FEBRUARY, 1847.]

So the bill was postponed.

Three Million Loan.

Mr. BERRIEN then gave notice of his intention to offer an amendment, which was read as follows, and ordered to be printed:

[29TH CONG.

He hoped that during every session of Congress | Government, we have placed at his disposal every one would have the opportunity at some twenty-eight millions of money; and now it period of the session to express his views on is asked that we shall make an appropriation the general questions before the country. So of three millions of dollars for the purpose far as he had observed, the gentlemen on the specified in this bill, to be applied under the other side of the chamber had shown no dis- sole discretion and control of the President; position to prolong the debate unnecessarily. and we are asked, with an apparent confidence He thought there had been rather more con- that the request will be complied with, to let sumption of time on his own side. He thought this bill pass without debate or discussion, rethe request now made a reasonable one. Sen- serving for some other occasion the examination ators desired to be heard without intending of those interesting questions which present to consume time unnecessarily, and what even themselves to the mind of every Senator at the time a reasonable discussion might take no one moment when this proposition is made. For could tell. But surely three, four, five, or even myself, I certainly cannot consent; the feelings, six days, could not be considered unreasonable the wishes, the just expectations of the Amerion a great question like this. He should vote can people, combine to forbid it. They desire for the postponement. to know they have a right to know, as far as we are informed-what is their condition in relation to this foreign power with which we are at war. They have a right to know, as far as we have the means of informing them, what expectation they may entertain of a termination of the conflict in which they have been so unexpectedly involved. Sir, in May last, without any premonition, without any expectation on the part of the American people of such a result, you were suddenly roused by the intelligence that hostilities had commenced between the American and the Mexican armies. These hostilities had been brought about by military movements made in consequence of orders emanating from the commander-in-chief of the American army. In the first moment of excitement, produced by the intelligence that hostilities had been commenced, Congress recognized the existence of the war, and made provision for its vigorous prosecution. Every demand that was made by the President, with a solitary exception, has been acquiesced in. He has been furnished with the means which he has deemed necessary for the prosecution of this war, and our gallant army has nobly sustained the honor of the American name. Wherever our standard has been unfurledwherever the stars and the stripes which emblazon it have been given to the breeze-the honor of the American name has been vindi

"Provided, always, And it is hereby declared to be the true intent and meaning of Congress in making this appropriation, that the war with Mexico ought not to be prosecuted by this Government with any view to the dismemberment of that republic, or to the acquisition by conquest of any portion of her territory; that this Government ever desires to maintain and preserve peaceful and friendly relations with all nations, and particularly with the neighboring republic of Mexico, will always be ready to enter into negotiations, with a view to terminate the present unhappy conflict on terms which shall secure the just rights and preserve inviolate the national honor of the United States and of Mexico; that it is especially desirable, in order to maintain and preserve those amicable relations which ought always to exist between neighboring republics, that the boundary of the State of Texas should be definitively settled, and that provision be made by the republic of Mexico for the prompt and equitable settlement of the just claims of our citizens on that republic."

FRIDAY, February 5.

Three Million Bill.

Mr. SEVIER moved to proceed to the consid-cated. That army is now in the heart of Mexeration of the special order, being the bill making further appropriation to bring the war with Mexico to a speedy and honorable conclusion; which motion having been agreed to

Mr. BERRIEN said: I now turn to the consideration of this bill. Sir, the bill which is before you proposes an appropriation of $3,000,000, or rather not exceeding $3,000,000, for the purpose of defraying any extraordinary expenses which may be incurred in bringing the existing war with Mexico to a speedy and honorable conclusion. Now, sir, with a view of bringing this war to a speedy and honorable conclusion, we have already authorized the President of the United States to raise an army of upwards of seventy thousand men; and, in addition to the ordinary revenue of the

ico; it has, in the phraseology of the day, covered itself with glory as with a mantle. If the military fame of our army were a thing of which we were not before certain, they have won it for themselves. They have triumphed over superior numbers, and Mexico stands now beaten, stricken down by an army inferior in numbers, rebuked in the heart of her own territory. If it be this glory of which we are in search, we have won it. We are inthe heart of Mexico with forces which she shuns to meet.

