Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-16
Country Collectors for the WING i'm
VIRGINIA.
"LOOk 10 the Senatc!"

House Of Representatives, and sustained by the
Executive. justly approhendcd, the result
proves, the antagonist influence of the conserva-
tive branch of the Legislative department, in ar
resting their mischievous designs. They had al
most succeeded in preparing the heart of the
Nation for war" with Great Britain, for the pur.
pose Of wrestling from her sterile strip of land,
title to which, though declared to be ''cear
and unquestionable" by the President, in accord.
ance with resolution of the Baltimore Conven-
ton, has since been effectively invalidated by the
unanswered and unanswerable argument of Sc
nator Benton. The country did "look to the Sc
nate" and we rejoice TO say, that the wisdom
and firmness of that body have been adequate to
the great e1igency. Regardless of the dogmatic
declaration of the Baltimore Convention, the res
olutions of which irresponsible conclave seem BY
some persons to be regarded as paramount TO the
Constitution itself-repudiating the emphatic as
sertion Of right to the territory in dispute, with
which the President, who seems to consider him.
self the mere creature Of that Convention, sigma
lied his induction into ofice-and uninfluenced
by the action Of the House OF Representatives.
which, by an unprecedented majority, obeyed the
Executive recommendation-the Senate marched
fearlessly up to the discharge of its solemn and
responsible duty, by converting THE NOTICE."
which designed TO be gage of defiance, into
a message of peace. There can be no doubt that
it is exclusively owing TO the modification of that
notice, made by that body-a modification the
importance of which is demonstrated not less bv
The inheNble hostility TO its adoption of the lead
ers Of the War faction than by the reluctance
with which the House Of Representative finally
asse it as the only means Of securing the
notice itself-that we are not at this moment in.
volved in war with Great Britain, and that
propositions have been submitted for the settle
ment Of the question, which, in the Judgment of
that body, ought TO be acceded TO. The friends
OF the Administration, we are aware, deny that the
pacific temper in which the notice was received
by the British government is attributable TO the
calm and temperate language in which the reso
luton Of Congress was couched, and ridiculouslv
ascribe The pacific Indications from the other side
ofIhe Atlantic, to the terror inspired by Mr. Folks
decisive course and warlike tone. But the iudg
ment of the country cannot be misled by
pretence so absurd sustained by sophistry of such
cOb.web texture. To the Senate, and to the Se
nate alone, is due the high honor of arresting the
intended mischief The people did "ook 10 the
Senate" to avert the pernicious consequences of
Executive indscretlOn, Ito apply to it no harsher
term;) and, thank Heaven, they did not look in
vain.
Bot that The President should himself now
"Look 10 the Senate" either to enlighten his own
Judgment in regard TO question of title declared
by himself to be "clear and unquestionable."
or to throw of the legitimate responsibilities Of
his station, is indeed remarkable as il is unpre
cedented. We do not regret certainly that Mr..
Polk, by thus appealing to the Senate for advice
and counsel, has thought proper implicitly to con-
fess his inability to dsentanglc the Gordlan knot
Of his own continuance. if this be too humil
iating an inference, Of his unwingness to incur
the responsibility which properly attaches to his
position. We do not regret it, because the result
of his appeal to the Senate cannot be otherwise
than suspicious; while, if the question had been
left to the control Of the Executive, there is AT
least TO fear Judging from the past that its
bungling diplomacy, operated upon by the power.
ful cItraneous influences which would have been
brought to bear upon its decision, might have
thrown insuPerable obstacles in the way of the
peaceable adjustment Of the controversy. But il
IL impossible nevertheless, to shut our eyes 10 the
irregularty Of the Proce eding, or to the motives
by which it was induced. The function of the
Senate, as heretofore invariably understood has
been to approve or reject treaty first negotiated
and concluded by the President For the first
time, we believe, in the history ofthe government,
the President, departing from this course, asks
the Senate to advise, in advance, whether trea.
ty, embodying certain provisions, ought to be ne.
gotIated The danger of such a course is appa.
rent from the fact, that although two thirds Of that
body may at one time advise the President to form
a treaty upon proposed basis, yet before is con
clusioD, IN consequence Of the delays often inse.
parable from diplomatic FORMS that body. by the
resignation, death, or the expiration Of the terms
Of service Of its members, might be so changed.
az that, when the treaty formed IN pursuance of
ats advice should be subGitted for its ratification.
At might be rejected. II was maniiostly the duty
Of the President to act, in the first place, upon his
own responsibility, either by rejecting the British
proposition, by concluding a treaty in accord.
hnco with II. The right Of the Senate 10 act
upon the subject Il seems to us, from the language
az tho Constitution language 10 which buf
one Interpretation has heretofore been given--did
MOI accrue untli the President had concluded
treaty. Yet, we repeat, we do not regret that in
che dilemma ~ which II j. obvious that he has
long been in,olyed--swaying to and fro, like a
pendulum, between 40 aud 80 IO--he condescen.
ded TO look to the Senate" for advice to guide hs
Judgment, and 10 relieve hun from responsibility
600 mighty for his eobe strength. Ia this, at
least, he has exhibited degree Of discretion for
which We are not disposed 10 censure him. But
we hope the sObriquo, Of Young Hickory" will
no loagOr he applied to one who has, by thus
''IookiRe to the S1nate," proclaimed the indie.
eis,oa % he own Judgment, or his fear to take
upon himself the responsibility Of acting upon
its convictions.