Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1845-01-16
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
By THE REFOnTER OF THE \. y. rR1BuNE..

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. As,s
By THE REPoRTER OF THE y. II. sTR1BUNE..z3
WAsHrNcroig, Jan. 9th, 1915. =
The HoUsE OF RErREsEesrAxTvEs, immediate
ly after the organization, went into Committee Of
the Whole on the State of the Union, MIR. Hopkins
in the Chair. 81 81 :. 4# s15 4sJi ts.9a - ia
Mr. Winthrop of Massachusetts, occupied his
hour in very eloquent speech against the Annexs
alton of Texas. gaa III Fygfg d i9sa4fEsyts
Mr.. w. then went into an examinations Of the
constitutional question, what is delegated and what
retained, and where the proper power iSsvested.--
kle would construe the Constitutions literally, but
he could not agree with the gentleman from Ala
bama in following Hoyle's rule: sWhere you are
in doubt, take trick" He was for pausing when
he could not give reason for proceeding 8es@siss
1t was difficult to realize that such proposition
was actually before them--to annex whole nations;
to naturalize BY single stroke Of the pen whole
nation; to admit $4,000 Slaves at once into our
country, contrary to the provisions Of the Constiu-
ton to create new stars that shall dim the lustfe
Of our own constellation and drag them down to a
The scheme was set on foot by an accidental
President, not elected by the people, for ambitious
ends; it was rejected by the proper authority, the
treaty-making power, yet after one short hours
deliberation il 10 revived and placed before us for
approval with az little ceremony as il il was only
for the establishment Of new post-oifice for such
was all the consideration given to measure OF such
influence OH country and her institutions. est
II we look at this question in an executive light
its history exhibits degree Of usurpation scarcely
ever equaled Its diplomatic history 10 calculated
to crimson the face OF every American with shame.
Even in the Texan light Of the question we must
feel for people to whom the President OF the Uni-
ted States had DARED to pledge himself that two,
thirds Of the Senate would vote for the treaty. Yes
had dared to pledge two thirds of the Senate of tho
United States to vote for the treaty. lie agreed
with Gov. McDuiiie, in his Message, delivered o
few years ago, that the Texans, having voluntarily
abandoned and deserted their own country, for hon-
or or for isVamy, did not deserve much sympathy,
from the country so deserted. Still, looking at the
| manner in which the Texans had been abused and
deceived. he began to feel for them, We are now,
told that there is great danger in delay in this,
question. It had been feared that some influential
men in Texas were going to come out against AM
nexation with the United States, that it was now
thought necessary to get the start Of the better,
Judgment OF Texas-and to take the start Of the
judgment Of this country-for it was ascertained
that the rejecting judgment Of many ofthe Democ-
racy We're turning them from this question. He
hoped that Texas would have proper respect for
herself and not be deluded any longer.
The gentleman from Alabama had referred to
his manifesto" as his few words Of objection 10
the Resolution, when first introduced, were de-
nominated. To that "manifesto" he still adhered.
This house had no authority to annex Foreign
Territory. The cases cited, as precedents, fLouis.
lana and Florida, did not settle the question Mr.
Foreign Territory, using the authority Of Mr. Van
Buren, and his whole Cabinet in support OF his
views, after these precedents. they are called,
had been in existence. st s 1f2lf'
But who are the gentlemen who quote prece.
dentist They are the men who deny the authority
Of oil precedents, who say that the precedents in
the Bank question, in the signatures VI Washington
and Madison, did not make Bank cons siiufienal
that Jackson and Tyler had restored the Constitu-
ton which had been perverted by Washington and
Mad ax.nV NItnsA AtzAv H..
governed by the precedents every administration,
supporting Protective Tariff down to Jackson -.
MIR. Jefferson, in his letter to Mr.. Breckenridpe
acknowledged that the proceedings, relative TO
Louisiana, were not constitutional, and urged,
while ne ,ad sp5 nope Of success, an amendment to
the Constiistion for this very proceeding. t7 VIZ
The Hafhefs.of our Constitution never dreamed
that fbey were ua<ing Constitution for any other
| couHfry than oyf uNnIto bind Us for better and
srvsse to the destiny of any Foreign Power. That
lOonstifution, whose compromises fastenedSa GER
tain amount Of Slavery upon Us, did not contem.r
plate introducing whole nation Of Slaves upon Us.
1t would be change Of the Constitution TO extend
il to Foreign Nations, for there would be new par
ties to the contract Annexation is change of
country and constitution People only can do
this, BY the provisions made for change of Con.
stitution. This i eminently States Rights
question. He dealt out no threats of disunion. -
Such threats had been the abundant production of
other soils than Massachusetts,. We love our whole
country and the Constitution as it il. ID Here Mr..
Winthrop quoted an extract from the recent Mes
sage Of Gov. Briggs, of Observation-Disclosures
that State to abide by the Constitution.J Even
should we be forced to frame new Constitution.
we would 60 10 work like the Jews Of old in build
ing their new Temple, weeping for the old. He
believed that If any thing could absolye the States
from an allegiance to the Constitution, it would be
this Annexation Of Texas. ta9 "A ssy ..s.f
He then quoted Mr.. Gallatin's opinion on tho
unconsfitntionality of the proceeding, This Uatee
has no right to make any bargain or compact with,
| foreign power. II may provide for carrying out
the provisions Of Treaty. Our Constitution pro-.
vides that one third Of the States, ard these the
smallest States, may forbid any alliance with for
eign power. This resolution is Treaty: II il in
the very words Of the rejected Treaty. The gem
tleman who introduced it said that II was COM,
pact or bargain between two Nations, to which
both must agree. What is a Treaty unless this be
one! After answering several arguments, made by
the gentleman who spoke in favor Of annexation he
referred TO MT. Calhoun's speech il 1916 on the
bill to carry into AFFECT the Commercial Treaty with
Great Britain. Mr.. Calhoun says
"Why cannot Congress repeal an act declaring
war; He acknowledged with the gentlemen they
cannot, consistently with reason. The solution of
this question explained the whole difficulty. The
reason il plain; one Power may make war, il re-.
quires two to make peace. 1t is a state of mutual
amity succeeding hostility; is state that cannot
be created but with the consent Of bot parties IL
required a contract or Treaty between the Nations
at war. Is this peculiar to Treaty Of peace No;
No; it 10 common to all Treaties. Ii arises out
Of their nature and not from any incidental crcum-
stance attaching itselfto particular class. II il
no more nor less than that CONGRESS CANNOT
MAKE A CONTRACT WITH A FOREIGN MA.
TON"
Whatever. then, concerns our foreign relations,
Whatever requires the consent Of another Nation.
fO ma