But what have we done? How, by the advance of the army, have we advanced the interests of the country? How have we advanced that honor of the possession of which we were not certain, but for which the war was entered upon? Who, that witnesses the

actual posture of our affairs, is able to tell how much nearer we are to the termination of this war than when we entered it? Sir, I believe that this war may be terminated. I believe that it may be terminated by a course consistent with the honor of the American nation. I believe that it may be terminated by a course which shall not only consist with our interests, but which shall place us in that elevated position which, as the first free nation of the world, we ought to occupy in the eyes of the civilized world. I have asked how much honor shall we have attained at the termination of this war by all the victories we have won? Who does not know that the effect of our military operations has been to unite and to animate, a distracted people; and that at this moment a determination for resistance on the part of Mexico is more fixed, more resolute, than at any former moment? On what was that determination founded? Whence did it originate? It was, in his opinion, the determination of despair. It was the result of that desperation to which the Mexican Government were reduced by their belief of the exorbitance of our demands. He would take from them this motive to resist; he would take it from them, not by a renewal of overtures of peace which they had disregarded, but he would take it from them by a declaration of the opinion and feelings of the American Congress as to the purpose for which this war was prosecuted, and as to the terms upon which it might be terminated. It was with a view to this object that he had suggested to the Senate the amendment of which he gave notice the other day.

The question on his motion might be stated now, or at the close of his remarks, which he proposed to submit, at the pleasure of the Chair. He would await its direction, either to pause or to proceed.

Mr. Cass said, if this was the proper moment, he would inform the honorable Senator from Georgia that he had an amendment to submit.

[FEBRUARY, 1847.

the wrongs she has committed towards the Government of the United States.

"And it is further declared, that the nature and extent of such indemnity are proper subjects, in the first instance, for executive consideration, when negotiations for peace may be opened between this country and Mexico, subject to the action of the Senate on the question of ratification."

Mr. BAGBY hoped both amendments would be read, that the Senate might have them before it.

The Secretary read Mr. BERRIEN's amendment, as follows:

66

Provided, alwags, And it is hereby declared to be the true intent and meaning of Congress in making this appropriation, that the war with Mexico ought not to be prosecuted by this Government with any view to the dismemberment of that republic, or to the acquisition by conquest of any portion of her territory; that this Government ever desires to maintain and preserve peaceful and with the neighboring republic of Mexico, will alfriendly relations with all nations, and particularly ways be ready to enter into negotiations, with a view to terminate the present unhappy conflict on terms which shall secure the just rights and preserve inviolate the national honor of the United States and of Mexico; that it is especially desirable, in order to maintain and preserve those amicable relations which ought always to exist between neighboring republics, that the boundary of the State of Texas should be definitively settled, and that provision be made by the republic of Mexico for the prompt and equitable settlement of the just claims of our citizens on that republic."

Mr. BERRIEN said he wished to ask if the amendment of the Senator from Michigan was offered as a substitute.

Mr. CASS said he should offer it as a substitute at the proper time.

Mr. BERRIEN continued. The amendment which he had proposed and the substitute which the Senator from Michigan had notified them he should offer, opened the whole question. He desired to say at the outset, in order to avoid any misapprehension, that he was prepared to sustain the Government in the vigorous prosecution of this war, by voting all needful supplies of men and money to bring it to a successful result. In order to avoid any misapprehension of the remarks he was about to submit to the Senate to-day, and the course he designed to pursue, he was ready to sustain The Secretary then read the amendment of the Executive department in a vigorous proseMr. Cass, as follows:

Mr. BERRIEN remarked, that the Senator could have it read and printed.

The PRESIDING OFFICER inquired if the Senator from Georgia desired to have the amendment read.

Mr. BERRIEN. Certainly.

cution of this war, by voting all needful supplies of men and money-all such supplies as Strike out all after the word "provided," and insert: "And it is hereby declared to be the true if Mexico, madly regardless of her own interwere necessary to bring it to a successful result, intent and meaning of Congress, in making this ap-ests and the interests of humanity, should refuse propriation, that, as by the act of the republic of Mexico, a state of war exists between that Government and the United States, agreeably to the declaration made by this Congress on the 13th day of May last, therefore the interest and honor of this country require that the said war be vigorously prosecuted to a successful issue, and that a reasonable indemnity should be obtained from Mexico for

to terminate this controversy upon terms which may consist with her honor and the honor of the United States. This principle had regulated his personal conduct from the commencement of this war. He had voted all the supplies which had been required by the President of the United States, which had received the sanc

But it was proposed to strengthen and reinforce that army, and to deliver it from the unequal conflict to which it might be subjected; and though that relief might not reach the army before its fate should be decided-so far as a single battle might decide it-he was willing to vote to strengthen and reinforce it at the earliest moment, had that proviso not been connected with the bill.

