Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-14


ny required lie wi'bed to b. rcpsrsd at all points ba'
he wished that this should performed in manned worthy
| OF the Srna,e cf The Uai'ed States.
Mr. SEWER said Il not his purpose promote
Discussion upon this lie had moved reference
TO tho com,nuec 10 which II seemed him properly
belong tie was merely following the usual coarse. Was
there any breseh OF docoutn and of dignity
Mr. CALHOUN said he had the slightest refere nee
to tho Senator iron, Arkansas in any thing he had said
Mr. SEWER. My motion refer the message "a
the Committee Foreign Relations. where messages OF
that sort always referred. Has the Senator morn con-
hdenee in another committee than he has in thstf uu.
tersand the motion print number Of copies
have been withdrawn and tho motion print the
number now ask the yeas and nays
Mr.. MoREHEAD said he regretted that he could not
concur with his honorable friend from Delaware in his
g,ston the proper direction reference Of
sage The reference. IN his opinion. should be TO tho
oomm'oe ON fo,e'sn ke'suons' and he though, 50 be-
cause he conearred with tho Senator from South Carolina
that before does exist according the
the United States there must be action the part
Congress Thus far. ii existed, il the people OF
this county found themselves state OF war with Mes
CO. was which had been brought about or de-
eired by the Legislative department Of the Government
which conslituionaly the power of declaring beon
gcd. Before therefore, could occupy proper position
IA the estimation o the nations OF tho world whose opn
lou on subjects OF this he thought theT ought
venture TO diregard-bcfVre they assumed hostile ai-
ude, which in all probability IL would become their duty
10 assume, the subject should be referred to that Commits,
which all this accustomed to have charge
and to receive the constellation OF the natter before
Congress OF the United States gnzcd tho existence Of
war; they shoald perform the assigned them by
Constitution of the United States.
MIR j. NJ. CLAYTON coniendod that the message ouyb,
to be referred to the Committee Military Aiais. The
President tho said had announced that war;
that war actually existed and called upon Congress. for
grant'o some millions Of dollars on that war prc-
nonneing u essentially necessary that should be carried
on The President also demanded Of them Of thou
SANDS OF volunteers for the purpose. Now he was
not willing though he did take himself the cspon.
sbly OF the warthat responsibility must rest with the
President alone. who brought abou-he was no, willing
to hesitate To undertake decide whether the don
OF the war was right IL being in existence he wa.
ready to 60 for the volunteers and the allowance If
At once for the support OF the honor Of the country They
could decide ai their leisure Afterwards aud Commit
eee on Foreign Relations could decide leisure upon the
grave question OF responsibility of occasioninR the war
That question would come under Consideration undoubt-
edy. But the first duty Of the Senate in his humble ;dy
meni, was 90 vote for the supplies. What had the Com
m',tee ON Foreign Relations do with ths1 lie would
say 10 ms Trend from s. C. W he would allow him 10 call
hun SUI that the opinion he entertained very closely an
preached 10 his own upon this lie was very fer
from Jusiying the course taken by Executive in send
ing the trop' Of the u s. the Rio del No.te Blu, N.
eouauy was IN state of What was now TO be donel
10 provide supplies 10 defend position lose no
nme IN doing So The other questions. they arose,
would nave 10 be settled by the people and Executive
lhey night be debera'ed upon at leisure Upon the main
question OF furnishing supplies appeared him there
ought TO be prompt and efficient SETON
| Mr. ARCHER said be a good deal surpr,scd tbs,
MS honorable mend from Delaware failed TO make the dis
ucuoh between state OF war properly called and the.
