New-York daily tribune., 1845-03-01
c0NGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
:, ~ e. arpoSrEs OF TIE xEw-YoEk TEtBrNE.

So, ~ etare nj Vex-Jersey for reduction IN the
rs,es ef hostage Laid on the table
The bTil foT the relef OF Wm. Henson was taken
m. read third time. and passed
House bill No i9- came up io- considerauGA
Tn Hi nnahing appropriations toE the c!yI and
ernanses OF the Government TO- The year
endng the 3Oth OF June, one thousand elsai nun
drei and for;v.s!x. and io7 other purposes, Win
amendments, was then taken up and passed
The question upoa adopting the amendments 10
the civil and diplomatic OIL, occupied Aeai!v .!ts
whole hour previous 20 the consideration OF 'he
The hour for the consideration OF the Resolution
for Annexins Texas to the United States having
arrived,
with much embarrassment, even before '!il7 pouE;
10 speak on this subject. Il was the greatest cues
tion which had been brought before this house since
he had the honor OF seat on TINS hoor
The first question i whether We have Inc Con
sttntiona power 10 propose such d resolution as Is
now before us. Did the trainers OF the Constitution
intend that such proposition should De
bv the law-maklng power! The people made the
CONSTITUTIONS and we have right 10 see tnat II l.
protected.
might ask the strict constructionsts 10 show the
power BY which they act. what was intended oy
ihe Constitution when II says mat new States may
be admitted Did II mean mat states cohli5 1oGs
and States not contiguous might be admitted II
= said that II means cotermlnous territory but there
;s M snch nroyision If YOU cons;ruc II literally
Covld Congress annex Us 10 Eng land, or England 10
US?
Had il been intended that bare majority might
annex foreign territory, Toi!d Inc power nav peer!
left lurking IN provision which maybe e&lausltu
on other States lis application may be fully mace
in admitting states from our own territory Sha4
". by such vautng construction as THIS, over,
leap the ancient powers OF the Constitution ana
thus surrender our desilnles from American HANDS
10 those whom single slip OF paper may ADMIT 10
our bOsOms
see no djgerenc. between this and the power
to transfer US TO Westminster Hall, OF to Introduce
greater power here 10 overrule US IN our own
halls.
Congress NAV admit new States and there
fore We may admit every or any STATE MS re-
minds me OF the CROSSROADS politician, IN Ken
tuckv. who was strong Relief Law man, and who
was opposed 10 forced sales or executions lie set
10 wor! to find ont IN the Constitution o Kentucky
some clause on this point. He could md nothing
till he came TO that clause. in mos, Constitutions;
which provides that Justice shall be administered
without sale. This he said was clear and positive
that no sales at all shall be made.
(Mr c. here criticised the arguments on the
Constitutional power by Mr.. McDuiile and Mr.
Walker.)
There is a line between the provinces Of the Law
making and Treaty making power. il may be di-
fcut TO define H. but will say that the acquisition
N'NNJ
power.
Gle here referred TO an opinion of Judge Story,
Ireiacing the reference by a beautiful eulosy on
Justice Story and the Supreme Couu)
The power that would take the acquisition OF
territory from the Treaty making power would take
from it every useful feature.
(Mr. McDullie acknowledged that to acquire
new territory belonged 10 the Treaty making power
but not exclusively
Mr.. Crit,enden said he would put the gentleman
t,.,l
tired TO escape. He would suppose treaty before
the Senate and II found that It could not pass
by two-lhlrds, but that it could pass by one major
ity and suppose that the House had a bare major
lty in favor OF The measure and should pass II and
send il here. The Senate might then reject the
treaty and pass the very same thing by one major
lty, In spite os the Treaty making power
He hoped that the lnsnuation made, that four or
five Senators might be bought, and that thus there
was not such difference between majority and
two-thirds was founded on misapprehension Our
friends who opposed this measure. could not be
bought trust that when Caesar appears he will
not have Senate al his heels trust that even the
Influence of the rising and setting sun in the Presl
dency will not avail 10 buy ionr Senators and Their
votes. The Senator from New-llampshlre (Wood-
burv) said he took ground against The arisocraiIc
feature the Treatv-mak ing power. Did not the Sen
a,or know that the two suns OF the democracy
enc rising and the other setlng-misht not be so
Democratic a power after all. The Senator from
South Carolina had talked otbuying some OF these
Democratic advocates.
(Mr McDuie said that he did not mean to say
that four of the present Senate might be bought, but
he did say, that the time M ght come ,rtei fou Se,l
atorS might be bought for tour foreign missions
Many suppose that that time has already Gomez
(Here Mr. c. replied 10 the arguments OF Mr..
Walker IN reference the opinions oi Mr. Madison
and Mr. Hamilton. While commenting on these,
Mrs Hamilton was introduced 10 seat On the floor
back L power which was taken from Congress by The
trainers of the Constitution.
We always repe an appeal from the constitution
al TO the popular branches. When Genet appealed
from !the diplomatic 10 the popular power, Gen
Washington resented II. And we should do 1t. II
we COuntcnance such'appealS, we may have emlssa-
rles from Texas, France, and other Nations, STIR
ring up our people against the action of government
IN relation 10 them.
But II has been said that Congress may ACQUIRE
territory because IL can do some other things
nected with this power Can congress make peace
because II can make war, (Nlr. McDutiie bowed
afrmatively) ask the Senator 10 state how-(Alr
McDutiie said BY dlsbandng the Navy and Army
That (said Mr.. c. w7nld make peace on one
side, but it would only give Wal powerful intiu-
ence against us-(Nlr, McDutiie cxa!sned and ac-
knowlcdsed that thus measure belonged 10 the Trea-
~ making power, but not exclusively | say then,
said Mr. s that what property belongs the 1rra-
" making power belongs exclusively 10 II. IL can
not be taken from the guardianship OF two-hIrds OF
the Senate.
have thus attempted to show that Congress can.
not acquire foreign territory.
assert again, that the question has been settled
by preceden,S, that territory can be acquired only
BY Treaty-Floyda, Louisiana, and even Texas, as
proposed by Mr.. Tyler. The idea OF departing from
these precedenis created by the failure OF Ia
vorite measure by the constitutional means. The
gentlemen on the opposite side, II they cannot ad
M. new States, can create new ideas. The great
apostle Ueticrson) slept on this clause the Con-
s,itution, and never dreamed OF giving II such
meaning as Is now forced upon H.
The too prolific politicians OF this day OF steam
boats and hyins machines have eti the safe lights
of our ancestors and gone Star gazing, after the
Lone Star, which the Poeilcal Senator from New
York pictured as weeping and in tears. In place
OF Constitutional arguments we have Poetry and
Blank verse and toe much prose given Us.
Gentlemen talk OF England and seem 10 fear her.
anc 10 be in dread Of her, TO drive US 10 wrong
actions If the gentleman had as much confidence
in the people OF This country have, he would not
fear England. England knows oprpeople TOO well TO
know that she can make any thing al bargains or
hlCIvs with The oanflarrlan Un,,ld aEe n.