The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-24

: MUST THEN FIGHT FOR 1T. Ii nv min
4 had not settled down into determination 10 con
Q cede no more than compromise at 400, with tn
) QUALIFICATIONS already stated, would vote agains
D the notice. Tor without tina, determination OF III
q SENATE, the notice would have no moral weigh
$ whatever, and be worthless, worse than seotth
8 less, IN the negotiation. IL would be iemporizn;
Prelencea species Of Legislative diplomacy an emp
Z ~ brsyado, OF which we have had quite enough al
ready, unsuited TO the dignity of this body or IN,
y7ylty OF the subject and rather embarrassing thar
heipfal tolthe Administration 10 pursuing the nego
, tiaion- ln word, we ought 70 refuse the notice
unless there is solemn determination 70 make th,
compromise line Of yo our FIGHTING LINE
va must be 50.
But, Mr.. President, there are some other topic,
7 that have been introduced into this discussion
which fec obliged 10 notice. We have been told
thst The PEOPLE have decided this question, and
all Demot.sis arc cslled 70 obey the voice Of the
people al the peril of CONSEQUENCES. am Demo
erat and upon party questions party nan. or ibis,
! make no concealment; and at home I have never
been suspected, ! think, but once, and that did not
last long. But am not slave to dictstion, nor a
tame follower OF any mans lead, especially upon
Questions likely TO involve my party in danger, or
my country In ruin. am Democrat enough not to
shrink nom speaking the truth boldly to the people,
as they shs hear who hear me at all. | had rather
ssrvs Them than please them, though have found in
10y own experience that honest service is the best
avenue 10 their confidence. do not know nor be-
lieve that the people are opposed 10 an honorable
lcompromise OF ibis controversy. That they might
be plsde so BY wilful appliances, | have no doubt
But do not shrink from meeting such an issue di.
Irecay--notL should hold myself no Democrat
il did BY ne Consultation or the United States
the MAKING oy TREATIES Is eonfded to the PRESI-
DENT, under the advice OF the Senate. I talk OF
treaties not ordinary laws In treaty -making, we
act IN private, and upon information we cannot dis
close. We deny 70 foreign Ministers the right to
discuss the cause Of their Governments to our
PEOPLE Should one undertake il, he would be
driven from tse eountry, as he ought to be. We
represent STATES; did Senators are presumed to
be stitesmen Of some learning and great judgment.
We generally ratify a treaty before the PEOPLE
are permitted to know anything Of it, or Of the rea
sons for its ratification. II were cautious To OBJ
serve the rules, this would always be the case. How
absurd therefore, TO assert that the ProrLE have
tained that they wish TO exert or that they can
righfuly exercise the power TO Instruct The Senai,
upon the making OF a treaty. How execrable and
revolutionary would be the doctrine that President
should seek to set aside his constitutional advisers
and go before the people, whether il were the hon
est "masses," or Baltimore Conventions, or town
and county meetings, wherein factions are first form.
ed, and then led by demagogues, who called them
together. Oh, my country my country when
that shall be our fate, IT, in the providence Of God it
shall ever be :. -".. -r.
Sir hear what the Father Of his Country said, a
half s century ago. Let the people hear him.
Let an American Senate hear him. Let PRESl-
DENT POLK hear PRESIDENT WASHING
TON, and stand to his position How precious
will be his reward!
| There had been public meeting in Philadelphia
for the purpose Of passing resolves against Jays
treaty. After the business OF the meeting was
cloSea, copy Of the treaty was suspended pole
and carried about the streets by q company Of peo
pie, who at length STOPPED m front OF the British
Minister'S house, and there burnt the treaty; and
also before the door Of the British Consul, amidst
the huIzss and acclamstions OF the multitude ~ In
Boston the same sort Of thing was done, and town
meeting addressed to the President protest. This
was his reply To all:
"To Ezekiel Price, Thomas VALLEY, William Board
man, Eb.nsTsr Searsr, Thomas Crat1,, Thomas Ed
toards, William Lille, Wiilism Scoilay, and Jesse
! P.tnam-Ssleefmen Of the tosn Of Boston.
"UsITED STATES, July 2S, 1895.
"GENrLEnET: In every act of my administra-
ton, | have sought the happiness of my fellow
citizens. My system for the attainment of this object
has uniformly been to overlook all personal, local.
and partial considerations; to contemplate the United
States as one great whole to confde that sudden
impressions, when erroneous, would yield to candid
reflection; and to consult only the substantial and
permanent interests Of our country.
"Nor have departed from this line Of conduct on
the occasion which has produced the resolutions
contained in your letter Of the 18th instant With
out prediction for my own judgment, | have
weighed with attention every argument which has
at any time been brought into view But the
CONSTITUTION is the guide which | never
can abandon. 1t has assigned to the PREsI-
| DENT the power Of making treaties, with the adj
vice and consent Of the SENATE. 1t was doubt
\ less supposed that these two branches of Govern
ment would combine, without passion, and with
the best means of information those facts and prn-
cipes upon which the success of orr foreign rela-
tions will always depend; that they ought not to
substitute for their conpiction the opinions Of
Others or to seek truth through any channel but that
of a temperate and iceii-intormed investigation.
"Under this persuasion, have, resolved on the
manner Of executing the duty before me. To the
high responsibility attached to it, freely submit;
and you, gentlemen, are at liberty to make these
sentiments known as the grounds of my procedure
While feel the most lively gratitude for the many
instances Of appreciation from my country, l can
no otherwise DESERVE it than by obeying the die
tates of my CONSCIENCE.
| "With due respect, | am, gentlemen, &c,
| GEORGE WASHINGTON"
Who does not know the history of that party de-
nuncation and violence which disturbed this nation
even under Wnshington's Administration, when
GENET appealed to the PEOPLE of the States in
behalf Of Ffunce and against Great Britain, and
how PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S celebrated
Proclamation Of Neutrality saved the Pace OF
AMERICA. In taking leave Of the duties and
| cares OF pubic stauon, near Wnat w ARLINGTON
said of it to the people: ..' Pre-.
"Aher deliberate examination, with the aid of the
best lights could obtain, we'll satisfied that
our country, under all the circumstances of the
case, had a right to take, and was bound in duty
and interest to take, a NEUTRAL position. Hav.
ing taken il, determined, as far as should depend
upon me, TO maintain it with moderation, psraper-
ancs and frmnes." . ~. .'..
And, oh, how like patriot and father, did he,
still yearning over his country, warn us by his
FAREWELL ADDRESS to beware of ali self
constituted combinations to overawe and control
this Senate! Il is Washington who speaks to us
from the grave; let Senators listen!
"The basis Of our political systems is the right OF
the people to make and to alter their constitutions
of Government But the constitution which at any
time exists till changed by explicit and authentic
act OF the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon
all. The very idea of the power and the right OF
the people to establish government pre-supposes the
duty Of every individual TO obey the established
government. .. .' .. .s.' ..H... .
GAN distractions to the execution Of the laws
all combinations and associations, under whatever
plausible character, with the real design 10 direct
control eounterac, the regular elaboration ana
Il a . a