The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-16

found within three miles OF the no uTahde 10 De
sidered as enemies TO Mexico; and we within the
present session declared II To be the boundary by
extending our revenue laws over 1t.
Here then, il the prsclse case: The President,
under the direction of Congress, in discharge of
his constitutional duty, felt bound TO protect Texas
as far as Texas had extended her boundaries.
How was he TO determine that question: Was he to
listen TO the MeXlcans or select that line which
Texas had declared, and Mexico, as well as this
body, had recognised MIR. l.. held that he
acted wisely, rightiully, in going far as he did
Would the gentleman from Georgia tell him what
he meant when he said that his Mr.. STEPHENs'sl
opinion was that the boundary ought TO have been
the Rio Grande, and doubt il could have been OBJ
tanned peacefully by negotatloni How had the gen.
tleman arrived at the conclusion that the boundary
ought to have been at the Rio Grandei
Mr., STEPHENS replied, that he had stated the
boundary ought TO be at the Rio Grande, because it
was the natural boundary.
Mr.. LEAKE. Ought it to be-" wrongfullyi If
it was Mexican soil, it ought NOT to be.
Mr.. STEPHENS. Then we ought never to
have got Florida or louisiana, because they once
belonged to Spain or France. | say we ought to
have got Florida long before we did; and we ought
peacefully to have obtained the boundary of the
Rio Grande.
Mr., LEAKE (continung) said he thought, when
the gentleman announced that the boundary ought
10 have been, or TO be, AT the Rio Grande and that
it could be, could have been, obtained by negotia-
ton, that he announced the proposition that Texas
rghuuly extended to that river; for he could not
have thought that the Mexc ms would have quietly,
tamely submitted, by negotiation, to give up that
portion Of territory between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande, If it belonged TO them.
Mr.. STEVENS lin his seat) do not.
Mr.. LEAKE. Then how does the gentleman ar
rive at his concusionl
We have sent special commissioner to Mexico;
we have offered all we OFFER we were ready to
settle the boundary and all other questions And
what did they' They drove out our minister with
degree OF Ignomlny that would have warranted an
instant declaration Of war on our part. And they
ordered their armies to march upon the Rio Grande
NOT to cross II, until General Taylor had been
there for some time. Here was a Mexican recogni-
ton Of the Rio Grande u boundary. Now when
the gentleman thought we could have obtained the
hio Hrande by negotiation, he argues against the
nature and all the manifestations of that people
These facts, thus stated in this summary manner
he maintained, amply justified the administration in
the course they had taken in regard to this ques
ton.
He would not stop to cayIl TO the expenditures
OF this war. According to the received theory of
the gentleman from Georgia and the party with
whom he acted, the greater the expenses the better
for they all come out Of foreign governments; we get
all our revenue from abroad according to their theo-
ry, and not of il comes from the pockets of
the constituents Of the gentleman from Georgia or of
my constituents and the greater the amount Of tax
alton, the greater the protection To the interests of
the country. He did not believe that this war was
going 10 be so expensive. He believed with the
spirit, the fire that had run from one end of the
country to the other, II destined TO a speedy
and glorious termination, maugre the efforts of the
Wing party to paralyze the arm Of the administra-
ton
MIR. McCLERNAND said that his mo,;v. FIR
participating IN the debate had originated in consid-
eratons connected with the speech delivered bv the
gentleman from New York, Mr. CULyERl on yes
teTday. But to-day the range Of debate had been so
widely extended that he felt himself called upon to
give more rein to his remarks than he had originally
intended. Ii was but Justice to himself, however
TO say that he did not rise 10 deliver any formal
Speech he was unprepared to do so. Such observa-
ions as he should make, would be those which the
occasion might call forth.
Upon the subject Of the war with Mexico-its
causes, and its objects-the gentleman from Virginia
Mr.. LEAKE, had preceded in a course of reason
ing, and strain of eoquence which he mir Nice !
could not hope to equal. He awarded that gentle
man-equallY estmabe in social as he is exampIsrv
IN public relationships grateful thanks for the ycto-
Hous service he has rendered to-day in behalf of his
country. Upon the question of facts he has tri-
umphantly indicated the conduct of the Executive
Mr.. Nice. proposed to inquire briefly into the
question of authority. The gentleman from Geor-
gio Mr.. STEPHENS had arraigned the Executive
upon the charge Of having provoked the war upon
a deliberate design, without cause, and for having
prosecuted It, under these circumstances, in viola
ton OF the constitution. Upon the first proposition
1t is enough to say, that the lmpuation which it car
ries is so improbable and monstrous that none
scarcely will believe it. Upon the latter he begged
to be heard in a few words. Ii is based upon the
idea that, as Congress is the war-making power
that therefore It Is not competent for the President
to employ the military force of the country even for
the purposes Of its defence, or to repel invasion.
Congress may provide for calling forth the militia
to execute the laws of the Union suppress insurrec-
tons, and repe invasions'' And, in the absence of
delegation of authority under this clause, the
President might not have or exercise this power.
But the wisdom of our predecessors in a lust an
probation OF the uncertainty of human affairs,
and the oitrecurring casualties contributing to en-
gender strife and war between nations. have long
since delegated this necessary power under certain
limitations to the President. AS carly as 1875
law for this purpose was passed. and it now stands
In full force. IL Is under the authority of this law
without which IN the recess of Congress the coun-
try might be exposed to the utmost danger. that
the President finds hs justification for all that he
has done in regard to Mexico 1t is probable that
the gentleman from Georgia had forgotten the ex-
stence of this law, or lie would not have ventured
upon so untenable and serious charge upon the
President.
He says, however, in another aspect of the oues-
ton, that there was no necessity for war as there
Nsio ~ 'hNooioh vi Jul teTTlOTy. How so! The
Rio Grande was the southern boundary of Te.es 40
established by her constitution itself We annexed
Texas as she was organized and offered herself and
hence the invasion of the territory east of the Rio
Grande was an invasion in the constitutional sense
OF the term But the gentleman says that the line
OF the Nueces II he was understood Alright, is the
true boundary of Texas on the south This is a
foregone question 1t has been agitated, debated.
and settled otherwise before; and il would be vain
ana supererogatory to reopen il now. Again: he
says that the terms Of annexation recognised the
existence of question Of boundary, and provided
for Its adjustment by negotiation, and that necotia-
uon should have been resorted to for the purpose
In answer, it may be said that peaceable and friend
iy negotiation was tried, and in vain We have
sent no less than two ministers to settle it thus but
with no other effect than the rejection of both, and
the insult Of the nation.
No other alternative has been left us than
war, or the surrender of the whole, or a mari
of Texas, as Mexican moderation might choose
to demand. Which Of these alternatives would
the internal enemies Of this war elect, Would
they permit Mexico to fix the limits of her
own rapacityi Would thew surrender Te,as