Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-12-10
sEenstcr,s Farsiacations Exposed.


ought be im2esched, and the Inference not only
admitted but enforced by the orator. and sPpauded by his
respectable auditory. Ia my opinion those Senators and
members Of the House who admitted that the President
had made war; could ia any Constitutional sense make
war; were unfaithlul TO tue Constitution.
The farth err, and vindieated the action Of
Congress the BILL as having been rendered Deces
sary BY the acts OF the President.
Now here is issue upon historical fact and one oil
importance in reference Constitutional principle
When Senators admit that war has been made with
egatve sanction there end OF the Constitution
itself The fact implies great neglect OF constitutional
duty by the Senate portion of the making power
Bu, wis the fact sol Is Congress released from all
responsibility for the war
L. for one am prepared release Congress Of their
due share Of the responsibility
pass the bosterous and frantic proceedings Of the
House on the Presidents message. look, for the
present only the Senate where cooler counsels are sup
posed prevail.
What was the reception Of the message there
Mr. Calhoun, in OF the most admirable speeches he
made in his e opposed the printing of extra
number Of copies, being fearful he said that would
be considered endorsement Of the message.
Mr.. Calhoun made effort to procure posponement
Of the subject He declared his friends that he could
obtain pOstponement for single day. he would find
means to prevent a declaration of war He without
support from the Wings any other quarter.
Half dozen WhIgs Mr.. J. VI. Clayton Mr.. r. john
son, Mr. johnson of Louisiana. Mr. Davis Mr. T. Clayton,
and Me- Crillenden by uniting with him, and pressing
the postponement, could have carried it.
The bill up, and fierce the Senate for war,
that they would allow its reference.
The debate that followed upon the construction Of
the bill and the message, and upon their objects
The question Of distinctly presented
discussed and the Senate demanded open undsgused
fragrant
The real question before the Senate was whether they
would to bill simply TO provide means for rePelng
invasion whether they should 60 further d declare
war. They decided upon The latter course.
The President has power to repe invasion, during the
of Congress but during the session he must call
on Co gress for means Congress could have limited
their legislation this object But they did not They
embraced with imPotent haste the proposition of
The preamble of the bill debated in both Houses,
and adopted by both with overwhelming This
preamble follows: Whereas, by the of the
Republic Of Mexico, state of exists between that
government and the United States"
Mr. Chuenden willing to vote for the BILL without
the preamble Mr.. Reverdy Johnson supported the pre-
ambe aud argued that existed and by the act OF snva
ding Texas The boundary question he said had nothing
to do with it, We can't go Mexico to ask about bound
aries; for she denies the existence of such State
Texas She claims the whole of il. He also urged, that
had taken Texas into the U lion, with the Rio
Grdnde the boundary bound to defend IT.
The action Of Mexico had been aggressive if the
the whole force Of Government had been attacked and
destroyed.
nmber Of the wing Senators were willing vote for the
BILL and thus declare war, but would with the
President. that Mexico had made war.
On that point, they expressed opiEiou.
Mr. Calhoun took The strongest aud bOldest stand Of any
one against the hill.
Just the Question be TAKEN he and said,
:" will for the bill with without the preamble.
II Is Solemn declaration Of 0ar 10 Merico and the cOrd
approve of this step, and shall therefore remain
silent
The bill passed by of forty to two. When Mr..
Crittendens called he answered ay, without
the preamble" So also did Mr.. Upham
Messrs Berrien, and Evans, and Calhoun refused TO
vote. There but two Senators who gave direct
vote against the BILL viz Thomas Clayton and John Da-
Wis. Mr.. Webster not in Washington. while this bill
maued and passed. But the newspapers anne unced
upon some authority probably that if present. be would
have voted for it,
Mr.. CahOuns ground was distinctly this There is
existing according the Of our Constitution
forbid said he that he should confound one with the
other. There might be invasion without war, and the
President authorized TO epel invasion without
Bot, said he, is Our sacred duty TO make 1Var and
is for to determine whether shall Re declared
not. When pass this 6H state of 1Sar sciH erist.
Il in this aspect that he deprecated the undgnfed
precipitation of the Senate.
The distinction that Mr. Calhoun had made was ac-
knowIedged by the Senators generally be just aud Mr.
/ Benton put the Two questions presented
by the President He the fact of the invasion
that was one thing He then proposes Congress to
carry against Mexico, a scale commensurate
with the exigency Of the occasion"
The two subjects distinct IL the Senate did
choose to make then they would simply provide
to enable the President to repel invasion.
But the Senate chose TO declare war, and did So with
undgnieJ precpitancy, as Mr. Calhoun remarked
i Ii IS not probable that those in Faneu Hall who
loudly appauded the decaT ration that the President
made the arr troubled themselves read the Prcs
DENIS message recommending the war.
! The Message is not confined to the boundary question:
II does propose simply account Of the INVASION
1t was statement Of the long pending difficulties between
Mexico and the U. States, similar principle the Mes
sent to Congress in 1912 Il manifesto. GO
before the world in justification Of declaration cf
on part. Il stated for the grievous
wrongs inflicted citizens by Mexico, through a long
period of years" and which unredressed.
i The propositions of the Message these Hos-
ties have commenced the part of Mexico, and Of
far exists; for every body knows party
make war, though it takes two parties make peace
This is the first propositson which formed the base Of
the preamble adopted by Congress
Next he asks Congress to afford means 10 Taylor
and his force, and repe invasion. Congress might have
stopped here but they did not
Them the President recapuIaes the manifold wrongs
rfcied upon by Mexico, and calls for war. This
Congress might have refused.
These three propositions all debated in the Senate
aud the Senate embraced the whole three by overwhem
/ ing
Now those who choose say it, may say that "nobody
voted for the war; aud that the President made himself
! GENERAL ScoTT.-The "North American" IN an
article filled with fustian and bombas which is in
tended TO dsparage the Administration and glorify
General Scott speaks Of the latter the "chained
eagle who wears out his heart against the chain that
I