The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-09
adopted, and the bill was then read third time and

Po7oei--yetS 90, hdys3
| THREE MILLION BILL.
| On motion by Mr. SEWER, the Senate proceeded to
he special order, and resumed the consideration, in
committee OF the whole, of the bill making further APP
preparation TO bring the existing with Mexico TO a
speedy and honorable conclusion
! The question pending upon the amendment sub
med by the senator from Michigan MR. CAss] to the
amendment of the senator from Georgia [NIr. BERRMNl
and intended as substitute therefor.
| Mr. MOREIlEAD said he would ask the attention OF
The Senate WHILE as briefly as the subject would allow
subject under considerations subject deeply interesting
and important 1t with great reluctance that he
eemed his duty to enter at all upon discussion Of
the subject but there were considerations in his esti-
nation which rendered the solemn duty of every SEN
aor who regarded the subject in the light he did, to offer
his views m relation TO to the Senate, and to the
try. For himself, he would endeavor to discharge that
duty thus devolving upon him, and would present his
views as plainly and briefly the subject would permit
The bill proposed to appropriate the sum of three mil
lions OF dollars to be applied under the direction of the
President of the United States for derayng the exaor-
binary expenses that nght be incurred order bring
the existing with Mexico to speedy and honorable
to be the bill did not state neither had they been in
formed by the honorable chairman OF the Committee
Foreign Relations nor BY any friend of the admins
traton. OF one thing they might be assured that the
sum to be appropriated by this bill independent OF
and beyond any amount that might be provided for
and authorized to be expended by any of the ordinary
appropriation bills OF the session. 1t denominated
an extraordinary eypendture-that is, expenditure
different from those which ordinarily necessary for
the prosecution of the And this extraordinary
pendure to be incurred in order TO bring the exist
ing with Mexico TO conclusion. Among the modes
which might be enumerated for bringing the Mexican
war to conc fusion might be mentioned the vigorous
and successful prosecution of it by army and navy
by the achievement OF Victories by the storming and
capture OF cities; by the conquest of Provinces by
spreading terror In the enemys countryhese were the
results proceeding from the application OF ordinary appro-
prations 1t might be that extraordinary events, as had
heretofore been the would grow out of the victories
and triumphs of our army There might be something
| Is annie kepninu he
of name; yet he confessed he could not clearly dis
the relation between the extraordinary appropra-
ton contemplated by this bill and any usual recognised
mode OF bringing war to speedy and honorable con-
cluslon There another mode of concluding this
war, and that by negotiations by the President
sttutng commission, TO which, he yentured to saw the
Senate would willingly give its assent clothed with full
powers TO bring the existing a conclusion; but
the expenses OF such commission would be provided for
by the ordinary civil and diplomatic appropriation bill.
Such purpose therefore, he apprehended could not be
intended to be embraced in bill for extraordinary ap-
preparation There other modes OF bringing this
to cose-other modes than those he had named and it
might be tia other and other influences
tempaed by this bill TO be used for that purpose And those
other means and influences it appeared, were TO be en-
poyed by the Chef Magistrate exclusively without any
knowledge the part Of any other power known to the
government; for the bill declared that the SUN be
appropriated was to be expended under the direction of
the President OF the United States The appropriation,
therefore, to be under his exclusive will and the APP
pcalon of the money to be governed alone by his
unlimited uncontrolled discretion AT his word three mil
lions OF dollars would be drawn from the treasury, with
out any previous knowledge the part OF the people,
the peoples representatives TO what it to be APP
Piled and the application, of which, if This bill should
pass Its present shape those representatives would
have contented themselves to allow, without any distinct
knowledge OF, or even an inquiry lnio its objects He
submitted the Senate and to the people of the United
States, whose agents they were that this singular,
nay, unprecedented and enormous measure
not only without any example or precedent in our history
not only without any adequate motives to justify it, but
entirely incompatible with the nature OF government
He submitted to the Senate that such precedent
this were to be established, it would be followed by
at war, at with feeble and powerless enemy--an
enemy feeble and powerless that at the commence
ment OF the peace was deemed to be of such easy
attainment that nothing requisite than TO send
our army TO the frontier But in less than twelve
month had been found necessary expend millions
the carrying of this war, and that without bringing to
close And IN order to prosecute If still further, they
had been required by the President furnish him with
three millions OF money, which it was proposed should
be given to him without any restriction 10 its object
without any other restriction at least than that he should
account for its application TO Congress If, after having
got into with so feeble an enemy, they will
ling TO invest the President with the unlimited
troll of three millions OF dollars to make peace how much
more than three millions, he would ask, would they be
willing to put into his hands, they with
powerful nation England or France, for instance ?
w oud fifty hundred millions be adequate sum TO
bring such war 10 speedy and honorable conclusion,
Admit that fifty millions were supposed to be enough
what then was gong to be the aspect OF the question
Would they unhesaungly place in the hands OF the
Chei Magistrate, man having no military experience
though he said this disparagement-to be used
ely at his discretion and without first taking the trou
Bile to inquire what mischefs might ensue' The
sion, the amount of the to be expended the prece
dent to be established by if, well the dangerous
use that might be made OF the money, all these consid
eraiions forbid the adoption of such measure
BY 1t they would establish precedent after solemn de-
Liberation and discussion; it would be precedent there
fore, entitled to the highest consideration, by which the
controlling influence of checks and balances upon which
the policy of this government is formed would be SET
aside and dsregarded BY doing this, they would form
after basis OF legislation; and not alone basis for u
re acts OF legislation but 1t adopting rule OF
ton for themselves, well their successors. They
extended power--they asserted principle They SOL
emily declared that might arise, marked by
overwhelming emergency, when II ould wnot only be fit
and proper, but when 1t would become the duty of the
legislative department of the government TO invest the
President with discretionary power over the public mon
ey Suppose it fifty, instead of three millions sup
pose pending between this country and Of
the most formidable and powerful nations OF the earth
and suppose military to be at the head Of the gov
enmen who had used and appropriated the patronage OF
his office to such extent to universal conn.,
dence and influences suppose that he had employed the
power of Office for nsdious designs of personal ag-
grandHement; and suppose that the monster party"
ay, that mOnsfrum h0rTc,idum iagcns ef c,u fAnen
ademptmn" with all its capacities for mischief
should stalk throughout this land, while contending
factions bringing distraction upon the
try requiring all the vigilance of American statesmen;
suppose such state of things and that the President
millions OF dollars to bring about peace with the
ny with which at war, would the Congress OF
,he United States be willing TO place this money his
nas upon ms mere promise 10 account for the money
after had been expended There might be some indi-
Vdual who would be disposed TO take exception TO the
amount 10 be granted well 10 the principles but
they passed this bill, what would be their to
such eblectOnl Some friend of the President would