Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-11

~ >"NiS4Oieb S"iiuOt DE opposed 10 them. "A
gentleman IRON Louisiana, (AIr. Livingston, has
represented ii a measure founded in a great and
enlightened polcy-ifit be so, none will be more
delighted to sac 1t prevail than | shall be: for
VIII support any Administration which acts on
such policy. But, if it is measure frausht with
all the direiul and disastrous consequences predict
Gu oy tho gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Floyd
! li!e.'' '
MIR. Forsyth: "rhe House is called unon
however, 10 repose confidence in the Executive
Nir' was not disposed To withhold Constitutions
al confidence. He had no reason to believe il was
the intention of the President and Senate to in
voive the country in a pending or expected war:
out yet he foresaw various means by which the
peace oil the nation may be endangered, and the
ooigations OF our neutrality might be violated,
wHhout supposng any design the part of the
executive TO do either. Judging Of the future from
| the past, he asked the attention Of the House TO
the condition in which the United States are
now placed between Colombia and Spain. BY the
s"Puiauons oil our treaties with these powers
case may arise which shall compel us to insist nj
'he point oil the sword, that Spain shall formally
acknowledge Colombia as an independent govern
thent. The treaty between the United States and
SPAN contains the principle that free ships make
Hec goods; but 1t Is not TO apply unless one of the
parties is az war with power which admits the
piihciPie, and acts upon it. With Colombia we
PiS'seiy Nie same agreement. In the
war, the American flag should cover Spanish and
I COLOMBIAN property from capture and condemna-
ton. Suppose Colombian property is aiken in our
ships by Spanish armed ship Our obligation To
colombia oDliges us TO demand its restitution. The
SPanlard gives up the ship but holds the property
AS iariy seized. and liable to condemnation, as be-
longing to his insuIgent subjects. we must sub
mt 10 TINS claim or compel the re- delivery Of the
property as belonging 10 an independent power,
4 winch admits and tho ,bo
ships make Tree goods. - BY the Constitutions
'he PRESIDENT is the organ by which information
oi exterior interest Is obtained--not for his use
only, but Tor that of the Senate and of the House
oil Representatives. Whenever, in the exercise of
our constitutional authority, any thing is wanted
from Inc president, we have the right TO demand,
ana the power to compel the production of it. The
only Instance in which this right was not dspu,
ed, has been already stated in this debate II oc
CURED IN the discussion of the British Treaty
he ifouse called Tor the Instructions under which
me treaty was negotiated. General Washington
refused TO disclose them, on the ground OF the
want OF authority in the House to demand them.
out because the demand was not made with a view
10 Inc exercise OF any of the constitutional now
ers OF the Representatives, of the People -. The
true power and importance of the Representa-
yves oil the People, were in some danger of beinr
forgotten even by the Represent t;yes of the Peo
pie. Upheld by the Constitution, that House had
ana would exercise the power 10 reach every most
ana oincer OF the Government, except the co-or-
u m pfahch OF the Legislature, breaking down
all the fences which courtesy Vand Difference all
ways seek iosercct around the Executive and Ju-
dciary.'' ~ =
Mr. Webser.-"The honorable member messed
TINS part OF the still further; and endea vored
to show that might result from this measure
ana now does he make this out, Why, he saws
we nave treaty with Colombia, in which the
Drlnclnlp ia ado al tbo,c {. L.
and that whenever either party shall he engaged in
war, the other shall respect this principle toward
all the Governments which shall adopt and act
upon u; mat we have like treaty with Spain
and That II Colombia and Old Spain shall be en-
s"Seu ~ wn' ana we were to act upon this prin-
ciple, Spain will refuse to admit its application
because she Will reply, that the Republic of Colon
Va" 10 'loe nation, but only her rebeous subject
and So 1t we comply with our treaty, we must 90
to war with Spain. Sir, the gentleman has gone
very Tar round, to find out a way in which this
country may get into a with Spsin on The
ground OF our recognition of the Independence of
Colombia Why all this eircuity of supnosi,io,
upon superstition? The result of the whole is
tha' SPAN may 60 TO war with US FOR ackno wledg
ing 'he independence oil her former colonies. Sir.
that cause OF war is notorious We have done
the deed we have made the treaty.: we hold int.
course with Colombia, as a sovereign power: be
minister meets here, in this city the Represents
tive oil the crown OF Spain, on equal terms Does
spain choose to consider this cause of war; She
has long had the opton''--ss But gentlemen Cav,
mat they wish 10 the instructions OF our min
listers. And what will they do with the document.
when they get it d? Do they propose To mend ,,
Modify . Strike out p Insert? Sir. IL we nro.
pose this, we propose to take into our hands the
Executive power OF this government We,traps
ief tle tTeaty-inaking power, from the President
OF the United Staiss, where the Constitution bas
placed 1t, TO the popular branch of the Legislature
- Slr, have not heard it recommended nv any
oody here, to impose implicit confidence: / have
only heafd II SAID, that we ought TO repose the
ordinary confidence which we repose on other oc-
casions, and that we ought not to exhibi, extrao
dinsry difidence. object only TO unreasonable
Jealousy and premature suspicion. Let US 20 on
then, with the call, in the ordinary manner. .
Mr.. Powell, OF Virginia: ''He considered the
whole course oil the discusson as to the policv ~
tins Mission TO Panama, premature and uncon
hecteu win the real question which had been sub
mted 10 the consideration and determination of the
House. The object of the resolution, he reneated
was to procure the necessary information 10 ersbT
the House to understand the important question as
10 the policy OF the recommended Mission 10 Pana
ma. IL Is evident, he said, that il was premature
TO go into such discussion without the Iigbts in mo
Calculated upon from the information the resolution
asked Tor. -" The proposed alteration is ONLY
calculated TO he operative, as il implied a want OF
confidence IN the President of the United States
IL could, in fact have no useful effect, except in
reference to dereliction of duty in that officer, if
u could even have effect in that aspect end al
though (Mr z. said,) he was not disposed 10 weld
himself up implicitly in relation to confidence in
the President, or 10 pin his faith upon the head of
any department OF the government, yet he was no,
disposed to withhold that confidence unless he was
warranted in so doing by some information o, so,ne
frct calculated 70 diminish reasonable and ,,rorn.