Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-01-01
ur. Roofs speech.

Mr. Roofs Speech.
Among the speeches delivered in the House Of Repre-
senavcs the Mexican War question: that of M Root
Of Oaio particularly distinguished for wit and humor.
well for argumonave power We regret that space
will permit It's publication entire Some Of his ndm
robe hits however good be lost. In reference
90 the establishment Of civil governments in California
and New Mexico Mr. Root said. the President his late
special message, "dodged behind Mr.. Marcy, end Mr..
Marcy lodged behind Com. Stockton and Gen Kearney
whose conduct is what Unexpectedly dsapproved by
the Executive, while, reading the instructions given
10 rhem. IL s Obvious that they were invested with the
wildcat discretionary powers Mr. r. is particularly feic
tcus in exposing the ridiculous position those members
ct Congress- who, under the natural presumption
Military and Naval commanders had not their
instructions, themselves diligently TO work TO find
some like Mr. Seldom, in the Consultation and others
like Mr.. Bayly, in tho Latos of Nations authority for
those high handed proceedngs screen fle Pre-
sfdent from censure for acts. which that officer himself
incapable Of defending, promptly dsavows! Referring TO
MI seddon's most extraordinary argument-exuaordna
ny, mean, the positions assumed which
admit, sustained with no little insenuity-Mr
Root says
"He knew that gentlemen justified the Of the Pres
dent and HE ofceIs and one very learned gentleman
pcciay MT Seddonl He found the power Of the Pre-
sdenI do all he had done in the consdtu
ton. lie DID not know Just exactly where might be
ia this article, OF might be in that might be in
third. The power there somewhere Mr. X. said he
never knew abstructonst strict consrucuonis to
be hard pushed in his life find justification for any
measure but he could always find il in tho con.tu-
ZION. The good old constitution Ho respected it, and
he loved defend il he had notion of seeing sub
miIied 10 this stretching and puekering process. The
learned gentemans search for Executive power
civil governments reminded him Of sort OF game he had
once played with thmbes and balls-he forgot now
how IL was played exactly, what called. "A
voice ibimberg augh.J Yes; il lii ely that
~. II was PLAYED with three thlmbes and ball and the
ball was sometimes found under one, and sometimes
der another--but il there somewhere. The thing
was 10 tell under which thimbe. Much lsughtcrl-
Nothing bp the governing habit Of the absuacdonIst
school Goi have produced such reading of the
hon.
Mr. Seldom hiss found tho constitution equal 10 all erer
ssReiss heretofore, and he SATISFIED thar would not
fail in ths-and he made the emarkaGts ,covery
the President. commAnder-n- chief " of the army
clothed with such powers, that he exercise
them, Civil Magistrate, it would make him an Impe-
rial sespot!
Mr. Rhett Of South Carolina. though belonging to the
school Of politics of which Mr.. Seldom prominent
member, denied that tho constitutions in any one of Us
clauses vested the President with imperial powers-and
solar, agree with him. That's emergency" never
contemplated humble estimation by the trainers Of
that instrument! Yet MIR. Rheu defended the Precedent
whose subsequent dsavowa the complained Of up-
fortunately for his champions shows that he deems those
acts wholly ndefensibe Mr. Roo; answers MI Rhett in
this wise:
But gent school came ont
iha' IN over watch the Pre- dnt had acted be
founi IA hs eonruuuon. No: beyond o.. How
auh-Ty The President oonqueor eonqurToT.
had authority II do al that he lad
new sot of Leo R aTs of nerSimeH IN
the NeIiesns udsug from freaks play
tefore g. ratlefa
business TO him (Reaewed fun But,
the danger spoiBg
Mr.. Bayly, with the arguments either of Mr.
Seldom Mr. Rheit, though OF the same school OF
sici consuueonsis finds authority the complain
cd Of in the Laws OF Misunderstanding that because
s0Ve'egns" may exercise certain conquered
therefore Mr.. Polk-who sovereign yet what.
ever he may ultimately become accordance with the re-
solutions OF 1898 may play the King the pro-
vinees wrested from Mexico! Mr. Root thus replies to
him;
Another learned genteman-(he ought to be, Virgin
Ia adge always presumed to be learned read them
decision OF Lord Sowels, formerly and better known as
Sir WIN Scott; but II all the From this opn.
ION appeared that conqueTng sOBeregn might hold
quered territory his own, and might
third party certain island had been conquered by e
Britain and, until the ended it subject IN,
right of the losing sovereign who might reconquer 1t b,
could And then the learned gentleman asked for
ihoHty in opposition this. Why nobody conirovertec
the po4iton. Mr. Il. need he knew tn,
responsibility OF the Judge who made the decision IL
sufh :ient answer say the point. ii
spoke OF the power Of a sovereign but James X Polk
thank God the sovereign OF these United
by the constitution, whatever he might by sufeance
81 Congress He had right TO establish any civil urs
dicon State held in military occupation without al
act Of the sovcfeign-hat OF the legislative body
No mi1ry comm ander whether President gene
raj, commodore, captain, could do any thing that
kind it required the sovereign authority Of tine Safe
And where that7 In the Presidentl No in Con
Ress and nothing short OF the Of Congress could Gre
any such government. Before could establish any
civil government there. must a territory Of
the United States then might begin up gov
eminent Tor IT,"
Mr.. Root closes this branch Of his subject by tho follow
ing alusOn the unfortunate predcameui in which
oyerzesluus champions Of the President had been thrown
by the disclaimer Of that gentleman Of oil responsibility
the Of his subalterns:
"B1 oil the labor and research and eoquence Of these
very esfned and eloquent gentlemen oil thrown away
The President who had made his mind that
territories could all come into the Union had since backed
OUT now u seemed, he dlsapproyed Of those Of his
subordnntes which these gentlemen had taken much
X. said he hsd long had personal admiration for
the character Of Gen Jackson, though he had
his political friend. There was one thing about the old
which strongly Distinguished him whenever he got
into a scrapc got MS friends one-he lodged
be looked the whole matter square in the face and
frequently looked 10 out Of cOuntennnce Loud laughter
That was the old Hickory. He had an immediate sue.
eeEsor who sways seemed think he escaped a dan
gee he could Int sh1n Whenever found Of h
measures unpopular no lodged behind his secretaries the
socfoacs lodged behind tbs clerks and the clerks lodged
bcinnd tbef-iusig nhcanco. Roafs Of isugiter.l
$50 these grnd -mcn had los oil heir oloquenoe. Mr.
r pre- UNI ed they did consider themselves bound Il
stand by their opinipns oabouiely defended. They
might perhaps excuse themselves they attempted
the Presidents n they hsd fallon into Il onj
through excess u patriotism. Happy parry Even th'
faults and failing OF s leaders ." .aned 10 virtues side
They certainly choice set Of piluoal beauties"
The Tariff.
Thank God.ho veSed question Of the tariff u settled q