The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-09
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
CONTINUED FROM THE "uNIoN" OF yEsTERpA,

Mn IN -
dressed the committee He said that from the complex
character which the debate had assumed he hardly ex-
pced 10 be able to take part N it now in manner cred
Table or satisfactory to himself to the subjects at
indeed The one hour rule precuded the possibility OF con-
lenng almost any subject in manner deserving atten
ION lie had listened with great deal Of attention to
many OF the speeches which had been delivered during
he present session OF Congress, and Of them he
had regarded exhibiting very bad taste both sides OF
he House. and hardly proper to be delivered in the
representative assembly of great nation. He had also
lion Of slavery which was entirely out of place in the
discussion OF bill like that before the House, and
peculiarly improper al that time. 1t however me-
cessary thai he should alude to of the remarks OF
the gentleman from New York, MR. GROVER who had
accused the members from the slave States with having
abandoned the compromise made the Missouri question
on some vote given on an Oregon bill If the gentleman
from New York had understood the facts in relation that
matter and the feelings OF the representatives from the
south that floor, he would have that his charge
unjust one and was Almost nsdious attempt deceive
the people of the north The fact that certain members
from the south on that occasion voted Tor the amendment
proposed was evidence that the members that floor
from the south were opposed to- or intended to abandon
the Missouri compromise. On the contrary, every act in
that Congress the part OF the members from the SOUTH
when that question came under consideration showed
that they stood up by the compromises and for the pur-
pose OF dsabusing the public mind on that subject he
would refer to two facts connected with the adms
sion of Texas. There three propositions introduced
BY members from slave States that subectone by his
colleague on the le--one BY the gentleman from Ten
nessee, IMr. Nj. BRowNl and one by himself In all
these propositions this compromise was looked TO parc
uary, and especially provided for. In the proposition
offered BY himself, there was this provision
"SEc dad be further enacted, That in all that portion
Of the territory which lies north OF thirysix degrees and
thirty north latitude, slavery and involuntary
vude Otherwise an in the punishment OF crimes where
parties shall have been dny convcted) shall be- and
hereby, forever prohibited
In the proposition of the gentleman from Tennessee
there was this provision: "And such States may be
formed OF that portion of said territory lying south OF
thitysix degrees thirty minutes north altitude common
known the Missouri compromise line, shall be adj
mited into the Union, with without slavery, as the
people OF each State asking admission, may desire " and
the provision contained in the proposition Of
Tered by his colleague which finally passed the House,
and to that all the southern members who voted IN favor
Of the annexation, gave their assent He knew very
well that the Missouri compromise provided only Tor me
territory coded by France, but gentlemen must abide BY
the spirit of the compromise AS was remarked by the
NORTH in agreeing to the compromise, yielded nothing,
because was the clear right OF the people OF the southern
States to settle any part OF the territory OF the country
acquired by the common blood and treasure. 1t was
then yielding of clear and constitutional right on the
part OF the southern States and there no concession
on the part OF the north He entirely denied the alega
ton OF the gentleman from New York, that the insertion
of proviso, that slavery to be prohibited no
with the rights OF the south: 1t was di-
rect interference with their constitutional right to share
equally with their northern brethren in any territory
that might be acquired by the government by the
blood and treasure he had already sid OF all parties
The charge that southern members on that floor desired
lar as he knew, had the slightest inclination to do
1t not he supposed, all necessary for him to repe
the charge of subservency to the Executive as that was
one not likely to be urged against him. from the fact that
he well known TO have, more than one occasion
followed the dictates OF his Judgment in OPP
position to the declared will of the Executive His po-
son the river and harbor bill would he apprehended,
relieve him OF the necessity OF indicating his indepen
dence OF anything like servile adherence TO the Execu
tive. That position he would take occasion to say, he
intended to maintain. He designed to the claims Of
tho until ham w 10
altogether in vain. Again, in relation 10 the tax upon
tea and coffee, he had opposed the recommendation OF the
Secretary OF the Treasury Whether he had also, IN
that opposed the wishes Of the Executive, he did moi
know, the views of the Executive the subject had
not been promulged But if the Executive hal recon-
mended that tax, il would not have altered his (hr Ts)
opinion the subject because he regarded such tax
unjust Ii was tax the laborng classes. II i'm
posed a burden the poor. And the gentleman from
Georgia should have paused before he passed such a
sweeping censure on the bulk of his party to
w that side OF the House for not imposing such tax.
Then, again. to the appointment OF lieutenant gene
rail- 1t was not necessary that he sould say MUCH ash
supposed the question settled.
Mr. JACOB THOMPSON was here understood to say
that the honorable gentleman was mistaken in supposlng
that question TO be settled.
Mr.. TlBBATTS would ask the gentleman the reason
or his entertaining the opinion that such officer
Mr.. THOMPSON would gladly do So ii the gentleman
yielded the floor
Mr.. TIBBATTS feared that the gentleman would &C.
cupy too much time in the effort He (hlr. ID saw no
reason for the appointment OF lieutenant general, ex-
cep that the relationship between Gen Scott and Gen
Taylor might be Of such delicate nature as to require
some nieposition II why was Gen Scott sent to Mex
ico at ala Was Gen. Taylor incompetent to conduct the
war; Why, he had won every battle. in which he
had engaged Were they now 10 regard the victories
IN Texas aud at Monterey aforing no evidence OF
generashp He (Mr T.) then proceeded to say that in
his Judgment the introduction of the question OF slavery
rendered il necessary to terminate the at once. 10
that he meant to presently; and, that were the
policy, lieutenant general would be rendered wholly
unnecessary. Notwithstanding all the assertions
and loud clamor of the opposition, facts showed inds-
puably that the charge against the Executive with re-
gard TO the commencement of the war, was entirely
groundless. The gentleman from Massachusetts [ Mr..
NNTHRoP had said that Congress alone had the power
10 declare war. Well, where was the man that
commended that that power rested in any other quar-
erf Had the President ever controverted that doc
lElne So far there had been declaration of
war, had 1t not been made BY Congress, But would
the gentleman from Massachusetts produce any au-
thory IRON Mr.. Madison, or any other man, wing or
democrat to the effect that the President had no, the
power TO carry on defensive when the territory of
The country was invaded! There was the question
There the President had acted clearly in accordance with
ibis constitutional power and right When Texas was
about to be invaded, he did his duty in defending the
boundary claimed by her. What right hal he then
10 say TO Texas, defend your boundary I" Congress
had reserved to itself the right to settle the question of
boundary and if the President, its executive officer.
had not defended the line claimed by Texas he would
have been shameiully recreant to his duty. Could any
nan deceive the American people into the belief that the
Aexcans had collected their forces and munitions OF
war al Maiamoros, for the mere purpose OF invading and
occupying the territory between the Nueces and the Rio
dande No. II was quite clear that the design OF Mex
co was TO reconquer the territory to the SABINE IL
was, then, defensive war; and the question, "Wbo
commenced the war !" was not to be addressed TO the
President OF the United States Congress 10 answer
mat question. the unjust, let not gentlemen
that they could clear their skirts OF the response