The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-05

enis and precedents to render plausible this allega
uon hal me country would not be asked 10 condemn
ihd poscfoe the present Executive upon mere assertion
ana empty denuncishen In this, my surprise has not
oeen greater Than w s the surprise OF every man. upon
reading the debates this question On the fourth day
81 ms month the House adopted resolution in the fol-
lowing words:
R,so'r,d That the President orbe United States he re
luesied to communicate to this House instructions
which may have been given my of the of The
ry navy OF the United Saies other persons.
gard TO the return Of Presideni General Lopez dc
santa Anna or any other Mexican 10 the republic al Mex
secretary Of War; issued in January, 1886 for the march Of
he army from The Nueces river across the sspe'dos des-
which the Rio Grande. Thaitbe date
III such Instructions orders, and pondence he
orlh together with the instructions and orders issued TO
Mr. Siide sny time prior subsequent 10 his departure
of Mexico as minister penipo'eltafy OF 'he United States
.sResolred further That the Pre- den, be requested
communicate al orders and CORES pondence OF the govern
neni in relation 10 the return OF General fafedes 70 MEX
1t will he seen by this resolution, that the call on the
President absolute and unconditional In this re-
spect differs perhaps from every precedent on record
have been able to find resolution calling for such
information, which does not contain a reservation
authorizing the Pes lent 10 withhold such parts as he
night deem prendcial to the public interests An am
nent containing this usual form OF procedure was pfopo
'ed while this resolution pending, and votei down
ny the Presidents political opponents On the 2ih INST
The President in obedience 10 this call. communicated =
The House special message, accompanied with all he
information and correspondence which, IN ms Jn igmeh''
ould be given without prelnice to the pubic neress
II is, then for simply eservng information ca cnlatea 10
lace di-a Vantage with the enemy, that the Pres
lent denounced upon this floor as usnrper an
yrant--Ior guarding the public interest by wthholdg
Information which could not possibly ana ths HOUSE Ia
my matter OF legislation, and which, It comnnnca'el'
must defeat 1T not forever, at least Tor te all he8o-
atons with Mexico
1t is alleged by my colleague az well as other gentle
who con Tenn the President for this aci that the m
ormaiion withheld would reflect great light upon the
lrgn and prosecution OF the Mexican war; an mere
ore, that this House, as branch OF the war-m'k NJ
over can insist upon its communication L concee,
r that the federal constitution does confer upon Con-
the power to declare war; an this express grant
power carries with it. BY implication, such IMP ed
owers necessary to enable Congress TO carry OUT
he express grant But this grant OF power must oe ma
ha,monze with other great principles OF the feieral
rive effect if possible, to all its provisions II Will not
Denied then, thai, by another cause OF the cons'i.
ion, the power to make treaties IS conferred upon me
Executive, "by and with the advice and consent OF the
Senate" This express grant Of power carries WIN II,
in the former INSTANCE such implied powers as are
enable the Executive and Senate 10 carry out
the express grant Now under the former clause OF the
constitution, the information withheld ny the President
claimed BY his opponents; under the latter clause ms
pends upon the nature and character OF Inc inornanoh
withheld | deny the position assumed by my col
withheld could reflect light upon the origin and pros
ecuon of the Mexican war. deny that me lnor-
nation withheld can be Of such character as .nose
Of the information refused by the President It's not
the correspondence with Santa Anna My colleague
says that the President in his special message refuses ,
|
peopIehe correspondence and particulars ny whch ne
restored 10 Mexico OF the abe.' -snerals sne eyer
had Does he arrive this conclusion from peusa OF
that message; deny that the President hss withheld
or ny other MEXICAN T1 gene f. tnbe Se4a A@ea
I say: give from the message the following emphiuc
language
"Fo further information relating to the return Of Santa
Anua 10 Mexico you my annual message oil De-
cember g. The facts and considerations stated IN that
message induced The order Of the Secretary of the Navy TO
The COMMA squadron in the Gullof Mexico,
copy of which herewith communicated This order was
IF Mexieoboh bearing date 18th OF May 1916 the day
which the existence OF ts war with Mexico was recognised
Congress- 1t issued solely the views OF policy
presented Message, and without understanding
the subject direct indirect with Santa Anna or any
| Now, would ask gentlemen, upon what rests the
empty declaration that the information withheld by the
President is the correspondence in relation to Santa
Annals Does not the preceding extract from the
message prove clearly that no such correspondence ever
existed ?hat there was no understanding with Santa
Anna, direct Indirect or with amy other person. IN re-
gard to his return that all the information upon that
subject before this House and not any OF with
held by the Presdent This declaration OF my COLLEAGUE
and others mus, certainly fall before such proof The
message proves most clearly that the information which
the President has refused to communicate is the lnsrc-
| commencement of the Mexican This, and only
his, has he withheld. The whole tenor OF his message
suslans me in this position Well, these instructions re-
late solely to negotatonto the adjustment OF all inc
questions OF difference existing between the two govern
| nenis by treaty. They have no bearing upon the
legislation OF this House, but belong exclusively to the
reatg n,aking poissr-the President and the Senate.
Such information cannot as has been alleged by my col
league and others, reflect light upon the origin ana prose
cuion OF this war; and aid this House in its legisaon
upon that subject We must look to the acts OF MANGO
when deciding the Justice eXpediency OF the war IL
the past acts OF Mexico do justify the war; we can
lind no justification in the instructions OF the Pres
en to our minister anterior to hosite prescribing the
terms upon which The existing differences nigh! be ami
ABLY settled Nor we be condemned by these IN
.tructions They unknown to the M xican govern
nent-were laid before it, but, on the other hail
Tooth minister and instructions were Indignantly reecte
4 by that govern nent without an audience.
Our government cannot look to these instructions as
being at all m eria either to the origin or ths prose-
.ut,on OF the Ii useful at any time, it can only be
while the two snis negotiating tire NY
he acts of Nh tila' de nanl our attention we
ire look the invasion OF our soIl--to her aacS
pon our citizcns while within territorial lin IS
10 her violation OF treaty rJu,,ionsto her SEIZURE OF
the property AMI persons oil citizens while abroal
and casting them i,o prison contrary to awo her nu-
insults ion our national hay-to Inc EXPULSION
1 ministers, an 10 series OF wrongs am nu'Iate'
extending back for twenty years 10 nese we look iot
our Justification in The eyes OF the whole wT' all no
upon instruction gwen 10 our minister, an whouy h'
material TO all the Issues growing out Oh lhs war, save
he question OF treaty; ,
II is clear then that The President has withheld no i'm
yorant information the origin OF this war, al
lppeJ by gentlemen on the other aide Of this House
rhey have all the information pertaining to its origin
he acts of Mexico before it. All that vast volume
Il wrongs injuries, insults, AMI lniQuities perIetra'e
aanst this government AMI s citizens is before the
House The President has kept none of them back To
that volume must look, and upon rely for en-
ire and amp. justification in the commencement an
~, fn> DroA,ta trr of,