The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-04-13

lhe hrst announcement to the country of the
existence OF the war was by Executive mes
sage. How, sir, | ask, could war exist be.
tween foreign Government and the United
States without the knowledge and consent of
the war-making power? Had the President
any authority to declare war ? No, sir, that
power is vested, exclusively, in Congress-
How then can there be any analogy between
the two wars-that of 1912 having been de-
clared according to the form Of the Consttu-
ton, while the present war was waged by the
Executive in open violation of the Constitu-
ton? But the Senator says the war of 1872
met with violent opposition from the pulpit
and the press, and he has given us specimens
of the fulminaions Of the one, and the rant
ings of the other. For what purpose were
these extracts read Were they desi gned
to instruct Senators in the discharge of their
functions, or were they intended to operate
on public opinion-to excite prejudices in the
minds of the people, against all who felt it
to be their duty to oppose the policy recon-
mended by the administration, for the further
prosecution Of this war, with view to the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of sister republic? If this
war cannot be sustained upon its merts-if
it be necessary to sustain the policy OF its
further prosecution by such a course of argu.
hlCliV 40 llittt SNODtCb Wy oCLidlOI LIOAL
linois, I think the sooner it is brought to a
close, the better it will be for all concerned.
Most of the opposition to the war of 1912
grew out of the particular policy recommend.
ed for its prosecution. An increase Of the
army had been recommended for the invasion
of Canada, and it was objected that the war
ought to be q maratime war that we should
build up a navy, man it, and prepare our
selves to meet the enemy upon the ocean,
where the injuries had been received, which
we had armed ourselves to redress. Whoever
looks at the debates upon appropriation bills
for the support Of the war of 1912, will find
that most of the opposition was based upon
the ground that the naval power should be
augmented to meet the enemy on the ocean,
instead Of increasing the army for the inva-
sion Of Canada. But to pass to another point
| stated in the outset that, under existing
laws, our force in Mexico could be increased
to nearly $4,000 men. Now, sir is this true
The honorable Senator from Mississippi, the
other day, said that he did not so understand
it. To settle this question will refer to the
report Of the Secretary of War.
He says the twenty-five regiments of the
regular army, as distinguished from volunteer
force, when filled to the limit fixed by law,
would be 2S,8l4, exclusive of officers but
the actual strength he says, is now about 21,-
5S3; it will, therefore, require 1881 enlisted
mcE to complete the regular military estab
liShment. There are now in the service, en-
gagged for the war, says the Secretary, twenty
three regiments Of volunteers, seven battal
ions, and thlrty-threc companies not organ
lied into regiments or battalions; but the
rank and file of all those, the Secretary
thinks, do not exceed 10000 men; and that
to give those serving 70" the war their COM
plete organization, will require an addition
of about Il 800 men.
The force in Mexico at this time, including
the regiments from Michigan, and the two
battalions now on the way, is 45,700. In adj
dition to this number, the Executive, under
existing laws, has the power to enlist up
wards Of 1000 regulars, and to call into the
field 1880 volunteers, to serve during the
war-making in all G5,200 men. If the
5000 seamerr and marines, also engaged in the
war, be added, We then have a numerical
forcc-naval and military-of 10, 200 men.
If we add to this force the troops proposed
army in Mexico Of upwards Of $4,000; and
if the volunteer bill pass, we shall have force
of upwards Of 100000 and that, too, after
less than one-fourth of that number.
Sir, can see no necessity for the force
contemplated by this bill. When the rcgi-
ments of the line, and the volunteer regiments,
are filled up, we shall have force amply suf-
ticicnt to prosecute the war "with increased
energy and power, in the vital parts of the
enemy'S country"-and this is all the Presi-
dent desires
The Secretary of War says:
"Our further operations in Mexico must
be conducted in one of the three following
modes. FIRST, to take and hold an indemni-
ty line; to reccdc from all places and positions
now occupied in advance of it, and cease
from all aggressive operations beyond that
line. SECOND, to overrun the whole country,
and hold all the principal places in it by per-
manent garrisons ; and THIRD, to retain what
we now possess, open lines of communication
into the interior, and extend our operations
to other important places, rs our means and
the prospect Of advantages shall indicate,
keeping disposable force always ready,
within approachable limits, to annoy the enc
my, to seize supplies enforce contributions,
and Illustrate his efforts to collect means and
assemble troops for the purpose of protractlng
the war;"
The Secretary, after discussing the compar-
alive merits Of these modes of conducting the
the war, comes to the conclusion that the
third mode is preferable, and adoptsit. Now,
sir, what force is necessary to carry it out?
have examined this question with some
care, and l cannot resist the conclusion that
the force now authorized by law is sufficient.
This conviction has been forced upon my
mind by the success which has hitherto at
tended our arms, and by the despatch of Gen.
Scott, under date of September 18th, 1S47.
General Taylor, at the battle of Palo Alto,
with a force of 1890, defeated Mexican
army of 5000. AT Resaca de la Palma, with
force of only ZOO, he defeated $500 Mex
leans. At Monterey, with G,645 men, he
stormed and took the strong fortresses Of the