Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-05-15

lMpOnwAM1 EHOM wA&HIkOToN'
On thu elesen,h instan, the President trans
United 10 Congress o message on the subject
Of oar relations with Mexico. the substance OF
which will be found in another column. The
contents Of this important document produced
the n, ost thrilling interest in both houses. We
have bu, little space at this late period to give
TO this important irtslligence. We will be
brief, hus still give its principal features.
In the House. in committee OF the whole
The mess zoe " 40 taken vp, aud the debate on
its contents limited TO two hours. During
these two hours the House bill No. l45, att
,horising the President TO accept the services
Of volunteers for the protection Of our South
ern ftontier and to repei invasion, was taken
up. discussed, md finally passed. The pre-
amble Of this bill is in the following brief but
important words: .. Whereas, by the act oil
the Republic Of Mexico, a state Of war exists
between that government and the United
States"
The principal features Of the bill. az il pas
sed the House are the following:
Il authorizes and empowers the President
to employ the Militia. Military. aud Naval
forces Of the United States. and to call for and
accept the services Of any number OF Volun'
teers, not exceeding fifty thousand:
1t appropriates ten millions OF dollars ana
places it at the disposal Of the President f"I
the purpose Of prosecuting the WARMTH ef'
feet.
1t provides that the Militia who may be cal
led out under this art, may be compelled to
serve six months in the year.
Il also authorizes the President to complete
forthwith. all the pnhlic armed vessels now
authorized by law, and TO purchase or charter
arm and equip such merchant vesseis as he
may deem proper for the protection OF our SCI
board.
These are the leading features Of the Bill
as it passed The House BY vote of ia to IA
| During the discussio severa! amendments
were offered, the obj'c, Of which were to de-
clare WI forthwith against Mexico. but they
we're all voted down. The reason assignee
being. tina, although hosfiities had commenced
still Congress would not declare actual wa
till the details were known, as the matte
might yet be explained. This bill gives th'
President ample power,- however, TO Pro'ec
our rights and our honor. The subject OF ;
declaration of war will come up III day /"
two. For our own part, we think Congress
ought to declare war forthwith.
In the Senate. after the reading OF the mes
sage. long discussion took place. In whicl
all the speakers expressed their willingness
to place ample means in the hands OF the Ex
ecntiye TO protect OUT Southern frontier; but
at The same time, too r'ecipitaie action wa
deprecated. MIR. Calhoun. IN the course q
his remarks. said that there was al essehtia
difference between state Of actual war ant
hostilites that the Mexican government
might apologiSc aud disavow the acts Of Gen
Atista, &c. The message. in the Senate. VIA
referred. so much Of it as relates te our rrla
lions with Mexico, TO the committee on fni
tign relations, and so much Of it az asks fo
troops and money. to the committee on mil
tary affairs. So The matter stands a, present
We go for declaration u MAR at once, an
:. right Oft.