Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-11

.'oh' hhu tiIese uctS OF congress were
invariably communicated, through the Ex-
ecutive, by diplomatic notes, to France and
Great Britain, as the basis upon which
it was proposed to restore friendly inter-
course with them. So, after the ,ermina-
ton OF the war, various acts of Congress
were passed, from time to time, offering to
Foreign Powers the principle of recip.
rocity in the commerce and navigation of
the United States with them. Out of
these acts have sprung cass, and large
class, of treaties -four or five of which
were negotiated, whilst l was in the de.
partment of State,) commonly called recip-
rocty treaties concluded under all the
Presidents, from Mr.. Madison TO Mr.. Van
Buren,, inclusive. And, with regard to
commercial treaties, negotiated without the
sanction of prior acts of Congress, where
they contained either appropriations or
were in conflict with unrepeaed statutes,
it has been ever held as the republican
doctrine from Mr.. jays treaty down TO
the present time, that the passage of acts
Of Congress was necessary to secure the
execution of those treaties. If in the mat
ter OF Foreign Commerce, in respect TO
which the power vested in Congress 10
regulate 1t and the treaty making power
may be regarded as concurrent, Congress
can previously decide the objects to which
negotiation shall be applied, how much
stronger is the case of war, the power to
declare which is confded exclusively to
Congress?
conclude, therefore. Mr.. President and
Fellow Citizens, with entire confidence, that
Congress has the right, either at the be.
ginning. or during the prosecution of any
war. 10 decide the objects and purposes for
which it was proclaimed, or for which it
| ought 10 be continued. And, think, it is
the duty of Congress, by some deliberate
and authentic act, TO declare for what OBJ.
jects the present war shall be longer prose-
cuted. l suppose the President would not
hesitate to regulate his conduct by the
pronounced will Of Congress, and to en-
ploy the force and the diplomatic power
of the nation to execute that will But, if
the President should decline or refuse to
do so, and, in contempt of the supreme
authority of Congress, should persevere in
wagne the war, for other objects than those
proclaimed by Congress, then it would be
the imperative duty of that body to vindi-
cate its authority, by the most stringent,
and efiectual. and appropriate measures
And, it, on the contrary, the enemy should
refuse TO conclude a treaty, containing
s,ipula,ions securing the objects, desi grated
by Congress, it would become the duty of
the whole government TO prosecute the
war, with all the national energy, until
those objects were obtained by a treaty
of peace. There can be no insuperable
difficulty in Congress making such an au-
thoritative declaration. Let it resolve.
simply, that the war shall, or shall not, be
war of conquest; and, if war of con-
quest, what is TO be conquered. Should
resolution pass, disclaiming the design of
conquest, peace would follow, in less than
sixty days, if the President would conform
TO his constitutional dnv.
Here, fellow-citizens, might pause, hav-
ing indicated mode by which the nation,
through its accredited and Legitimate repre-
sentative in Congress, can announce for
what purposes and objects this war shall
be longer prosecuted, and can thus let the
whole people of the United States know
for what end their blood is to be further
shed and their treasure further expended,
instead of the knowledge of it being locked
up and concealed in the bosom of one man.
We should no longer perceive the objects
of The war varying, from time 10 time, &C
cording TO the changing opinions of the
Chief Magistrate, charged with its prosecu.
ton. But do not think it right to stop
here. 1t is the privilege of the people, in
their primitive assemblies, and of every
private man, however humble, to express
an opinion in regard to the purposes for
which the war should be continued; and
such an expression will receive just so
much consideration and consequence as il
is entitled TO, and no more.
Shall this war be prosecuted for the pur
pose of conquering and annexing Mexico,
in all its boundless extent, to the United
States?
l will not attribute to the President of
the United States any such desi On; but
confess that ! have been shocked and
alarmed by manifestations of it in various
quarters. OF all the dangers and misfor-
tunes which could befall this nation,
should regard that of its becoming a war
like and conquering power the most dire
full and fatal. History tells the mournful
tale of conquerng nations and conquerors.
T The three most celebrated conquerors, in
the civilized world were Alexander, Cesar
and Napoleon. The first, after overrun-
ming large portion of Asia, and signing
, and lamen,ing that there were no more
worlds to subdue, met premature and ig-
noble death. His Lieu,enants quarreIled
and warred with each other, as to the
spois of his victories, and finally lost them
, all. Cesar, after conquerng Gaul, return.