The New York herald., 1845-08-24
Proposed Meeting ofe Congress-Posihoh OF
the United states Governments towards


Proposed Meeting org Congress-Position OF
80, rrn,tea states Government towards
Mexico.
We think indeed fully timesfor the President, n
the present complicated position of public affairs a:
resnects Mexico. 10 take into consideration the ne
c.ssity of calling Congress together al once All the
elect;ons for the present House OF Representatives
have taken place, with the exception OF two or three
and in a very few weeks these will be determined
They consist fthe States of Maryland, Mississippi,
and one ortwo others Nothing in fact can be urged
against the propriety and expediency of the imme-
date convention of Congress.
The relations of Mexico with this country are be-
coming so complicated, and the question OF the
i.,,.s larv between Texas and Mexico is becoming
. complex and mystied, that II Is absolutely neces-
sary that Congress should assemble, IN order to pre-
serve the President from taking any step which
could not afterwards be sustained, well as TO give
! formal sanction TO what has been already done.
He shoud al once be invested with all the power
and authority necessary TO enable him to carry on
with the utmost vgor and success, any measures
which may be necessary in this great crisis. If the
Mexican military post on the east bank OF the Rio
Grande which has always TILL now been held in un-
disputed possession by the Mexcans be assailed
instructions which we have been given to under
stand have been issued by our government, then it
is obvious a serious question, involving delicate
points of international law, will come up-Mexico
will appeal to England and France as medators-
and thus contingency arise which would place the
President in awkward position, if Congress were
not in session. For this it surely were well TO pre-
pare.
By our private correspondence from Washington,
il is also proper to add we learn that the desire of
the cabinet is to avoid war; purchasing the dspu-
ted territory. Can it be possible Are we going
to buy off a war with Mexico If we have, under
the act of annexation sanctioned by Texas, rights
to the territory watered by the Rio Grande, why
should it be paid for Why, such an idea is prepos
ferrous. To perpetrate such an act would be the
same compoundng felony, in national point
of view. Should not Congress be convened, and the
will of the nation be expressed, in opposition any
such mode Of settling the Mexican question gain,
many respectable and influential citizens throughout
the country strong doubts as to the consti
tutionality of the power already exercised by the
President, in the preliminary steps he has taken for
the purpose OF defending the Texan frontier, and
maintaining our claims 10 the boundary. This par
ty contena that the President has no power 10
do any such thing without authority of Con-
gress-that he cannot, on his own RESPONSE
bllty, order troops to the Texan frontier,
that that is a power withheld by the Consti
tuition. Now, although we do not concur in
these opinions, and although are perfectly will
ling 10 allow the Executive, of its own free will, TO
exercise all the power vested in it by the Consti-
tuition; yet it would be much better for Mr. Polk, for
the success of the administration for the honor and
interests of this country, that there should be no
doubtn the minds of any portion of the community
as to the propriety and constuonality ofhis course
30 that universal unanimy might prevail with re-
gard 10 the patriotism and necessity of sustaining his
policy.
We do think that the considerations which we
have thus briefly presented are Of no inconside
bic weight We trust they will be received and act
cd upon blythe administration The crisis is urgent
and of the utmost Importance. 1t is impossible to
tell what day may bring forth. Let every lawful
and precautionary measure be taken at once Let
Congress be called together, let the national voice
speak out through its representatives, and lei all
needfu power and authority be at once conferred
upon the Executive.