Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-05-16
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state N war with Mexico which had not been
brought about or declared by the Legislative department Of the
Government which consutionay the power of declaring
war belonged Before therefore, could occupy proper
posion in the estimation of the nations Of the world whose
opnion on subjects of this sort he thought they ought
venture dsregard-befoe they assumed hostile attitude,
which in al probability would become their duty assume
the subject should be referred to that which, in all
cases Of this SORT accustomed have charge and
ceye the consideration of the matter before Congress
of the United States recognised the existence of they
should perform the part assigned them by the Constitution
of the United States.
Mr. J. M. CLAYTON contended that the message ought
be referred the Committee on Military Affairs The
President ho sad had announced that there that
actually existed, and called upon Congress for grant Of
millions of dollars carry that war; pronouIcng
essentially necessary that should be carried The Prss
dent also demanded Of them Of thousands Of volunteers
for the purpose Now, he willing, though he
did not take himself the responsibility of the war-that
sponsbiy with the President alone who brought
abouthe not willing to hesitate, undertake to
decide whether the inception Of the right not II
being existence he was ready to for the volunteers and
the allowance Of money for the support Of the honor
Of the country They could decide their leisure afterwards
and the Committee Foreign Relations could decide at lei
sure upon the sravequeson Of responsibility Of occasionng
the That question would under consideration un-
doubtedy But the first duty Of the Senate in his humble
judgment, TO vote for the supplies What had the Com
mittee Foreign Relations to do with this He would say
to his friend from South Carolina (f he would allow him to
call him SOY that the opinion he entertained very closely ap
preached TO his upon this He very far from
jusfyns the taken by the Executive in sending the
troops Of the United States TO the Rio del Noe But the
country in state of What now to be done
To provide supplies defend position lose no time
in doing The other questions they arose. would have
to be settled by the people and the Executive They might
be debeated upon leisure Upon the main question Of
furnishing supplies, appeared him there ought to be
prompt and efficient action.
Mr. ARCHER said he good deal surprised that his
honorable friend from Delaware failed make the distinction
between state Of properly called, and the in
which placed. Several Senators had assumed
that state of he maintained that we were
not When some years ago vessel belonging citizens
the United States was destroyed by foreign foce did that
constitute state Of war The President according to his
construction of the message did affirm that we were
In state Of He could not affirm il; or if he did,
he affirmed what in the legal accepaon Of the term,
not true What would be the result of such consuc-
ton That troops on the Rio del Norte could at
thslr pleasure involve state of Congress was,
under the Constitution, the making power and Congress
had done act to place in of What was the
purpor of the message Of the President II that
tam state Of facts had reached his knowledge which made
necessary that Congress should inquire what action
cessary to be taken heeupon Did the position troops
on the frontier necessarily place the United States in
Of war; Certainly not Suppose the state of things be mis-
suppose the action the part of the Mexican
authorities to be justified by the circumstances could il be said
that they were in state of war Fighting did in every
case absolutely constitute state of war There had often
been collisions which did not The facts
ng only authorized inquiry whether they should
proceed to state of He hoped the which had
threatened with war, would departed from now that
the reference would in the first be made the Com
mttee Foreign Relations and when they had all the
nation that necessary, il would be time enough
clare the country to be in a state of war.
Mr. BENTON said he apprehended that there two
very distinct questions presented 10 the consideration of the
Senate touching this matter The President announced the
TACT OF the Of the United States he then proposed
to carry against Mexico scale commensurate
with the necessity Of the occasion Upon the occurrence of
an invasion IT the duty Of the President under the Con-
a. --l.-l
his power, to epe that invasion Certain Of Congress
authorized him call the militia that purpose the pc
rod Of their being limited three months and
often occasion Of this kind had occurred had been
deemed proper In order TO the most efficient troops
70 permit the President accept the of volunteers
The General commanding the banks the Rio del Norte
haa therefore, IN this in accordance with authority given
him by the President called for volunteers The thing
them IN his opinion, which they had to do furnish the
to pay those volunteers and, in granting him the
money TO pay those volunteers legimatze the call which he
made for their services Thus far it would be military
question: question for the Committee on Military Affairs to
say whether they will adopt eight thousand three
eight thousand. But became also question which
ed our foreign relations and the first adopt
edabout which he apprehended there could be dispute
being requisite repel nvasion-the first measure being
adopted there would then be time consider second
question He would suggest therefore, that much Of the
message related pelng be referred the
Committee Military Affairs and SO much of it as related
to foreign relations be referred to the Committee Fo
reign Affairs.
Mr. ALLEN observed that the suggestion of the Senator
from Missouri appeared to him present the question its
true and natural aspect The appropriations for the defence
Of the country need not be delayed by being connected with
other questions growing out Of the of facts.
Mr. SEWER accepted the proposition Of the Senator from
Missouri a modification Of his motion
Mr. CASS desired to say merely single word. The mes
sage OF the President but manifesto Of the difficulty
isng between this country and Mexico very similar
to message which sent to Congress by Mr. Madison
he e very much grsed at hearing the language which had
fallen from the honorable Senator from Delaware The SEN
aor had spoken like American he ready to meet the
emergency The ground he took fair ground for party
man to take going for his country FIRST and afterwards to
inquire by whom the mischief brought about Il
very iair subject Of inquiry Let us (pursued Mr. c. let
US go Tor the defence Of country first let adopt all pro-
per measures for repeng invasion and have
done that Tor prepared inquiry as
70 VINO Is night and who wrong agree with the Senator
rom MISSISSIPPI concur entirely in the message Of the Pre-
sdent' and as lar my voice will go accomplish IT, its
recommendation shall be carried out And must be allowed
to say further (and use the word in sense rcpe
the construction put upon by the honorable Senator from
South Carolina One country may declare war; but il
two countries TO declare peace Suppose Mexico declares
against you, you at peace No. There is no inerme
dae state between peace and In which state are we at
present Can il be said that troops may drive the Mex
cans over the boundary and then politely say Good bye
III You come back and then shall ready YOU again
This should say state Of war; Every gentleman
knsws that within the last half century dozen have
nsen wased growing out of Of hostility that nature
ne honorable Senator from South Carolina says we are not
state oil war, but in state OF hostility Now am not
gog 70 dispute about the meaning Of words but il the gem
uenles mat an invasion act OF war; differ with
MN e'urey Suppose foreign nation blocksdcs your ports
m sure you are not invaded land, but are you not in
state that leads lesitma,ely the