Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-15

upon President Washington there was (Which the essag,
now s,ates) exception for which he might think no
proper TO be inquired into at the time.
Now sir the President has not added what the actor
of lie House upon and the action of the House ID
d, opposition the resistance OF President ahngon
their CALL. The House formally decared-and wish the
Journal might be looked seethe House formally de-
cared against President Washingon their right call fol
such informaion That their action and as far as
know-ahough the very memory OF Washington by every
body in this country, at this time, and by than
nv self is reverenced next TO worshphe President
weng in that particular instance, and far deny
the power of the House and TO his reasons,
thought they sufficient in that And have always
been Of the opnon and most assuredy that has been the
opinion OF the Democratic party TO which do profess to
belong, laugh they have unanimously disapproyed OF that
of President Washington, interfering with the rights OF
this House, and of their constituents the people of the Uni
ted States.
but consider it Of such importance that certainly nds
posed lay this message upon the table. desire il may be
printed that may go the whole country that may be
decided upon by the people well by this House think
this House ought sustain, the strongest their
right call for information upon questions which and
peace concerned They ought maintain their right and
in very distinct manner, against this assertion
the part of the President of the United States Now should
be perfectly satisfied the message the Committee
Foreign Affairs whatever my feelings may be in respect to
their rmness in resisting this claim up the part Of the
President of the United States If the Cohmtee Foreign
Relations will take it, and will examine the constitution of the
United Staes its principles, the history of the administration
OF the Government from that time to the present. and will
make report upon it, shall be satisfied AS to select
committee shall be perfectly satisfied that select commit
should be appointed by the Speaker instead of referring
to the Committee Foreign Affairs. And a mark Of
spect the President of the United States should go for
select committee, provided not to be member of it
myself
therefore myself in the first place. hope that select COM
mitce, of which shall not be member, will be appointed
and il that is conformity with the opinion of majority
of this House, that shall be referred to the Committee
Foreign Affairs. All the messages of the President
ally referred.
should say much more, sir, if had the power
Mr. HOLMES, of South Carolina, said he had no objec-
tons the message going the Committee Foreign Affairs
select committee, but he had very great objection,
alter the remarks made by the venerable gentleman from Mas
achusettswhose authority upon this subject would carry
great wegh-hat it should go that committee prejudged
That gentleman has remarked that the President had taken
high ground and he admitted that than the ground
taken by Gen Washington But 10 avoid any conclusion
that might be drawn from that high precedent the venerable
gentleman endeavoed TO negative that authority and produce
array against the decision of the then Democratic House
Representatives who unquesonaby did negative as far
they could the authority OF that great character he would
God that the President Of the United States every act
that he might in future do should have not only good
thorty but sterling for what this day he had
had the resolution and the magnanmity to do If the
of Washington, independent of the mighty associations that
had thrown around him, acquired any additional luse
the administration of civil life it for the noble stand
he took in defence of the prerogave OF the Executive upon
two great occasonsthe when Issuing his proclamation
at time when the Democracy in phrensy recpate
in mighty conflict with France, he had breast himself TO
the storm to the country from its impending peril the
other, upon occasion when the House of Repreen-
tatives demanded to know from him all the negoa
tons that anspred respecting the treaty OF Mr. Jay, and
he firmly stood up against denuncatons the voen and
which would have been overwhelming to any othet man,
against Executive power that down upon
in this country. And if President Polk had acted he
had; if he had revealed to this House, when there
between the nations, all the correspondence which was
in its very nature which might again be necessary
be carried for similar purpose II he had up the
power with which the constitution had invested the Execu-
tive, he would have withdrawn from HIMSELF andhe country,
perhaps of the of restoring peace by
Of private persons by at the head of connected with
the Government of Mexico. II well known that he
admrer Of the President many respects but he
admire Of the admirable balances in the constu,on-the
perogaves of this House, Of the other House. and the
Executveeach designed for independent action and imi-
taon Of natures laws, by their very antagons predicting
harmony. Upon this occasion, upon other, he (Mr H.
gave him the need Of his admiration.
Mr. SCHENCk said they upon trial OF right which
he Tor should like 10 carried out fair conclusion
between the President and the Representatives Of the People
OF the United States. The House asked him for cor
repondence and for the instructions Mr. Slide late Mi
mister Mexico They had been advised again and again
that in that correspondence, in those instrucons-at in
what took place under those instructions between Gov
eminent and the Government of Mexico-was be found in
great degree at least the justification of the war The
President and asked suppes-men and money carry
this maintain him in the position he said o non.
oablc, fir dealing towards Mexico, with whom we're al
war and the justification, they told, be found
IN connexon with the history Of this portion Of the war they
inquired of him whether not he could give them light upon
this subject and he declined do and declined upon the
petex that by would be made public the country and 10
Mexico the matters relation to the passport Of Santa Anna
and the instructions of Mr. Sidel The llth rule # this
House led follows aud he wished be read by
the Clerk
Nnc!eye confidential COMMUNICATIONS rcceiy from
President Of the United States the House shall be cleared
OF all persons except the members, clerk sergeanarms
and dookeepcr and during the reading such
communications and unless otherwise directed by the House
during all debates and proceedings be had thereon
II the President Of the United States Continued Mr. s.
had been willing the representatives Of the people Of
the United States there would have been difficulty
this communication. He could have marked it " confdcn-
ta then would have been the duty Of the Speaker have
advised the House that il confidential communication
and have had the House cleared Of all persons except the
members and officers while they took up the subject o the
information which necessary for their wise and ucious
action in time Of war.
What said the President Of the United States He dd
aude all to the fact that he might have made coHden-
ia he chose do he fatty, positively refused 10 make
any communication and that in the face Of the fact that he
might have made it confdenta He sad, in almost direct
terms the representatives Of the people, you f to
be trusted with the question whether this should be kept secret
not oil that you have to do is what appropriations
ask do you leap in the dark at my bidding, and what
tell you do you take settled fact longer be made
question Of He (Mr s held that the Representatives Of the
people Of the United States that Congress, when called upon
carry on war; ought have all the light which the Pres
dent all the Departments could give and that deny this
was 10 make direct issue between the President hc United