[29TH CONG.

tion of their committees, with the single excep- | tection of Texas, which would have been secured tion of the act of 13th May, 1846, upon which by the possession of Corpus Christi, but it was he did not vote. And he did not vote for that announced that its destination was the Rio bill because it required him to affirm what he Grande, which Mexico claimed to be beyond did not believe to be true. But it proposed to her boundary. In the order issued in July, provide for reinforcing and strengthening our 1845, this order was so far modified as this: army, then on the confines of Mexico, and ap- the preceding order of June had announced that parently in danger from what seemed to be an the ultimate destination of the army was the overwhelming superiority of numbers. He did Rio Grande without qualification; in the order not, indeed, share the apprehensions felt for the which followed, the commander of the Amerifate of that army, for he had an abiding confi- can army was told that Mexico had certain dence in the skill and gallantry of its leaders, posts east of the Rio Grande which she had the bravery and discipline of our soldiers, and occupied, and that in the advance of our army the patriotism of both. He cherished, more- to the Rio Grande, which was its ultimate desover, a grateful recollection of the story of San tination, these forces of the enemy were not to Jacinto, and he had formed his own estimate be interrupted. Now it seemed to him, with of the Mexican army under the guidance of its these documents before them, that the war in most distinguished chieftain. which we are now involved, is therefore a war resulting from the order which was given by the President of the United States to advance the American army to the Rio Grande from Corpus Christi, in pursuance of the destination which had been confidentially announced to the commander of the American army as early as the preceding June; that the advance of the army to the Rio Grande, the erection of a fort pointing her cannon upon the town of Matamoras, was an indication of hostile intent—no, not of hostility of intent, but an act of hostility, which was the real origin and the commencement of this war. He would put the question to every American Senator-he would put the question to the American people, whether they would not have considered such a movement on the part of Mexico, or any other nation on earth, as an act of hostility to us. If Great Britain, during the existence of the north-eastern boundary question, had advanced her military forces to the disputed territory, and erected forts and planted cannon there, and pointed them on the contiguous villages, should we have waited for her to apply the match to those cannon before we should have considered that Great Britain had committed against us an act of war? And if that would have been the universal feeling of the American people, shall we deny to Mexico, because she is our enemy, a participation in the common feelings of our nature?

|

He entertained then as he entertained now, the belief, the conviction, that we had been unnecessarily involved in this war with MexiCo. He believed it had been brought about by military movements on our part, and that it had been forced upon the Mexican Government. He was convinced that the military order which was given by our military commander-in-chief, anterior to the march of our army from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande, was the real source and practical origin of this war. Though he had since seen it stated in official documents, that it grew out of the indignities inflicted by Mexico upon our citizens, and her determination to invade with a view to regain dominion over Texas, he would call the attention of the Senate to the fact, that as early as the preceding month of June-the 15th day of June, 1845-by an order emanating from the War Department, addressed to General Taylor, and marked "confidential," but which was subsequently communicated to the Senate, it was distinctly announced that he was ordered This was the view he had entertained of the to take up his line of march from his encamp-origin of the war. But it exists. It has been ment, with the view of protecting Texas, not recognized by Congress. They had bound then one of the States of this Union; it was themselves by pledges given by the act of the then distinctly announced to him that his ultimate destination was the Rio Grande or its vicinity. And yet they were told that the order of January, 1846, was issued under the pressure of indignities offered by Mexico, in her refusal to receive our Minister, and in her menaces of hostilities. He would take from these allegations the foundation on which they rest. He would refer to an order which emanated from the War Department on the 9th of June, 1845, and reiterated, with a single modification, in July. By this he would show that this army was not merely designed for the pro

13th of May, 1846, vigorously to prosecute it to a successful result. He was willing to participate in the common lot; and so far as depended on him, to perform that portion of the duty which might devolve on him in the redemption of that pledge. He was willing, therefore, he repeated, to vote the men and money which might be necessary for the prosecution of this war, or the termination of it by negotiation in an honorable peace, by such means as Senators might devise.

Mr. SEVIER. I hope the Senator, when he comments on my speech, will read the words