The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-26

pcit manner, the then existing state Of this contro-
versy, far respected the Executive action upon
IL Of the two governments. Subsequent 10 that time
call had been made upon him, evidently in reference
TO this very question, whether or not in his judg-
ment, any additional precautionary defenees OF the
country were necessary, and II so, upon what faets
that judgment was predicated. Well, the honorable
senator says and says truly that his resolution was
/ upon the table when the other passed-thai II was
there before the other was offered
| Mr.. CLAYTON Long before.
| Mr.. ALLEN. That's not the question. The time
of introduction of the resolution is not the question
| al ALL What is the fact That the heels of the
answer TO the other resolution, this is called up.
That is the state Of the matter. Well, If the Senate
means TO repose faith and confidence in their judgment
| Of the Executive, why constantly probe him with
these resolutions, day after day Why constantly
put queries TO him in relation TO this Oregon ques-
ZION, the whole of which is, by his message, put
solely in our hands for the present--so put by the
express words Of his annual messsgel | ask again,
is Il fairly TO be presumed, in all these crcumsan-
ces that IL anything had occurred which the Presi-
| dent deemed proper for communication 10 the Sen
ate, and through the Senate 10 the world, that he
| would not have made that communication in answer
/ TO the resolution answered but day or two ago
That resolution had reference expressly TO the Ore
| gon diffculty-undoubtedly Well, then, does Il
not indeed to imply that the President in his
answer to that resolution kept something back
which he ought 10 have dscosed, when this resolution
4
edi And IL is the effect Of such impression which
deprecate being preudical 10 the public interests
| [ believe il would be What have we heard from
| the honorable senator Misunderstanding with great
sense and great judgment as he always speaksS-
Why, that he desires unanimity. And for what pur.
posol In order that in that unanimity may be man
Tested the power Of this government in its inter-
course with foreign governments. Well then il is
| the moral effect OF unanlmty that the senator de-
| sires. VIII he destroy that by movement here
| implying that-not dssignedly TO be sure, but yet
mplying-that there is anything else but unan-
unity; and amounting to the expression Of senatorial
dstrust Of the Executive sort Of intimaton that
although called on explicitly few days aga and al.
| though answering explicitly in response to that
call, ya that the Senate thinks there in something
behind which he has kept back, and to which this
body is Justly enttledl put that question as 10 the
effect Of this resolution. In justice the Senate
must repeat that do not believe that any such de-
sign is enterainsd bat speak of the appearance OF
this thing TO the world. speak Of the moral effect
indicative Of a want Of confidence in the Execu-
tive, and that too when engaged in controversy
with that power represented as the greatest in the
world-a controversy, in the opinion Of many sena-
tors here, involving the question Of peace war.
| That il all. Now | remember that on a former oe-
casion when another negotiation was pending-I
belisvi when the celebrated Ashburton treaty was
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of this sort were rendered
perhaps by myself-perhaps so. They were
voted down. On one occasion remember
/ rendering u resolution similar to this, in legi.
| lstiye session, and IL was voted down on the
ground that it should have been offered in executive
session. | changed it. am not at liberty to speak
Of its subsequent fate. But at that time IT was said
| said by grave senators OF long experience, older
in the public service than myself and doubtless bet.
ter able to Judge Of the effect Of such movements on
the public intereststhst we must not embsrruss the
Executive with such resolutions. Sir, such was
/ the state Of the Case
Il Il NJ
the object Of that resolution
| Mr.. ALLEN. think there were three or four
resolutions.
Mr.. CLAYTON. Well. then, perhaps the sen..
tor will have the goodness to inform us Of the char
| acter Of any one Of themi
luded offered during the negotiation of the
| Mr.. HAYWOOD. That was in executive ses-
| sion.
Mr.. ALLEN. Perhaps there was one in the
case Of the negotiation Of the Texas question. But
| these the reasons then given for voting down
the resolutions-that | recollect well. And, sir,
when one was in the presidential chair who was not
put there by the voice Of the American peope--who
was there under circumstances that deprived him Of
| the benefit Of that confidence which every other
President of the United States had enjoyed in
| that case, senators did not think proper TO EN-.
| barrass him with such resolutions. Now, SIR
wish the senator to infer nothing as to what
is what s not in existence from the fact
that this opposition Of the resolution came from one
connected with the Committee on Foreign Rela-
| TONS ] wish no such differences drawn one way
the other. speak Of this resolution as similar
resolutions were spoken of on former occasions by
graver and more experienced men than myself,
whose views prevailed on those occasions against the
passage of such resolutions; and now renew the
motion, which was withdrawn by me in order to give
| wayl TO others who desired to speak, to lay the
| resolution on the table.
| Mr.. CRlTTENDEN here reese ard said, do
not intend to make any heightened remarks. can
not concur with the senator from Ohio in his appre-
hension of any evil consequences resulting from the
adoption of this resolution. There is one broad cir
cumstance which distinguishes this case from those
cases to which he has alluded pending the negotia-
ton Of the Ashburon treaty, and it is this; we are
now called upon land according to the suggestion
Of the senator himsel in one short week to act upon
that question in regard to the proprety of our Civ
| ing notice Of the termination of the convention We
are to perform an act upon which, in the judgment
ofsome the question Of peace and Of war will denend.
The information sought by this resolution is Of such
character to enable the better to decide upon
that question i is not for the qualification of an
idle curiosity 1t is not general information sought
for general views or .purposes. 1t il information
applicable and pertinent to a particular question
which the President of the United States has sub
mttcd to us--that is, the question of notice. It
seems to me the most proper Of all upon this
/ suuJCee, aot question we SnOulu
have all the information which has bearing upon
or relative to it. That is the object of this resolu-
ton. The gentleman's sole and only exception TO
is that it will have the appearance Of dstrust of
the Presdent-ofa want OF con6dence in him---of a
want ofthat harmony which is to exercise i,s great
influence over this negotiation in the settlement Of
all existing difficulties. Mr.. President, this obiec-
ton would demand of us, not that constitutional
confidence and trust in the President of the United
States which II is part of our official duty to en-
tertnn 1t is blindness, confidence that the gen.
tleman requires Hedemands that we should act in
implicit faith in the President, and that in relation to
matters where we have right to call for nforma.
ton and apply our own Judgment to the information
they disclosed. say that this ranscends the iinr-
its Of proper confidence, and recommends an Of
fetal blindness and devotion. The objection will
apply to every call for information made upon the
President OF the United States. 1t may be argued
in every instance, as the gentleman argues here:
why thus call upon this excellent officer Is he
not entitled to your confidence Are we not bound
to be assured that he will do nothing that is wrong,
and everything that is right If he had any infor-
nation useful to us, are we not in duty bound to