The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-14
CONGRES AL.
SPEECH OF Mr.. MARTIN,
OF TENNESSEE,

| Win eHedl Dtlldin'
The House being ia Committee Of the Whole the
resolutions reported from the Committee on For
| eign Affairs TO terminate the joint convention OF
| 1919 with Great Britain, being under consldera-
| toni
Mr.. MARTIN, ofTennessee, addressed the com.
mttee nearly as follows
| MIR CHAIRMAN; | must confess that am not
wholly destitute Of all experience in public speak
ing. 1 experience however, on this occasion, DIFF
fdenee never felt before | should be gratiied,
could entirely divest myself Of il, that might be
able with greater eleaness TO communicate 10 this
committee the views | entertain on this imporGan
subject. In the outset, will promise not TO enter
into prolonged discussion on the question OF our
he Ameriean) tide to Oregon, because the able and
learned member from Geargia, Mr.. JoEES,l has
clearly and most conyincingly maintained the valid
lily Of our title, not only against Great Britain, but
against all the world. Our title has been ably
oct forth by Mr.. CALHOUN, ms well az MIR. BUcHA-
MAN, and by the Honorable and Venerable gentle
man from Massachusetts, Mr.. ApAss. In view
Of which, il would be presumption in one like my
self 10 attempt TO elucidae, bya lengthy argument,
that which is so apparent to every member on this
! floor, with only two exceptons-my colleagues,
| Messrs. GESTRY and EwrEG. At the commence
ment of this Congress- gentleman from Michigan
| Mr. CmPhAs expressed regret al being native
Of the State (YermonD Of his birth. In that diff.
fer from the member from Michigan, and with the
member before me, pontlng TO MIR. Burr. ! was
born in Edgeheld, IN South Caroline and glory in
the land Ofmy brththe land Of heroes; the land of
Rudedge, Moutne, and Of Marion. the land of pa.
riots and Of statesmen, whose brilliant career have
shed halo ofglory over her own institutions. Sir,
we'll may glory In my birthplace; to me 1t 10 the
nobest reflection in "nlsHOrys toaSts"
Loving the land of my birth, it is reasonable to
suppose that should naturally feel an admiration
for her statesmen and sons who held their seats up
on this floor during the 26th Congress. That
shoul! be led as backwoodsman (as waS demon
mated by the editor Of the Washington Union,
which | appreciate as a compllment,) TO be infuen-
ced IN the formation of my opinions upon this great
national subject by the action of those distinguished
for their sound Judgment learning, and patriotic de-
| Vouon to the honored institutions Of our cOmmoR
country, is natural. When | Learned that the gem
temnn from South Carolina, MIR. RHErr, or either
| Of his colleagues was TO occupy the floor such
and such days, felt sure that my time-honored
| tive Stale would he ably represented. When saw
my colleague, MIR. MLroS BRowE, voting for the
amendment TO give Great Britain notice to terminate
the convention Of 1927, and then voting against the
bill as amended, asked, Was it nghti When
saw my able predecessor, Mr. A. " Brown,l
ting for the bill amended; when read the names
| Of the gentlemea from South Carolina, lMessrs
BuRI and RHETT,l and II host of others, voting for
the bill that passed the House in l645, and for the
annexation Of The lone star, | came Immediately TO
the conclusion that Oregon was ours; that should
extend our laws over our own soil, and give to
l
convention of 1927. After mature reflection and
when before the people canvassns for the seat now
occupy, took the bold ground contemplated by the
resolution now before this committee. Such were
my views; such are still my vIews-and the deter
mination has been strengthened. Other means hay
ing failed, 1t becomes US TO march ,up 10 this ques-
ton, directing the President in the name and
by authority Of this government and terminate the
said convention OF 1877.
| prefer, SIR and will vote for the resolution re-
ported by the Committee on Foreign Relations, with
| out amendment. lf that cannot pass, then | will
vote for either Of the amendments offered by the
gentleman from Virginia, Mr.. DRoMGooLE,l or
South Carolina, Mr. BLAeK- And last. not least
II BEG pardon, and last, yetleest, may give my
vote for the amendment of the gentleman from Ala
bama, Mr.. HILLIARD, Notwithstanding the ten
dency Of his resolution 10 increase the much-com-
planned of lone mans power"
| The hon. gentleman frsm Alabama in the debate
on this question, told that he had separated from
his political friends, with whom he was III the habit
of acting, when he broke away from the bulk Of
that party on the Texas question; but that the
question now under debate, he found majority Of
his party with him. as well as large portion OF the
democratic party.
A large portion of the democratic party with him
not, SIR with him for his amendment in preference
to either of the others as above noted Not a ma
ority ofthe democratic party for that non-commita
resolution which is designed TO shift the RESPONSE
bility from this House, and give to the President the
power, as argued by my colleague, Mr. Cooke to
annu repeal, terminate the treaty Of 1897,
which treaty was, and now is, the supreme law Of
the land. Entertaining high regard for the gen.
tleman-once my near neighbor in Georgia. would
ask the gentleman if he did not in 1910, and in
1874, oppose strenuously the Cone man power
the "veto" power-as provided for in the consti-
tuition do not see the nod of assent; but | see
the playful smile signifying yea. We all rccollect
the hue and cry against the increase and extension
Of alleged encroachments upon the Legislative pow
ers conferred by the people by this "one-man pow
err" 1t was the subject of many able and eloquent
appeals to influence the American people to confer
their sufrages upon one who had openly avowed
that the "veto power" should be qualified and that
it should be exercised only in extreme cases. Yet,
strange tell in this very hail. before the eloquence
Of able gentlemen, now members of the 29th Con-
gross, had died away upon the ear Of listening null
titudes, one of that party comes forward, and, by
resolution, tenders to the President the discretion TO
annul absolutely supreme law this land.
Permit me, sir, to warn my friends, and tell them
that this measure is avowed by one genemun in
the opposition with frankness. II Of good result,
WE'LL If evil follow, we will hold the President re-
sponsible before the American people. 1t may be
the policy of the gentleman from Alabama, and the
avowed policy of the gentleman from Ohio, Mr..
DELANo by him so expressed, to avoid respon-
sibity; but it ID not with the representative from
the 9Th congressional district OF Tennessee. In
this result great as it necessarily will be- the mem
Der now addressing the chair feels, as he trusts ev
I cry American should feel, audable ambition to
: share its momentous consequences.
My colleague MIR. CocKE who has acquired much
credit from this body, learned as it is lat least
should be) in his maiden speech, tells that thi,
notice is war measure. In support Of this, h,
, calls to his aid tho language which the venerable
$ gentleman from Massachusetts Mr.. ApAus used
' at the last session Of the twenty. sixth Congress
ioho expressly declared that the notice ipas "pd
MEASURE; ~ and that, "becnuse II was Of that char
| lactcr an1th 4
Congress by the constitution, the House had every
thing to do with it, Can my colleague then vot,
for the amendment Of the gentleman from Alabama
when he tells US, in the language of Mr.. ADAMS
that il is a "war measure" and THAT Congress
and not the President was the war-makng power
My colleague again said dit is proper to give Il
Great Britain notice Of our determination to abro
gate the convention Of 1897" Our determination t,
abrogate! How give this notice. BY adopting thu
/, amendment of the gentleman from Alabama
Surely not Would my colleague give the Presi
G dent additional power Such viii be the fact
nower In deolare the annendnnent adOnt