Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-25
Mr.. WEBsTER'S SPEECH,
on THE WAR WITH XICO.
IN sENATE-MAncu %, ls4s.

The Senate having under consideration the I'LL from h,
House Of Representatives TO authorize loan not to exceech,
Of sixteen millions Of dollars Mr.. WEBSTER addressed
the Senate on the subject OF the Mexican war in speed
considerable length, Of which we find the following accoul in
the Senate's Official Report
Mr. WEBSTER said Mr.. President on Friday III
passed the Senate for the raising ten regiments Of lie irons
or INC a'her prosecution of the against Mexico, and
have been Informed that the measure shortly 10 be
IN ths ofanch OF the Legislature, by bill raise twenty
ginents o. volunteers for the service. was DESTROYS
s' on Efday 10 express my opinion against the object
those os-agans, the supposed necessity which leads th
cnacnen and against the general policy which they are az
PaIeny designed TO promote Circumstances personal il my
sell, na beyond my control compelled me to fofego on thu
DAY the execution OF this design The bill before III
Senate IS measure for raising money meet the expenses
e Government and 10 provide the well for othe
things as Tor the pay and support Of these thirty regiments
SIR The through which have passed and are
ing here ara various. For fortnight the word supposes
TO have been occupied with the ratification OF treaty Of
and that within these walls
''The world shut out''-
notes Of feace hopes Of peace nay strong assurances
peace and immediate peace have been uttered to console
and TO cheer Ii has been and again stated m
we have ratified treatyof course treaty of peace and
as the country has been led suppose not of uncertain ami
empty, and deiuve peace, but real gratifying and enduring
peace peace that shall s,anch the wounds Of war; peve
the urther eiusion OF blood of these enormous expen
SEES and return our friends, and brothers, and chill
dren r they be yet living from aand of slaughter, and
land Of still more dismal destruction BY climate, our fire.
sides and Hardly have those hacycn sounds ceased
upon until, in resumed public session.
moned to frch warke operations; TO the creation OF
army OF thirty thousand for the further prosecution of the
war-to carry power in the language OF the President
still mole directly into the vital parts OF enemy, ard to
press hoe BY the power Of the sword the claims that we in
ss upon against .aen PROSTATE, had almost said ig
noble foe II may judge OF the opinion of the honorable
member from Michigan other speeches delivered in this
kaan
OF the war when has been urgently pressed upon US
not only 10 maintain, bot 10 increase military means not
ony 10 continue the but to press with vgor than
Il the pfeseEt time. Pray, what does all this Pay
NJ, ask Is confessed, then, tina. to peace
han We were when nached up bit Of paper called or
nsca!ied, treaty, and ratified it Have yet to fight il
ut 70 the utmost, if pacifcaion had ntervenedi III
wish p treat the proceedings Of this and every department OF
his hovsrnment with the utmost respect God knows that
he constitution of this Government and the exercise Of its
us powers IN the administration Of the laws under it, have
zen the cherished object OF all my uaimporan life. But If
ne SUBJECT were not too deeply interesting Should saw that
ur proceedings here mia well enough smile. In the
dniry Transaction Of foreign relations this and ell other
Governments tie has been negotiate first and 10 rat
y afterwards. This would be the natural order Of
intercourse between foreign States We have
hosen 70 reverse the order We aty first and negaae a
erwards. We up treaty, such find it. ard such
IS we choose to make il, and then send two ministers
enPoentay 70 negotiate heeupon in the capital Of the ene
n.y. One should think, sir that TIE ordinary course OF pro-
esdng was much the wiser that TO negotiate, hold inter
course, to arrangement hy authorized agents and
hen p submit that arrangement 70 the sovereign authority
which those agents responsible would be ALWAYS the most
erisabe method Of procedure strikes that the course
We have adopted strange gotesque 50 as know
unprecedented the history OF diplomatic intercourse
Learned gentlemen The door Of the Senate, interested 10
etend and vdcate this course may, il their extensive read
Hg, have found examples. knoT
Sir, in possession, hy military power Of New Mex
and frnia countries belonging hitherto % the United
EQfN 49, D., 49,.
Is his purpose retain them consider them as territories
iii 70 be attached and be attached these United States OF
America and the military operations and designs now before
the Senae intended to enforce this claim the Executive
Of the United States We compel Mexico agree tha,
that part Of her domnons called New Mexico aud that other
part called California, shall De coded a. We are now in
possession q these territories il said and she 10 he com
PEELED yield the title This the precise object Of this new
army OF thirty thousand men, Il il the identical object sir
in nv Judgment for which the Yves originally connenc
ed for which has been hitherto prosecuted and in further
Of which this treaty 70 be used butas Of the
bring about the general result that general result depend
ing after all upon superior power and the necessity
submitting any terms which prescribe fallen, fallen
fallen Mexico
Tie members composing the other House-thn more popu-
lar branch Of Congres-have all been elected since had
almost SAID the fatal the remarkable incidents OF the It'll OF
May, 1876 and has passed resolution affirming that the
with Mexico begun unconstuionaly and unneces-
sary by The Executive Government Of the United States"
IN that sentiment hold that 70 be the recent
expression VIII oil the
pie q the United States There is another proposition not
50 automatically announced hitherto, but in my judgment
equally true-equay capable Of demonstration and that is
that this was begun has been continued and pro-
secuted fo the great and leading purpose Of the acquisition
OF new territory, out Of which bring new States with
Mexican population, into this Of the United States
II unaTowed al first this purpose did unayowed
long However often may lie said that we did not 70 10 war
Tor conquest-cred2t JIdga8 Ape1 yet the moment we
get possession Of the territory, il said must retain il
and make Now think the original object has
not been changed Sir, think II still exists in the ewes Of
those who originally contemplated who began the war f
It that il Is attractive to hcm and from which they have
desire 10 avert their eyes than they had then
have had at any time since have compelled treaty 81
cession We know in conscienccs that il compelled
We instrument and agency, in conjunction
with other instrumentaes and agencies Of more formidable
destructive character to enforce the acquescence Of Mexico
in the acquisition by OF new territory to form Sae-new
States be added this Union. Every intelligent man
knows that there strong desire in the heart Of the Mexican
citizen 70 retain the territories belonging 70 that republic We
know that the Mexican people part with their ertory-t
part they mustwh regret, with pangs Of That
we know. We know the cession is altogether forced and
therefore, because know il be foced-5ecause
know tina; whatever the Government which is creature
may DO agree to-We know that the Mexican people vii
never accede % the Of this treaty but through i'm
pulse Of absolute necessity, aad the impression made upar
them by absolute irresistible force. Therefore propose
overwheIm them With another army We propose 70
Immediately ten regiments Of regular troops and twenty reg
menis Of Volunteers, IND 10 pour them in and upon the Mex
people.
Now, sir hond be happy 70 concur, notwithstanding al
this tocsin and AL this cry Of all the Semproniouses in the
land that their still for war; should be happy
agree, and substantially do agree, with the honorable