The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-21


them, flooding the whole country think Il would not
be expecting requiring too much OF those who wish 10
avail themselves of such publications 10 go 70 the ex
pense OF printing them themselves, and then sending them
before the public.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. II there is anything new that has
not been published IN this memoir, am really de-
sirous that il should be brought 10 light think
the whole country will feel an ineTest--a general
interest lat this time particulary-to have every
thing connected with the Mexican war brought before
the public have doubt that there are many things
that have not yet been published
pondence both between the Naval Department aud the
naval forces, and between the War Department and the
land forcestha should certainly like TO laid before
the Senate, and hope il will be done and spread be-
fore the country The correspondence relating TO trials
relating to armsces. and relating TO various other
branches Of the land forces in Mexico. have doubt
would be very instructive, and would be gratifying
TO the public 10 have laid before them ! hope no
mpedment will be thrown in the way OF these calls
for information Let il all come out and II II con-
fers credit let those who are entitled TO the credit
enjoy all The honors think this is a fair and liberal
course; and trust that instead OF any objection being
thrown in the way OF this resolution, shall have
series OF resolutions bringing out all the other unpublsh
ed information TO give all the credit that possI
bly, be conferred upon those who figured in the Mexican
Sir, am proud of those exploits aud wish to
throw al the light that can be thrown upon those gallant
deeds before the country and publish its secret history
that we may understand exactly who entitled to credit
where it belongs, and how much there is OF It.
Mr.. MASON. | would inquire OF the senator from
Tennessee [Mr BELLl who introduced this resolution
whether this memoir is in the form OF an official com
munication made by officer OF the navy to the de-
partment? II it be in the form OF official communi
cation shall take great pleasure in having published
at the desire OF any senator but il It be IN the form OF
private memoir, with The reluctance which certainly
have in appearing TO discountenance the publication OF
any matter rejecting credit upon distinguished
the officer who commanded in Mexico, shall ieel CON-
PEELED 10 vote against ii.
Mr.. BELL. Ipresume it cannot have the character OF
an official communication because that would OF course,
be made by the commanderin chief OF the army the
officer in command of the naval forces. But It is
neced narrative OF the incidents that tranpred at the
landing oil The troops at Vera Cruz 1t connects several
incidents and objects in the OF that transaction
which occupied some two or three days, making
rave which official report that has yet been made by
any officer OF the army navy would furnish. Such is
the narrative proposed TO be given by this report II is to
bring into all The incidents and orders of that
procedure, which occupied several days after the
raon OF our fleet or our navy there with the troops
board. 1t is for the purpose oil presenting in one
view the whole transaction instead OF compelling those
who wish 10 obtain knowledge OF the transaction 10
wade through volumes of fifteen hundred or two thou
sand pages 10 find the separate dispatches and official
communications from day to day. brings them all to-
geber, and proposes TO include The general orders issued
the time That is the sole obect-of course IT
would not be official commu unlcation.
MIR. MASON. Mr. President. | take il for granted
that it is a private paper, which this gentleman has
lodged 10 the Navy Department as ne might have lodged
il anywhere else IL is certainly under his own CON.
mand. and can be published by himself anybody else
that desires It's publication. My objection TO ii is not
upon the subject to which tseates bat TO IFS character
private paper. do not think the Senate is called
upon 10 publish papers OF this kind.
Mr.. B0RLAND. would simply remark that shall
vote agans, his as would against any other similar
proposion-not on accountof the political bearing which
il might possibly have, do not know that il is intended
have any, but account OF the private character
OF the paper AS The senator from Tennessee thinks il is
so important that we should have something written
upon The subject ot military operations in Mexico,
suggest that the resolution be changed appoint
hrstonographer OF the war; and lei him take the materials
OF the history and present with condensed connected
view of it, The senator says the book which contains
connected history is too large 10 Its present shape WE'LL
lei US employ some who will condense IT, and put II in
form in which find all the operations connected.
We know il has been aid that the operations in Mexico,
especially the line from Vera Cruz to the city OF Mex
leo, connected series, all belonging TO plan.
Now, say 10 the senator from Tennessee, that ii his
object is present condensed historical view of any
portion OF these operations or OF any single operation in
that whole series, in order 10 understand II WELL we
must have presented in lis connexon part OF the
WHOLE and therefore he ought to provide Tor publishing
the whole and he deems il sufficiently important he
will modify his resolution so as to provide Tor the ap
poiniment OF competent TO write history OF that
and all lis operations, including the landing al Vera
Cruz. ! Will Join with him in that.
Mr. BELL. MIR. President, OF course the honorable
senator knows very well that have such object in
view and doubt now whether he would really vote for
such proposition il | were 10 present IT, This is
isolated Transaction IN pari-one that was not calculated
TO attract the public attention other brilliant achieve
menls were There rencounter with the enemy
upon that occasion. Nevertheless, | have heard this
operation Of the landing OF the troops at Vera Cruz,
under the circumstances under which it effected,
spoken OF as achievement that and Is now
sdered, by professional military and naval men, worthy
OF special and separate notice and II was this opinion,
expressed by several gentlemen who had seen this
mortal, that induced me 10 otter this resolution TO the
Senate. never dreamed that any gentlemaR would sup
pose that there anything political in IT, II was Of
Tered al time when could not be supposed that had
any political interest in having published TO the world
introduced 10 the notice OF the Senate IL was
such one as had right TO presume from the spirit,
proceedings, and feelings of this body every
nected with the military and naval operations OF this
country, would arouse no political eaousles. When
the suggestion was made 10 OF the particular
Transaction at Vera Cruz OF which there
nected narrative published, and OF the existence OF this
memoir which so brief, not consisting of sentiments
narrative OF the event IN its connexIon with the orders
that given and circumstances that transplred, APP
peared TO me that only the officers OF the navy and
OF the army professionally, but the country generally,
would like TO such description OF that achieve
ment and supposed there was feeling OF patriotism
enough in the Senate TO desire il, without having
a thought of rousng any political iealouses or political
feeling that this likely to rebound to the credit OF
General Scott, OF Commodore Connor, any individual
connected with that transaction. And when was aware
that perhaps hundred Thousand dollars annually were
expended by this Senate out oil its contingent und-at
least, may say sixty seventy housand-lor pubIca
ions as little authorized and contemplated by the con-
sttuon or by strict duties here this paper which
ask the Senate to call for from the Secretary of the
Navy, iet justified in pressing the resolution.
SIR have said before that perhaps by reading through
all The public documents you may with sufficient indus
ry CLEAN from them several incidents connected with
this transaction and as gentlemen have already stated
presume that such be found published in our vou-
minous documents upon the subject
Mr. BORLAND ! suggest 10 the senator that am
moi aware that the Senate has ordered the pubca
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