The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-19

represented there by every slave as well as every
freeman communicated to the government OF
these United States, in all Its branches, the
authority and the command to wage war. And In that
word of three letters, there more comprehended-
unless he was misaken-than was generally apprehend-
ed Il was great mistake OF the honorable gentleman
from Ohio and, if he recoeced argh the mistake also
of very worthy and highly esteemed friend OF his from
Alabama, who, in his OF Vael, fell INTO the same
errorthat there was any difference between the war
making power of this and any other country; TWAS
precisely the The making power here was
the sovereign power OF the people OF the United States
of America exercised through their representatives and
in this instance exercised almost unanimously VI TWEEN
ty millions of people who said yes not more Than hee
hundred and fifty thousand said ''No:" la voice. "A
million Well then the honoroble genlle mar o con
twenty millions said ''(es." And he aifrmeu tnat hat
power great the power OF the auiocra OF all the
Russas, of the Sultan Mahmoud or OF Napoleon, IN
the utmost elimination of his authority and that it was
great mistake suppose that there was an that respect
any difference between the sovereignty OF the European
despot and that of the United States-one OF many IN
stances which developed the truth OF the assertion OF that
man. certainly of the greatest genius OF any thatever sat
at the head OF this govemment--Alr Jeferson-who sand
that this the strongest government IN the world In
this respect at least he, (Mr I'D conended II was as
strong as any other When Congress made the war; the
President waged il He would call the ATTENTION OF the
House what had been said that point by Mr. Mad
recorded in his report OF the debates IN the con-
vention:
r Madison observed, Aa the he reflected on the
use OF force the he doubted the practcabliiy, the
justice and the efficacy OF it. when applied TO people col
lectyey, and Individually union OF the states con-
tanning such an ingredient scented TO provide Tor rs own
destruction The use Of force against State would look
shem e and %oad pobb be by the parry
tackled dissolution OF all previous copacts by winch !.
framed as might render this resource unnecessary, and
moved that the clause be postponed This motion was
| agreed TO, mfn' con-
In another place. man OF the highest standing in that
convention, he (AIr IL had always understood, Mr.
Sherman, OF Connecticut, SAID:
Mr.. sherman said, he considered the executive magis-
tracy as noas more man e an ha b ler ran e
ought 10 be appointed by and accountable to, the legsa-
the society," As tey were the best Judges fine business
which ought to be done by the executive Department. and
for doing IT, he wished The number might not be liked but
thai the Legislature should be at liberty 10 appoint one or
more, experience might dictate
| Now the whole power of these United States OF Amer
ca at least in the ratio OF nineteen millions out OF TWEEN
y Millions had been declared by their representatives on
that floor by vote nearly unanimous, that that war
would, commander chief of the army and navy or
anything ese-the President of the United States; and
while had been said he could be mpeached for an I'M;
proper commencement of the war, undoubtedly he would
be liable to impeachment if he had not properly waged
the war; Then, the act of May the 9th gave the power
and command to prosecute the speedy and
cessfu termination He begged leave to call the attention
of the House the ITSELF which he thought had escaped
the attention of the House, and to sayhe hoped
he was betraying when he saidthat he claim
ed to be the authorize believed he the author of the
much abused preamble 10 the act of the 9Th OF May,
! 1916 1t his suggestion. He took all the respon-
sibty and claimed OF the credit OF IT. Il any gen
teman on the opposite side complained that that pream-
BILE had been designed to involve them in any difficulty
he Nr ID disclaimed all such intention gentleman
| near him was with him the Sabbath evening when
the suggestion made, la laugh j and he would bear
him out in that disclaimer He deemed the word mdis-
pensabe for the which he had partly explained
and the word "war" was put in accordingly. How was
it put in AS he thought seemed to him that If they
would read that act of Congress occasionally, (and it
seemed to be matter of doubt whether most of his hon
/ had eye voted
| for t0 they might avoid some Mistakes That act de-
clared that 'when by the act Of the republic OF Mexico
a state of exists, &c. that for the purpose OF ena-
bling the government of the United States to prosecute
the war to speedy and successful termination," nc
The President was to prosecute the war to speedy ana
successful termination; and for that purpose what was
done! He (Nr. ~ doubted whether any gentleman IN
that House recollected what he did when he voted.
acts which Immediately followed, fifteen thousand
regular troops-iity thousand volunteers-upwards
of two millions of voluneers-and three or four
times a greater naval armament than Great Britain had
afoatthat was the whole commercial steam and naval
marine OF the United States of America 1.-The President
is hereby authorized, the act went on to say, to en-
| ploy the militia" sc. Such the power, and such
| was the of the power exerted and authorized by
that The President to take that immense force
and he was to prosecute the war successfully II had
| been said that this was the Presidents war! He ONT
/ ~ denied it, 1t was his (Mr l.'s) war-lt was their
war-it was the of all of Them and the President
he he to do What was he to do with the
fifteen thousand regular troops and the fifty thousand
volunteers which the authorized him to employ
! Was he to keep them there in Washington Was ne
to them into Preoran guards, and amuse himself
with them was he ''to prosecute the war;, in the
language of the act o speedy and successful termina
ton - How could that be done Their enemy was not
naval power. 1t had not single vessel afioat Every
4 body knew-yes, everybody knew that this was to be a
war of nvasiona OF territorial conquest, although
it spoken of in terms OF condemnation IN that
respect But it could not be otherwise than war OF
conquest That the only that could be made OF all
the power granted by Congress and by Congress command
ed to be employed Let him. then, show them what was tine
business OF the President of the United States under that
/ Injunction There they with all the sovereign
power that could be communicated TO that Congress by
the people of the United States directing their Executive
to carry the warby the invasion OF the territories OF
/ Mexico--''to a speedy and successful termination
What was Mr. Folks situation Here he (Nlr IL would
endcavor TO showand he said il with great pleasure
which would he thought tend TO harmonic the feelings
and opinions OF gentlemen all sides OF the Holse-he
would endeav0r to show that Mr. Polk had inherited
from their wing friends the other side of the House
the absolute necessity of taking the very territories
the House an ndsposition TO obtain. He had before
hm--and any gentleman could read Il who pleased.he
(hir ID should take to publish TIA letter OF Mr.
Henry Clay Mr. Ponsett, dated March rs, 1925, I'M
mediately after Mr. John Quincy Adams installed as
President of the United States Mr.. Clay then Sec
ico In that letter, Mr. Minister Poinse was directed
to buy the territories of Mexico lie Qr IL had be-
fore him series of documentshe had the reference IN
| his notes, which he would give to anybody who
! chose TO examine them--a showing that the effort
was persevered in through all succeeding admin,
! STATIONS Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay having had
the honor-for honor he (hF, ID regarded III
OF commencing the effort TO acquire that terrlory-Dy
purchase TO be yet be acquired by conquest from
Mexico was not in their power do then. Final,