Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-02-07

- 49, VIII wait until Executive
quhes MN 10 communicate il. Without tho,cfore
any regard to what may be going on es.wherc La
o'c ior .hs cau, because he believed the inlor-
NATION interesting TO the country, and that il would be
useful TO Tins House independent BODY
-'1r D,cisAt of Mass said that he shouLl ha tho ,s
person VINO would seek TO pierce that veil of secrecy
"hch Tie constitution has thrown around thc Pre- Ir
AUG The Senate, when engaged in executive hus;nose
Du, was the slightest wish To violate that privacy betrav
Gu oy TINS resolution? he President as exnress ni
u % nc mas oeen invited TO great weighty measure
ASA ,orinionnaiion for the purpose of cniig hening
our hinds with relation 10 10. With our present know
euge, we are not competent 10 form any correct ;u3
neh' on the subject The resolution of the gentleman
rom pennsylvania commits the House and the nation
70 an expression OF feeling relation 10 Ills measure
measure in'srt"ined with of the best feelings Of
"ie American People. We merely ask the President
" communicate 10 us now, that which he has promised
10 communicate at some timc vet we do not AXE av,v
rom hn the exercise oftlat discretion which the com
suuton has wisely reserved 10 the Executive A,ag;e
trae. 90
'1f C'",brefeng, Of New York agreed entirely with
he gentleman from Massachusetts. He t,oupit Tho
House ought To get all the information OF, so nnnr,,r
measure winch can be obtained and when il Should
oe received he was willing and ready go as far as
any member OF tis House, relation TO S,utl Ameri
Ca lie considered tlis mission as presenting GREAT
question, and, whether they should be called on TO de
cue on 'le resolution OF the gentleman from Pcnnsyl
wanna or To pass an appropriation bill it was equally
Important mat tIcy should possess the know edre i'm
question: He bad risen for the purpose of su~csiir
70 The gentleman from Soph Carolina to strike out Thai
part oil The resolution, with which concludes i'm The
usual words AT not incompatible wiki t, ,,hlic vol
fare" lie thought that on question Of spci Vital inn
portance and one which might possibly involve tho
utuTa destiny OF This county, 1t was requisite that this
iouse should be pct in possession OF tc sCholc of the
facts on this subject the iastrcsioaa TINT c;5
be g(Cesl to orr Oman is.!oncls
.ur. Hamilton SAID, belnrc re replied he wished 70
know whether the resolution really be!oareI TO
MN or to the putaiive father of IL lie consented
however, TO the modification proposed BIZ HE INN
from New York, if h. had the control OF il: and thc
words were ttcn stricken from The resolution bv the
CIeik, - ~
M. fYebster, of Mass. then moved that Tho r,o4
be restored lie ald, that in all calls Tor i.forroation
which is in The possession OF the President was usn
ana proper To iim the call in the first instance w
Inc Insericn OF tins clause and very obvious TINT
when such Limitation was Introduced th. call r,,ot
TO be made at rs early period IN tie sessit, IA j. F
'.ca"i ana lhen the reply to IL docs not contain all
that gentlemen wish the residue can he supplie,l ia
CohhIehtial communication afterwards: bat was
thing. te believed, eulircli without prcceiazt t
OH e PRESIDENT fnr MI the information his hands on
gwen subject without leaving ii discretionary with
hi To withhold such part OF IL he may SUPPOSE tfe
public good forhids To be communicated.
mr. CGnIb1ecng observed, in reply that il was in
consequence ot suggestion thrown from le ren-
tenan iron massachusetts, himself that lie had ronos
ed TO tie gentleman from South Carolina MIR I.,,I
ION, to modify tie resolution the manner which he
had done; and lie would ask foY that gentleman or
any ose', could be prepared on the rese! ION
OF inc gen ielan from Pcnns} Yaua, Mr. Miner or
how h c"uld tell whether minister ought TO be sen,
10 Panama unless he knows what is Intended lie shall
do when lie gets there, IT, however he had rightly
understood iie gentleman from Massachusetts he has
su@gcs ed tiei The House need defnitivey ul
1t shall have received tie whole Of the information by
secret aud confidential Information If such he the
understanding, between ime House and the Executive
lac willing to take the gcTtiernan' amendment For
himself lie was warm advocate of the South American
cause, yet he could not vote undersaudngly in the
sent case, until he sncw the whole of the grounds on
winch the Nation was 10 proceed
ar i5afJseV . Nj a. 10
conceded on all hands that the information is TO be qiyen
al some lime in s opinion the time proper for giving
II had n''V arrived II, indeed, it had MT already gone
| Oy- Tie ougress at Panama is already in session.
The House may be called upon to make an aDprOpria
ton tor Minister, and the Chairman ofhe Committee
OF ways and hleans could he doubted not bear wit.
ness, that bills OF appropriation sometimes experience
embarrassment and delay. Hence il was important
tia 1t we received this information all was de
sirabic we should receive it as early as pOssible Tt
II be well done, 'twcrc well it done quickly" Ali
mat the House Is entitled TO ask g. is that which is
laid down in the Presidents Message Ti!9re he r,o
ted that sentence in the Message which relates 10 Tins
subIectl lie was not Of opinion that the House las
the rgh' 10 call for the Instructions that NAV be von
10 our Misunderstanding promised this lac would vote
| for The cali
M. WeJs'sr wished to say one word to guard arains
an Inference which appeared To have been dram from
what he had said when last up He had not snnl;ec
OS any understanding between the House and fe RS .
cutye he had only said thar il the present call should
be made IN the ordinary form, and the Honsc when II
receives the answer, shall he Of opinion that the res
dent iias not communicated all that is desirable il
make farther CALL and if the President shall not have
sent part Of the Information because he thinks
rot TO he made public il may then be made the subject
OF a second and confidential communication
The amendment offered by .Vr. KcJsie, was then
adopted by Tue House.
DIR Floyd, of Virginia. then SAID If Ibis was any
ordinary call for information the House would not iavc
been troubled with any mark Of his. lie had always
consented and always should consent 10 any and every
cali for information. Tic bad been unwilling adopt
the amendment: lie thought That tho House ought
Least to have all the Information that can be obtained
z Il IS TO decide this subject The question is new
20 the nation and to this House, II dis amendment shah
DC sustained in its presen; form the President will send
us Just much information he thinks oaett to
have and then, 70 enable this House TO form with Dig
nifty correct decision. must conjecture the balance.
But said Mr. +. ar pposed not oHly 10 the amend
mont, bat 10 the resolution Itself Where IS the man
! IN this Rhno of clndnoc