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

soil. This may be so. II may be true. But IN
the same message told that there is ques
ton OF boundary between US and Mexico, and an
unsettled question; and that the minister was sent
there from here for the purpose Of negotiating that
very question. Well now the President may mean,
for aught | know, that this question of debatable
ground does not exist where the army is at present
located. IL is said, also, in the message that there
certain proofs of action the part of this gov
ernment tending to show that this territory is
Ii recollect right II said that ports Of entry
had been established and officer Of the revenue
appointed. Ii that be so-f il were true that there
was intention on the part OF this government,
by these acts, TO spread its revenue laws indefinitely
over anything which they might call Texas, Tor
one inexperienced the tenor Of the act altogether
| never supposed thatany revenue system was TO be
established debatable ground. never imagined
that the revenue laws of the United States were 10
be extended indefinitely over disputed territory,
but that they TO be limited to that portion OF
the country which was acknowledged to be Texas.
That was my idea Of the act. ! may have entirely
Inexperienced il, but that was the view taken OF
il by me.
MIR. WEsTCoTT here made remark inaudible
in the gallery.
Mr. DAVIS. was under the impression that it
was on the east side Of the river that 1t was to be
limited TO unbeatable ground, without intending to
advance any opinion in this stage of the matter. Il
ID necessary that we proceed the examination OF
this subject with elaboration and candor as was 80
well expressed by the gentleman from South Carol
ina, Mr.. CALHOUN. For one, enter on the exam.
nation OF this question without any previous preiu-
dice whatever; with an honest disposition to ascer.
tain the truth But If It turns out that this territory
is debatable ground, a serious responsibility resis
somewhere, and presents the question Of war in
very different aspect from what IT would have pos
sessed had the invasion been made within the nc.
knowledged limits Of this country. This is all
wish at present to say on the subject.
Mr.. SEWER. | have only one word to say in
reply; and that is that whenever the day Of reckon
ing comes in regard TO the action Of the adminisra-
ton in ordering the army to the Del Norte, | am
ready TO meet any opponent. The Executive has
done precisely what the national interests required,
and what the constitution and laws justified. The
President has done his duty manfully. As 10 the
constitutIonaty of the procedure would only al
present revert TO what done under the
late administration, when my friend on the
right Mr.. Calhoun was member Of it, with
respect to the sending Of feet to Vera Cruz.
and an army into Texas, and that before we had
passed upon the admission of Texas into the Union
But shall not 90 into this subject now. | am
quite content with the declaration Of the SENATOR that
he is willing vote supplies to repel invasion Of
territory which he says is not our own.
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON said: The remarks of
the senator from Arkansas Mr. SEyER render il
necessary for me to say something in reply. The
President Of the United States has ordered the army
to take up position on the left bank of the Rio
Grande; and in obedience to instructions from the
Executive, the general commanding has taken up a
position in front Of the town Of Matamoras. I'M
dersand, and there is dispute about the fact that
the general who established his camp there,
has a battery Of eighteen. Founders pointing at
the town and that the Rio Grande has in fact been
blockaded, so to exclude supplies from the Mexi-
can forces Ii is well known that this was done
without consulting Congress; it was done without
consulting the Senate Of the United States and so
far as | understand, without even communicating
the movements of the army TO the Committee on
Military Affairs, any other committee of this
body. Before proceed farther, | wish to put one
question TO the chairman Of the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, MIR. BENTON desire to know whe-
Their, on any former occasion during this session,
any information has been received by that commit
tee, from which he could form an opinion of the
motives objects Of the Executive in sending an
army to that placer desire to know if he has any
any information of the object of sending the troops
thither' Is there any settlement to be protected
therel await reply.
Mr.. BENTON answered in so low tone of voice
that the reporter is able to give the precise terms
of his reply, but understood the honorable gentleman
to say, that che had now nothing to say about the
matter"
Mr.. CLAYTON proceeded: There has been
then, presume, no communication. No commit
tee is in possession Of the views of the Executive;
so that the Senate is not at all in any way respon-
sibe for the conduct of the Executive, or for the
moving of an army to that point. Now, say, so
far as | understand the sutherland am impclled
to make the remark in consequence of the obserya-
tons Of the senator from Arkansas, Mr.. SEyIERl-
that the whole conduct Of the Executive in this
case has been utterly unjustifable. If the acts of
the Executive do not amount to acts of war; thew
are acts which necessarily tended to provoke war,
and to bring on war; and that without consulting
Congress or the constitutional advisers Of the
Executive of the United States For that reason
take the occasion to say now and at the time to
which he REFERS when the discussion is to come off,
will repeat that condemn the conduct of the Ex-
ecutive. | do not see on what principle it can be
shown that the President, without consulting Con-
gress and obtaining its sanction for the procedure,
had a right to send an army to take up position
where, it must have been foreseen, the inevitable
consequence would be war. But will net 90 on
with this debate. | think it out of place. My
justification, however, will hope be found in the
necessity of replying to the remarks of the senator
from Arkansas
Mr.. SEWER rejoined One word of reply to the
senator from Delaware, and very brief reply in
deed is all that is required. File seems to express
some surprise that army should be sent to the
Rio del Norte. need not tell him that the army of
the United States is always moved from one point
to another in the United States without asking Con-
gress. We have COMMANDMENT chief a Secretary
of War, and President, who always decide on the
proper disposition of the army. We have admitted
Texas into the Union. Its frontier was threatened
with invasion, and the legislature and executive of
the State called on our aid. Was it then necessary
to pass an act of Congress before any portion of
the army could be sent on that servcei How would
it have been with Delaware, his own State or any
other State of the Union, in a similar casei Would
all aid have been refused ill application was made
to Congress, and till it authorized the order sending
a portion of the army to defend the frontier And
then the senator may gravely ask the chairman of
the Committee on Military Affairs, whether he had
been called on and informed of the motives of the
Executive in so disposing Of the army. | think
when my friend from Delaware looks at this matter
with his accustomed calmness and ability he will see
less to find fault with than he seems to perceive
My own opinion always has been that the army is
under the direction of the President and command
erin-chie and to be placed where they think proper
have never known an act of Congress placing the
army anywhere.
Mr. CLAYTON here asked question not heard
in the gallery.
Mr. SEWER replied All know is derived from
the message Of the President. The President tells
us that General Taylor-a very worthy and inte-