The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-09
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs.
The journal Of yesterday was read and approved.
CALL ON THE PRESIDENT FOR INFORMATION

suspension OF the rules the consideration of the
luton OF Mr. G. DAVIS, calling on the President for in
formation, offered yesterday and on which the yeas and
nays had been ordered,
The SPEAKER announced that from the nature Of the
circumstances the rules not required 10 be suspend
ed One day having interviewed, the resolution could
be considered: The question would then be agreeing
with the resolution
| Mr.. HARALSON then rose and offered TO amend the
resolution By inserting the usual causeif the comml.
ncation of such information be compatible with the pub
lac interests Having offered that amendment he desired
TO make only very few remarks. He knew nothing
about what might be the nature and extent OF the cores
pondence and orders required by the resolution but was
possible that orders might have been issued 10 the officers
OF the United States in Mexico, the communication of
which might not be compatible with the public interests
Such orders might disclose the future operations of the
government and the intended movements of the army :;
and IN that case the communication OF them would be
manltestly improper
Mr. DAVIS then rose and said that he was aware that
the amendment suggested the addition of the usual clause
in resolutions calling for information But in drawing
the resolution, he had acted under the impression from
survey OF the presidents and practice in such cases that
such reference is made the discretion OF the President
only when the communication asked for subjects
connected with the foreign relations OF the country-on
matters between the government OF the United States and
the governments OF foreign countries. Ii said that
the information sought might disclose the views OF
the government with regard 10 the future operations
OF the army and navy. lie had had design OF that
kind and II the gentleman from lieOngia would give
particular attention TO the scope and words OF the esou
ton, he would at perceive that such collision was
contemplated with any orders of the executive in regard
the army navy against Mexico What did the resolu-
ton ask That all orders instructions of the President
OF the United States to General Taylor General Kearny
General Wool Captains Sloat and Stockton, touching
the military naval operations but the organization
OF civil government alone in any possessions OF Mexico
occupied by the army OF the United States, should be laid
before Congress. Now he asked, what principe-what
practice OF Congress OF the goyernmenwhat consttu
honal right of the commander-inchei was violated or
invaded by such CALI Nothing II was in relation to
of civil polity alone that he nterrogaod the
President, proposed that the House should nteoGae
him II not in relation TO any military means for
the prosecution OF the war the conduct OF their
military or naval affairs. He too well acquainted
with the properties OF his position and the duties
OF the Executive TO PROFOUND any such questions But,
when they saw foreign countries occupied by their
mics and navles, and their commanders procaming them
selves to be governors of Provinces erecting and organ
zlng civil governments-appontlng civil ohoers-crea-
ting MISUNDERSTANDING Legislative and executive Of
hcers-hxlng salares-and, in short, establishing the
whole machinery OF civil poty and of regular power he
asked from the President of the United States the nsuc-
lions and orders under which these officers have made
such extraordinary exhibition 10 the country and the
world. Was the President Roman Emperor! Was he
an Augustus sending forth his generals conquer dis
tan provinces, and to establish new empires the
ruins OF foreign governments Were these the
high, imperial, legal, legislative, and political
powers, which the President of the United States au
quered provinces to exercise II ii were So he Dir d.
wished to know the facts in the He wanted TO
know the specific instructions which had been issued
He wanted to know BY what constitutional right and
power the President undertook to authorize such pro-
ceedings. The President OF the United States COM
manderin- OF the armies by express provision OF
the constitution. He could act no other capacity in
their military and naval operations II it not for
that constitutional provision he could not conduct the
war at all but that executive power would devolve
upon Congress, and such agents as its authority might
create The President was them simply the commander
inchief and in that relation to conquered provinces he
could exercise such power as that which had been
mandernchef In conclusion, he had only TO say, that
If il proved that the President had exceeded these
limits, he (Mr d. was for one, prepared for the adop
Mr.. DOUGLASS next addressed the House. He had
not heard the resolution very distinctly, because there
was some confusion when ii was read but so far as he
was able to understand its tenor he had objection to
its passage. The gentleman Mr. DAvIsl appeared to be
very soictous to be enlghtenedto know what insruc
instructions had been given. Ii he understood Alright,
the gentleman from Georgia, the chairman OF the Com
mttee on Military Affairs, desired the insertion OF pro-
viso that no information should be communicated which
might be incompatible with the public interests Well
he made objection to that clause He had objection
in the world that his worthy friend from Kentucky should
be enlightened by the President, so far was
consistent with the public good and he did not appre
bend that the public interests would materially suffer by
his enlightenment upon this question, regard to which
his mind seemed to be cropping about In so much dark
ness. He (Nlr DouGLAssl therefore particular
objection to the adoption OF the resolution provided he
correctly apprehended Its terms. But there seemed to
a desire to leave impression the minds Of the
House. and of the country, that the President of the
United States had authorized General kearny and the
other commanders to do what they had done In regard 10
the establishment OF government the conquered prov
lnces, he had transcribed his constitutional authority
But the gentleman had said that he was prepared for
Interior measures. What these Interior measures
were he knew not; and he mr. DAvIsl
was so fond of light, perhaps he would have
the goodness TO enlghten the House on that point
What did the gentleman mean Did he mean impeach-
ment' Whatever was meant-an1 he tBIr d. cared
little what meantime wished first to let the gentle
man have full and free scope to nd out all the facts and
secondly, entire permission to bring forward his Interior
regard to this question. II perfectly i'm
material TO him whether the President of the United
States did did not in express terms, authorize General
kearny and the other military commanders to establish
temporary government in the conquered provinces War
existing between this country and Mexico; const
tutiona war was existing; an actual war existed Du-
ring the progress OF that Mexico invaded some
of the provinces conquered the government of
Mexico was superseded by the invasion OF the American
troops; and il became the duty of the commanding Off
thus invading that country and conquering these
provinces to erect government over the people TILL the
home government substituted different By virtue
OF the law Of nations and from the fact of the existing
war il the duty of the commanding officers "to es-
tahlish government" II not only their night TO do
So but was he repeated their duty Ii the generals had
not done sof they had not established government
for the protection of the rights lives and property OF that
conquered people, well the interests OF the United
the gentleman coming forward with the threat that he
about 10 ueor measures for that neglect
OF duty There would then have been reason for
threatening impeachment for neglect, he (Alr
dersood H. of an imperative duty. Would the gentle
man contend that il was not the night of Gen Keamy,
and Of the other commanding officers naval and military
to establish temporary military government in the con-
Quered provinoesl Would he contend that il not
their duty to do So |,