Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-09

the corr spondence, what follows! The President
may think Thai the public good require this mis-
sion, and he may also think that 1t he commun'-
Gates these powers, the house may defeat the mis-
sion, and, in that case, he will of course think
tha, il is. Incompatible with the public good,
tina, their powers should - be communicated."-
For myself, sid MIR. +. | cannot imagine how
knowledge OF these powers is TO inJnre, or any
way affect, the public good. We have In TINS
matter nothing TO conceal. Oui Ministers so TO
s,ipulate, but with whom, aud 10 .wha, extent!
When send Minis er abroad, II may often be
Incompatible with the pubic good 10 disclose our
correspondence with him, because publication oil
that correspondence may put other nations In pos
session of information respecting our plans and
pur poses which ought TO be concealed; but 40 such
reason holds ia respect to the Congress OF these
South American States Whist he was up, MIR
+. begged TO say lew words in reply TO VIVA,
mad fallen from hoho rable member from Nlassa-
chusetIS Mr. EveTett) one oil the most attentive,
and he had no doubt v ould prove TO be OF
| the most useful members ui the Committee on fo-
reign Relations. do undertake to say, Cob |
served Mr. f. IN Oh aning and in communicating |
to the gentleman lron oIth Carolina the inior-
nation to which he al. dei nd which induced hin !
To po tpone the lii up OF isiesoiuiion, ttai
ac ed BY the authority oil that comnilIee, because
| tie subject had moi been before that committee;
| a ted, in DOING so, as the humble organ of this
House, with desire to enable myself To state to
which am placed III reference To the ijouse, whe-
tnet any evil would be likely TO arise not from
deiay IN the CALI whether the Department kney
OF any motive which might make II advisable not
TO call Tor any par oi the papers, AID whether II
was enpiated by the Executive TO present he
Information 10 the House. bought, as Chairman
OF hat committee, that, il could obtain this IN
I 10 ma.iun, it my duty to present IT, was
tlisunct told that The information would be pre-
sen ed IN time, if an Appropriation should he want
eds and my understanding was, that, II 10 sppro-
II priatIon should be " aned, he papers would not
Ie communicated. In this situation, The affair lay
Tor three weeks. / still 90 not know whether any
appropriation will be wanted lie affair remains,
So far rs / am concerned, precisely IT was.
did vote against acting al all on the subject; but
am entirely willing the Information should be had,
and that all The information shall be had which lie
desirable
i Mr.. Webster said that the question now was,
vine her the House should take tie course calcu-
lated To effect its own object The present reso-
luton had been introduced by gentleman from
South Carolina, who seemed TO stand III very
convenient relation TO 1t. Herepudiates or ADOPTS
il, as ii suits his purpose. When any rop"si-
ton Is made TO amend it, 10y those who are entire
iS opposed the call, the resolution is then his
aud lie adopts the amendment a m dihcation -
At other times, he has particular interest III H.
Mr.. w though it better that the House should
DISMISS this state OF things. 1t would be better
10 have resolution which could be amended by
: all, and not by those only no opposed to
The motion altogether. As TO all the information
which can, without improperly, be disclosed on
tiis subject, | am ANXIOUS TO have it any
gentleman. Why should not he. / am not one
OF those who make up my mind, before have
any know ledge of the facts which il IS 10 lie
made up; and in the present case, still in the
dark. do no. pledge myself either TO support OF
20 oppose the general MEASURE. And, in ma
king the call, any phraseology, within he usual
limits, will meet 10y appreciation. But / object
to any CALL mat is withou the dscre onary clause.
Sir, tie House ried the experiment when General
; Washington was President. They applied for the
! Instructions which had been given to Mr.. JaJ
and the received for answer, that that mat
ter which pertained 10 the treaty making power.
have prepared. and now beg leave offer, az an
amendment, substitute for this whole resolution.
- iii--~"i '----'- ard "in
lbelleye, all that LIs-taxs right TO ask for.
The Speaker said that this amendment, W ould OF
; be in order, while the present amendment was
) pending.
, MIR. Wright then withdrew his amendment. md
the amendment of Mr. Webster was read as fol-.
lows:
TO strike out all, after the word " Resolved,
and insert the following:
! :" That the PIe~iden be requested TO cause to be
laid before this House so mnch of the corre.pon
dence between the Government of the United
! Ministers, respecting The proposed Congress, or
meeting OF Diplomatic Agents al Panama and
such Information respecting the general character
oil that expected Congress, as may be in his nos
session, and as may, in his opinion, be communica
ted without prejudice 10 the public interest; and
also 10 inform the House, far in his opinion
the public interest may allow, in regard To what
Objects the Agents of the United States are ex-
pected to take part in the deliberations of that
Congress-"
| Mr., McDuffie rose to congratulate the gentleman
| from Massachusetts, his conversion; as the pro-
position he offered was precisely the same in
| substance with his own.
| MIR. Houston of Tenn. then rose, and addressed
the House al considerable length in support of
call for all the information the subject at present
under discussion.
Mr.. Stevenson of Pennsy lvania, then offered the
| following amendment
| Strike out the words " so much Of where they
first occur, and the words 9 may in his opi,ion
be communicated 1oith0m prejuiire 20 The puJLc
interest,"" aud also the ~ords so far as in his
opinion the public interests may aiiow - and add
at the close, these words, 50 m0ifng 50 much oil
his communication confidential as he may think
proper "
Mr. Stevenson obsery ed that he isbed TO vot.
for the call, but that he could not vote Tor il nm
der the discretion and limitation He wanted 10 |
hsvesaH the facts before the House He did not |
wish 10 command hem against the interest Of the |
nation, was il his wish to embsrrass the Exc
eutive; but he wanted to have full light on the
subject-tbe same light hich the Executive has
had upon it &, and as another branch Of the Govern
men is now supposed 10 have
If the of the nation have been con6d,d
to two branches of the goyernme I, he thought
Il. al. A u