Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-05-16


before doing he must express his surprise that the Senator
from Michigan should think subject Of congratnaton that
member Of the Senate Of the United States had expressed
powerfully and eoquenty his friend from Delaware had
done, regard 10 the question under consideration his
determination TO stand by the country in the hostile attitude
in which it placed He trusted the sentiment ayowed by
the Senator from Delaware sentiment entertained by
member Senate Hetrused SO
be made the subject of special observation But IN re-
gard to the point assumed by the Senator whether there was
existing between Mexico and the United States he
desied to say word II familiarity understood by them
all that the declare belonged alone To
and that the President Of the United States had no con-
to involve the country in but If there was
at this moment actually subssng between the United
states and Mexico, would follow that the President of the
United States could involve the country without the
assent OF the Legislative department Of the Government He
could very well conceive where the army of the United
States having assumed position within the territory of Mexi
CO. such position would demand from Mexico that she
should repe the invasion, and that hoses should be-
tween the two counes-would that be state of war No.
He held that competent alone for Congress to declare
when did exists and because the President had not the
power TO create hostile relations between this Government and
another became the duty Of the Congress of the United
States to exercise that power In this view he did think
there did exist at this between the two nations in
the in which the Constitution intended il to be under
stood lie thought there was very reasonable distinction
between and hoslies There period of the Gov
ement when that distinction practically carried out II
that period when hostile relations existed between this
country and France There aggressons committed on
our commerce on the ngn seas and claims Tor restitution
formally set by the Of the property destroyed Con
adopted various indicating Of hostles
but there declared and existing and yet
there wasan extensive seeso hostes enacted the
not amounting to actual war; constituting intended
by the Constitution, yet such Of hostes as made
necessary for Congress adopt various authorizing
various parties to repel aggressons the part Of France
seemed to HIM the distinction very properly existed and he
hoped therefore, that that portion Of the message referring
the relations existing between this country and Mexico would
be referred TO the Committee Foreign Relations that
part which referred 10 raising supplies and reinforcements
would be placed under the charge Of the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.
Mr. CASS replied. / am surprised that any gentleman
should for moment suppose that made any improper
kind auslon in expressing my satisfaction with the patriotic
sentiments expressed by the from Delaware But
am older than the Senator. ecoect the time when man
could not get up in the Senate and congratulate any
member of for the expression Of such sentiment Thank
God can do II now believe there is not that
side OF the chamber that is not ready go just far
would. II the recollection Of very different state of
things TO which have before alluded in this place. and
hope never hereafter to aude, that prompted that honest and
sincere congratuaon Congress has to declare
but repeat, one nation can make In Europe
remarked, there have been examples of that
merely repeat that nation may war; and of
cessty, put its antagonist in a state of war
Mr. DAVIS said: concur in the division of the message
Tor the purposes OF reference do think that the time for
the discussion OF the grave and solemn question involved has
yet arrived But must necessarily arrive when the legsa
tive body OF he United States asked the subject
I,
then hope it will be fully discussed hope it will then be
examined and probed the For one am right will
ling to give support to the national dignity and honor and
rcpel invasion Of this territory by giving the Presi
dent all suitable means for that purpose Yet have right
and is duty 10 know whether the territory of this coun
try has been invaded That the question TO be considered
here and to be discussed here's and confess for one that
some portions of the message-whch shall attempt TO
till in pnt-some portions of the message
strike me with considerable degree of surprise We told
IN that document that the blood of American citizens has been
spilled on our SOIL This may be 1t may be But
in the same message told that tere question Of
boundary between and Mexico and unsettled question
and that the Minister there from here for the purpose
OF negotiating that very question WE'LL the President
may mean for augh know that this question of debatabe
ground does exist where the army present located
is said also In the that there proofs of
action tha part OF this Government, tending show that
tins territory Is ours recolec right it said that ports
OF entry had been established and officer Of the
appointed If that be so-f that there was in
tenuon ON the part of this Government by these acts to
spread its laws indefinitely any thing which they
might call Texas for inexperienced the tenor of the
act altogether never supposed that any revenue system
was to be established debatabe ground imagined
that the laws Of the United States to be extend
ed indefinitely disputed territory, but that they to
be limited to that portion of the country which was acknow
lodged to be Texas That my idea Of the act 1 may
have entirely msapprehended but that the view taken
of it by me.
Mr.. WESTC0TT here made a remark inaudibe in the
gallery.
Mr. DAVIS. under the impression that it was on
the east side of the river that be limited undebata
be ground Without intending advance any opinion this
stage OF the matter, is necessary that proceed the
Of this subject with deberaon and candor as
so well expressed by the gentleman from South Carolina
(Mr CALHouS For ENTER the examination of this
question without any previous prejudice whatever with
honest disposition to ascertain the truth But if out
that tins territory debaabe ground serious responsibility
rests somewhere, and presents the question of very
different aspect from what would have possessed had the
invasion been made within the acknowledged limits of this
country This all wish present say on the subject
Mr. SEWER have only one word to say in reply and
that Is that whenever the day reckoning comes in regard to
te action OF the Administration in ordering the army the
Del Norte, am ready TO any opponent The Execu-
i've has done precisely what the interests required
and what the Constitution and laws justified The President
has done his duty many the constituonaty of the
procedure would only present what was done
under The late Administration, when my friend on the right
Mr. CALHouS was member Of it, with respect the send
ing OF eet to Vera Cruz and army Texas and that
before had passed upon the admission Of Texas into the
Union. But shall go into this subject now am quite
content with the declaration of the Senator that he is willing
TO vote supplies rcpcl invasion Of territory which he
says is not our
Mr.. j. NJ. CLAYTON said : The remarks Of the Senator
from Arkansas I'M SEvIER) render necessary for me to
say something in reply The President Of the United States
has ordered the army to take up position the left bank Of
the Rio Grande and in obedience to instructions from the
Executive, the general commanding has taken up position
front OF the town Of Maamoras understand and there
dispute about the fact that the general established
his camp there has battery Of eighteen Founders pointing at
the town, ard that the Rio Grandc has been bockad
to exclude supplies from the Mexican forces is well
known that this done without consulting Congress Il
done without consulting the Senate Of the United States
and far as understand, without communicating the
of the army the Committee on Military Affairs
any other committee Of this body. Before proceed fur