The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-06-18
June 10, 1s46.

Gen. Scott in reference 10 his taking the
command of the Southern army.
MI Cass did not wish to censure Gen
Gaines; but he acted without authority,
and only one sixth of the force he raised
had been received. He Shove TOO. that
alter the decisive victories of Gen. Fay
lor, when the danger was all over, Gen.
Gaines had ordered out six thousand
men. He stated distinctly that Col. Pey'
toms regiment had not been received.
Mr. Johnson. of La, vindicated the
conduct of Ger. GllneS.
Mr. Westcott said the resolution implied
q censure OF Gen Gaines, and mentioned
that, after Dlde's massacre, in the Sem.
mole war, Gen. G.. called for troops and
marched with them 10 the scene of action,
without waiting for orders from WASH
inSton. His conduct was then approved,
If Gen. Taylor's army had fallen, then
Gen Gaines would hove been censured
in case he had not called out troops. He
mentioned that Capt. L1Iimer had lately
called on the Governor of Florida for
two companies to defend The public props
erly at Pensacola, which might have been
taken by any Picayune priva'eer. OF
course the government would not object
to that. The gallant old Gen. Gaines
was universally beloved in the South and
West, and he ought not to DO censured
for this act.
Mr. Webster discIaimed any intention
of censuriug Gen. Gaines. He hardly
douh,ed that Gen, G. would show some
authorily-some sanction for his acts
Blu, it was admitted that the case, Of its
face, was one Of an extraordinary nature.
Mr. Cass stated that all the calls prior
to the lllh of May had been sanctioned,
none after waTds.
MIR Webster wanted 10 know one thing
whether certain calls made by Gen.
Gaines, in three instances, without orders
and al his own discretion, had been sane
toned by the U. S.
Mr. Sewer replied in the affirmative.
MIR Webster-"Then that alters the
case. Why should not the act Of Gen.
Gaines, in the fourth instance, be equally
proper. 1t was evident that the whole
subject was unregula'ed by law-that the
President had acted contrary 10 law
What right had any officer to undertake
to Judge of the necessity OF a warY' He
wanted TO know, whether iu the smoke or
fog of war, we were 10 lose sight en-
tireIv Of The provisions of the constitu-
lion The whole subject required sift-
ing. and me resolution did not go far
enough. The powers Of the Prcslden. on
this subject were distinctly defined by the
u. s., and by the existing laws Of 1895,
Hs wished to know whether Gen,
Gaines, if brought here, could not say
] made these calls, of which you disap,
prove, under precisely the same circum.
stances, with precisely The same suthori-
ty, with the previous calls which you
sanctioned.
Mr. Houston vindicated The conduct Of
Gen. G ines.
Mr. Mangum was opposed to adoption
of the resolution. He did not vindicate
irregularities, but be could conceive OF
cases of public peril which required ir-
regu'arnies. The law OF necessity must
be tolerated ia some cases.
Mr. Archer supported the resolution,
and expressed his surprise that the friends
of Gen. Gaines should object 10 an invest
lgalion Of the matter.
Mr. J. NJ. Clayton asked Mr. Sewer TO
modify his amendment so as to call for
all the correspondence with Gen. Scott in
relation 10 the army of the South.
The debate was continued 10 a very
late hour, when MIR Calhoun moved 10
lay the whole subject on the table. Lost
-syes III, noes SO.
The resolution as amended was then
agreed to, and the Senate adjourned.
The House Of Representatives was en-
gagged all day on private bills.
REPORTS OF THE WEBSTER
INVESTIGATING COM.
TUESDAY, June 9.
Proceedings Of the Senate were not i'm
portant.
In the House, Mr. Vinton had the
unanimous consent TO make a report from
The select committee, to investigate the
charges agains! Mr. Webster. The re.
port was read. The report fully exoner'
ates Mr. w. in all points, and concludes
bv stating, that in his testimony facts have
been brought out which ought not TO be
made public, and asks that the testimony
be sealed up ard placed in The archives of
the House, to be opened only by order of
the House; that the Committee be dis
charged from further consideration OF the
subject, and that the report be printed
The report is signed by Messrs. Vlnlon
and King, wings: and Seaborn, Jones
and Jefferson Davis, democrats.
MjnOrity Report.
MIR Brinkerhof made a minority re-
port in which he had introduced some
letters, with d resolution that all the testi-
mony be printed.
The report was ordered 10 be printed.