The North-Carolina standard., 1847-08-25
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Relations OF The Mexican Congress, to- whichs had
been referred Mr.. Buchanan's late letter to that
Government The document is full OF importance
as expressive of the feelings and views OF the
Mexican Congress and nation. In endeavorng
lto adhere closely TO the original we are aPpre-
thensiVo lest The report should be deemed some
/ what Obscure to a hnsiy reader Thoughtfuiiy
Wondered however, II will be found lucid, con-
dcnsed and most significant exposition ofthe views
of q mninrily Of the Mexican Congress and nation
We translate il from FL Nacinpal, published at
AtIisco, town at present the capital OF the State
lof PuebIa, The authors of the report are Senores
4 Otero and Lafragna. The former has but recent
4 " broke off his connection with FL Republicano
as the principal editor, being unwilling TO write
under any arbitrary restrictions; I.afragua has
before this, if we are not mistaken, 6ledthe office
fof Secretary of State; The report is directed TO
The Secretary Of Congress: ssaa, Bqeaglt
Cos,pnttees Room of The .Sopereig" Constituent
! 80, t-4 s,gi Ne.cicGn Congress- sste 3d.|
!, Sir-The majority of the COMMITTEES on toIe'gn
Relations deem it-nol inpIoper 70 present ine'l
repoft with The prompIiiode which the Chamber
has thought fit TO allow, well because the legal
question involved appears to be perfectly ciear' as
because the same subject has for long time been
ibs object of theft nleditatIons, and also Of the de-
bates OF. the national representation: ,H'f
l4fIn the Judgment of the committee our funaa-
mental eodeqis perfectly tclear in this part ot H.
The ll0th article of the constitution places among
~
thai of directing diplomatic negotiations ana CON
cIudlng treaties of peace friendship alliance truce,
federation armed neutrality. c0mmeTce, anp every
other kind whatsoever; but u says tnal 10 gran. =.
reissue the ratification of any one OF these the
aanrObation OF the Genefal Congress must nrst DC
lpbfained.c The executive power is also exclusive,
according to the 18th number of the same srtcte'
10 receive ministers and other agents o. to'els"
powers. 81 y ebgy9E s...t 10 fis.l- ....,.,,
These articles prove in a manner nconiroyeftar
blv that BY our constitutional laws, as among otner
civilized nations, the direction OF toreisn reallons
is entrusted exclusively tothe executive out WIN
out comforting on il The power 10 conclude any
thing definitirey, or to bind the NATION 10 any
1hin9 xithou, The consent of the Legislative body
The same federal constitution places among The
powers Of Congress, that OF approving ueames "
armed neutrality and every other kind whatsoever
which The President Of the United lMexican
States may conclude with foreign powers.
From afi this we come to the conclusion that
oneress does not possess the power to entertain
and cannot rightfuily entertain the communication
which The GoSern,nenI Of the United States has
transul,e ed with a. view TO entering into nrsotia-
lions for peace, and Offering 70 name. a minister
for this purpose: And u !his opinion aPPeaIed 10
Us sound according the federal constitution when
promulgated as PROVISIONAL code, and even since /
Congress has acquired Augmentation OF powers |
granted 10 by the Plan Of the Citadel and the
=" ConvocatOria ;"-now that the nation IS aennne
" constituted; Tor possesses q dehnItek constitu-
tion-estd defaitirdmenle constituidd now that
one of the articles ofIhe act Of ndments declares
expressly that the powers of the Union are all
derived from the constitution and are limited 10 the
simple exercise of the faculties expressly desIgna-
ted 10. il; now that all public powers must be
measured by il in the most rigorous manner, we
find no possible objection TO our opinion, Tor
anylother opinion whatever would involve VIOLA
lion of the pact TO which we have sworn. ;'a p |
Nevertheless;we moi blind TO the facithat
instead of being political theory. il has been
sentiment Of the pures,, nobesl patriotism IN It's
origin, which has interposed so many difficulties
in order that upon a subject Of SO vast Importance
that course should be strictly followed which the
commands of the constitution so distinctly mark
out. Congress, as the faithful representative OF
the wishes of the people, who have been outraged
by the most umjust OF all agGressions aod are de-
termined not TO consent that an ignominious treaty
should secure 10 neghbors the possession 81
the territory usurPed by them, and with It the
dominion Of this Notwithstanding al the
same time our political existence in manner which
would not even enltle 10 the compassion OF
other people-T Congress has uniformly opposed
every thing which should seem to open the way
for peace, which would al this day be every way
ignominious, and It has exercised the most jealous
care and precaution TO prevent even the Teln0test
danger Of such disaster. =. f.i5aou,i .ic p fqa
The committee participates in these teehngs:
and would only observe shat this constitutional
power conferred upon the executive cannot De as.
sailed by u.s. nor does il afford occasion for well
founded alarm nor in fine il il possible that Con-
gress should itself discharge this duty. The man
agenenr of dpIom slic negotiations demands such
reserve so much discussion, and activity so well
timed, system of designs so we'll prosecuted, that
il would be impossible 10 carry them on with GER
Ianty, ftheir management were entrusted TO
body. The policy Of all nations confirms
Ibis truth, and there is no doubt that Congress
itself renounced the power of negotiation when in
amending our original constitutional pact, 1t deter
mined that there should be alteration. In the
provisions we have cited, and left them to stand
as they were. .,s ash ifszl.z f.4. = fae i,gU II
On the other, hand, in perfect consistency with
these provisions, the executive can conclude Moth
ing defiuitivey il possesses no authority TO con-
summaie any arrangement which shall be bind
ing upon the Republic; and Congress very well
knows that the executive, even 10 the exercise oil
It's constitutional exclusive facules, under repre-
sentative sysenl finds itself ceRstrained TO pursue
such course as may be designated by public opin-
ion and the Legislative body. In the position truly
strong and respectable which our constitution gives
70 Coagfess,n Il possesses abundant peaceful aud
legal RESOURCES, without exceeding Its duties 10 In
sure the interests Of The nation whatever manner
they may be compromised. tle8 4H :y-.Ena |.
For these reasons, therefore, the majority of the
committee cannet propose any other course Than
10 return TO the Goyerpment the despatch; and if
Of the conimiItee il should be borne in mind that
our associate Sr. eballos, who worthily presdes /
over the committee, but who from his well Known
illness IS unable to cooperate with u.s. has a0thoi
ised us 10 express his agreement with 9us; and he
even offered to subscribe the report which he
should prepare expressive of our views, which we
conclude with the following Proposlion.o gq,flgo I
: With q copy of this report, let the despatch be
teturne6 to the Government, because in the pres
zance with the restrictions which are established
NV III q fS nfla ne al code of the r. eDtJbc cl =