Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-21

ports for the purpose of preventing the people there
from violating the laws Of the country and duplicating
with foreign nations Never! For one should be dis
posed to hold any President to account who did it.
mean, OF course, as general policy q general mea-
sure OF safety Doubtless when the occasion arises
when there is aproper and substantial reason to believe
that such an expedition is about TO be fitted out it is the
duty of the President if he believes it necessary upon
his high responsibility the forces Of the country
to prevent it but say that the idea of keeping ships in
ports or any where upon waters lest such thing
should occur, is policy new and unheard OF.
Now sir, few words in reference to this particular
matter The city of San Francisco has population Of
some sixty or eighty thousand inhabitants well armed
and perhaps better armed than any population that
find any other part of your border If that
population has neither the ability the of pre-
venting these expeditions from being fitted out it will be
useless Tor the Federal Government to attempt it, unless
1t Sploys large portion Of the navy for that purpose
am against using the navy for any such purpose as
preventive measure am against its going out to the
country that there is any necessity for such use Of the
navy. And II the purpose of the resolution be to
as admoniton to the President the of the
Senate that the navy must be used for one, must
vote against it.
Sir am not personally informed as to the facts but
have no doubt, from what in the newspapers
that the President has taken measures and efficient
to prevent the of these transactions
without the of armed ships stationed at the ports of
California to prevent them All wish to do is to pro-
against any such policy as that the navy is to be
arged is to be used for the purpose of preventing
own people from violating their own laws.
4
debate has taken makes it very important matter for
the country to understand really the grounds which give
origin to it. did not understand the Senator from Cali
fornia to make any charge against the late Adminstra
on the present Administration for want Of discharge
of duty The question which now arises is this Has the
President of the United States sufficient of defence
subject to his TO meet oil the incidents which
may occur in this large and extended country Have
an army sufficient? Have navy sufficient? These
the questions which naturally PROFOUND themselves
on an occasion of this sort Have we forgotten that,
under the treaty with Mexico bound protect
the line Of frontier between the United States and Mexico
from Indian depredatons Isit not well understood
that already claims against this Government arising out
OF that treaty amount to something in the neghborhood
OF S2OOOO,OOO? And will it be forgotten that the late
Administration called upon the Congress of the United
States to give it the of carrying out the treaty.
and protecting the Mexcans and the Americans either
side Of the line? Were the means granted? Were the
two mounted regiments which asked for by the late
President OF the United States and his Secretary of War
allowed? No. SIR but the appropriations necessary to
carry out that request were denied and denied by whom
Not by the Executive but by the Legislative department
of this Government and any deeterous consequences
have arisen the fault is here with
Have forgotten what transpred only twelve months
SINCE when the very idea suggested by my friend from
Virginia, the chairman Of the Committee Foreign Re-
atons to the sutciency of the civil power of the
try to protect this Government and to put down all
tempts at ibustering was brought forward? Was itnot
then thought that the courts alone to attend to these
matters? Then know, some members here regarded
the effort of the last Administration to stop the Cuban
pedton wrong interference, and it said that the
civil authority alone should interfere in these matters
Now, sir, did not understand the Senator from Cali
forna making any charge against the Government
any of these account All that he desires is to know
whether the Government is in attitude sufficient to pro-
tect its honor and to maintain its standing and its ob
cations towards foreign nations? say it is not Our
military force not sufficient and army must be in
creased; not with the idea of having standing army
thrown upon the country for necessary purpose but
for far different reason. From the extension of our
country seacoa within the last four years. has been
doubled and it requires much larger force protect it
than formerly required.
The divisions which have at previous times existed be-
tween parties in this country relative to standing army
large navy to exist because the present cond
ton of the army and navy does not to the requ
stons of either of the great parties of the country Pro-
lection is the only object of this proposed increase The
object is not to place incubus upon the country by
overwhelming army for needless purposes, by navy
to rot in your docks not Our character nation
has grown our Importance nation has grown; and
dignity alone be maintained, with that
spect due to it from foreign nacns by the power to
force any obligation that may exist upon nation
and any duty that may exist the part Of the citizens
towards the Government
Now, sir, what wish to say is this: We have gradu
ally disappointing the hopes and expectations of
the various Administrations in this regard President
Fillmore, foreseeing, like judicous man. what the
growing condition of this country and what would be its
necessities called years to increase the navy
and to increase the army give the Executive Depart
mens of the Government the power enforce all the
duties which required Of them. Have you done it,
gentlemen? Who cut down the appropriations for mill
tary purposes and for naval purposes during the last
year! The reports of proceedings in the Senate and
in the House of Representatives will tell Isthe failure
of the Representatives of the people provide for these
things to be charged upon this Administration upon
the late Administration Certainly not The fault is
! here sir, not with the Executive.
am friend to large standing army; Ihaye never
given vote with that object in view but am prepared
of the members Of the Committee Military AZ
fairs to which have belonged since my first entry into
this body to say that the military force of the country
should be increased That committee has, from time
tme in accordance with the recommendations of the Pre-
sdent of the United States asked you to increase the
army 1t was not DONE They asked you to provide for
raising two mounted regiments to enforce your treaties
and carry out honestly and honorably your obligations
That was not DONE Look at the extent Of frontier line
between and Mexico and then let the future tell this
country what millions will have to be paid under that
treaty. by this Government the Mexicans account
of our failure to carry out its obligations Then when
ask you for the power do So and it is done who
to blame? Do not charge upon the President of the
United States, or upon the Executive Department Of the
Government, but upon yourselves-the Representatives
of the peope-who for the purpose of keeping down the
appropriations have voted against them to crafty the
people at home who unacquanted with these facts
and you have thus brought present unfortunate
dition upon
word now in relation to the navy have voted for
every increase of the navy which has been presented
since have been here for it has been presented in de-
TAIL The Committee Naval Affairs, headed by my
honorable friend from California, has reported for the
last three or four years. in favor of enlargement OF
the navy; and for what reason? TO protect sea-
ports, to protect commerce. and to nterdct these
flbustering expeditions which we'll calculated to
dishonor this Union abroad Who failed to carry out