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

Pc sd. powslialy and slcausa,y a. Nj, sad I,vu f,.
rad deoe To regard 10 The question under eonsdef.
uon us 10 stand BY the eOuny IN the
te attitude In which placed. lie trusted m, .-,
nensavowed BY the Senator from Della. was .-ntir
entertained by every member Of the Senate. Tie trusted
twas not remarkable be made tho subject Of
eia obserston. But In regard 10 the point assumed
oy The Senator. whether there a war nov exs,ne
between Mexico and the United Sa,es he desired ,o
say word ID was tsmiliay under, TODD BY them ali that
INC power TO declare belonged alone conetess
and that the President OF the United States had no power
eonsntuuonaly toiavovc thu country wsr there
was ut this momen, actually 'ubsis,ng between the
United States and Mexico, Il would follow that the Pre,
dent OF the United States could involve the country in
war without the assent OF the Legislative Of III,
Government lie could vary well conceive a case where
the army at the United States having assumed a position
within the territory Of Mexico such position as would de-
snd from Mexico that she should repe the and
that hosnliues should arise between tho two
would that be state of wari No. lie held that IL wa.
competent alone for Congress declare when war did or
@ aud because the President had tho power to create
hostile relations between this Government and another n
became the duty OF the Congress OF the United States TO
exercise that In this be did not thirk bare
did exist this between the two nation, a,
the sense IN which the Constitution intended il to be uad.,
stood lie thought there very reasonable distinction
between war and hostilucs. There period of In,
government when that distinction was carrisd
out was that period when hostile relations existed be-
tween this county and France. There were expressions
committed on our commerce the high seas and claim.
Tor res Tuition formally Up tho owners of ,hs
property destroyed Congress adopted various in
dieahng state OF hosts, but there no war eclar
Eg-
res OF hoslitics enacted tho smounti,g IN
actual war; not constituting intended by the Const-
uuon' yet such state OF hosles made IL necessary
Tor Co"gross 10 adopt various
parties To ropc aggressions the part of France Ia .e.m
Cd 10 MN the dishncuon very properly existed and he
hped' therefore, that that portion OF the message referring
to the relations existing between th,s country and Mr.ico
would be referred 10 the Committee on Foreign Relations
aud that part which referred raising supplies and rem
orcements would placed under the charga nj an. o.
mittee Military Affairs. OV"'
Ihs debate was further continued by Messrs Cas-. D,
Wis, Clayton, Soviet Allen, Houston aud Huntingdon the
to-mutrOw- ''
The question was then taken on the motion OF Mr. Sc
V!er as modified. referring much the Ptesiden.
message as relates TO military affairs to the Committee on
''fy Affairs, and the remainder TO the Committee n
Foreign Relations, and that the documen b.
printed which was adopted without division, with an
amendment OF Mr.. Allen that 50 much OF the mas
sage as re aes to Mexico be printed with documents
Mr. sPEiGHr then renewed the motion To print 90 900
extra copies; when
Mr. CRlTTENDEN, after making some inquiry as 10
The documents communicated with the Presidents message
and after the order General Taylor to advance 10 The
kio del Norte had been read proceeded To remark in
substance, that he deeply regretted the intelligence com
municated by the message OF hos,il,tes with Me.co
hat was our true policy cultivate peace with her
mat such mad been policy in relation to Mexico
aud all tho South American Republics. That We had
nailed their hfst struggles for liberty and their es,ab-
llshment OF Republican Governments aud looked upon
them as forming system of republics opposed 10 the
monachical systems If Europe. At the head of the
republican system, has been our feeling as il was our
true policy, To cherish the kndest relations and
towards them all And such had been course nil our
late unfortunate difficulties with Mexico which resulted
as We are now Informed, in actual hosties Mr. c. fear
ed that all had not been done by Executive that might
nave oeen dohe TO avoid that result lie hoped that the
Scnaur from Arkansas r SEyIEk) might be able To us-
N.Y. IN every particular, the conduct OF President bur
nj present he could good reason for advancing ur
army mfougha disputed territory to the banks Of the Rio
Gel Nore ana pointing upon the Mata-
moras such course could hardly fail 10 be regarded A
an insult. and 10 provoke hostility. hut he did not wish
Pematufey, or without the fullest inomation to impute
oiame AS 10 Gen Taylor, he knew him wel Inc WINS n
brave and prudent officer worthy of all confidence and he
ielt assurance that he warranted by his orders in all
that he had done.
the circumstances and Of the present hoses mud
the scrutiny he trusted, would be strict and such as the
Importance OF the event demands Whoever should be
found TO have caused the hostility has been caused on
our part, ought TO 10 held the highest responsibility
Congress alone eonsiuonally declare war and The
people Of the United Sates be involved in war
by any ether authority than that of their own
There would come time, hewevor, for that scrutiny
For the present we must provide instantly for the defence
oil the country. That frat duty, however HOSTILE
ties may have been occasoned and he was prepared TO
grant al once whatever Of money necessary for
the purpose Our country not in fault though her
wants OF agents may be, and duty stand by her
But trust tina: while We adopt all the warke measures
that the occusion require, shall be equally unani-
nous IN adopting all the most prompt and efficient means
OF restoring, II we can, friendly relations with Mexico
we can have no motive for pressing on weak or
fallen oe The feelings of Mexico under all recent oc-
cunenees, must naturally be excited and wounded
fohcy and mngnanimy require that should be as for
bearing towards her Our superiority is such as
to relieve Us from the possibility of or gen.
crosby being construed into fear ascrbed to any pro
per or unworthy motives. No statesman could render
greater service to his country than restoring peace and
friendship with Mexico And important do regard il
that, u u was in my power, would soon as circum
stances would possibly permit send her high and honora
~ embassy OF peaeo-l would appoint Clay Van Buren,
SahouH and Ben'on-any one two three, all of them
Mexico would feel herself honored by such mszion and
such ambassadors would give peace eoFdai peace
two Countries.
Alter few observations from Messrp. SEWER and
HUNTINGTON in reply, the question was taken on Mr.
SFEoar's motion. aud 1t agreed To.