The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-04


il ii empoTze, and torbear and hesitate Lei us lay
down the rule hen TO say what our rights are and bal
we shall insist them. III do SO, shall not be
subjected 10 that difficulty.
Mr. President. think the policy OF our government
towards many OF the South American republics and par
tculary towards Mexico. has been great mistake from
the beginning, and wish TO II changed Al hsi u
very natural. and cast on any one Tor
that policy Those States had revoted from the mother
countries, and were struggling TO be successful we
wished 10 lend them helping hand II was natural,
therefore, that should treat them with the utmost
lenency-bat should not be harsh with or exact too
much from them But when they established their re-,
pubics. when they commenced their IN the world
as independent nations there was no necessity for our
pursuing so indulgent policy We ought then to have
treated them we did other nations. not exacling any
thing wrong from them but insisting their performing
what due TO II we had done should we have
been subjected TO the difficulties TO which we have been
subiected' think not What has been the history OF
our intercourse with MexlnQ' One continual series OF
aggressions her part, complaints. and treaties,
and negotiations on oars ring The whole period SINCE
she acquired her independenchere has scarcely been
time, either before the since, when an American
vessel American citizen could into port OF Mex
leo with any guarantee for the safety of property
OF person Even your consus have been sent 10 jail and
imprisoned and been nsued and been subjected all
kinds OF gnomines; and when the facts have been re-
ported to our government, instead OF demanding that
prompt redress which we should have demanded, and
which other nations do demand, the reply given TO
the sufferers as in which occurred lately that we
would negotiate with the Mexican government on the
subject That is not the right policy. There some
nations in controversies with which the only language
that you can speak is and musketry We should
not have had 10 much of that. perhaps at ALL
with Mexico, if we had acted night in the beginning
am told-hough do not know whether tits fact
that very often when these outrages were committed
upon our vessels and citizens the mere accidental arri
val in Mexican port OF American vessel Of war inn
medatey produced redress without any exercise OF force
or any very peremptoy demands and m had been gener
ally understood that our cruisers under all reasonable cir
Gums ances had been instructed redress such grievances
our citizens and vessels would not have experienced such
continual series OF insults. think policy ought
10 be changed do not wish unnecessarily TO act rgor-
ously towards Mexico or towards any other country
but do wish such policy to be adopted by this gov
ernment that our citizens, when they go into Vera Cruz
Acapulco, or any other port may feel that, as American
citizens, their property and persons TO be protected
believe that has not been the heretofore and
believe 1t will not be the while the tame and vacil
aling course that has been pursued by government
is persisted in | wish TO see the American character
more respected abroad than it has been do not know
how il happens that people sensitive of their honor,
personal and national too submit 30 taney and much
more 30 than other nations do 10 insults offered the per-
sons as well as the property of our citizens elsewhere.
would wish to that Roman feeling which existed
under the ancient republic cherished by people.
would wish that the American citizen should be protect
ed not by cannon, vesses-of war, by our minister
or consul. wish to this government conducted in
such Way-and 1t were conducted as, my opinion,
II would be proper to conduct it, such state OF things
would exist within five years-,hat the only passport
American citizen would require anywhere would be that
only passport which the Roman citizen requred.'l
a Roman citzen" 81 am an American citizen" 1t is
not SO now and it never will be so while this tame
vacillang, and uncertain and peaceful but danger
ous policy is pursued for it will lead to and
squabbles that an energetic course would do
trust then, Mr. President, that the resolutions will be
adopted. While, under different circumstances, should
perhaps wish to have them amended, to make them
more energetic yet considering that they declare the in
tenon of the government vindcae It's honor and pro-
tect the nights OF its cizens and considering, too. that
II IS perhaps better not TO commit ourselves loo far
TO leave the matter open tot aud considering, further,
the distracted situation of Mexico at this time, will
NO n "A
il the administration in power was
continue long, and thought there any uncertain
~ about our fuure course, should wish TO make Them
stronger
stated, in the commencement OF my remarks, that
would discuss the validity OF the tile the import
OF this road TO the interests OF the United States
shall not do TO any extent but there are some con-
sideraons which wish to offer TO the Senate with re-
gard to the importance OF the road. The advantages Of
il scarcely be overrated or too much considered IL
is important TO US and to the world in two points Of
view. Ii is not simply desirable means OF commu
nicalon between one part Of this country and another
As such would be very valuable and desirable but has
broader and more important sphere OF influence than
that. Ii is 10 be means oil communication Tor the world
Admit then, Tor the sake OF the argument that TO
lection thai, as shall presently show II will not in
tefere al all with this road shall show that this Te
huanlepec route will be only for the United
States but for the whole world. There other pos
sessions and interests besides upon the Pacific, and
there is other TO be accommodated, and there
is other business to be done there, besides
49, tnen oil great importance 10 Inc WOfl0 10 nave
this opened to have the most practicable and
easy, and speedy communication between the two oceans
al point the middle OF the contlnen Independent
OF any advantage to our commerce. II is matter OF great
importance TO the whole world The route is at point
the centre of the American continent, where the
goods which transported from side to the other
be easily taken 10 every important commercial port
Ii will be the great horoughfare OF the world shall
not enter into comparison OF this route with the Pa
mama route, or The Nicaragua rouie or any other be-
leve this is decidedly better than any other route Some
three years ago application was made TO the govern
ment of the United States 10 favor the Panama route
then offered very fully my opinion, and demonstrated,
thought, very satisfactorily that this was more proper
route Tor permanent communication than the Panama,
and nothing has been shown since that tyne to prove that
my opinion well founded. II has better cli-
maie nearer to our possessions and is easier reached
from all our Pacific ports and, alleged by the
senator from Virginia Mr.. Mason is important 10
because leads directly 10 the great Mediterranean of
American, in which, he very properly observed, no
nation has right TO plant single gun except Mexico
and the United States 1t is, then, OF immense advantage
TO This great inland is OF great importance, and
will continue to be and more important be-
come advanced in civilization Sir, look at the map and
see the advantage possess. Take the Cape of For.
da Cuba, and Yucaian, and you will find this is only
internal within three days sail from any part OF
il to the mouth OF the Mississippi river which is in IL
self a Mediterranean, but we have this immense sea so
nearly shut up by islands already by the Cape of Florida
Cuba and Yucaan. that few vessels stationed in favor