Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-08
CONGRESS-.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore American.
:
UNITED STATES SENATE.


the British Museum, ancient useful aud highly
poctabls Institution. The memorasts represents that
there - great DESIRE To receive information in regard To
the United States and Mr. Webster reference Of
the memorial To the Committee on the Library.
Mr. Ashly moved that the General Presumption Law be
made the special order Of the day for Wedn.sJ,y The
motion was agreed Ia.
The Ball granting alternate sections OF land for tho i'm
provemen' OF Pearl River in Miss. passed by vote OF
81 To 10.
GENERAL GAINES.
Mr. Cass called up his resolution Offered yesterday cal
ling for the orders Of Cen Games raising troops and
desiring to know whether they had been approve by the
Executive or not
Mr. Csss said that he entertained very high repee, for
General Gaines lie was a brave, valuable aud paui-
o'c officer, aud had rendered good service to the country
But he had passed by the President one side and
General Taylor on tho other and called the Executive
al the States. Ills good intentions were very bad pt.e
dents, and called for correction.
lie diSraned oil ntenon of censuring General Gaines:
but the inquiry he had made necessary aud TO the
Government aud to the Army. lilo had called out troop.
upon his responsibility and without authority of law
aud in violation al the Constitution OF the u Tines.
l2OOo men had Of hem been summoned into service
and part Of them the seat OF war without INV a
ihoriy whatever
Mr. Webster said that General Gaines had been ia au
thory Tor some time IN the Southern Division and IL
could hardly be supposed that he ignorant tho
Laws ana the Constitution order out the Militia of
the States in violation Of law II he had done so il was
certainly most extraordinary proceeding and called for in
qury.
lie believed that the President had power to call ont
militia OF the States To repeal invasion. IL very pro-
per power delegated TO the President. and his pro-
vince 10 exercise this power according his discretion
lie presumed too, that he had right delegate this pow
e for the selection OF officer. lie desired to know the
facts IN the The proceeding say the las, of IL
was extraordinary, and without censuring the Executive
he desired the information which had been called for
Mr. Webster said that he had taken occasion to inquire
OF those who had knowledge of the facts or ought to
have knowledge OF the facts, and informed that the
expenses OF the Military Department of tho
were now carried expense OF nearly half million
day.
Mr. Sewer said he woule defend Cen Gaines and ,bs,
he thought it wrong him in tho indirect wav
embodied in the Resolution of the Senator from Michigan
lie had done WELL and had acted properly. lis deserved
me applause Of the country instead OF Its censue If
lie had done differently, he would have deserved the CEN
sure Of the country. lie would have deserved MORE and
even TO be shot lie did wait for the tedious forms of
law, but met the crisis and IL like man. And now
when his conduct was applhuded New Orleans and
would be by the people Of the Union, an attempt was
made To censure him IN an indirect manner.
He did not think thus lay blame al crisis like the
present upon the shoulders OF this patriotic veteran
Mr. Johnson OF La defended the of Gen. Gaines
aud said hH his conduct had been appreciated by the
ernor OF the State and the people of New Orleans at
public meeting The people of the State and the South
where, approved of General Gaines conduct and h.
would vote Tor no resolution implying upon him.
MI WesIcou said that the resolution of the Senator from
Michigan was an act of consure whether 80 intend
ed or not lie cared whether was discaimed
or not lie should vote against the resolution.
Mr. Webster said he had consured Gen Gaines and
did not regard the information received as far as il Ind
been made known warrsning censure IL the Presi-
dent had sanctioned the orders of Gen Gaines he was
sp1nsibe for IT, aud the pre,ontod itself to the senate
IN very diff rent light from what otherwise would
call upon gentlemen, said Mr.. Webster answer me This
IL zen. Taylor was put into critical position al
legged, who put him there1
II General Gaines had ordered troops to meet cr
growing out OF the removal of the troops 10 Texas or
Mexico. he was also responsible for this He was deter
mined TO probe this matter TO the bottom.
desire TO know, continued Mr.. Webster, il in the
smoke and fog Of this which the government by legal
aud Constitutional has power To carry on and 10
prosecute to all just ends aud for all Just purposes whether
he Executive and those acting under him have dsrcgaded
the law.
