Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-03-02
1)nlitital.
SPEECH OF GEO. P. MARSH
ON THE MEXICAN WAR,
OF VERMONT,

OF VERMONT,
ON THE MEXICAN WAR,
DELIVERED IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
OF THE U. S. FEB. 10, 1913.
The House being in Committee of
the Whole on the State of the Union,
and having under consideration the bill
authorizing Il loan not exceeding $lS,-
100000, Mn. MARSH, of VT, said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN II propose to avail
myself of this occasion, to do what I
have not yet done in this place--to ex-
press namely, in the fewest possible
words, my own opinion, and, as | sup
pose, that of a large majority ofmy con-
: stituents, respecting the causes, charac-
ter, objects, and tendencies of the war
in which we are engaged, and TO assign
: the reasons which will compel me 10 vote
= against all measures designed for the
prosecution of hostilites professedly
commenced for defence, but which have
been, and are, waged for purposes Of ag-
gression invasion, and conquest.
1t is said it is too late TO investigate
the causes of the war, and that the only
remaining question proper for the con-
sideration of Congress is, what measures
will tend to bring it to the most speedy
3 termination, and enable us to conclude
! peace upon terms most advantageous
to ourselves. THIS would, indeed, be so,
if it were true that state of war, how
ever commenced, absolved as from all
duties towards those, of our fellow men
!, who have become our enemies. But
there are those, and | profess myself of
y that number, who can discern no sound
distinction between the principles of pub
lie and private morality, and who believe
$ that war, like private violence, can law
fully be resored TO only as a necessary
n means of securing already existing rights,
not of creating new and independent
- claims. 1t becomes, therefore, material
:. to ascertain the origin, causes, and pur-
y poses of every war, before it is possible
t to determine when its lawful ends have
l. been accomplished, and what measure
a of reparation the victorious party is enti-
'r tied 10 exact.
l. In inquiring into the origin ofthe pres
ent war, it is essential to distinguish be-
1t tween its primary causes and its proxim-
d ate occasions. That its first cause was
Re the annexation of Texas, no man dis
putes and there is as little doubt that
81 its immediate occasion was the occupa-
ton of the left bank of the Rio Grande
l. by the army of the United States, in o.
bedience to the order of the President.
The war is the natural and legitimate
r. consequence OF annexation; but, though
r. a natural and legitimate, it does not fol-
N low that it was necessary, result Of that
he measure, and therefore this Administra.
!; ton may be chargeable with its guilt, al
4 though the original offence was commit
l. ted before the present Executive came
of into power. Ifthe Administration know
r, ingly omitted any proper means to avert,
d or voluntarily adopted any measure cal
le cIla,ed TO preciptate, so dire calami-
ty, If it refuses to accept the terms which
re are believed to be now offered by pros
trate and suppliant Mexico, it is respon.
ID sible, before God and man, for all the
consequences of its acts or its neglects
n shall not venture to affirm that, after
~ the mortal wound which we had inflic
ell led upon the honor and the interests ol
Ill Mexico, by our rapacious absorption of a
in territory once indisputably hers, and to
If which she still laid claim, il was posi-
BILE to avoid war bat as no effort was
id ever made in good faith to propitiate
that republic-a point most conclusiyely
$, established by she gentleman from Con
er necticut (Mr. DixoN) we are not emit
'e tied TO presume that she would have
ny turned deaf ear to honorable proposal:
es Of peace and inasmuch as Mexico had
IN committed no hostile act, the casuS bell
cannot be considered as having occurred
ce until the President lorcibly occupied g
er territory not only claimed, but quietly
of possessed by her--a territory TO which
it. as the gentleman from Indiana { Mr.
er THoMPsoN) has, in his admirable speech
lg indisputabIy proved, Texas had not The
as shadow of tltle--a territory which thu
he Senate of the United States had virtual,
to adjudged to be still part and parcel o
he the Mexican domain. The war, there
he fore, was not only provoked, but com
lie menced by US; and though | will no
ply say that the Administration wantonl
to plunged into it, with full apprehension
ip- of its arduous character, its counties
to cost of treasure and blood, yet | have N
'ur hesitation in protesting my delberat
Sc conviction that the Executive ordere
ch the army to advance upon the Rio Grand
SIX under, not the belief only, but the hope
us that this insult would goad Mexico
some hostile demonstration, which migt
lip, furnish plausible reason for great il
TO crease ofo military establishment, ant
consequently, Of Executive patronag