Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-02-05

ReSolUed, That the President oil the United
States be requested 10 lay before the Senate all
the plans, estimates. and calculations presented
by General Scott, as in his opinion best adapted
to attain the objects Of the wal; and his opinion
touching the military means necessary 10 acconl>
psh the objects OF our Government, in any and
all the alternative views that have been consider.
ed by the Executive or suggested by Gen. Scott
to bring the war with Mexico to close; If not
inconsistent, in the opinion OF the President, with
the public service.
Mr.. Cass urged the pos'ponement of the
resolution until the next day, on account of
the absence of Mr.. Sewer. chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Mapgum hoped that this would not
be done-and remarked upon the hot haste
and pertinacity with which Mr.. Cass urged
the passage of the War Bill, and the inds-
position to supply the information necessary
to the formation of a correct judgment on
the question. Leaving this point of the
debate. Mr.. Mangum said he would pass TO
question of vastly more importance.
In aludng to the sentiment enunciated here by
the honorable Senator this morning, that it would
be eminently improper for the Congress of the
United States to be informed Of the Executives
designs and the Executives instructions 10 the
COMMANDMENT chief OF the army in Mexico. |
protest. sir, most solemnly, against this attempt
to exact that degree offath from the legislative
bodies OF this country which shall induce them 10
rely on an Executive who discloses only by
glimpses not even by halves, the purposes be.
eved to be entertained by him! hold sir, that
the great legislative faculty Of the country should
not be exercised at all upon question so mo-
mentous as this, upon mere faith reposed in the
Executive branch OF the Government, who does
not deign to communicate to US more than Gimp
ses Of the policy. l regard it as so important
that look upon the question now pending as
bringing up the great issue between despotism
and liberty. regard the measures here presented
10 us-on!y half disclosed to us-as looking to
spirit of universal domination, and an absolute
conquest Of the whole Of Mexico. If the country
is ripe for that in my poor judgement the country
is ready to surrender its free institutions. The
policy, as half disclosed. by the honorable chairs
man OF the Committee on Military Affairs, in the
|, extract from a letter which was read here the
, other day, it dictates, in my opinion, designs
from which the inference is inevitable, and can
not be resisted, that the Executive policy seeks
for universal domination in Mexico, and the con.
BILE judgment, raises the question, distinctly and
. emphatically, between despotism on the one hand,
and liberty on the other; and the more so, sir as
the Executive Of this country does not deign to
, communicate to US his views, and as the honorable
chairman OF the Committee on Military Affairs,
the trusted and able organ OF the Administration
here, tells US 10 our aces that it would be i'm
, proper 10 communicate 10 US the designs OF the
Executive. oppose, sir, such course Of policy,
and frankly say, that under avowals OF this
character, anxious as am to strengthen the arm
OF the Government for all legitimate purposes
an anxiety which has been evinced by all my
votes upon the question: shall feel myself
driven to the necessity Of refusing supplies, either
OF men or money, for any increasement OF the
army, so long as this doctrine avowed by the Sen.
ator from Michigan shall be maintained.
! Sir. my attention is directed to an order TO
which have noticed reference but now seen
for the first time. will not detan the Senate
). by reading it. suppose it is familiar TO other
! Senators. ] understand that this order on the
part Of the general commanding in-chief is to oc.
cupy every important position throughout Mex
S leo.
| "A Senator. Read the first clause.l
Mr. Mangum. This is marked "order 376,
and is as follows:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
mexico, Dec. Is, 1947. {
81. This army is about to spread itself over
and 10 occupy the Republic Of Mexico, until the
latter shall sue for peace in terms acceptable 10
= the Government OF the United States"
The whole Of the Republic! sir, it cannot be
= disguised. The disguise is too thin. The veil
is 100 transparent. All the disavowas that we
have had that the President does not entertain
any purpose OF conquest come at last to this, that
the Executive means 10 illustrate his admins
tration by absorbing the whole OF Mexico, if the
sense of the country will sustain him. desire
9 to know, sir whether the General n.chief for
!, any legitimate or proper or reasonable purpose,
DESIRE or has suggested, the increase Of the army,
" amounting 10 thirty regiments the bills for which
are now upon your table? Yet we are not to
4 have this nformaton 1t would be eminently
/ improper to disclose the views Of the Executive
in regard TO Mexico! Disclose them to whom
sir? Not to the Mexicans. The general order
OF the commander inc chief has already disclosed
v his purposes, presumed to be the purpose Of the
Government in regard 10 the future policy, TO the
e Mexicans themselves but emnently improper tc
disclose them to the American people, who,
trust, not yet ripe for the scheme OF wholesale
$ rspacty and rapine in which fear we have al
ready too much INDUCED. hope, sir the resolu
. ton will be adopted.
II Mr.. Cass replied to Mr.. Mangum, ane
1t in the course of his speech made the follow
= ing remarkable admissions:
o Now, with the respect TO The progress OF tn
war, it is said that Gen. Scott is going on from
ST town to town, and from city to city, conquern
|. before him. | am very glad to hear it,