Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-24
From Alr y. Orleans P!tayuae.l
THE MEXICAN CONGRESS AND PEACE

THE MEXICAN CONGRESS AND PEACE.
We find room 10 lay before our readers This
morning The report OF the Committee on Foreign
Relations Of The Mexican Congress, 10 which had
been referred Mr. Buchanan's late le!er 10 that
Government. The document is full OF impor-
lance as expressive Of The feelings and views oi
the Mexican Congress and nation. In endeavor-
ing to adhere closely to The original we are ap-
prehensive lest The report should be deemed some
what obsure 10 hasly reader. Thoughliully
pondered, however, il will be found lucid con-
densed and most significant exposition oil Ihc
views OF majority Of The Mexican Congress
and nation We translate il from Fl Nariona,
published al Allisco, Town al present The CAPT.
ial Of the Stale of Puebla. The authors OF The
report are Senorcs Olero and Lairasua. The
former has but recently broke of his connection
with FL Republican, as the principal editor, be-
ing unwilling 10 write under any arbitrary reStric
lions; Latragua has before lhis il We are not
mistaken, filled The Office OF Secretary Of Stale
The report is directed TO The Secretary nl Con.
sress
Committee Rocm 81 Inc Sarcreign Constituent 3lfrt.
can Congress.
Sil: The majority of the COMMITTEE on TO-
reign Relations deem il moi improper 10 present
their report with the promplilude which the Cham
legal question involved appears 10 be perfectly
clear, as because he same subject has Tor long
lime been The object OF their medltaions, and also
OF the debates OF the national representation.
In the Judgment Of The committee our iundamen-
a code is perfectly clear in This part ul II. Inc
ll(Nh article of the constitution places among the
mowers of The executive authority OF The Union
iha, of directing diplomatic negotiations and con-
!. GLIDING treaties OF peace, friendship, alliance,
| truce, federation, armed neuraliiy, commerce
and every other kind whatsoever bnt II says lnal
n grant or 10 reissue The ratification Of any one
of these The appreciation Of The General congress
must first be obtained. The executive power
| is also exclusive, according 10 The 18th number
oIlhe same article, 10 receive ministers ana o'net
agents OF foreign powers.
These articles prove in manner inconuo'er'
lible, that by our constitutional laws, as among
other civilized nations, The direction vi loIeien
relations is entrusted exclusively 10 The executives
bul without comforting on il The power TO conclude
any thing de6nitiyely, or TO bind the nation 10
any thing. without the consent Of The legislative
body. The same federal constitution places
among the mowers of Congress that OF "approv'
inc treaties 0, peace, OF alliance, of friendship, o.
federation, OF armed neutrality, ana every ONE
kind whatsoever which The President OF Inc
United Mexicanl States may conclude win 10
reign powers" ...,...,. -,
Congress does moi possess the power 10 entertain
and cannot risbiully entertain the communlca
lion which The Government oil The United States
has transmitted with view 10 entering into ne
solialions for peace, and offering 10 name mi
mister for this purpose. And il This opinion aP
reared 10 us sound according 10 the federal con-
stu,ion when promulgated as aprorisional code
and even since Congress has acquired an aug
menta,ion Of powers granted 10 itby The "Plan
The Citadel" and the "Convocaioria"-now lba
the nation is definitely constituted, Tor possesses
definite cons.itution-esta desnliDaments eOnsli
tuidal-now that one of The articles Of the act
amendments declares expressly that the power
OF the Union are all derived from the constitution
and limited 10 The simple exercise OF The iacultie
expressly designated in il"-now thai all puoll'
powers must be measured by it in The ne, most ligo
rous manner, we can find no possible objection
10 our opinion, for any other opinion whaleve
would involve violation fine pat 10 which w
have sworn.
Nevertheless, we are moi blind to The fact that
instead OF being political theory, j! has been
sentimen, of The pures,, mobiles, patriotism 10 il
origin, which has nerposed SO many diflicullle
10 order that, upon subject of SO vast inP0'