Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-13
TTT RICHMOND ENQUIRER.


nlace of our nresent Chief Magistrate. VINO
that individual may be care not, SO that ne , IS
capable, willing, and pledged to carry o1' 'ns
great doctrines and Democratic princiPies iounu
in the Constitution and bases OF Free Govern
ment, as adopted and interpreted ny Jul no
publican fathers. ;,,oroe,
regret. sir, 10 see the manufacturing 'n'e1es'
OF the country attaching itself 10 s'eaa P ,;nar
cal party regret TO see The haiool am ,r,u
interest attaching itself 10 great P1i'ica, PaiS'
and regret 10 see the plnuderers o! Inc pup,. uo,
main attaching themselves TO eIea' poi ,ho.a
party. Who can mistake inc oplee's VI , n
very disintsrcsied politicians Gan any uuI hs
If The parry TO which they or any que =. I'LL nsm.rd.
long, succeeds, that they Will e1Pee' " ,,da.;na
ed for their services by taxing anu P.au"rs
The other GREAT in erests or sections OF me conn'ry
10 the amount of MANY millions tor ineir own g.
pecial benefit | wish could say mat my own
parry was entirely Tree from inis c.ass VI puam
clans but, thank Got en- say 'nas y - ,h., ;s
80 than ,nv other Marty of this country sna' -
likely TO come into power. am very ah.'ous
sir, 10 see This session Of Congress olo"su' " :n
close SO soon as our relations win Me@ieo ~
permit. am anxious 10 meet IL, W. when
ents on The court greens OF my o,h;cc,s Win
| can talk 10 them on she'S III rho em
more freedom and ease than lnIousn a
There will moi be talking al the puohc e.p' tn,n
but upon my own hook" will DC ic"us - n'Iicp
TO discuss those great questions OF na.ond, po',,5
with ,ur political opponents, wne'"Ii ~" mo
fighting in the open field under lhe ledu u .ne
bold and fearless champion oil hen'usn,, ~ :. 80;
cealcd and iorled up under The auspices " ~
litary chieain. ro,oa ,,r
MIR. Chairman, the Democratic parry Vo'eq lot
the war-helped 10 place on The neau VI INC re
sdent the burden and responsibility oil It's prose
cuon; they have in good faith, 10 co'a ana asea,
stood By and cheered on The comlnahael ih,ch'ei
OF The army and navy Of the country IN the CON
flict With few exceptions, Inc "no'e Paiy ~
Congress voted for the war; but how lar they nave
encouraged the constitutional conductor oil Inc
war-whal lid and comfort they have gwen MN,
| will leave 10 The people and the history OF Inc
times 10 decide.
As specimen of The patriotism and consis'en-
cY Of our friends over the way, would call your
attention to what took place during the last Con-
sress and 10 vote taken few days since IN this
House. When the President determined TO strike
blow a! The heart oil Mexico, ne asked Inc last
Congress for an increase OF the regular army
The opposition were greatly alarmed al The idea
OF large standing army, and made that Inc pre-
text lor their opposition 10 The passage OF Inc zen
regiment bill, and other provisions Tor Inc IN.
crease OF the army. To quiet the fears OF the op,,
position and country on that suhJec!, we inserted
in the laws having for their object an increase oil
The army, provision that AT the Close 0! Inc wal
all such increase, both OF officers and men, should
be disba nded, and the army reduced 10 the peace
establishment, as il stood al The commencement
Of the Mexican war. But now that peaceis hoped
fof We find provision introduced tor The modih'
Gallon and repeal cl This wise precaulion IN our
army bills. And who sir, are The advocates oil
this repeal1 Principally The opposition, who
were so alarmed al a large Amy in lime oil war,
but who can see no danger or Inconvenience from
il in time of peace.
wish, MIR. Chairman, | could, in the short
time ALLOTTED TO me by he hour rule, lay before the
country list al the inconsistencies oil The Oppo-
siIion during this Administration. Look, il you
please, aithe Oregon question. The President at
one time took ground in favor oil the parallel OF
$40 10 is our northern boundary, but finding sub
>equenIly that England had rcceded from her
CAIN and preiensons 10 all the territory up 10 The
Columbia :iver, and was willing 10 accept The re-
jsctcd offer OF the parallel of 400 also thai
majority Of his constitutional advisers, as we'll
as a majority ofthe representatives oil the people
we're in favor oil a com promise on the latter bnun-
dary he yielded his own views on mere matter OF
boundary and concluded treaty IN conformity
with The clearly EXPRESSED will otlhe nation. Who
now sir, are he first 10 auntihe President yied-
ing The parallel OF $40 402 Is il not The very men
whose advice he followed | was $40 40 man
Il stood there 10 the las,-bul never blamed
The President for settling The question by accept
ing the parallel of ago.
Again the opposition, with very few cIcep-
lions, voted for the war with Mexico, and many
honorable members Of thai parry vo,ed 10 ineraft
The preamble on he war bill OF May, 1916. Yet
we find them few months since-lust al The mo.
m.nt when Mexico was giving her irsI indications
OF returning reason, when she began seriously 10
ia K and think OF peace in mass, voting, solemn
" voting that The war was "unconstiiuiionally
AMI unnecessarily begun by the President Of the
Ui,ed States you said you did this 10 hx
plaster Inc back Of The President. Have yon
no fixed plaster on your own backs, mat WI
stick TO you as tight as The poisoned shifl ol Nes-
SUI
Sir, what are you doing now, in this House,
where you have the majority, and can control
our aclion' You are, day after day, refusing 10
take up the bill from the Senate, now on your
table, provi ing for the further prosecution OF
The war il negotiations should be broken oh
Sir does not your conduct and policy, as par
", invite Mexico to reject the Treaty, procras.
tinate negotiations, and profit by the chapter OF
accidents' Are you not inducing her TO believe
that in few months you will come into power,
and give Mexico relief from all the consequences
of war which you yourself have declared to
be aggressive, unconstitutional and unnecessary
on our rart'
IT, Sir, negotiations are interrupted, and
procrastinated war follows, on your heads rests
the responsibility. The Executive, with the
aid of one Of the most gallant armies that ever
stood upon God earth, has fairly conquered
peace; and if you defeat it, BY your apparent
5, mpathies with Mexico, oba1iahs curse is in
reserve for you by an indignant and injured
c untry.
II Appended 10 this Speech is list Of the
ayes and noes on MIR. Ashmun's amendment,
declaring the war $40 be unnecessary and un
constitutional" and list dec airing the war "to
exi.. by the act of MeIico."-(ED.