The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-11
THE DAILY UNION

the senator from Delaware, and hope that the sub
ject will take the usual direction. -.
Mr. J. M. CLAYTON. IL is perfectly clear to
my mind that this message should go to the Com
mittee Military Affairs, 'and not to thar on For
eign Relations. The President has announced to
the Senate of the United States that there ia war
that war does exist between this country and Mexl-
co, and he calls upon US for millions Of money to
aid him In carrying that war-he pronounces 1t
necessary, and demands of us the needful supplies
He also asks for tens of thousands Of volunteers.
Now | am quite willing-although ] do not take
upon myself any portion OF the responsibility Of
this war-that devolves upon the President, and
upon him alone, with those who have brought il
about-but | say | am quite ready to fight il
out. | will not undertake TO decide, IN the first
1 instance, whether it was right or not; but
90 for the soldiers and the millions at to sup
port the honor Of the country and the army The
Committee on Foreign Relations can decide at their
leisure any grave questions touching the constitu-
tonality Of this war We shall have all that I'M
doubleday in debate here from day TO day; but the
first duty of the Senate, in my Judgment is to vote
! the supplies. Well, what has the Committee on
| Foreign Relations TO do with that What does
know about the manner of furnishing these sup
| plies That is the appropriate duty OF the Com
mittee on Military Affairs. | would say TO my
friend from South Caroliha-if he will allow me to
call him my friend-that | entertain opinions per-
haps closely allied to his own on this general sub
ect. do not to express any opinion as 10
| for the supplies. The President has announced the
existence OF war. What is the first duty of Con-
gressl hold that its first duty is 10 vote the sup
4 Plies to lose no time in defending the country.
i The other questions involved will have TO be settled
between us and the people of the United States and
the Executive On these questions all due deb-
Grafton should be observed, but the action with
gard to the supplies should be prompt and imme-
date.
i Mr. ARCHER said ! am ready to vote for the
supplies. The senator Mr.. ALLEN and several
others has assumed that in a state Of war
say that we are not. When, some years ago.
vessel belonging TO citizens Of the United
States (the "Carolne'O forciby captured
by an English force, did that constitute
case Of war between Great Britain and the United
States say that the President does not affirm that
we in state Of war He cannot affirm II, for If
he did he would affirm that which, in a legal and
constitutional acceptaon, could not be true II true
what would be the result The officers and men on
the Rio Grande might involve the country in war at
their pleasure.
Il Mr.. SEWER here referred the senator to the
terms of the declaration Of war in 1872 LAS the re-
porter undersood) and proposed that the secretary
should read extract from it, but the offer de-
cned, and
Mr. ARCHER proceeded. 1t has been stated, on
the highest authority, that the President of the Uni
ted States cannot declare The Intervention Of
Congress is absolutely indispensable to constitute
war. What Is the import Of the message received
this mornings A certain state of facts has reached
the President, which have rendered necessary for
him, in the discharge of his duty, to inform Con-
gress of the necessity of lnquring whether there
shall or shall not be the part Of the United
States Does the existence of hostilities on one Of
the frontiers of the United States necessarily put
us in state of war with any foreign power Clear
ly not. Suppose we have misunderstood the state
of things on the Rio Grande, and the danger Of
admitting the doctrine that state of war can exist
except by the constitutional action Of the govern
ment Of the United States There can be no ques-
ton about that. There be war till the ascer-
tanned facts be submitted 10 the Congress of the
United States, to be pronounced upon by them, and
till they authorize That is the question In the
necessity Of preparations all the members of the Sem
ate and all the citizens Of the country, am sure, full
ly concur, and no time need be lost. The Committee
on Foreign Relations can make their report to- NOR
row. They are not required to pass upon the ma
ture or amount Of military preparation. Not at all
That belongs to the Committee on Military Affairs
The provinces of these committees are essentially
distinct II is the duty Of the Committee on Foreign
Relations to examine into the of the facts com
muncated by the President, and say whether il is
proper that this government should put itself into
condition Of war or not. Then the resulting Office
of the Committees on Naval and Military Affairs
will be to ascertain what naval and military prepare
tons may be requisite. | hope, therefore, that the
course pursued on all other occasions will be fol-
lowed on the present. that the message of the Pres-
dent will go, first, to the Committee Foreign Re-
laons and that then, on its report, the Naval and
Military Committees will take the proper action.
Mr.. BENTON said | apprehend that there are
two very distinct questions presented to the consd
GRAFTON OF the Senate in the message of the President
He the fact of the of the territory
of the United States: that's thing. He then pro-
poses to Congress to carry on war against Mexico
on a scale commensurate with the exisency of the
occasion, IN order TO bring 1t to an immediate close
These are two distinct subjects; and on these two
subjects different form Of action is | think, re-
qured. 1t is not merely the constitutional authori
ty, but the duty Of the President to repel invasion
at once, and by all the means which the law has put
into his hands He has a regular army and navy
for that purpose The act Of Congress of 1875 au-
thorized him to call out the militia from the neigh
boring States for that purpose; but their service is
limited to period of three months; and as often as
emergencies of this kind have occurred it has been
deemed proper both for the purpose getting troops
more promptly into action, and also such as could
be retained in the service for longer period--it
has, say been usual for Congress all such occa.
sions, when in session, and when not in session, it
has been usual for the President to call for voun.
teers. And on this occasion this course has been
followed. A call for volunteers has been authorized
in conformity to the practice which we have always
followed. The act of 1875 authorized the practice of
resort to volunteers; and this occasion the officer
in command on the Rio Grande has called for vol
unteers The first thing we have to do is to give the
President money to pay those volunteers and more,
il necessary; and in giving him money to pay them,
authorizing the call made for them In this of
the subject is military one, and proper for the
action Of the Military Committee They are 10 say
whether eight thousand men, or double that number,
are necessary; and the Committee on Finance is to
report what money may be necessary. Thus far
the question is military. But after that, it is ques-
ton which concerns the foreign relations of the
country, and should, consequently, go to the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. If the first measures
be adopted-and on that suppose there can be no
of will he
the other part of the subject and it is obvious that
It would be very inexpedient to delay the former
till after the consideration of the latter. 1t might be
very detrimental to the public interest to do nothing
till the questions connected with our foreign reIa.
tons settled If, then, is frequently done
one portion ofthe message referred to the Mil
tary Committee and the other to the Committee on
Foreign Relations, the whole matter would be at
once settled I-woud make that notion if the
Senate think my view proper, that 80 much Of the