Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-01-20

commanding val Mas -s,fe them u Time had been al
lowed To The Senate, would have announced the
OF policy which thought right but ilnc noi per
ihid My opinion "ss that should have simp
~ voted Taylor the If defending himself 1ha
ought to have besn done. There then should have bee
solemn fePfi from ihe proper committee, going int
all the circumstances shaving that the republic Of D1cA
leo had not yet recognised these ho>tililies
ding provisional army be directed To prnner plinf
giving time 10 the Mexican Congress and Mexican peu
pie to have consid,tcd whether they would
avow the attacks upon and # saiisfaci oh
ianed not Ia make war IA This form, but upon
The pnons II the country contiguous and con,
tent 10 Us, aud then have assumed the defensive line.
hese are NY views, bot unfortunately all ac
Tug here under an urgency without time reflect.
We were pushed ON and told, II you do to-day
nothing can he done.
We'll now sir 10 where the defensive line should ,e
at the present time, do presume 10 oiler an opnon
am moi prepared to say what would be The proper
nj the present lime but do say that must ssca tie
the central parts Of Mexico. We must fall back if you
cheose 10 that word, take line that shall cover
ample territory Tor IA ienniiy
For my part am not Tor charging Mexico with the
whole APense OF The wafbnt would take ample territory
and hold II subject 10 negotiation. Now, SIR know
will h. said that this will be expensive As the war
think have said enough 10 show that that be-
that II will tall lar short OF il; but will repeat the
guhe1t. But admitting 1t should admitting that nv no
means concludes HE argumen for the sacrifice men
would be infinitely less, and what important.
you will thereby be able 10 dIscntangle yourselves Ta,
Is Tue way ny "Hich IL be dInc. You tied
at present, II were, oacorpse. My object is yet
rid OF II 5 possible
| look TO Mrxico look TO our own country and
her Institutions look to the liberty Of this country and
nothing else Mr.. President, If but preserve our H.
berry by proper course OF moderation acting ius,l;
towards our negh blr aud wisely in regard to ourselves
IT remain quiet, resting in idle and mastery nsctiy-
ly, and let our desllh"s work their own results,
We shall d. M for liberty, only for ourselves but
Tor 's..o exa..,,o IF mankind than be done by
thousand victories
SIR, find am becoming oil; almost feel that
live Among strangers II have expressed anything that
Is nucongcnla TO The feelings Of this body, put 1t down
as proceeding from the old associations o thirty OF 'hlr
~ hive years ago which are still cngIns around me
Sir this is the first time that have taken my stanj
against When General jackson recommended
letters OF maque and eprisa against France, arose
alone IN the senate and demonstrated against such IN
justice. And, in point of tact. the treaty which was
subsequently concluded with France, ratified with
the express understanding which was known 10 our go
vcrnncnt when the treaty was formed that 1t would re-
qnire n of the chambers the part Of France TO
sustain II as would require vote 10 sustain 1t on the
part Of this country, and that they were no further
sponsbe than their best efforts to obtain that vote
And yet, though acknow dge hat the F.Xecu-
tive of Franco had done all in his power obtain the
VOTE we were nearly pushed into a war Nothing but
the exposition Of Graf Britain prevented it. As for
m,selt, standing on this side OF the Chamber, raised
my voice slngly against II,
Mr. President IN my opinion, all parties are interest
ed in giving this matter the only direction that be
given 10 it with any prospect of favorable result Letme
say the friends OF The administration if you 60 and
accident does not meet youf you go the prose
culion Of this war from year year-you will find that
! It will overthrow you. DO you that far
The internal affairs OF the government concerned,
reversing the policy OF which You have heretofore
procssed TO be the advocates. What party has been o
posed to the recreation Of great national debt! The
Democratic or Republican party. We'll sir this war is
involving you in gre ter debt than the opposite party
could have done, perhaps IN any circumstances short Of
wal This very campaign, which yon look upon light
IL, will be almost great charge upon the country
The debt Of the revolulion. What party has always
been against the extension o the patronage OF the Fxecu
i've We'll, sir, YOU doing more towards the exlen-
sion If that patronage and above all, towards the
nuance Of that eXtenson than has ever been done
der our government. Well, sir. what party Processes
10 be mos, IN favor OF metallic currency And do You
that your tire snry notes aud stocksaccumuae
you in danger of being plunged again into the paper
system to the utmost extent What party has always
been favor Of free trade DO you not HAT by &C
cumuaing charges aud burdens upon The people by the
debts which have now been contracted that you neve
will, during your Iine,have an opportunity ol making
ny considerable reduction in the tariff
Sir, know what Is at the bottom OF the course OF
policy which recommended TO be pursued II Is tina
. pride Of opinion TO which we are all subject. No doub
II thought that that course of policy would lea'
to the consequences wnlch were contendcd for; but
has But, the alternative is pressing You VII
have but the choice between that and worse III my o
pnlon. 1t Is magnanlmous aud honorable To retrac
when a course OF policy which has been pursued turn
out he wrong. 1t would do great credit TO The part
In power to precisely they would have acle
If they had had all the lights Of experience the
mencemen, of this which they now nave. 1t woul
be doing high arotlsm,io sacrifice their feeling
of individual pride 10 The good OF the country
y Now let say that in asserting that defensive lin
the only alternative 10 the plan recommend by III
President, have put out of the question the cours
% hch most of advoc1tetaling no indemnity of tel
rtory because, believe that the voice OF The countr
has decided rrsvocaby against ~ and that 10 keep 1t
the would but render certain the adoption
othe policy recommended by the Executive aud in conse
quence the conquest OF the whole country.
Lei say farther to my friends on the other side o
" the Chamber. for regard them such IT Is our goo
fortune differ IN politics here. wlthou, permitting on
e personal feelings he affected THAT they have conirl
= bued by their course 10 give the public opinion tina
strong and fixed deternln aion. not 10 terminate the
10 without suitable indemnity. do not allnde
" your voting The bill recognz ng the existence OF wa
bew The republic oi Mexico and he United States
VI Noone knows better than myself that YOU voted for rh
a bill with the of furnishing immediate relief
- Gen. Taylor and his arnyand not in reference to tn,
10 wariha you protested and demonstrated against
u that Interpretation being put upon yourvoe. But after tin
u hill passed. and the authorized, of ye,
" have continued TO vote appropriations 10 prosecute iii,
70 war with the object expressed OF acquiring territory
'o an indemnity. Now, | must say. cannot how
the two can be recuncipd--huw Your acquir,
, territory can be justified and at the your op
" position 10 the acquisition of territory Of ndem