Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-03-23
sDrrcU Of Mr.. STEW ARR,
OF PENIS VIVA Y A,

and the Mexican war.
,,~U,,,,d in the House Of Representatives. IF III.
United States, Fet. l3, 1917.
The House being in Committee Of the Whole
a the state of the Union the Three Million
Appropriation bill
Mr. STEWART said he proposed, in the first
plsee, 10 inquire briefly into the true purposes
and objects Of this BILL for it seemed to him that
in the course of the present debate, almost every
hing else had been discussed but the bill itself
This bill grants the President what lie demands
three millions Of dollars 10 make treaty with
Mexico, and authorizes him to pay the money
before the treaty is submitted to or approved By
the Senate; and the Senate are thus required to
nifty this treaty before they it, or know what
tis Is il not in effect ratification of the trea-
nieforehand? How can the Senate object TO
Ne treaty, no matter what is its character or
PROVISIONS, after having authorized the payment
Of the three millions in advance? II they do,
the money will be lost, and lost by their act in
authorizing its previous payment. He contend
cd, therefore, that any treaty which the Presl-
dent might choose to make for the acquisition of
Mexican territory, would in effect be at once
binding Upon this Government Let this bill
once be passed. and say that neither this House,
nor the Senate, can, with any consistency, OBJ
ject TO the treaty. The appropriating power is
the only control this House exert over the
Executive in the making anu executing Of trca-
ties This 1t IS proposed to exercise beforehand j,
and TINS surrender to the President the whole
control OF the trelty-nlking power. BY this
act we tie our hands and seal our lips. We have
no right TO object 10 any thing the President may
DO, and this IS manlfestly the object AMI design
d this bill n originating the pres mt war with
out consulting Congress, then in session, the
whole war power of this Government has been
practically usurpei by the President. He has
carried II out in fact. He has made war while
Congress was IN session, without submitting the
IN u.
ing their concurrence. lie did not ask us de-
clare war. but ordered the army to advance and
bring on the war, an! then called upon rs to ''re-
eognise its existence" anu appropriate money
and men for It's prosecution. Having thus seized
upon the war making power, he now wants
tosunender to him the treaty making power al
70. As he began the war without the consent of
Congress, so now he wants the means Of making
apcace without the aid or concurrence of either
the House the Senate.
BY this law we authorize him to pay Santa An
n, or any body else, three millions TO purchase
peace, which he has failed to conquer. And,
Il the Senate shall refuse to ratfy it, the three
millions gone, This bill empowers the
Preside Mt to make treaty when, how, and with
whom he plcases 1fhe shall be pleased to make
. treaty exchanging Oregon for California, to
give northern for southern territory, to surren-
der free territory for the acquisition ofslave ter
Titory, and give these three millions to boot as
earnest money, what right has the Senate to OBJ
ject' If they do, may not the President say,
"what, do you object to the treaty! Did you
not authorize me by law to make treaty that
should put en to this wir, ana did you not
give me three millions to do it, | made the
treaty; Mexico has ratified it. | have paid her
the three millions, and she has paid II to her
my; and now, if YOU refuse to ratify 1t, the mon
ey Is dead loss, and worse, - II has gone to ''ai!
and comfort the enemy
To obviate Ibis objection, | have moved an a
neRdment in the | It'll line Of the 81 section of
the bill, inserting after ''ratiied by Mexico the
words 'and the United States This Will. if
adopted, keep the money in our own hands till
the treaty has been approved by the senate
But, il the Amendment be adopted, the real iu-
tent and object of this bill will be defeated. For
you postpone, as you ought clearly to do the
payment of the money till the treaty is ratified
by the Senate, what is the use of passing this +!
bull Can't Congress appropriate the money 81 !
multaneously. with the approval AMI ratification
Of the treaty! Certainly.
My objection TO this bill is this, that, having !
surrendered the war power to the President
having given up to hun both the purse AMI the /
sword, | cannot consent, by this bill to surren-
der TO him the treaty making power also, thus
snabiing him to impose Congress and the +
country Just such treaty suits himself. Is
his to be tolerated. | trust not, unless il is re-
'olved by the majority here to convert this free
Government into despotisn, and sacrifice our
liberties the altar of arbitrary power.
have voted, and intend TO vote, for all the
men, money, and measures. that may be neces-
sary in my Judgment, to bring this unhappy war
to speedy and honorable conclusion; but
this bill goes too far. | ready to do whatev-
er is proper and necessary TO strengthen the Ex
eeutive arm in maintaining the honor and inter
ests of the country; bat this bill proposes a sur
render of more power into the hands OF the Ex-
ecuiive than can consent to grant. SO much
for the bill and its objects.
And now, in regard to this Wilmot proviso.--
What is it, II proposition to prohibit the
tension Of slavery in the new territory may
acquire with these three millions of dollars. and
which is now free territory. Where can be the
ececfion to an object like this Gentlemen say
mat tins Is not the time that this is not the place;
mat II Is mere abstraction, and will have no
PRACTICAL operation But say it will have prac-
yea and most sanitary operation, as shall show :
directly. But even if il were an abstraction if ,
n were merely declaratory resolution. saving
mat Congress is in favor of liberty and opposed
70 slavery, how would gentlesen vote' Shall
This Anne rican Congress, which claims to repre-
sent the freest people on earth. dwelling in the
home. the citadel, the cherished land of liberty
vote that We in favor of siavery' Let the
south $" vote, if they choose; he did not blame
,"unefn men for maintaining their own side of
NE question; but let northern men beware For
ms own part, while he would faithfully abide by :
all the compromises Of the Constitution while ,
ae would not invade. in the slightest degree, any ]
Of the constitutional rights Of the South, he !
would never extend, by any vote of his, slavery +
0'er one loot OF territory now free will. them :
'o,e ior THIS proviso, not only because think it !;
hgnt In itself. but because believe it will have
..se powerful effect IN restoring peace than any
'Ner measure that can oe adopted-pcacc abroad !,
,aa peace at home. l beg gentlemen TO recol- +
'se' mat the acquisition Of territory the ORR
s.la design, and is now the declared object and I
~ srpose, of this war. The acquisition of New
nsAico and California is, we are now told on all