Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-01-18

81 quote this for your consideration observing that the les
that is said about any constitutional difficulty the better
that will be desirable for Congress do what is necessary
slence.n
To Wilson Cary Nicholas September II, 1903, vol. a
page 2, he says: t34E tE %
Whateyer Congress shall think necessary should
done with as little delay possible, and particularly far
respects the constitutional difficulty OF the fore
OF the observations the power given by the Constitution
Congress to admit States into the Union without
ing the subject to the territory then constituting the Unitet
States But when consider that the limits OF the United
States precisely fixed by the treaty of 1885, that the Con
uton expressly declares itself to be made for the Unite,
States, cannot help believing that the intention
permit Congress to admit into the Union States whicl
should formed out OF the territory for which, and under whose
authority alone, they then acting do not believe IL
meant thar they might receive England Ireland Holland
into it, which would be the your construction Wher
an instrument admits OF two constructions, the safe the
other dangeroushe precise, the other indefinite prefer
that which is safe and precise had rather ask enlarge
meD OF power from the nation when il is found necessary thar
to assume by construction which would make our powers
boundiess Our peculiar security is in the possession of
written Constitution Let not make il blank paper b,
construction"
Has the name Of Jefferson lost its charm with his disciples
Is his opinion OF weight question of such magnitude
with the Jefersonan school of Democracy Entertaining
these views where let ask would Mr. Jefferson be found
upon this Texas question, if he alive and if he
now to spring into life and to raise his against the
unconstitutional as he surely would what snail
shell would be too small for the conductor of the Richmond
Enquirer, any of his political family crawl into ssThe
Constitution says Mr. Jefferson, " has made provision
holding foreign territory, still less for Incorporating for
egn nations lc Union" If there is no such power are
the Democracy prepared to exercise it The Whigs am
sure not and yet not little strange that among
those who have held Mr. Jeesons opinions on all con-
sutona questions of the highest authority there has not
been yet wiling quote follow him on this most i'm
poant question: except Mr. Van Bure perhaps and for that
ne was renounced denounced and deserted by the Jeeson
an Democracy
g But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world now lies he there.
And none so poor to do him reverence"
If there power granted by the Constitution for the ac-
QUESTION OF territory Mr. Jefferson supposed, where
the power be found for incorporating any other Government
with ours As said BEFORE grant the practice of the Gov
eminent has settled the question otherwise in regard acqu
sion of territory merely, and that settled practice has all
grown of the precedent established by the treaty for Lou
sana the power for which denied the time by the ne
gotator himself Here is presented another question: far
the other in Importance and precedent in this
may rpen into practice and for one am for meet
ing the question at the first hop and permitting to
tam foothod for moment the only security have for
the future This Government trust endure for ages to
come and looking into the vista of time, am now for
guarding against future danger Establish this precedent
sanction the authority of powerful President and wo-hrds
OF corrupt Senate, might be- to unite this Government
OF ours the United States with any other Government and
let all Europe become again convused with general warlet
another Napoleon arise to pull down Kingdoms and build up
cpesto shake the world by the force of his genius and his
and let people, and particularly our public men, de-
generate IN the same rapid degree that they have done in the
last sixteen years. since vice usuped the reward Of virtue and
uscppuous craftsmanship has been made the only test Of
merit and how might find free and Independent
republic converted, ay, and cosfu0dy converted by
President and thirty five Senator'S into mighty kngdonour
President made King, and Senators made Ea Lords
and Barons for their baseness and their treachery.
will not admit that my liberties and the Liberties of my
children are held by any such tenure. will admit that
any trysx that live Breathe or that God will ever
make, thus lawfully constutionaLy barter away my
Government and my Country, and the Government of twenty
millions OF feemen, to crafty their avarce pacty,
ambition But if they can consutionaly INCORPORATE this
Government with Texas why not with Russia, England,
France, or the Celestial Empire No this is country to
ITSELF the land of liberty and the resting place of freedom so
let preserve it untammeed by and unconneced with any
other Government on earth.
All treaties are by the practice of the Government kept
secret they unknown until they ratified or rejected
except to the negotaos and the Executive branch of the Go
7enmen; and do not know but that it sis practice more
honored in the breach than the observance y yet is Now
u the late Ashburton treaty, in settling permanent and
'enent boundary line between great nations slip Of land
acquired here and surrendered there and no one
was disposed to raise question Of constitutional difficulty
But suppose upon the ratification that treaty. had been
certaned that 1t contained provision incorporating this Go
with that Of Great Britain and was question then
be determined by the numerical strength of the two parties
which form OF Government to prevail, their hereditary
Monarchy Republic should all have folded our arms
tame and silent acquescence and have muered through
teeth that the President and Senate had confined them
selves to the exercise of their constitutional powers and we
had right to complain If they had the power and we
had given it to them, would have right resist and
they have the power in the Of Texas they would have
had II in the case of England
should like to know how long will be- for great CONNER
nal advantages to arrest the aggessons of England or for
pasture ground for wild beasts other such good
eason, before we have proposition TO the Chinese
Empire to the United States But perhaps am preciptae
Who knows but the Captain and his Secretary the great
,egotatos of the age, determined future distinction even
m the principle OF ne who burnt the Ephesian temple have
through their agent Mr. Gushing, in his treaty with his Ce
estia Majesty, already secured this nestmabe blessing
we shall know, perhaps, when the treaty is disposed Of
Certainly not before
It will not be contended presume, that this most novel
md extraordinary power be accomplished without some
warrant And will bring this letter already
much too long, to conclusion by asking those who favor the
Measure to point to the provision Of the Constitution on which
hey rely to justify the proceeding either by treaty. BILL Joint
esolution.
Tho second section Of the second article Of the Constitution
eclares he (the Presden shall have power hy and wit,
he advice and consent of the Senate TO make treaties pro
lded two-trds OF the Senate concur" All compa Is and
agans between foreign Powers treaties and these are
xclusvey conded TO the President and Senate They make
reaies but they cannot admit States into the Union .
heir powers imperfect for any such purpose But Con-
may the House Of Representatives are allowed to take
part IN the DECISION OF that question: affecting only the
general national interest," but the interest Of each individual
State and accordingly we find provided in the third section
the fourth article of the Constitution that new States NAV
admitted by the Congress into this Union y but there
owcr in Congress to treat with foreign nations therefore
his power also imperfect to accomplish the annexation Of
exas The President and Senate may form treaties but
annot admit States Congress NAV admit new States
out Of their territory as Mr. Jefferson said hut they
annot make treaties compacs with other nations Thus
ach power Is imperfect and insufficient in itself 10 ac
ompish this end, and deny the right To incorporate the two
nto one and make that perfect which intended 10 be inn