The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-12-09

expanding the constitution, we o1ght a.
keep constantly in view the nature and
structure of our free government, aud es.
pecially the great object Of the convention
in tnking the war-making power out Of the
hands OF a single man and placing it in the
safer custody Of the representatives Of the
whole nation. The desirable rcconcilia-
,i"n between the two powers is effected by
attribuiing to Congress the righ, to declare
what shall be the objects Of war, and to
the President the duty Of cndcnvoring tn
obtain those objects by the direction OF the
national force and BY diplomacy.
lam branching no new and speculative
theory. The statute book Of the United
States is full of examples Of prior declara-
ti"ns bv Congress 81 tho objects 10 be IL.
tanned by ncgaintions with foreign powers.
and the archives of the Executive Depart
ment furnish abundant evidence 81 the nc
c"mplishmcni III these objects, or the n,-
tempt 10 accomplish them, hv subsequent
negotiation. Prior "a the declaration al
the last war against Great Britain, in NIL
the restrictive measures which Congress
adopted. against tho two great bclIigercnt
powers of Europe. clauses were inserted in
the several acts establishing them, tender
ing 10 both or either of the hcligerents the
abolition of those restrictions ,f they would
repeal their hostile Berlin aud Milan dc.
crecs md orders m council, operating a.
gainst our commerce and naviga,ion.-
And these acts of Congress were invnria
bly, communicated, through the Executive,
by diplomatic notes, 10 France and Grcat
Britain, rs the bnss upon which il was
proposed 10 restore friendly intercourse
with them. So, after the termination nf
the wnr. various nets Of Congress were
passed, from time To time. Offering 10 for
cign powers the principle Of reciprocity in
the commerce and navigation Of the United
States with them. Out of these acts have
sprung class, md large class, Of trca.
ties, flour or five Of which were neyo,ia ted,
whilst was in the Department Of State. }
commonly called reciprocity treaties con-
cludcd under NIL the Presidents, from Mr..
Madison 10 Mr.. Van Bnren, inclusive
And, with regard 10 commercial treaties,
negotiated without the sanction &c prior
acts oi Congress, where they contained ci-
Their appropriations or were in conflict with
unrepcalcd statutes, il has ever hecn held
as the republican doctrine from Mr.. Ja,'s
treaty down 10 the present time, that the
passage Of nets of Congress was necessar,
10 secure the execution I'll those treaties
II in the matter of foreign commerce, in
respect 10 which. tho power vested in Con.
gross To rcgn!ate il, md the treaty making
power NAV lie regarded MS concurrent, Con.
gross can prcviously decide the objects IL
which negotiation shall be applied, how
much stronger is the case Of war, the pow
er 10 declare which is conlidcd exclasirel,
to Congress.
lconcludc, therefore, Mr.. President nnt
iellow-ciiizcns, with entire confidence, tina
Congress has the right, either NJ tho begin
ming or during the prosecution Of any war
to decide tho objects and purposes 70. which
il WINS proclaimed, or fnr which i, ought Il
be continued. And think il is the dnt I,
Ut Congress, BY some deliberate mud M
then,ic act, TO declare for wha, objects til,
present war shall be longer prosecuted.
suppose the President would not hcsitsl,
TO regulate his conduct by the pronounce,
will of Congress, and 10 employ The force
and the diplomatic power Of the nntion :.
execute that will. But if the Prcsidcn
should decline or refuse to do 50, aud, j,
contempt of the supreme authority Of Con
gress, should persevcre in waging the wa
for other objects than tI,psc proclaimed b,
Congress. then il would be the imperativ,
duty Of that hodv Ia vindicaie its auihorii'
by the most stringent and cffcctual nn'
appropriate measures. And il, on tho con
trarv, the enemy should refuse To cnncind
n trentv containing siipilations securing
the objects designated BY Congress,
would become the duty Of the whole Gov
eminent to prasecute the war with all III
national energy until those objects were oh
tanned BY treaty 81 peace. There can b
no insuperable difficulty in Congress ma
king such nm authoritative declara,i ion
Let Il resolve simpl. tina, the war shall o
shall not be war 81 conquest; aud, il |
war If conquest, what il 10 be conquered
Should a resolution pass disclaiming the de
sign Of conquest, peace would follow j,
less than siA,. days, ii the Prcsiden
would conform 10 his constitutional duty.
Here, fellow-citizens, might pause, hav
ing indicated mode by which the nation
through it, accredited and legitimate rep
resentativcs in Congress, can announce
for whit purposes and objects this wal
shall be longer prosecuted, and can thus lei
the people Of the United States know fol
what end their blood is 10 DO further shet
and their treasure further expended, in
stead Of the knowledge Of il being conceal
ed md locked up in the bosom Of one man
We should n" longer perceive the objects
Of the war varying from time To time, nc.