The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-10

arrangement equivalent to treaty Of peace, Now,
what did they find on the face OF that proclama,
tion' Why, the government had been organized
with a term of Office of four years-as long a
period as that adopted for the chief magistacy Of the
United States He (Sr W. did not question the integ
rty or patriotism Of Commodore Stockton any Of the
other officers, naval or military who had distinguished
themselves during the war; but he desired to know
whether the President of the United States had author
lied these proceedings and whether he now intended TO
adopt the language of that proclamation That question
was rendered tenfod interesting and important by
certain passages the message read yesterday He con-
fessed that but for the language OF the message ne
should have felt little interest in the question But he
had examined that document with care that morning. and
had been not little struck by the congratulations which
the President had thought proper to address TO Congress
on what he styled the vast extension OF our territorial
limits" What was meant by that The President had
before congratulated them the annexation OF Texas
which he had they might eSSse Loudly eaogzs
of congratulations on that subject IN the message
of last year. What was meant by the fresh congratua-
tons now poured forth
! Mr. WINTHROP Surely not account of Oregon,
after cedng away the half OF it, IA taught What
then did these congratulations mean Let the House
hear what further the President said on that head
The war;" said the President has not been waged with
a view to conquest" Then he proceeds:
By the laws Of nations conquered territory Is subject
session, and until there is either treaty OF peace or he
ment being necessarily superseded ii IS the right and duty
the conquero TO secure his conquest and to provide for
the maintenance of civil order and the rights OF the nhabi-
ants This right has been exercised, and this duty per
formed, by military and naval commanders by the es-
quered provinces in Mexico assimiating them far
practicable tke free institutions of own country In
the provinces OF New Mexico and OF the CALIFORNIA; little
any further apprehended from the inhabitants
TO the temporary governments which have thus nom the
necessity of the and according the laws OF war; been
established IL may be proper provide for the security
these important eonquests by making adequate APP
rayng the expenses necessarily incident the
ance OF our possession and authority them"
The President then proposed that they should make
appropriations for the purpose Of maintaining their pos
session and authority over these provinces. That was
certainly extraordinary procedure. He (Mr. W.
cedents established by the French in the time
OF the revolution In these passages of the message there
enough to call for the most solemn consideration OF
that House and Of the people. He held that the Presi
dent of the United States was called upon to tell them
what he intended by the of invasion and conquest
which he had been so long wagng against Mexico. II
their right to know it, 1t the right of members
of that House and of the other branch Of the Legislature
to know il; and il the President afraid to communi-
cate IT in open session, let him call them to close the
doors But by all means he was bound to communicate
to Congress what he intended to do with those territories
over which he proceeding to organize government
for term of years BY the procamations OF military and
in that respect was a significant type OF the age
respected the progress OF democracy He had had the
curiosity the other day to look into volume containing
the Presidents messages and found that whilst from the
accession of Washington, till the close Of the admnstra-
ton of that venerable man, whose absence he so deeply
regretted-Mr Adams-a period OF forty years, all the
messages occupied Just $50 pages The messages during
the two terms of Jackson and Van Buren-a period
of twelve years-occuped $50 pages. So much for the
progress of executive dication. But he would not per
haps have objected its length, had the message been
more explicit in some points But il marked by q
most extraordinary brevity matters. For in.
stance of the subreasury the President remarked thai
il excellent and admirable thng-still il was sus
cephbe of some improvement; but how he did state
The tariff excellent; but the President did not say
word about taxing and coffee He afraid to come
up to the mark there, although every body knew thai
his language could bear other construction But in
regard to the Mexican war, and the territories acquired
by the gaantry OF the volunteers he congratulated them
the vast accession to their territorial limits and called
on them to make appropriations for foreign countries
1t time the President told them whether of his own
authority and will he intended to annex these ter
ores to this country and make them part of the do
main which he controlled.
Add to the resolution the words "and whether said gov
the territory of the United States"
| Mr. DAVIS accepted the amendment
Mr. |. Z. HOLMES then addressed the House. He
spoke in favor of the resolutoncondemned the proca
mation-and avowed his conviction that the President
could not have approved of the proceedings of the mill
tary officers In order TO allow the opportunity to the
President of repeng the idea that he had approved OF
the act in question, he mr. H. would vote for the reso-
! luton.
Mr. DARRAGH then obtained the floor; but yielded
| to motion to adjourn.
The House accordingly adjourned.