The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-08-31
From the Baltimore Sun.
IMPORTANT FROM MEXICO
The Mexican Congress and Peace.
REJECTION OF AMERICAN
TERMS.
WAR TO THE DEATH, &c.

inst, we find the following report of,hc COM
mite on foreign relations Of the Mexican
Congress, to which had been referred Mr..
Buchanan's late letter TO that government.
The document is full of importance as ex-
pressive of the feelings and views of Mexi-
can Congress and nation. Thoughtfully
pondered, however, it will be found lucid,
condensed, and most significant exposition
of the views ofa majority of tke Mexican
Congress and nation. The report is directed
to the Secretary of Congress:
Committee Room Of the Sovereign Conssitu-
ent Mexican Congress.
SR-The majority Of the Committee on
Foreign Relations deem it not improper 10
present the report with the promptitude which
the Chamber has thought fit TO allowS as
well because The legal question involved ap-
pears to be perfectly clear, as because the
same subject has for long time been the
object oftheir meditations, and also of the
debates Of The national representation.
In the judgement of the committee our
fundamental code is perfectly clear in this
part oft. The 1l0th article of the consti
tuition places among the powers of the exec
utive authority sfthe Union that of directing
diplomatic negotiations and concluding trea-
ties of peace, friendship, alliance, truce, fed
GRAFTON, armed neutrality, commerce, and
every other kind whatsoever; but il says that
to grant or to reissue the ratification of any
one Of these, the appreciation of the General
Congress must first be obtained. The ex-
ecutive power is also exclusive, according
to the 18th number of the same article, to
receive ministers and other agents of foreign
power.
These articles prove, in a manner incon-
trovertable, that by our constitutional laws,
as among other civilized nations, the direc-
tion Of foreign relations is entrusted exclu-
sively to the executive; but without confer
ring on it the power to conclude any thing
definitely, or to bind the nation to anything,
without the consent of the legislative body.
The same federal constitution places
among the pswers Of Congress, that Of Sap
proving treaties of peace, of alliance, of
friendship, of federation, Of armed neutrality,
and every other kind whatsoever which the
President of the United (Mexican) States
may conclude with foreign powers"
From all this we come to the conclusion
that Congress does not possess the power to
entertain, and cannot rightfully entertain the
communication which the Government of the
United States has transmitted with view TO
entering into negotiations for peace, and of.
fering 10 name minister for this purpose. -
And if this opinion appeared to us sound ac-
cording to the federal constitution, when
promulgated as provisional code. and even
since Congress has acquired an augmentation
of powers granted 10 it by the "Plan of the
Citadel" and the "Csnvocatoria; ;''-now that
the nation is definitely construed, or possess
es definite constitutional [esta defnitipa-
mente coustituida] now that one of the ar
ticles OF the act of amendments declares ex-
pressly that "the powers Of the Union are all
derived from the constitution, and are limited
to the simple exercise of the faculties ex-
pressly designated in it," now that all public
powers must be measured by it in the most
rigorous manneH we can find no possible OBJ
lection to our opinion, for any other opinion
whatever would involve a violation Of the
pact to which we have sworn.
Nevertheless we are not blind to the fact
that instead of being 4 political theory, it has
beon sentiment the purest, noblest pa
trotism in its origin, which has interpOsed
so many difficulties in order that upon sub
ject of so vast importance that course should
be strictly followed which the commands OF
the constitution so distinctly mark out. Con-
gress, as the faithful representative Of the
wishes of the people, who have been outrag-
ed by the most unjust ofall aggressions, and
are determined not TO consent that an igno-
minous treaty should secure TO our neighbors
the possession of the territory usurped by
them, and with it the dominion of this
continent-terminatin at the same time our
political existence in manner which would
not even entitle us to tho compassion ofoth-
er people, Congress] has uniformly oppos-
ed every thing which should seem TO open
the way for peace, which would at this day
be every way ignominous, and has exercised
the most jealous care and precaution TO pre-
vent even the remotest danger Of such dis
aster.
The committee participate in these feel
ings, and would only observe that this coll
sttutional power conferred upon the execu-
tive cannot be assailed by us, nor does it af-
ford occasion for well founded alarm, nor in
fine is it possible that Congress should itself
discharge this duty. This management Of
diplomatic negotiations demands such re-
serve, SO much discussion. an activity so well
timed, system of designs SO well prosecu-
ted, that it would be impossible 10 carry
them on with certainty, il their management
were entrusted to numerous body. The
policy of all nations confirms this truth, and
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