The discussion further confined by Messrs Johnson
OF Md Mangum, Archer, Bagby, SEWER Houston and
Others.
Mr.. Johnson of Md said he was opposed 10 the Re.o
luton The orders given To the 2nd of NAV
had been approved OF by the Executive The power given
TO tho President TO epel invasion given to him alone
lie mad no power TO delegate body But the troops
ordered out had been ordered aud their services
ted The conduct OF Gen. Games was governed by the
eSgency Of the IL done illegally and wi,bou,
any power Whatever. Gen. Gaines had called upon
The State Executives because he had the power 10 do
80 under the law of IT'S.
lie invited all TO a moment when the country
wasnvaded lie promised them the OF going for
ward To the of dang when the Army was invaded
aud threatened with destruction. Why had not General
Cams conduct been censured by the War Department in
1896 and in 1912. General Ganes did then what be had
now done! The troops called out were paid and no one
said nay.
IL was very cool in call up the conduct of men
which had been exercised under great excitement aud
when the country IN danger. When General Gaines
had ordered out his troops expected that Paroles was
on his way Ia MatumOraS with $1,000 men. IL was az
like tins that General Gaines ordered out his troops'
lie believed that Pnredes with four times a. large
as that OF General Taylor, his way from the capt
Is Of his country.
Under this apprehension he had issued his orders He
had not called his troops under the law The law was
passed for such purpose. lie admitted that there was no
law Tor what had been done. II however, Cen Gaines
had been wrong in giving these orders the Executive had
done much more wrong in sSnctioning the thus illegal
ly done.
~, n. IL,
OF Mr.. Sewer. He could the motive Of IT, and
would not vote for IT, regarding entirely eGtranoous
matter having no correspondence with the subject matter
under consideration. Gen. Scott had violated the laws
he was amenable II he had written n tart letter 10 the
Executive, letter in homey phrase he TO be call
cd To account for this by the Senaei Mr. Johnson com
mendsd the general conduct Of Scott and his military life
Mr. Webster di-sented from the broad and liberal ground
which his ond had taken defence Of what he regarded
as unjust and illegal acts. From the earliest Of the
Government there always excuses for the violation
Of law II always pronounced to be for the pnblic
good, for public necessity.
The Senator from Maryland has said that tine Con-
stiiuhon was OF very general good. Il that ALT Is
that all l. the whole sum Of all that there arc rules
above the Constitution and above the lawsi that IN his
own words there may be times for setting the law
aside and the Constitution nsdoi lie was very sure
that his friend would not 70 assert Tomorrow what he
had asserted today.
Mr.. Archor-Ho has asserted very strange things TO-
day
Mr.. Websicr-I know IT, and therefore have risen
20 reply to him. II the Senator was right. tho Consd
tuition was not worth straw. II made for peace
alone and not for There no MAJ who heard
with more pleasure than himself Of the brave deeds Of
our brave mon Tie respected them, however, Just 90
far as they respected the laws.
Tie desired not to consure Gen. Gaines and would not
don " he could help IT, lie wished know more about
W bnd 6oh', Gaines been younger and n moro
amollo man. we might have found him marched in
other quarter Than TO the frontier of Mckee.
n spirited rfIoinder made by Mr.. Johnson and a
BOD and eloquent reply FROM Mr. Archer in reply Mr.
Johnson: Mr. clayton continued the debate also Mr. Crit
tendon, MI Calhoun and Mr.. SEWER each in few words
when Mr. Calhoun moved to lay the Resolution upon tho
table which motion was lost by yeas and nays Yeas l.
The Resolutions were then greatly enlarged 20 a. to COW
or call Tor all the orders u Con Gaines and all his cor
Tespondenoe, with I'll the correspondence Of GEN scou
relative TO tho Mexican The Senate adjourned NJ :
o'clock and 10 minutes.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVE
mt Daniel, Of ". G., moved postpone the special or
der Teriosl bu-incss) until Monday next which was a.
greed to- Yeas 30 nays52.
The House then went into Committee Of the Whole Mr.
Boyd Of ny in the Chair and took up the private Calendar
Such bills as were not objected laid aside bs
reported and the House adjourned without other business