Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-07

ness Of party majoriles temporary majorltics II
may be, bare majorites, Of the two houses, acting
under the influences, and liable to all the errors
which may occasionally affect the proceedings of
such numerous assemblies.
Both the negotiation and the ratification of Urea
ties are, in their nature, parts of the Executive pow
or Of Government Wherever the Executive pow
or is vested, there the treaty making power ordina-
ry goes with it, and as part OF Il. There may,
indeed be limitations, introduced for greater secu-
rity; and in this case it is not important whether
we consider the Senate of the United States as par
taking in these respects, of the Executive power,
or as being clothed by the provisions OF the Con-
stitutlon, with special authority IN regard to trea
ties. That authority Is established and does exist
1t exists, in concurrence with the power of the
President; End if the ratification of Treaty may
be made by majorities oftho two Houses, the nego-
tution of a treaty might as well be undertaken by
the same authority.
The House of Representatives has Legislative
power, and none other and whatever may be the
form of resolution or law for the annexation of
Texas, still. as such resolution or law must imply
tho assent Of Texas, the thing TO be accomplished
is plainly n compact between independent Govern
ments. 1t is, in its nature, therefore, convention,
or agreement between two Nations is treaty, and
must be sanctioned in the way provided for all trea-
ties.
The entering into treaties with foreign Nations
is matter of the very highest importance, often
attended with danger and always requiring grave
deiibcraioa. Yet the common good does require
that Governments should enter into such treaties,
for commercial and other just and proper purposes.
DuI "hc uc power. 70 g,I"'JIu' 'peolal H'nuS
ana scCui''c9 uIc oI9u ''"'"i'e''u' 07'''o's u'v
clecleu ny SUITS anu "'' 'iT'li o"Cn
Su'tei " ueciuc upon uO"''S 10 o'0 VI me" ca
press cchs'l'u''onal powers u'lu LUIS No "uuy
%i,ii " - -, - y; 81, NJ ~
thirds of the States concur.
Hete 10 ulcn eo'9.i'u'.p""i s"''"'"y' NV my
ui"' an "Tr liz I'ttS w. IT, ~ H.
country sun w IVY t''ui
holn'ng "nCn n'"y u '''oi NV ,i
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Ucuiy 'nuh'"g P"",' """ I ''O O0'''O'' VI WV
'uuS u. '"o ''''Io ~ ,..c
ana 1t "PPeu.s ~ u,S Co"s o''.o" una' II VIC Ou!
CONCEIVE VI any o"i gam N''if'uN' VI "S'0St"e"t
WIN iote'sn "'"'e' "''ue' .'c mummy 81 thc
General NoVeihch', III winch the ota'cS, us suites,
have pecullar, most important ana permanent IN
tercst 1t Is compact or agreement by winch an
other government or Nation Is to come into the UI-
ion, and become one OF themselves.
Whoever seeks, therefore, to confer the power of
ratiiylng treaties on any other body but the Senate
of the United States acting under It's constitution
al limitations as 10 numo@rS, appears 10 strike
deadly blow at one OF those most considerable pro-
Visions which regard the States as States, and give
them States, an equal share IN the administration
of the government.
But We desire not to be misunderstood. Accor-
ding to our convictions, there Is no power IN any
branch Of the government, or all It's branches, to
annex foreign territory to this Urion We have
made the foregoing remarks, only to show that if
any fair construction could show such power to
exist any where, or TO be exercised in any form, yet
the manner of its exercise now proposed is dcst-
tute Of all decent scmblances Of constitutional pro-
priety.
Great reliance is paced by the advocates Of an
the DrCcpupDtg OF
ida. 1t is not TO be denied that those presidents
do create embarrassment on the present occasion.
because precedents often allowed to have nHu-
cncc, without full consideration OF all the clrCum
stances, which may make them rather exceptions
to a general rule, than a regular emanaon from it,
Louisiana was acquired under very particular cir
cumstances totally distinct from those which per
tain 10 the present case, or can well exist in any
other case ; circumstances affecting, and liable to
affect as well the peace OF the country, as the use
full enjoyment OF Its acknowledged territory. Ev-
cry one saw the Importance OF the control oil the
mouth of the Mississippi; every one saw that while
foreign government hcid Louisiana, we comman
dcd no outlet TO the sea, from an me vast ana Ter
tile regions OF the w est. WYNN SPAN "enao mad
dlihcutlcs, inchacng war ~ was obvious tnut our
western region ming up WIN such "ohueTlul IA
pldlty, by enterprSlng ciszens, whose hecesslteS
for passage to the ocean were increasing win
their own population and their own products wonld
never refrain from insisting, at whatever hazard, on
the free Of the greatest river III the world, a
long whose banks and among whose tributaries 1t
situated, from It's sources toits mouth
The acquisition of Louisiana was a measure CT
Mr.. Jeilerson's administration lie himself appears
not to have had the slightest Idea that 1t would eV-
or be admitted into the Union, without an atera-
tlon of the Constitution such alteration OF the
recommended by him; but the posture of things at
the moment, ana tne genera! IcqueScence o. 'nc
,onsr - ., a,,a; ioJ A., ,h, r,,Gco,;o, nf tho