The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF sa. SAVAGE,

SPEECH OF nR. SAVAGE,
OF TENNESSEE,
On the Presidents Message Of august O. 1850, concern
Texas and Nsw Msrieo; delivered IL the House Of
| Representatives., august 8, 1850
The House being in Committee OF the Whole on the
state Of the Union the civil and diplomatic appro-
MIR. SAVAGE said: Mr. Chairman. will say word
in reply 10 what has been said by the gentleman Mr.
MANEl 10 whom yielded the floor for explanation.
have similar drama this acted in the other end
OF the Capitol, where sentiments, distinctly and clearly
ayowed and heraed by the press to every village in the
Union, have been deliberately and publicly denied Some
weak persons have been deceived by this bold eronery
into the beiei that such sentiments really had been
uttered.
Sir if the expression of these sentiments has fixed in
my mind opinion altogether favorable to their
authors, these subsequent reckless denias will surely
i MANN has denied what supposed every person who
heard him, friend foe viii be ready to prove Look to
the record, and il is within the memory and recollection of
many, that he went further Than is printed in his speech
but will abandon all thai You, sir, Mr. MANN,l shall
be tried by " the record and now read your words
in your own speech Better disunon better civil or ser
vile war; better anythng that God in his providence shall
send than extension OF the bounds OF slavery" Your
language is full, positive and explicit and excludes all
argument inference. You made exception at the
lime when you uttered these words, and you have right
TO contradct persons BY making exceptions now. We
have right to assume that you say what You and
what you say. although we may suspicion that this
rule often misrepresens you Sir, understand you
being ready to call upon your country every calamity in
the catalogue Of national misoranes ra,herhan slavery
should in any degree be extended You deny you
will your words will be against you.
/ Mr.. Chairman, when attempted to get the floor
yesterday not my object that remarks should de-
lain the House than few moments wished merely
express my dissent from the doctrines OF The message
and TO point briefly to The upon which that dis
sent grounded. have gained By the award of the
floor TO the experienced member from Georgia. [M
STEpHENsl who has ably exposed its dangerous doc
rines. He has shown, what should have attempted
to show, that the course proposed is not only plain
violation OF laws and statutes but OF every principle
and analogy Of free and enlightened iuIspradence-a,
course Of proposed asupa'on beginning IN folly. to end
Sir we read the laws civil and ecclesiastical natural
and revealed we regard the philosophy OF the sages and
the wisdom OF departed statesmen: they all tell us that
the last resort The sword is with despot-
ism ITSELF the ultima ratio regum !" but this message
presents as the first argument of American Presi-
] dent; and if shall follow from the position assumed
by The Executive 1t Will be the war OF the President,
unconslutonally begun not against foreign ioe but
against sovereign State oi this Union, whose rights he
1 has soemnly sworn to protect
1 Sir have examined This document as well have been
able and appears to me not only revolutionary in It's
tendencies. but strangely contradictory and foolish in
its statements that the mind is perpetually forced upon
the painful conclusion that deliberately intended
deceive, written BY one so preuoiced as TO be
incapable OF understanding and discussing The subject
larly
Inpoof Of this assertion. | read from the accompany
ing letter IN reply to Governor Bell, these words
sTATU QUO
The object the ex government been be
leve, and avn authorized say certainty n to
l the peace OF county, maintain. far
the treaty. ard uphold and preserve The rights OF the re-
d tbe treaty. unt the highly interesting question
sy should be finally settled by competent authority.
Here is asserted in plain language, the proposition
which is assumed througbou the message that is the
duty OF The President maintain the Territories in the po
in which he found them other words, that his
duty neutrality, resisting each akeaidng neither the
one the other party; and If this course had really
been pursued. imagine would have heard here to-
day complaint; but we find in this same letter these
l words:
MILITARY NTERrERENCr.
Colonel Mccall is therein instructed that II the people Of
New Mexico for whom Congress has provided govern
ment, should manifest wish take any steps establish
Union would be h. dag pRI the duty Of oher.
with whom he was associated not hwart butio advance
i thei, wishes
The military officer in command, and hi, associates,
were American citzens, acquainted with the forms OF civil
nd popna, proceeding', and Il was expected that they
and as'ance in their proceedings ior establishing gov
II eminent OF their own.
Here IS clear violation OF the neutrality asserted by
The President, and lawless and dangerous employment
1 OF the military forces Armed commanded 10
advance the wishes, and " aid the inhabitants in the
l establishment Of "a government" To carry out the
i Presidents doctrine OF maintaining the Territories
IN the condition in which he found them he should have
been ready 10 draw the sword against New Mexico
against Texas But no, sir, this Is not done or proposed
be done The sword Is TO put down the OF
Texas, and the and and advice OF The army i- order
Il ed 70 establish the government Of New Mexico. II
the President order soldiers 10 aid and advise. ne
Again we have the President saying in bis letter to
l Governor Bell:
Whatever might be bis judgment in regard TO their re-
1fcNe rights, he has power 10 decide upon ihem o.
even 70 negotiate in regard them and therefore it
Il would be Improper for hun 10 express any opinion
II Yet in his sssage 6nd the following words
IN the letter the gveruor Of Texas, my
s'en Tor believing New MeAico territory OF
II ne United sales, wtb The and the same
bo1ndafies which belonged 20 N while Ia the actual pos
I session Of tbs republic Mexico
Here opinion expressed in defiance OF the rule laid
down as toe rule OF bs duty and long argument fol.
II lowr 70 snsian the assertion that the uue is IN New
nisheo. III any can understand reconcile these con-
u hcing poIobhons, let them do so They constitute a
II wisdom 100 profound ior nv comprehension | agree
mat DC mas no tight TO Vslde these questions agree
that is not biz duty to force upon Us his opinions His
only dut is, preserve and protect the Territories Out
into his keeping; and any change in their civil govern
men effected bis instance by his agency whether
By other aid apd advice, revolution effected
II By the usurpation OF the Exeea,ys.
Again, the message ingenorsly argues TO the coun.
Try that the United States hook possession OF New Mex
eo by claim Of conquest, and not m the prosecution OF
The claim o. Texas Nolhng s more untrue than This in
snuaton y true h~. General kearny proclaimed il a
territory Of the United States, and assumed The power oi
organizing territorial government over u anu this,
sead Of proving that he considered IL conquest, proves
directly the he considered par OF the terri.
,ofy OF Texas, wh.' NJ the articles OF annexation we
had agreed shoudbs - territory of the United States
and IN accordance with these ipulaions General Rear
ny N his proclamation declared II, II ~ not to DC
supposed hat he did not know that not within the
power Ot The President and his army TO seize upon
gegn territory conquest, and proclaim II territory
fEs Ia.A. N Ia .N,afs