The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-01-09
Congressional.
Correspondence of the Boston Atlas,

Washington Dec 26, 1897.
The memorial of the Peace Society, presented
by Mr. Adams, respecting the war win Mexico,
which Howard had moved to be referred to mo
Committee on Foreign relations; and which Adams
had moved be instructed to rcad consider and report
upon the same, came up for consideration.
Adams moved to strike out the word 'road' from
his instructions. He said that he should not have
showed that instruction, had not most important
Committee of this House, in printed communica-
ton signed by six OF It's members, expressly ac-
knoyledged, that touching most important subject
Lrouaht before that Committee by petitions from
the peope, that Committee had acted, aothout read-
ing the Petitions,
Committee ofForegn Affairs was the proper Com
mittee to whom this memorial should be sent.
The President, in his Message, declared that the
House had conceded with the opinion of his prede-
cessor, that any means hnoaom TO the la'o Of nations
1nipht Ia,ciulIu be reSOrted to, as means Of obtain
ing redress from Mexico
Adams said he was unwilling to make an issue
of persona veracitv with the President of the United
States He would, therefore, enquire, if the Chair
man of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, or any
other member of the House, would say, that this
assertion of the President was true?
No answer being returned, Adams said he would
then saw that in point of fact, there was no act or
record of the House to sustan the assertion Of the
President, in his Message The Committee of For
cign Affairs in their report, had conceded with the
opinion of the President, but the House had never
done so. Adams then proceeded to argue that the
Committee of Foreign Affairs, having already ex-
Mexico were no fit Committee 10 consider that pc
tition.
MIR Adams gave way to Mr. Howard, who argued
against the instructions on several grounds: LIST,
that the proposal of the Mexican government men
toned IN it, to refer all matters in controversy be-
tween Mexicp and the United States, to the arbi-
tration of third power did not in fact exist al
lcast had never been communicated to the United
States Cd that the plan of an arbitration might be
agreeable to few well meaning fanatics, but that
it Was wholly impractical and he referred 10 the
North Eastern boundary question, as the ony in
stance in which it had been ,,ied, and in which i
had totally failcd Sd, that the petition signet
were IN pencil marks 9th, that the petition cam,
from society, and that others probably would fol
low it, &c. &c
AS to Towards first objection, Adams said, tina
was one OF the very questions for the committee te
ing extemporaneousy decided by the Chairman O
the Committee. In his subsequent observ ation
upon this matter, lac argued to show that there was
nothing to disprove the facts alleged in the memo
rial and that they were a very fit subject TO be-
enquired into.
AS to the second objection, as an offset to the
unsuccessful experiment alluded to by Howard, he
referred TO the arbitration OF the emperor of Russia
the subject of the slaves carried off by tho Brit
ish during the last war; and the millions of none,
obtained under that arbitration; and he called upon
the slave holders in the House, remembering how
successful the principle had been in that case, &c
apply it to this.
He also alluded to the case of our difficulty with
France and the favorable effect of tho yol,,tor,
interference Of Great Britain, in that case He wen
at length into his own course that occasion anf
called to the recollection of the House, that Unani
NOUS Resolution to sustain the Executive, which
he had great hand IN carrying through, and t
which the successful termination of the contro vcrs
might in certain degree be ascribed.
AS to the petition being signed partly by women
lie begged gentlemen to consider that this was pc
ton for peace. Whatever doubts might exist as Il
the propriety of women signing petitions of olhe
kinds, who would say they ought not to petition 70
peace War was a terror to mothers and wivos
w House yyOulU ham, vol,
their voices against it
Adams spoke at length and with great force
he was followed by Howard, Dawson, of Georgia
Haynes and Tiliinghast, and by the suggestion o
the latter Gentleman lie modified his resolution, S,
as merely to direct the committee to report
The instructions were lost, 81 to g.
The question then required simply on referrin,
the memor lal TO the comm ittee of foreign affairs
Adams made another speech, which was yer,
brilliant etfort, and which ought to have been heart
by fuller house. He maintained again that iii,
President had made an assertion entirely aratuitou
md unfounded, when he said in his messape tha
"from the proceedings of Congress it appeared tina
the opinion of both branches of the Legislature 70
incided with that of the Executive that any mod
of redress known to the law of nations, might ius
thabiy be used against Mexico" Howard had re
fered TO clause in the appropriation bill of the las
year,-voting certain sum Of money for nm envo,
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiarv to Mex
leo, whenever diplomatic intercourse with thn
nation could be honord6Ly renewed founda
ZION Tor TINS assertion OF the President. Adam.
maintained that this very vote was proof posiIive
that the House had idea of war, or of anytLino
leading TO war; but looked confidently TO The
restoration of friendly relations.
He went into very severe criticism upon the
course pursued by our Government in sendipg :
mere messenger; in the diplomatic language o
Europe, mere courIer,-to Mexico, with a bundle
OF dispatches in his hands, and instructions to de
mand satisfaction OF all complaints within one week
he descrbedt as the greatest insult which one ma
ton could possibly offer to another, and asked how
we should feel, if the same course were pursued
toward US This argument very strongly put
Inc quesnon was taken on the reference Of the
memorial, put no quorum voted, and the House
ADJOURNED, tbeing past five o'clock
SENATE The presentation of the Vermont anti
Asxas asa and,savery, memorial was deferred fo
smali notes IN the District of Columbia, was urthe
discussed, and being amended, it passed by an ali
most unanimous vote. - -" ~