Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-27

taon Of two years had reference the Congressional
to the official tenure of the Representatives of the people
Who question that this limitation intended
TO each successive Congress the opportunity and the right of
controlling the supplies for the army during its term and
prevent the Representatives OF the people any time from
orestang The action Of their freshly chosen
Now, sir, what doing here to day The term Of
the present Congress is the of expiration. In less
than another fortnight this body viii have finished its work,
for good for evil and will be dissolved. Congress
is already in part elected BY the theory Of the constitution,
it will be in existence the morning of the 4h Of March
next II ought u be practically in existence, ready TO pro-
ceed the of the Executive TO the discharge OF lis
duties AT all events its constitutional term commences on
that day and that day the functions and the authority of
the present Congress at end And yet here we are,
in this last hour Of existence proposing to stretch out
dead hand months out twenty months Of
the term of oflher whole official
exsenceand to forecose for that long period, all right
certainly all power their part control the bf the
Government upon momentous subject the prosecution
OF OF invasion and conquest The Representatives Of
the people, freshly chosen, according to this BILL to have
no voice to the number of the standing army of the
try or as to its employment and support at home abroad,
for sixteen months from the commencement Of their term
Sir this is course OF proceeding in this country. Ii
known till now in time of 1t has been known
but for very few years in time of peace Until ls43
appropriation bills from January TO January change
Of the fiscal year then made of convenience.
have no doubt that it has proved matter Of great
nence and, arrangement for time oil peace, do not
object to it, But utterly protest against its being applied
tent to which this bill proposes to carry il.
In my Judgment, due regard to republican principles
to the spirit of the constitution the rights Of the people
committed to their Representatives, would demand of
orbear from making appropriations which should render the
Executive independent of the Legislative department in the
prosecution of this war, not mcey beyond December next
when the Congress would regularly be assembled but
beyond the earliest day which that Congress could be
convened under call from the President
have fancy for extra sessions of Congress. Nothing
would be less convenient less agreeable to myself personal
than to be called here in June July. But is what
you or might find agreeable convenient that called
to consider at such this bat what the prnc
Piles Of the constitution and the interests Of the country require
Still less liberty shape legislation according
to the kings diskings of the President have idea
that the President desires leave him under any necessity
to summon Congress. He has given abundant evil
dence of his disposition 10 do ,oo Congress altogether.
more edfyng chapter will be found in our history
than that which shall fully and faithfully record the encroach
ments of the Executive upon the Legislative authority during
the two last years The first march of the American army
the Sabnewhere the constitutional power of the
President to direct that The annexation of Texas to this
Union not then consummated Six months yet to
eapsc before that be completed Doubtless this
Government had incurred obligation to defend Texas
from the consequences which that had exposed her.
But that obligation for Congress to Jecogniseor
Congress provide for The President however, deermn-
ed to do ,ohou Congress, and took the responsibility of
marching armies into foreign country. palpa-
BILE violation of the constitution perpetracd.
Then the march the Nueces into territory
tory Sir the determination Of the President TO do Without
Congress, avoid and evade its legitimate CONTROL the
signal in this from the fact that Congress
that in session. 1t would only have required
from end Of Pennsylvania the other to have
enabled the President to obtain the opinion and decision of
the Senate and House of Representatives Of the United States
upon movement which the indisputable and
spring of this Mexican Buthe President knew that the
decision of Congress would be against any such movement
He determined therefore, 10 do WITHOUT Congress- and issued
order for the march secrey sealthy and upon his
unwaranted authority repeat then, Mr.. Chairman with
OBTAINING the committee with other and obvious instances
that the willingness of the President do tcou Congress
quite manifest and that 1t is not to his kings dis
ikngs but to constitutional rights and responsible
ties that ought to look in deciding how far fit to place
him beyond the reach legislative control and restraint and
| how long il is st to leave him there
Let not he forgotten, sir, that during the last Con-
gress out of session for than three four
months at time The truly democratic President Of thai
day, JAMES MADISON would have dreamed of doing
without Congress for sixteen months in time of But the
democratic Congress of that day did wait for the Execu
tive to summon them They adjourned themselves from time
to time. If their term ended in March, they appointed
meeting for the Congress in July they closed
in July, they adjourned to meet in November. They plainly
regarded their constitutional right and their constitutional
duty watch the progress Of the war; and provide
pro ndid for its exigencics and its emergencies.
And this PROFESSIONALLY, Mr.. Chairman, is the duty OF
Congress The Congress, fresh from the people,
ought TO decide and ought to be left free 10 decide what
should be done in relation this Mexican and what pro-
4
next two years. Sir appeal has been made TO the people
this very subject Their representatives have been chosen
in many cases. and the point of being chosen in many
other cases. with reference this war; The has been
demned many parts of the country, and is doomed
demnaon many other parts How few OF TO be
(f may spcak) in the Congress
Every body knows that there will be very different state
of parties in this House year, majontes and
mnonties should not absolutely change sides. And is
the revolution Of popular sentiment thus Indicated be de-
pved OF all operation and influence upon this odous for
year and half to come Is that your idea Of democracy
Sir if the Administration insist upon pressing these enormous
supplies through the House in this last week of its official
stence, will be because they know that the Congress
would grant them, and because they intend persist in
the prosecution Of the defiance OF the panes manes
tations Of the will of the people
And here let remind the committee that there is
thing in this bill prevent the President from employing this
whole of thirty millions Of dollars in single month
After The LIST day of July the whole Of il will be his
disposal He may spend all in mad and desperate
slaught upon Mexico and back upon Congress in De-
cember to supply the deficiencies of the year
Sir have not built up the Executive power OF this
try to sufficiently fearful height already We have given
the President standing army Of nearly thirty thousand
We have authorized him TO appoint four FIVE hundred Off
in the ten regiments, upon his responsibility
without any appeal the Senate We have heard Of the
"Kngs Own" and the "Queens Own" in other counties :
these regiments clearly the Presidents Own !, "Polks
Own" We have authorized him employ fifty thousand
volunteers and he has called upon extend this authority
We propose give him thirty millions of dollars with
limitation condition. and bid him ride on conquer
ing and to conquer, for year and half unless the