The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-11

=
say this because no make up his opinion
from the mere reading of the message. IL ID etnl-
nenty proper that in this the deliberate sense
Of the body should be expressed. IL 10 always un-
derstood that printing large number OF doeuments
is an endorsement. At all events, | think II ~oua
be undigni6ed in the Senate to print on this occa-
sion more than the usual number.
Mr.. SPEIGHT said rise TO respond 10 every
sentence--eyery word-which has been uttered Dy
the honorable senator from South Carolina piy
motive In moving 10 print an extra NUMBER oi 0oPioe
of the message and accompanying documents was
the suggestion of senators around me- had sup
posed that the country would be anxious TO read
those documents and cannot see why the pruning
Of il should be necessarily considered as an en-
dorsement Of that message But take occasion 10
state here in my place that endorse every word OF
that message. I approve of it, The President has
recommended what am prepared to carry out II
useless to conceal the fact that he has recommend
ed no declaration Of war. He only asks Congress
to place al his disposal sufficient military force TO
repel any invasion Of the territory OF the United
States. apprehend that there is not a sin
gle senator who will not cordially respond to
that portion Of the message; and ! am confident
only do justice TO the senator from Delaware Mr..
CLArroNl when say that none will more cordially
respond to il than himself II | apprehended that
my motion was at all inconsistent with the dignity
Of the Senate, need not say that would at once
withdraw il. Far be il from me TO entertain any
important affair. But the document will appear in
the newspapers, and there will be general anxiety
in the country to read III and | cannot the i'm
propriety Of printing such Rumber Of extra copies
will insure the most extended circulation Of the
message. Il is an important document, and we
seem to have approached an important crisis, and
agree with the senator that should meet il firm
ly, calmly, and with elaboration. For my part, |
| am prepared so TO meet the crisis.
Mr.. ALLEN said: Ii is usual Tbelieve, when a
very important communication s made to the two
houses Of Congress by the Executive, If it and the
accompanying documents be so voluminous as not to
find admission to the public newspapers ofthe coun-
try for the Congress ofhe United States to meet the
natural demand ofthe country, to print extra num-
Der Of such communication with the accompanying
documents. No man will question for an instant
the transcendent importance of the case commune
Gated to the Senate to-day No man will doubt that
that matter, as contained in the papers the table,
is too voluminous TO obtain publication in the news
paper press of the country. No man doubt the
right of the American people to indulge that whole
some curiosity which induces them to look for the
publication Of such documents These are facts about
which there can be no dspute and if ever there was
case in which 1t becomes important to give an ex
tended circulation 10 a great public fact this is
that case. What is it, The honorable senator has
told US that the President recommends no dec
laration of war; but he did not tell us what
the President has told us, which is the far more
important fact, that war actually exists, and
he asked the Congress of the United States to ac-
knowledge that fact by such a public act as shall
nationalize the troops and put the United States in
that relation to the nations Of the world which she
has o right to growing out Of a state Of war. Sir,
has been said that time for deberation is necessary;
but the time of elaboration should be measured by
the crisis presented by the Of facts upon which
that deliheraon il to be had and what is the crisis
here' The crisis is existing war. The elaboration
tend to point, if it have useful object, ex-
he 4fs Aa l.fo
against invasion. And as for the suggestion thrown
out that the of the government should be limit
| ed 10 Its owe so-that we should be required TO
| fight over square Of the board, while Mexico
fights over the whole board-seems to me to involve
| a most suicidal policy. How can this war be
| brought to successful issue how can any perma-
nent peace be expected to result at all from this
| hict with Mexico, unless she is given distinctly to
understand that when she makes war upon the Uni
ted States she ncurs all the penalties which the con-
dition Of war inficts upon nations' But am sem
sble that this is aggressive desire that these doc
uments may be printed in large numbers for the rea-
sons that have given; and for the sake Of testing
| the sense Of the Senate, ask the yeas and navs
Mr.. SEWER understand that the motion to
refer the message, and print, has been carried
The PRESIDENT. The motion has not yet
Mr.. SEWER moved that that motion be first
put
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON then rose and said: hope
the message will not be referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations, but to the appropriate COM
mittee-that on Military Affairs. The very object of
the message is to procure munitions Of war. 1t
seems therefore, eminenty proper that the subject
should go to the military committee, and not to the
Committee on Foreign Relations. | cannot per-
ceve any proPriety in the reference to the latter
committee.
Mr.. CALHOUN. I have effected nv object in
part the object which had in view in offering the
few observations which addressed to the Senate
My object to show that there should be no
haste this subject, and that it should not be in
ferred, from the printing Of large number of the
message, that there was any special endorsement Of
it on the part Of the Senate. | am informed that
that is not intended, and therefore | am perfect.
ly Indifferent as to what disposition may be made of
the motion to print an extra number Of copies
Whilst am up, take occasion to say, that | agree
with the senator from Ohio, Mr. ALLEN that the
President has announced that there is war; but ac-
cording to my Interpretation there is war accord
ing TO the sense of our constitution. distinguish
between hostiities and war; and God forbid that act
ing under the constitution, we should ever confound
one with the other. There may be invasion with
out war, and the President is authorized To repe in
vasion without war. But It is sacred duty to
make war, and it is for to determine whether war
shall be declared or not If we have declared war,
state Of war exists, and not till then 1t was in
this aspect Of the question that regarded il as one
Of great magnitude, and deprecated any precpitate
action the part Of the Senate. There is a certain
decorum which belongs to us, and which should al.
ways characterize our conduct. There is certain
forbearance, dignity, and camness which will make
war not the less effective IL il should be our fate to
be involved in war. hope that shall never ind.
cate on my part the earncstness with which go in
TO any measure by precipitatc course Of action |
am prepared 10 do all that the constitution and pa
irio'ism, and the honor Of my country may require
But wish time to consider on all points, and de-
sire tina, our whole action may be marked by dig