Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-12-23

WAS
willing to vote for the resolutions, but there
might be reasons why the information
should not be given. 1t might disclose our
plans to Mexico.
Mr.. Douglass, Of Illinois, had no obiec-
ton to the adoption ofthe resolution, if a.
mended. He was willing that the gentle
man from Kentucky should be gratifed.
1t was matter of indifference to him
whether the President did or did not au-
thorize the officers in command to estab
lish such civil governments. War existed
the provinces were conquered, and twas
the duty of our officers to establish
forms Of government. If the gentleman
from Kentucky meant impeachment by
what he called ulterior measures he should
like to see him bring forward that impeach-
ment as soon as he pleased.
Mr.. Davis rose in reply. The gentle
man from Illinois assumed that the Presi-
dent had right to establish these civil gov
ernments. His { Mr.. Davis) resolution call
ed for the authority under which those civ
il governments had been established in the
conquered provinces, and whether the Pres
ident has exercised this authority or not
Mr.. Davis said he was aware of the usu-
al forms, but his resolution only called for
copies ofthe orders which had been given
to the officers in command, and these
were confined to the instructions in refer
ence to the establishment of civil govern
ments. 1t was in relation to q matter of
civil policy alone that he asked for in(or-
nation. He knew the propriety of his
place better than to call for military orders
in time Of war-but when he saw our mil
itary leaders assuming to be governors of
foreign provinces, appointing subordinatcs,
fixing salaries and assigning civil duties, he
thought it was high time to make the inqui-
ry. AT least he wanted to know by what
authority this was done, and he called for
the facts. lfthe executive had violated
the constitution he wished to know it, and
he would then be prepared for Interior
measures.
Mr.. Rhett thought that all the gentle
men who had spoken were wrong in the
positions they took. Some of them assum-
ed that the conquered provinces were a
part of the United States. If they were,
then the President had no right TO estab.
lish civil governments over them, such as
had been alleged to have been founded ANY
more than he would have to establish civ
il government over Oregon. He did not
understand the Presideet to have done this.
These conquered provinces were not in the
United States, and the President had very
properly submitted the question of their
government to Congress. 1t could not be
expected that Capt Stockton, or any such
person, could be critically acquainted with
the constitution Of the United States, and he
did not regard his proclamation as of much
Importance.
Mr.. Davis observed that these proclama-
tions declared the conquered provinces an
nexed to the United States.
Mr.. Rhett did not regard this as any
thing-th ese provinces were not annexed
they were moi in the Union-the laws of
the United States were not over them, and
they could not be without legislation and
without treaty.
The debate was continued by Messers
Schenek, Winthrop, and Holmes, of South
Carolina when Mr.. Darrah obtained the
floor, and the House adjourned.
On Thursday morning, Dec. 10, Mr..
Davis modified his resolution SO to make
a further call upon the President as to the
object in view in the prosecution of the war
whether conquest or not-and to what
extent it was designed to carryit. Also
that the information be received by the
House with closed doors.
Mr.. Darrah, of Penna., who was entitled
to the floor, occupied his hour in advocating
the resolution, but mainly in dissecting the
message of the President. He contenee
that the establishment Of civil governments
in the conquered provinces, was VIOLATION
of the laws of nations, and that neither the
Executive nor the military or naval officers
had any right to establish such govern
ments. He also entered into an examina
ton Of the facts connected with the war t.
show that it was unnecessary, and that ou1
claims upon Mexico could have been settlet
without it. He considered the reason
assigned by Mr.. Polk for ordering thu
squadron to permit Santa Anna to return t.
Mexico, as weak in the extreme. HI
contended that the President was bound t.
communicate to Congress, more fully thai
he had yet done, his intentions in regard t.
the war, and until this was done he woul'
not vote for the money asked for.
Mr.. Stanton, Of Tennessee, entered int
brief defence Of the President, and of th
acts Of Gen. Kearny and Commodore
Stockton, in the proclamations they ha'
issued. The laws of nations would bea
them out in all that had been done. HI
contended that the Executive was right il
charging those who opposed the war, witt
treason, by giving said and comfort to th
enemy" Those who denounced the wa
as "unholy'' and "unjust," must expec
such imputations to be cast upon them. :.
As to the war ITSELF it was not in its incep
ton, war Of conquest, but war to secur,
the payment Of our just claims.
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