The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-23
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvE
The journal having been read


ted distinctly that he had not intended 70 intimate any;
thing and had nmated anything to the prejudice OF
his colleague the Committee on Public Lands, the res
olutlon was LAID on the table.
MISSISSIPPI VOLUNTEERS.
The House then resumed the consideration OF the
luton offered yesterday by Mr. JACOB THOMPSON, and
pending when the House proceeded to other business
calling upon the Secretary OF War, and 10 inquire why
the I'd regiment OF Mississippi volunteers Were excluded
from the United States barracks during their necessary
delay in New Orleans, &c.
After debate and pending the question on Mr.. ASH
MI Ms amendment,
On motion Of Mr. JAMES THOMPSON, the whole
subject was laid on the table
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion OF Mr.. MCKAY, the House resolved itself
into Committee OF the " Whole on the State OF the Union,
(Alr TIBBArrs in the char) and resumed the consdera
ton OF the bill making appropriations for the support OF
the army and OF volunteers for the year ending June
3Oth, 1918.
! Mr.. NORRIS then addressed the committee He took
the ground that the not only uslhable and ne
cessary, but that il unavoidable without mourning
national dshonor and disgrace lie maintained also that
the President in the inception and the prosecution of the
war, had manifested sincere and patriotic desire TO sus
tam the honor OF the country and discussed al length the
justice, necessity, and conslitutionaty OF the war
MIR. CARROLL next addressed the committee. He
commenced by replying to of the remarks of the
previous speaker and congratulated some OF his demo-
cratic friends coming to what he called the wing
/ MISUNDERSTANDING slavery from all territory hereaf-
Ter TO be acquired Bul this he said was but half
way work He would have them come over 10 the
wing platform oto and against the acquisition OF
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course OF the President IN reference TO the war; and to the
expenses which was likely subject them before il
was ended and finally, he appealed TO all to raise them
selves above all party considerations and help TO prose-
cute the war IN such way would reflect honor and
glory upon their country.
! Mr.. DROMGOOLE then arose and addressed the com
mttee. He knew that he should cndeavor TO occupy
the floor till the expiration OF the hour which had been
allotted 10 him, but he desired to say something in
Gn WIN E the APPROPRIATION which was proposed oy the
prosecution OF the Combining himself TO that view
OF the question: it would be readily perceived that
conformity with II, he should exclude himself from going
back 10 inquire concerning the OF the the
conduct OF the President of the United States, who
charged with having provoked It. lie should, then, pre-
clude himself also from going into reply to the gentle
men who had aboed hard to heap upon the President
abuses for involving them in war-a war which they
called the Presidents war-a war without sufficient JUS
Ithcatlon-nade by the President. There was one reply
TO all that lie said on the question OF an appropriation
for the support OF the army the prosecution of the
war-on that single question they ought TO so further
back than to inquire whether the legally constitu-
nonaly existed. 10 GO further, to 60 behind the
records Whether the the of the country and
had been declared by the constitutional poverty the
representatives OF the people in Congress assembledthe
question hal been answered by that act OF Congress, and
That was ms answer to all questions about the justice
or the cause OF the 1t the peoples war-de-
cared by their representatives with only fourteen dissen
ient voices upon that floor The act would be found
upon the l4h page of the session acts OF the last Con-
gress approved OF the 18th May That act declared
that war existed between this country and Mexico.
There the declaration. 1t further, even,
mat Inc Conduct OF Mexico herself had
duced state OF II doubtless, in making that decla,
ration occurred to the minds OF members, that whether
any causes existed to justify the war, might have
existed, and did exist, which would have justified Con-
gress IN declaring And those causes together with
the fact that aggression had been made upon them by
Mexico, induced them to make war; and Congress to de-
clare It. And on the 18th OF May the President, in
prompt pursuance OF his duty under the OF Congress-
issued proclamation making known TO the inhabitants
OF the United States such constitutional declaration on
the part of their representatives The object of that dec
araton OF war, IN the view OF the constitution, 10
give notice to the people OF the countryo give notice
IN accordance with the established principle OF modern
nations, that there was necessity for formal deCara
ton OF war lie knew that for time it regarded as
necessary TO observe the form OF declaration Il was for
some time the practice into the borders of the enemys
country and proclaim war by herald even But twas
generally admitted that there necessity declare
war between nation and naon-that there no me-
cessty to apprze the enemy openly OF the intention to
make war before commencing it. The object then, by
that provision of the constitution was first to notify the
people OF the United States and second the Executive
prosecute II IN accordance with the duties which were
imposed upon him by the constitutions which provided
that he shall make prosecute it, conduct it. The
particular bill before them assailei yesterday By
an honorable gentleman from Massachusetts, with
whom he had had the pleasure OF serving on the Com
mtee OF Ways and Means. But belonging 10 the same
committee, and not being able with his views
he (1r D. would take the liberty dissent and would
make some brief comments upon the views of that gen
tleman. In the commencement OF his remarks he de-
nounced the bill account OF the extent of time TO
which the appropriation made to extend and also
tna the Dill formed union OF The purse and the sword
in the hands of the Executive. Now he would reply |
II, by the disbursement OF that money the pro-
posed formed union OF the purse and the sword then the
purse and the sword had been consutonaly united from
the beginning OF the government to the present time
He understood by the union of the purse and the sword
as applied to despoc governments that the ruler had pow
er 10 collect exact whatever he might please
OF the subject and then that he might appropriate and
use those moneys at pieasureat the time having
power to make when he pleased. But was it fair
or could beto attempt TO confound that principle with
the arrangement under their constitution, which
provided that cent should go from the treasury
without Appropriation by law! This BILL therefore
proposed in conformity with the constitutions appro
pirate money, and after appropriatng It, to draw 1t out oil
the treasury and dsburse under the provisions OF the
law. 1t was then but feeble eforthat charge OF UNI
ting the sword and the purse in the hands OF the Execu
lyelt was but to e-echo and reanimate the charges
which had formerly resounded through the country
against taxation. But the gentleman denounced the bill
because he SAID that the appropriations were Tor sixteen
months, and that 1t seemed TO him that the limitation IN
the constitution to two years intended to CORE
spond with the two years duration OF the House
OF Representatives and hence he would infer that
their appropriations should not extend beyond
the term OF Their own existence. He admitted, final
ly that the appropriations ought AT least to be limited
to the termination OF the present fiscal year But from
what the gentleman was able TO come to the conclusion
that the limitation OF appropriations maie for shorter
time than two years, he Mr. unable TO conjecture
lie had been unable TO find any trace of such limitation
IN any writer or commentator on the constitution He
had examined the numbers of the Fe1erast referring
to the object and would beg leave to remind gentlemen
that Nos % to 2S inclusive, a commentary on the
war power, raising armies, and appropriations for
their support They were written by Alexander Ham
lton, and throughout the whole of them there was not
one word gong TO favor the idea that appropriations
made BY Congress which was about expire, could