The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-06-18
CONGRESS-.
IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS IN
RELATION TO GEN. GAINES.


FRIDAY, Jure S.
In the Senate, Mr. Cass called up the
following resolution offered BY him yes
terday.
Resolvsa. That the President be re.
quested to inform the Sonata whether any
officer Of the army, during the past or
present year, has called volunteers or mi
lilia Into the service of the United Safes
wi!hou! legs authority therefor and, if
so, hat is the number of said force, how
it has been organized. and whether ofi>
GERS of the line or staff have been appoint.
ed contrary 10 law, and whether such
calIs, if made, were necessary, and the
prob'bIe amount they will cost !; and
whether any advantages have resulted or
are likely 10 result therefrom. And also
what measures the Department of War
adopted for the defence Of he Southern
frontier of The United States during The
same period.
MIR Csss again disclaimed any inten-
ton to ceusure GeD. Gaines. He re-
garded bin as a brave and patriotic Off
Ger, but he certainly had greatly trans
cended his authority and if the Pfesi-
dent had done whs! General Gaines had
done. he would deserve impeschment.-
lie had mustered on army Of 10000 men
into the service Of the United States with.
out authority, and in defiance OF the law
and The constitution.
Mr. Webster said that the conduct Of
Gen. Gaines, if il was such as was rep,
resented by the Senator from Michigan,
was certainly very extraordinary. The
Constitution gave The President power to
call upon The States for militia 10 repsl
invasion and for no other purpose hats
ever. Gen. Gaines had for a long time
been in command of the S. w. Division
Of the Army, and he could hardly realize
the facl that so experienced an officer
would consent 10 become the instrument
Of ct least a violation Of law. He must
know too much Of the Constitution net 10
know that nc officer had the power to
call out troops. The President alone hsd
The power to call ou. troops, though he
might delegate the power 10 the General
commanding the army, when there was
danger of invasion.
Mr. Webster said lha. hs desired to call
the attention Of those having charge Of
the financial affairs Of the government 10
the expenses Of the war with Mexico
He had made inquiry from those who
knew, or ought to know, and had ascer-
tanned that the expenditure of the Military
Department, qoas hardly less Mon haTG
million o day!
MIR Sewer defended Gen. Gsines' con-
duct. He was under the impression that
General TayIor's army was surrounded
and in imminent danger. He rallied cur
troops for the purpose Of saving The army.
His conduct was approved Of at The time
by the public in New Orleans.
Mr. Cass explained that Gen. Taylor
had called for the necessary number Of
troops.
Mr. Sewer was aware of that but
Gen. Gaines was fully justified by the
circumstances for his course. He might
have been as lax in his duties as some Of
fcers who had never rendered any GER
vice at all, and who were now in the
SQUAD Cf his voice. 1t Vas a crisis that
demanded his action and ii was not his
fault that the government had given orr
ders to an inferior officer, without notice
to the superior, and thus made them play
the game of cross purposes.
But the very troops from Mobile and
New Orleans that had been raised by
Gen. Gaines order, had enabled Gen.
Taylor to fight the battles of PaIo Alto.
SC. They arrived in time TO take care
OF Point Isabel. and relieve Gen, Tay-
Ior's force. A part of tins force had been
received into The service Of The United
Mr. Cass produced a letter from the
AIjutant General, stating tha, Gen.
Gaines had no authority whatever to call
troops.
Mr. Sewer acknowledged that /; but
Gen. Crimes deserved credit for his en-.
1eavors to save the army at a crisis of i'm.
ninent danger. He moved an amend
nent calling for any correspondence with