The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-12
TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO.
SPEECH OF
Hon. A. q. BROWN, OF Mississippi,


In the House ot Representatives., Thursday, Au-
gust 8, 1850, on the Presidents Message, q
August s, 1850, concerning Teas and New
Merico.
Mr.. BROWN said:
BIr. CHAIRMAN When the Presidents mes
sage was read at the Clerks desk on Wednes--
day, it struck me as the most extraordinary
D per which had ever emanated from an Ameri-
can President. / have since read it carefully,
and my first impressions have been strengthened
and confirmed.
The document is extraordinary for its bold
extraordinary for its suppression
of historical truth; extraordinary for its warlike
tone; and still more extraordinary for its super
cilious defiance of Southern sentiment.
The President assumes that to be true which
covers the whole ground in controversy, and to
do this he has been driven to the necessity OF
suppressl1g every material fact land having thus
laid the basis of the message, he proceeds to tell
us what are the means at his disposal for mairl-
taininghis positions; and winds up with dis
tnct threat, that if there is not implicit obedience
to his will, these means will be employed to in
sure the obedience which he cxaets
Kings and despots have thus talked to their
subjects and their slaves, but this Is the first IT.
stance when the servant of free people, just
tossed BY accident into place of power, has
turned upon his masters, and threatened them
with fire and sword if they dared to murmur
against his imperial will.
The President sits down to address his first
important message to Congress, and, as if for
getful of his position, and installing this for u
military instead OF civil government, he tells
us he is commander-in-chief of the army and
navy of rhe United States, and of the militia Of
the several States, when c,lled into actual SER
vice. He next proceeds to inform US that all
necessary legislation has been had to enable him
to call this vast military and naval power into
action.e No further interposition OF Congress is
asked for or desired. His duties are plain, and
lis means clear and ample, and we are told with
emphasis, that he intends to enforce obedience
to his DEGREES.
A stranger who knew nothing of our institu-
tons might well have supposed, from the read
ing Of the message, that the President was a
military despot; and to have seen him striding
into the House of Representatives with drawn
sword, pointing first to the army, and then to
the navy, and then to the militia, by very slight
transition, might have supposed himself in the
presence of Oliver Cromwell, instead of Willard
Fillmore Why, sir, this redoubt.ble military
hero, who anever set squadron in the field, nor
does the division of a battle know more than a
spinster," talks as flppantly to Congress and the
people about commanding thu army and navy
and militia Of the United States, as If he were a
conquering hero addressing his captives, instead
Of civil magistrate making his first obeisance
to his superiors.
Am to be told by the friends of the Presi-
dent, that no threat was implied in his late in
soent and insulting message-that he did not
mean to threaten or menace Texas or the South,
by the language employed in that paper! Then
why inform us that he is commander-i Of
the naval and military power of the Govern
ment? Why buckle on his armor? Why present
himself here panoplied, as if for war, if his mis-
sion was one of peace Was it necessary for
the information of Congress, or of the country,
that the President should tell us that he is the
constitutional commander-in-chief of the army
and navy! Why tell us, with so much Of precise
detail, what laws were in force simplifying his
powers under the Constitution, if he did not
mean to intimidate us Why, sir, did he inform
us that his duty was plain, and his authority
clear and ample, if he did not mean to close the
argument, and rely upon the sword? The whole
scope and purpose of the message is clear and
palpable. 1t was intended to drive Texas and
the South into meek submission to the Execu-
tive will. Instead of entering into calm and
statesman-like review Of the matters in cOntro-
yersy, he leaps at one bound to his conclusions
asserts at once that Texas has no rightful
claim to the territory in dispute. He plants his
foot, brandishes his sword, and, in true Furioso
style, declares that
tWhoso dares his boots displace,
Shall meet Bombastes face to face"
Well, sir, we shall see how successful this dis
play of military power on the part of the Illus
trious commander-in-chief of the army and
navy" will be in bringing the South to a humi-
ating surrender.
If there be any one here or elsewhere, Mr..
Chairman, who supposes that the President has
acted properly in this matter, let me speak to
him calmly. Is there an instance on record
where a friendly power has gone with arms in
hands to treat with another friendly power 3
Texas is not only friendly power, but she is
a State Of this Union, allied to us by every tie,
political, social, and religious, which can bind
one people to another. Her Chief Magistrate
has witnessed with pain and sorrow, an attempt
on the part of this Government to wrest from
his State portion of her territory. He thinks
the President may not be cognizant OF these
transactions He knows it is being done with
out authority of law; and what course does he
take! lie WrlteS 10 Tie freSluenb TtsPtcuui
note, informing him, in substance, that an officer
of the army, stationed in Santa Fe, interposed
adversely to the authority of Texas, and was
dscord, and exciting the inhabitants
to rebellion. He made respectful inquiry, as
to whether this officer was acting in obedience
to the will or wishes Of the President. Now,
sir, how was this inquiry answered! Did the
President make respectful answer to res
pectful inquiry No, sir. He goes off in a
blaze of military fire; points to his military trap
PING Here is my army, here is my navy, and
there is the militia; my mind is made up; do
approve of the conduct of my civil and military
governor in Santa Fe; and if you attempt to
lispIace him, or question his authority, war, war,
war TO the knife will be the consequence" Such
,ic, is my reading Of the Presidents message.
Was there ever such beginning to a friendly
negotiation? Suppose Great Britain had sent
military force to take possession of our north
eastern territory or of Oregon, and the British
,fficer in command had issued his proclamation
alling the inhabitants together to make and es-
ablish government adverse to the United States,