Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-08


are many who believe that such will be the result whether
Intended or not OF the proposed by the Admnlstra
ton And am one OF those who entertain this belief Now
do think ought Postpone action the bill for
little time, until shall have determined the which
will be proper for pursue and, with this view Of the
question, shall vote against the motion OF the honorable
Senator
4 Mr.. CASS. VIII the Senator allow to read this short
extract from the message Of the President
has never been contemplated by me- as an object OF the
war; to make permanent conquest Of the Republic OF Mex
co or to annhae her separate existence as Independent
nation On the contrary il has been my desire that
she should maintain her nationality, and under good Gov
eminent adapted her condition. be free, Independent,
and prosperous Republic"
This is exactly the Of policy which the Adminsa-
ton intend to pursue. For my part do not the
practical operation Of any the subject in this body dis
connected from some practical In the discussion OF
this subject am aware must expect animadyersion We
must expect The origin progress and results OF this war to be
attacked Dut seems TO want that this bill may
come to discussion and decision without entering upon the
general question Of the origin and progress Of The
had intended not TO say word about the Administration
or the manner in which this thought there
common ground where might all unite in regard this
additional force, and, repeat yet hope the Senate will take
| up the bill and proceed to its consideration.
Mr.. CALHOUN. word only in reply. am
Of the views OF the President in regard to the have
examined with great the policy which is in
the message, and in my opinion the result of that policy
carried out VIII tend TO the precisely opposite to that
protested to be contemplated therein If such should be the
danger we must guard against il in way but if this
danger does not exist then there will be necessity for any
steps part to guard against it. But with my present
information, not peparedto give intelligent upon
the subject.
| Mr.. CLAYTON There is not SO far as know, any
disposition this side of the chamber delay voting sup
plies for the army but hope that the honorable Senator
from Michigan will not press vote upon this BILL any
measure Of this description, until have had opportunity
of reading the report Of the Secretary of War and the docu
ments accompanying that report Sir, has any Senator on
this floor read that report and the documents doubt it.
They have not been pnted or if printed certainly yet
furnished to the Senae and it that action at
this time upon subject of this Importance without aodng
opportunity for perung those documents would be highly
improper And it will be perceived also, by the honorable
Senator that the this side of the chamber are not fill
ed, and trust therefore, that he will agree postpone
Of the measure for the present least without naming
particular day for its consideration because cannot tell
what day the members of this body will be attendance
Whenever they may be in attendar, and the reports fur
nished to US for perusa shall be ready upon the
subject Il have not single copy OF that important do
cumen the report Of the Secretary of War; have seen
the documents accompanying the Presidents message, the
reports Of any Of the Secretaries.
Mr. CASS am not unwilling that 1.-THE Senate should
have opportunity examine those documents but this
important to be delayed. will consent that
shall be delayed until Monday, however, for the accommoda
ton OF Senators but regarding it. as do Of great
public importance lcanno consent to its posponmen beyond
that day. With regard the report of the Secretary of War;
gives you all the details necessary form an opinion upon
of this description II is entirely unnecessary to re-
fer to the report of the Quartemascr General for Details be-
the great facts connected with the now propos
ed spread before you clearly and concusvy in the report
from the War Department cay again. that if the gentle
man will be satisfied with postponement until Monday will
agree to it but further than that cannot go.
Mr., BERRIEN. Beyond the consideration of the thin
ness Of the Senate there in my judgment, ample for
the postponement of the consideration Of this bill until the
nate shall have discussed the resolutions submitted by the
honorable Senator from South Carolina well those which
have been submitted by the honorable Senator from New
York. Sir called upon by this bill, and others that
will succeed it, 10 add force of 900 the army of
fhaI T,,tol L.. N,
dent that effect We have his approval to us of the re-
port of the Secretary of War; which discusses three modes of
operation in Mexico Certainly, sir to be the OBJ
vous dictate OF common that before proceed in
crease the means OF offensive military operations in Mexico
should determine for oursevesnot the bidding of the
President but for ourselves the constitutional depository of
the making powewhat the objects be accomplished
by these measures There this beyond the suggestions
which made by the honorable Senator from Michigan as to
operation Of the resolutions which have been submitted
there is this considerations that without seeking operate on
the mind Of the President without seeking to influence the
judgment OF the American people, except that judgment
be operated upon by the decision of this BODY
ascertain what it that Congress (the war-making power
of this GoveInmen proposes to accomplish by the further
prosecution of the And that, suppose will be dcve
oped the discussion upon the resolution The Secretary
OF War submits three plans for the future conduct OF the
He passes by unworthy Of consideration the notion
Of the withdrawal of the troops aud the restoration of peace
without further tramplng rodden foe He then
suggests three modes Of prosecuting the Have the SEN
ate considered they prepared decide with the inorma
ton before them will they preclude discussion upon
these different modes Will they not enter upon the discus
sion with view ascertain the objects be accomplished
by its further prosecution and whether in the accomplish
men of those Objects should in advance subject the coun
try to this expenditure Sir have, according to the re-
port Of the Secretary Of War; force of about a. 900 in
the field, small majority OF them only consisting of regulars
The argument Of the honorable Senator from Michigan is that
the situation Of gallant army in Mexico renders
ary that should be reinforced without waiting for details of
the objects for which the has been prosecuted Now
look at the OF facts disclosed by report the Sc
cretary Of War evident that the army in Mexico
perfectly safe-fushed with victory, and confident in its
srengh-upwards of $1,000 strong while the army Of the
enemy scattered, Dispersed and Mexico is without an eff
Gent government and destitute Of and resist
There be nothing, them in the condition of
the American army, which should lead precpate the
passage of this bill before ascertain the objects which
is proposed to accomplish desire stand entirely
committed upon the subject of yielding the supplies demanded
by the Executive until have opportunity decide
the popey Of grantng them. But the ground which
place my opposition the present consideration this bill is
that proposes great increase Of force before he
making powe) have decided what the objects be
compshed and great force in the suggestions of the
honorable Senator from South Carolina which have
escaped the observation Of the Secretary of War The Sc
ceay forth three modes for the further prosecution OF
the first by defining boundary, and holding Mexico
the Observance Of that boundary secondly by oveunnng
the whole Of Mexico and establishing garsons in
the principal places and thirdly, by holding what already
possess and taking such other places may deem pru
dent occupy. He oveooks the proposition which stated
by the Senator from South Carolina that in adopting the