Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-02-26
SPEECH OF Mr.. SEWER,
OF ABRAMS AS,
b. the senate efhe United States, February 4 ls4s

he
raise for limited time additional military force, Mr. ST.
WEIR addressed the Senate as follows;
Mr. President Ii the discussion with which have been
bonoed for the three weeks had been confined 10
the merits of the bill which proposes to add ten regiments to
our military establishment in Mexico is very certain that
should taken part in this debate My inexperl-
ence practically and in theory in military affairs, would have
been apology for my silence 1t is not my purpose now
to dwell any length apon the merits OF this bill shall vote
for because such has been asked OF US by the
proper constitutional authorities Of country, 10 whom be-
longs the management of all and because II has
been avoraby recommended by the experienced and lne
gent gentlemen of the Military Committee 10 whom the IN
vesgion of such subject properly belongs shall vote
for il because regard ii essential measure 70 opa
what all profess much to desire, speedy ana Pema-
nen peace with Mexico and, until that peace sna DC haa
as wise financial arrangement by which our Treasury VIII
be relieved sensible extent from the burdens winch this
has thrown upon it. For these general reasons AVOID
ing all details, shall for the bill with great pleasure
My chief object in addressing you to-day SIR to defend
the President for whom feel high personal regard, and
the party Of which he present the representative and to
which belong from the unmed censures winch have been
upon both reference the origin OF this war; Its mode
of prosecution and its ultimate objects Upon each Of these
three points, upon which have had such eloquent and ella
boate discusses purpose, if my health and strength will
sustain me, to make some observations
The which led to this have been properly de-
scribed being immediate and less remote. The
Immediate of the the message OF the President
if the report Of Gen. Taylor and our own journals are to DC
credited to be found in the attack made by the Mexican
upon the commands of Captains Thornton and Harfee,
the cath of April, ls46, the east side OF the ko
Grande, about fifty miles above fort brown IN which AZ
soldiers Of the army of the United States were Killed or
wounded and the residue of the detachment consisting IN al
of sixty,hree and officers were captured by me army
of Mexico, and earned off by their capors IN triumph 70 ne
city of Matamoros Upon the report OF Zen iayof OF ns
affair under date Of the Goth OF April the President pred
Gated his war message Of the 18th Of May and upon this
message accompanied by this report we passed the act o. the
18th of May, recognising the war with Mexico.
The of the war have been traced 70 tue ac
QUESTION OF Louisiana lsO3o the cession OF Texas to
Spain in 1870 the violation Of the treaty OF 1882 on the
part Of Mexico, which provided for the adjustment and pay
mept Of the claims of our citizens by Mexico-and to the
colonization of Texas itsrevouon, independence and finally
It's admission into this Union In any OF these causes what
may have been their influence, sgy collectively, in
producing this war; President had the slightest agency
When Louisiana acquired he was minors when Texas
coded Spain, he young man. and not IN our
councils when the treaty Of 1899 violated by Mexico,
he acting the Governor Of distant State and the re-
of Texas passed in the time
of President Tyler and before he came into power.
Yet free confess that the party to which he belongs
have had their day and generation good deal to do with
all those questions The party which refer acquired LOU
isana purchased the Fodas obtained the treaty for the
settlement of the claims Of citizens by Mexico and finally
for good for evil the party have brought Texas back
into this Union, where all hazards and at any sacrifices
they intend keep her. and every part and parcel of her,
And while upon this subject may add, that any territory
acquired of Mexico the penalty of this the country
will be indebted for such acquisition 10 The party
already indebted for every territorial addition which has been
made TO the country since the OF independence and at
these acquisitions have been made in the face of opposition
violent the opposition which encountered and against
objections very similar 10 those which made.
Sir before passing sentence of condemnation upon the policy
OF the President and particularly upon those questions
upon which have had such mercess reviews, think truth
and justice alike require that should look the condition
of the country home and abroad in reference TO these great
questions the time that the President came into power
the 4h Of March, ls45 On that day his fortune
inherit from his predecessors the settlement of two ques
tons which other countries than claimed in
ees One Of these was the Texas question and the other
the Oregon controversy affecting the pride and interest Of
Mexico and the other the pride add interest Of England and
both, the pride and interest Of the United States
After all that has occurred hope shall be pardoncd for
gancng the progress and maturity Of these twin sisters
and Of their influences England and in Mexico and Of both
against the United States until the amicaby settled
by the treaty Of June 1885, and until the other involved
IN the in which engaged.
Sir all know that after the successful revolt Of Mexico
from Spain Texas coonized by citizens from the United
States, the instance, in the first place. Of Iurd her
Pero and afterwards at the instance Of the republic Of Mexico
This policy OF colonization a wise one, and in imitation
Of the policy of Spain and France when those Powers held
possessions the continent We all know that the
OF events IN that country, Of which need not speak, Texas
revoted from Mexico, and that her revolution successful
that her independence followed and that independence
afterwards acknowledged by England, France Belgium
and the United States We all know after she had achev
ed her independence Texas twice applied first under the ad
minsraon Of President Jackson, and afterwards under that
OF President Van Buren,, for admission into this Union and
that each OF those applications of Difference Mexico and
out Of difference to the opinions Of the world refused
In ls43 for which need folly go into Texas
was invited by the Government Of the United States 10 come
INTO th Union Security Southern institutions was one
OF the Inducements on the part Of the United States Trade
commerce. navigation, the extension d territorial domain
IN desirable direction, security the Union in liz most vu
nerabe point and the monopoly OF Southern products uuop
which the chief Powers Of Europe depended and which epen
dence regarded efficient and cheap and safe for
the preservation of peace than standing armies were the
other Inducements TO that measure.
Texas came upon invitation, and in 1874 entered
into treaty with the Government of the United States by
which she agreed give up her sovereignty and indepe-
dence aud 10 become of the States this conedcracy
That treaty submitted the Senate for its ratification
and met with very determined and jealous opposition in this
chamber the entire Of party then in the majority,
and respectable portion Of the Other against it. The
conflict Of opinion between the advocates and opponents Of the
treaty created good deal Of excitement In the midst Of
discussion upon IT, copy Of that treaty with the documents
accompanying ~ without the sanction Of the Senate, found its
way INTO the columns q the public press Of the country The
publicity Of that treaty, with the documents which belonged
70 ~ carried INTO the country the excitement which had
created IN The Senate in regard H. The time Of these
cuences was IN the spring Of 1914 and but few weeks be-
fore The assembage OF the Conventions at Baltimore Of
the two great parties d this country the selection Of their
candidates for the Offices OF President and Vice President of
the United States Coniempoaneosy with these occurrences
The TWO distinguished and acknowledged leaders Of these great
paues simultaneously came ou, against the and
mediate annexation OF Texas this Union These letters
added to the excitement then prevailing the country The
Conventions met The Wing Convention nominated as Il