Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-28

t ' -" as II proper, the one part, To
-. Un Tue o'her' to give much light, five
,ion H.. 'eneu' 01t'@y and fmPiicitiy TO sane
''oi 'he Measure proposed? Although 7 cannot
PPose' therefore, that this objection will he se,i
U"SiS insisted on yet, one of a similar cbar,r,a
NJ "een earnestly pressed by the gentleman from
massachusetts,, Mr.. Websierl who addressed the
Oo'hini''ee two day ago. He con,ended. That the
S'"e"uileht OF The gentleman from Delaware WA.
an irregular interference with the Fyec,,,;,. -,
IN attempting TO give instructions to our
ministers SIR, the amendment seeks to Give no
instructions. Ii is simply an expression of The
"pnioh OF this House, respecting certain ,l;oct.
9IuPPos,a 10 De contemplated by the mission IN
Snala. W nat sir, Is the case5 The President asks
e 20 al appropriation OF money, 10 carry into eff
' t measure admitted 10 be novel and unprece-
"e"'ed in us character, and, for the plrpoSe of-
commenting it to our favor he states ,,r;o,,s ~
Jsets winch he deems be of high interest 10 the
nauoa proposed to be attained by il IIye corsi
uei some oi these objects TO be inexpedient s. dan
SefouS 20 the peace OF the country. while Others
among them may be OF such character as to ius
MY The adoption OF the measure In granting The
iund' therefore, Necessary for carrying the measure
in'o erect we undertake. TO declare our opinion.
tnA' IN as execution, it ought MOI TO be extended
10 those ohJecis which we have thus decided to be
ihepi"p'tUle with the interests of the nation Now
SIR Is there any improper assumption of po,y.r ia
this! ne objection presuppcses that we may
wHhhod the appropriation OF money altogether
IL we choose; or, IN other words that ,e may lie
eide the mission to be inexpedient. in rererancs -,
GU IT'S objects. hut. if we may pronounce m
It's OBJECTS 10 be neXpedient, we may surely pro-
houhce some Oh them to be so. The greater po,v-
er necessarily includes the less.
but the same gentleman objects again 10 the a
mehdmeni, that 1t amounts to a conditional praut
Inc honorable mover dsclaims all intention of in
PRODUCING his amendment into the apDropri,,ion
bill, or annexing it in The nature Of condition
to The grant OF the funds asked for Sir, care
not Tor form. For myself. am tree to saw that /
should consider the adoption Of the amendment in
moral effect at least, as a conditional Grant and
that ii the President employs the funds thus PLACED
al ms disposal ne ought not 20 them for purpo-
ses inconsistent with The declared views oftbose
who granted them. There is nothing revolving to
my mind IN the idea of conditional gga,,f. II
i admitted by the gentleman from Massachusetts
That we have the night 10 grant or withhold the
appropriation, at our discretion II SO we NAV
certainly impose what limitations we think pro
per upon our giant. Cujus est dare, ejus est DIS
pOReye.
But, sir, there seems to me 70 be ,er,,,;,r
proprety resulting from the character of,his sub
Jeci, and the constitutional relation in which we
stand TO IT. IN the present expression of our epni-
ons regardless 81 all form 1t is not unfreuuent-
ly said, and has been repeated in the course Of
th's discussion, that the Constitution has cog6deL
10 me president and Senate, the control OF our TO-
reign aiiars. Sir, there cannot be a. esra.cr ,,,ie
TAXI than ts, The most i'm bortat 5,,,..,i,,
neced with our foreign relations The c,,esfian NJ
peace or war IS wholly subject o The determine.
ton OF the Legislative Iecf,af ttiIilt !,
House : not the leat prominent branch I-por
all measures, therefore, involving this question.
h01oeUeT remotely II is ou- right and our dui, 10
deliberate and to decide, with unrestrained freedom
Now, sir, what sJhe character Of the proposed
mission to Panama? Some of its objects. as hone
to shew IN the progress of my remarks, have ii
rect aspect 10 state OF war, upon the occurrence
oil certain contingencies. Ia regard 10 these we
should renounce cur highest constitutional fyfri
eye, and betray our most solemn co2st;tyfi,uyk
tftst, were we not to speak cut boldly and with
out reserve.
Bat our confidence in the Executives Knocked
aud we aie asked, why no, trust the Presjaeu, on
this, as on other occasions, TO employ the means
which we may put at his DISPOSAL for the best in
teress oil the nation: Sir, this l. not an ordinary
case; 1t calls not for con fdsuce, but for tie
independent exercise Of car otc11 judgments -
In ordinary Cases, when the President wants the
means Of carrying INTO effect any measure within
Tie province of the Executive department. he
asks Us Tor an appropriation of money Tor The rlr
pose IN general terms, and we grant il without
further inquiry. Bur, here, the measure bein, no
vel an! extraordinary, he accompanies his ansljra
ion Tor tie means, with detail OF his reasons for
The adoption OF The measure ITSELF and the various
objects he proposes to accomplish by il. 1t he
comes then an appeal TO our understandings, upon
the suiilciency OF those reasons and the proprieiy
{ and expectancy Of the objects conteinplsted II
We agree with the President in his views, we
/ grant The means, not upon confidence but uron
PTeri0Hs confederation and approval If we
differ with him, we withhold the means. becsrse
we cannot approve the measure. demand OF
confluence, IN relation TO any Executive measure
. be Ia ri ,.u1~ t..I,a
OF the specific Cie,cs and Intentions with Which
that measure is undertaken If those views All
intentions are disclosed, must FIRST decide upon
mem, before we can decide upon the measure I; !
sell discaim, sir, all feelings OF violent iealou-
sy and d'strust towards the Executive. ON tbe
contrary, IN proper case, would 90 as far as
any m1n ought to 90, on the principle Of even a
fDe'af confidence IN tie Executive. In regard 10
all measures falling within the constitutional ses
/ Oh tnat department Of the Government believe
slT' W the language Of great man, who once rre
siaeI IN That department, that a certain degree oil
confluence Is necessary So TO give fjunness an ! ef
/ Iect 10 Inc legal administration of our affairs. -
Upon nus principle, if the measure now under com
sdeTatlon, Unprecedented as il u.s. had come before
us IN the form OF a naked recommendation depeod
/ ing upon f-xecaiivc responsibility alone. migh
nave Oeen induced to concur IN aGcrdny the mean,
necessary Tor lts execution without further ir-rir,
But presented 10 US as Il j., with an exnlicit vow
Of IT'S OBJECTS, some Of which we believe 10 be dan
gerous to TIE peace and highest interests Of che na
'oi' un'er THESE circumstances, 20 ark OF us an nm
9"Hyed grant Of ihe means necessary T. D. its exc
c"uon' Is 10 ask, not retiagttishncHt glcrryy
oal Sargce Of our judgmcnt---not con fds1e.
j" o'heTs' bus tcachcry to ourselves aud ol
country.
Ia deciding the question submitted fl, ne. Che,
we must diswiss al eNiraneOus considerations an,
look exclusively 10 Tie infrioei, .,...., 2 i,