Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-15
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
MONDAY, May IL, 1876.
IN SENATE
The journal having been read

ttie Onlteu StdleS ny NI. walker, MS private Se-
cretary, which was read by The Secretary Of the
Senate.
Mr.. Sewer moved to refer The message and
accompanying documents 10 The Committee on
/ Foreign Relations, with leave 10 sill during the
sessions OF The Senate and that they be printed.
Mr. Davis called for the reading Of the docu-
mens.
Mr.. Speight moved TO print 10000 extra CO.
pies.
Mr. Calhoun said that we were placed in
position calling for solemn consideration and
which it might take years to terminate. he
hoped that The Senate would act with that calm
deiberaon which became so important sub
jsct, and meet the crisis firmly and in proper
spirit. He hoped the printing would be confined
TO the usual number, and the COMMITTEE OF Fo-
reign Relations could then determine upon the
propriety of printing an extra number. lie was
opposed 10 any precipitation.
Mr.. Spesht said he offered his motion 10 print
at the suggestion OF Senators around him. he
approved of the views OF the Senator from South
Carolina, but as the documents would be spread
before the public in The newspapers, ne could see
20 improperly in printing an extra number
EIe approved of the message, which did not ask
Tor declaration of war, but merely ior Inc
means OF repellng invasion.
Mr.. Allen advocated the printing OF an extra
number OF copies. The Senator from Mlssis-
sippi had stated that line President asked no de-
caration of war; but he forgot TO mention The I'M
portant TACT which The President communicated,
hat 1ror already crHls. Mr.. A. asked for The
ayes and noes, ON The motion TO print an extra
number.
MIR. Sewer inquired whether his motion TO re-
fer the message and documents and To print the
usual number oil copies, had been carried?
The President said The question had no, been
put.
MIR. Sewer asked that il should be put, before
the question was taken on the motion 10 print an
extra number.
Mr.. Calhoun pointed out the distinction be-
tween state Of war and stale OF ho>tilities-
According 10 The Constitution, war could not
exist without action on the part OF Congress.
The President may repel invasion, but cannot
make war without The advice OF Congress MIR.
G. said his objection to the motion 10 print was
made with view TO prevent any preciplate &C
ton, or by the printing OF 50 large number, 10
give The endorsement Of the Senate 10 the senl-
menls OF the message.
MIR. J. NJ. Clayton moved to refer TO the Com
minee on Military Affairs War existed, and
the message called upon us Tor troops aud money.
The Military Committee was therefore The pre-
per Committee To refer 10.
Mr.. Morehead regretted that he could not con-
cur in the motion Of reference made by his friend
from Delaware He thought The Committee on
Foreign relations was the proper COMMITTEE TO
which the subject ought TO De referred. he
agreed with the Senator from Sou,h Carolina,
that there was a distinction between state OF
war and state of hostiliies and that war could
not exist, according 10 the Constitution, without
the action of Congress.
Mr.. J. NJ. Clayton said The Military Commit
tee was, in his opinion, the proper one 10 refer
the subject 10. The President had Informed US
that war existed, and he was not going 10 pause
l th,r, at inc In
the Constitution or not but to vote the supplies
Of men and money at once, and by SO doing he
| did not indicate any approval the course OF the
President in bringing about such stale OF things.
| Our first care was 10 adopt measures to defend
the honor Of the country, and inquire INTO causes
afterwards.
Mr. Archer opposed the reference 10 The Mill
! tary Committee. He was surprised that his friend
from Delaware had not discovered the distinction
! no;n,sd ont hv The uemalOr ron SCUM Carolina
| He did not understand the message as saying
that war actually existed. |; could not exist le-
galy and constlulionay. II we recognise The
assertion that war did exist, we placed il in the
power of our Military Commanders on the IRON
Tier TO involve the country in war at their plea
sure.
He would remind the Senate that an Ameri-
can vessel was DESTROYED few years since IN our
own waters by an authorized force of Great BIZ
tain. Did that constitute state OF war between
this country and Great Britain? Certainly not
| and neither did The attack OF The Mexican troops.
Mr. Benton said that two distinct questions
were presented in the message. one involving
the voting OF supplies and recognizing Inc can
made for volunteers and The other ~ reference 10
the political relations between the Two countries.
! He moved 10 refer so much of the message as
related 10 The former subject TO the Military Com
| mit,ee and so much as referred 10 the latter 10
i the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Sewer accepted the modification.
Mr.. Cass said he approved highly of The sen-
liment. expressed by The Senator from Della
ware. They were sentiments which did honor
10 him as man and as Senator. In reference
to a state OF war, he said that it took but one
country 10 make war, although it took Two 10
make peace. There were recent occurrences III
Europe which showed that war could take place,
without formal declaration on either SIDE.
! After some further remarks from Mr.. Allen
and Mr.. Calhoun,
MIR. Morehead expressed surprise that The
Senator from Michigan should have taken ocoa-
sion 10 congratulate the Senator from Delaware
| for the expression OF sentiments, patriotic and
honorable in themselves and beautifully express
| ed. but which ne ventured TO say were the senti-
| menis Of every member upon The floor Mr.. Nj.
| said that il we were al war in The proper sense
of the term, the President had the power OF bring
| ing about a state ofwa without the action oil
Congress.
MI. Cass said he certainly could not have
been understood, in congraiulaling The Senator
! from Delaware upon the expression OF his scnti-
| ments. as intending to cast any imputation upon
any other Senator. He repudiated any such
idea and said that he was satisfied that there was
not a Senator upon that side oil the chamber who
would not 90 as far as he (Mr. Cass) would in
defending the honor OF his country.
After an interesting debate, in which " essrs.
Sewer, J. M. Clayton, Allen, Calhoun, Critlen-
den, and others took part, the resolution OF Mr.:
without division
The motion 10 print 10000 extra copies was al
so adopted.
The bill 10 increase the rank and file OF the
Army was taken up, slightly amended, and passed.
The bill from the House 10 retrocede the coun-
" of Alexandria 10 the State CT Virginia, was
read twice and referred 10 the Committee on the
District of Columbia.
Mr.. Archer moved reconsideration OF the
vote by which the bill to increase the rank andhc
The Army was passed. The motion will come
up Tomorrow.
After an Executive session. the Senate ad-
joufncd.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Long before the hour of meeting the galleries
commenced filling, and The members were gather
ed in groups upon the floor, discussing The i'm
nor,ant matters about TO be brought up
AS soon as the journal was read, the rules
were suspended in order 10 receive reports from
| committees.
A bill was reported from The post office COM
,n;,,ee 10 amend the act OF l6i5, regulating the
rates Of postage. 1t was twice read and referred
70 a Committee OF the Whole A great number
of private and local bills were also reported.
An Intellectual attempt was made TO introduce
. resolution calling OF the President for copies of
all orders which have been given to General
Taylor since he has assumed ma ,n7 eo'nna"0 y
On motion of Mr.. Mckay The House then
went into Committee OF The Whole, and took up
,he Bill lin making appropriation for the support Of
the Military Academy at West Point
The usual motion TO strike out The enaclins
clause OF The bill, was made and rejected oy a
Mir SAWYER having given the Senate scoroh-
- r.hnLe for its hardness in passing the Ore