state IN which we placed. Several Senator'S had
assumed mat We were IN state of he that
We were not When years ago vessel belonging 10
cluZens ut the United States was DESTROYED by orsi,
force did that constitute state of watl The President
according 10 his construction Of the message did not srm
that We were IN sate OF He could not affirm liz or
he did. he affirmed what in tho legal acceepiaon of the
term. was no, true. Wha, would be the result of such
construction That troops Rio del Nore could
at their pleasure involve a state Of war Congress
was under the Constitution, the war-makng power and
Congress had done place in state of war
What the puport OF message of the Presdent,
Ii was that certain of facts had reached his know-
edge which made 1t necessary that Congress should
guire what action was necessary be taken hereupon
Did the position {, our troops the frontier necessarily
place the United States in Of warf Certainly not
Suppose the stale OF things be suppose the
action on the part OF the Mexican authorities be us-
tied by the circumstances could be that they were in
state of war; Fighting did not every absolutely cor
stitue state OF There had often been collisions which
did not amount The facts NJ only an
inquiry 90 whether they should proceed 10 state of war
lie hoped the wh had been pursued on other oc
easions, when the United States threatened with war
would not be departed from now; that the would
IN III hrst Instance DO made the Committee on Foreign
Relations, and when they had all the information that was
necessary would be time enough declare the county
10 be in st7te Of war.
Mr.. BENTON said he appTehended that there were
two very distinct questions ned the consideration
OF the Senate touching this matter The President
nouneed the fact OF the invasion OF the United Sate he
hen proposed TO carry against Mexico on scale
commensurate with the of the occasion Upon
the occurrence Of invasion IL was the duty Of the Pfes
dest under the Constitution, once by all the means
which the law placed in his power epel that
Certain acts OF Congress authorized him call out the mi
ua TOT nat purpose the period oil that being limited
TO three months and often occasion Of this kind
had occurred II had been deemed proper in order 10 pre-
cure the most efficient troops permit the president
eept the services Of the volunteers The General Com
handing the banks Of the Rio del NoTo had therefore,
IN this in accordance with authority given him by the
President, called for volunteers. The thing then in
his opinion which they had do 10 furnish The mean.
pay those volanees and in granting him the money to
pay those volunteers, legitmauze the call which he
made Tor their services. Thus far, would be military
question: question for the Committee Military Affairs
10 whether they will adOpt epht or thfee
times eight thousand But IL became also question which
concerned our foreign relation; and il the first measure
were udopted-abuu which he appreheaded there could
be no Dispute beng requisite rpe
measure being adopted, there would then be consi
der He would suggest, therefore, that much Of the
message ss related repeng invasion be referred 10
the Committee Military Affairs; and much Of il as re-
lated to our foreign relations be referred the Committee
on Foreign AiiaIs
Mr.. ALLEN observed that the suggestion OF the Soma
tor from Missouri appeared to him present question
IN its true and natural The appropriations for the
defence Of the country nssd be delayed By being con
neced win other questions growing OF the
Of facts.
Mr.. SEWER accepted the proposition Of tho Senator
from Mo. az modification Of his motion.
MIR. CASS desired To say merely a single word. The
message OF the President but manifesto Of the diff
Guilty existing between this country and Mexico IL was We
" similar to message which sent to Congress by Mr..
Madison He felt very grahed at hearna the Ian
guage which had fallen from ie honorable Senator from
Delaware. The Senator bad spoken like American;
he was ready TO meet the emergency. The ground he
WasiaT ground for party take: going for his
Try h-i and afterwards to inquire by whom the mischief
was brought about Ii very fair subject Of inquiry
Let U.s. (pursuod Mr.. O. lot Tor the defence of
country hss let adopt all proper for repelng
invasion; and, have done that for one am
prepared 10 enter into inquiry who IL right and who
| - wrong. agree with The Senator from Miss concur
entirely ~ the message OF the President and. far
voice will go TO accomplish IT, It's recommsn daon shall
| be carried out. And I be allowed say further
land use the word In It's best seuse,) Tepe the
sruction put upon II by the honorable senator from
| Squh Carolina. One declare hut
lakes two countries to declare peace. Suppose Mexico de-
eiafes war against you, you poice1 No. There s
no intermediate state between peace and Ia which
state ere AZ present. Can II be snd that our oops
may drive the MeKieans the boundary, and po-
hiey say, Good bye, until yon back and then
shall be ready for you ngan. This should soy
Of Every gentleman knows that within the last
i1ry dozen wars have been waged growing Of Of
hostility OF that nature The honorable Senator from South
Cafoni Gays We not 10 slate Of war; butin o
hostility. Now, AN going dispute about the
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