crease OF the regular army be taken up; which was
agreed TO.
The question pending being tn motion of Mr. BUTLER
10 fecomnt The bill to the Committee Military Affairs,
with Instructions to strike all after the enactng clause
and to insert the following
Tha the regular army shall be sed AS follows To
wit; To each company OF artillery infantry and regiment
OF rifemen, there shall be added privates and to
each OF the regiments aforesaid many subaterns will
provide two first lieuenans and second eutenants
respectively ProUided That the said troops shall be re-
CURED to during the with Mexico but may be
sooner discharged by order OF the President"
The yeas and nays were demanded by Mr. Breese,
and being seconded were ordered and taken, with the
following result:
YEAS-Messrs, Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Berrien, Butter,
Calhoun Clarke, Clayton Corwin, Crittenden Davis OF
Ma Dayton, Greene, Hale, Mangum Phelps
NAYS-Messrs Allen, Ashley, Atchison, A,heron Bag
Mississippi, Dickinson, Dix Douglas, Downs, Fech, Han
Hunter johnson OF Georgia, Johnson of louisiana
and Yulee-2s
The question being on the passage of the bill
Mr. CALHOUN said had no anticipation that this
bill would be put upon passage to-day have had no
opportunity of being heard upon it, and desire to offer
my views before it be passed With this yiew hope il
may be laid over till tomorrow. move that il be laid
Mr. CASS | have merely TO observe, that if the gen
teman wishes to offer remarks the bill, will
hear HIM with great pleasure But the gentleman from
virginia Mr. MAsoNl has the floor.
Mr. CALHOUN had forgotten that, and of course
DO not desire to be heard before the gentleman from
Mr. MASON. When this bill was under the consid-
Grafton OF the Senate three weeks SINCE the debate
was made to embrace the entire subject connected with
the origin OF the war and It's conduct the part of the
government of the United States 1t was nv purpose
then to have gone the debate the extent TO which
It had then proceeded but since that time events have
TRANSFERRED perfectly well known TO the country, which
would, IN my judgment, render it ncXpedient, il not i'm
possible to present views intended Tor totally different
state OF the case What these events are, may not be-
perhaps permitted to aude to here further than they
have gone forth to the country on well -accreded
rumor But, sir, have not yet heard that peace
has been made with Mexico Ii such be the fact
am uniformed OF It, That negotiation may be pend
ing, may be Tue that armisice exists between
the two conending armies may be true but if that be
true 1t exists only rumor, which, as have sad is
SO well accredited as TO render it in bad taste speak of
one who was an enemy In the terms in which should
have been disposed to do former occasion. | have
said that so far informed there yet no peace
with Mexico Now, il such be the fact, where is the
policy where is the wisdom OF refusing to pass this bill
II negotiations with view to peace are pending have
we not had such experience OF the character of that foe
with whom we were once, and may be again. engaged in
warfare as teaches us the necessity of all proper pre-
caution now' DO we not know that if Mexico be
brought to listen to the terms of peace it will be be-
cause she has been Frustrated and rendered poweress
by the force OF our arms' Do not know that up to
very late period, with perfect consciousness that
1t must be madness to resist longer the spirit of every
Party IN Mexico was IS, avsss to spirit Of
ment, when they were forced to submit to the stern
lesson of inferlority Now, who can Doubt submit
to senators around me and TO the countrywide can
doubt that il Mexico should acquire fresh confidence
from any occurrences here nothing would be so likely
to be seized upon by her as determination on the
part OF TINS Senate to stop where Were and refrain
from making any further provision to carry on war;
We have learned that Mexico is willy and fathless
foe What was her conduct with regard TO the mission
that sent to her. her invitation before the war
began, and which was promptly acceded to with the
view OF preventing hostilites! She invited minister,
and promised TO receive him. He sentsent speedi
Iy nrdo IN d., Al. Il
this government 10 prevent The discourteous re-
cephon with which that minister met is known. The
Mexican government denied that his mission was even
anticipated Procrastinating, delaying, Mexico sought
refuge in every possible expedent, and attributed
diligence TO puslanimity and weakness The minister
was Instructed to remain and TO preserve the equanimy
COLLISION, and, possible, to dust by negotiation the
difficulties pending between the two countries But our
minser was compelled TO return from his bootless mis-
sion. Again, how was it after the war had commenced
and when our armies laundering at the gates of
Mexico? fathless armstice was proposed. Mexico
sought suspension OF hosties, with avew to negota
ton now known to history, that violation OF the
stpulaOns OF that armisce, every hour employed in
Strengthening their defences with view carry on The
war Such is the character of this foe Now, whether
there be or be not peace resulting from the negotiation
now spoken OF as pending is tale yet untold OF time
and he is bold man who knowing what is now known,
VIII f Venture No. 10 form deliberate Judgment that peace
every consideration OF prudence and wise policy demands
that this bill should pass, and pass Immediately. had
ade up my inu not 10 enter INTO the SUBJECT matter OF
the former debate would be unsuited to the occasion
to do So hope that the time has gone by for the dis
cusslon OF that question; but the time has not gone by
for those military measures which should be prosecuted
promptly in order to evnce such determination our
part will compel the Mexican government TO declare
an honest and bona fde cessation of hoslities have
risen merely for the purpose OF expressing that opinion
trust that there will not be any debate further than that
indicated by the senator from South Carolina; but
should there be any debate may into it when
it arises fa5
Mr.. BADGER moved that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of executive business
Mr. CASS. | hope that the Senate will not agree to
that motion II appears to that there business OF
vastly Importance TO be acted upon open session
The yeas and nays demanded on the question /;
and being seconded, taken with the following re-
SUIT: yeas II, nays %.
The motion was, therefore, not agreed to.
Mr.. JOHNSON, OF Louisiana, rose and remarked that
not being present when the question put he had
ted on the last question under misapprehenson He did
not know that the vote was taken the proposition of
the senator from South Carolina (Mr. BuTLER) or he
would have voted for it, that, from what had recently
occurred he could not believe that the additional
would be required at all Under existing circumstances
therefore, he preferred that provision for increase of
the United States army should be made in The manner
proposed by the senator from South Carolina BY filling
up the old regiments. He would not however in conse
quence OF the large majority against the proposition
a reconsideration of the vote
Mr. MANGUM. move to postpone the further consid
Grafton OF this bull till this day fortnight II is true have
very little hope that this motion will prevail and yet
cannet well suppress the expression OF my great surprise
might almost say ny asonishment-that this bill is
pressed at this tme in the spirit which has been mani
tested, IN the circumstances by which
rounded II sprobable that there many other gentle