Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-05
THE MEXICAN WAR.


nual Message and the resolutions referring the appro-
pirate committees.
Mr. BARROW, of Tennessee, who had the floor from a
previous day. rose and addressed the committee in nearly the
following terms
IT. we look into the history Of the convention which framed
the constitution, fin that promnen ideas prevailed
among the most conspicuous in that body The one
that the Executive power should be but the reflex the egs
ave power and IN practice would wholly dependant
on it the other was somewhat dssmilar apprehension
that the Legislative power would swallow up the executive
Hardly however, had half century gone round when il
discovered that the simple ideas Of revolutionary fathers
quite too simple and wholly unfounded in fact
Some fifteen years ago beheld President Of the
United States assuming almost unlimited power while the
Legislative body the other hand had ceased in effect be
independent body but had become the registrar
the edcs Of the Executive Then constantly hear.
ing of assumptions Of power by the Executive Pesi
Dental veoes become matters Of every day occurrence
and there not power in the Legislature override
st them This House saw President Of the United States
very cooy pocket bill which had been submitted for his
sderaon and approval These things done by Presi-
dent whose popularity unbounded, overwhelming and
who well deserved the popularity he enjoyed President
whose military achievements added yet further strength to the
might Of an ndomtable will. The refer TO- as every
must be sensible, is Andrew Jackson man for whom
though often differed from him in sentiment ever enter
tanned very great respect and who, compared with
his this day. lowered far above all
as the tales giant rises above pigmy.
When these things happened many good men, who deeply
regretted their occurrence comored themselves with the be-
lief that when he left the Executive Office would relapse
again below the level where the constitution had
placed it and that large an Of power would never
be attempted TO be welded by any inferior man. But what
have witnessed Hardly twelve years have passed before
find power actually exercised Of which Andrew jackson
would have dreamed but from the which, great
he was that bold would have srunk back and
cised too and its exercise gravey defended this House.
by man who, while occupying the chair once filed by
Washington, is inferior to any but who seated
there and in saying this personal despect TO the
President of the United States Can his friends and adyo
Gates this floor point Us any great achievements civic or
military, which ought to have placed him that seat Can
they will they attempt to deny that he has exercised power
which Andrew jackson pretended assume and
would have attempted in all the height Of his ascen
dency-I mean the power
This being the fact, ought not the maxim to sink anew
with added convcon the mind of ALL that the Execu
tive power thus be employed by very inferior man.
ought be watched with the should we not all
recoect that eternal unseepng jealousy the price we mus,
pay for liberty There be something about the of
fee ITSELF drawing after it. il does an amount of
patronage, which renders it almost omnpoen for evil.
have said that the President of the United States has ex
ercsed the warpowea power reserved under the constu
on exclusively to the legislative department Of this Govern
ment. Had time would gladly go into an argument to
prove this and would discuss the origin of the present war;
But have not time for this purposng do to touch ON
other topics to which think proper aude will say
however, that anxious have been ohear something which
might shake, If 1t were but for instant the opinion am
constrained hold upon that subject and have been SEN
sbe that it could not be examined with much attention.
have never felt the opinion sagger for single that
the commenced uncontutonaly and unnecessarily
by the President of the United States.
had prepared, the first day of the present session.
resolution which intended to oe declaring that the exist
ing with Mexico unnecessary that might have
been avoided and that in bringing on, the President
guilty OF usurping power not conferred him by the
stituon but owing to cause-indoence perhaps
modesty something ese-I never presented it, have
however, enjoyed the opportunity of voting for and sanction
ing the amendment moved by my honorable friend from Mas
AcYx anH
voted for any thing willingly in all my life than did for
that amendment. And why Our opponents taunt and
ask why do not impeach the President Why, do they
really think to be fools Do they imagine we have not
more than 10 undertake mpossibity For
why should hope TO succeed in condemning Presi
dent when majority of his ters consist of his
party hope we have than that But the
grand inquest of the naon have passed upon this Pres
dent ebuke which will continue blister his long
as he lives upon this EARTH and which will ax stain upon
his remembrance while history endures And let stay there
stand here the chosen representative of seventy thousand
of the free people Of Tennessee and whenever President
Of the United States shall attempt deprive Of the
else of that power which the constitution has conferred
their representative and them through me- will resist
him to the last say again, let it stay there. am ready to
vote the declaration in that amendment have
fear, giving such vote, of the dissent of my constituency
They know their rights and they have, before this day, stood
in defence OF them against the they loved Still less
10 fear any thing from the power of any President
he declaration contained in that amendment to stay there
the only way in which we can reach the President Let il
stay there caution to him, and warning TO all who
shall come after him.
And now having made such remarks as deemed TO be
called for on that subject will call the attention Of the com
nittee for few minutes branch Of the Executive
sage which has not yet been noticed here-I his call
upon Congress raise additional force, both Of regulars
and volunteers that have already in the field. As
understand recommended by the President by the Sece
ary Of War; and will add by the chairman Of the Military
Committee in the Senate that there be raised ten additional
regiments of regulars and also twenty regiments Of volun
eers IL many shall be thought necessary This is i'm
poran increase in the army Of the United States and
measure which demands at hands the utmost debeaton
As much the Wings in the last Congress censured
voting the bill Which recognised the existence Of the war;
should myself have acted they did not then here
butin all the region where the utmost anxiety felt
Tor the exrcaion Of brave little army would have voted
Tor the b they did and should have been ashamed
Of that the contrary could justify such vote be-
the country and before my God would have voted the
pill under protest. notwithstanding the preamble which
orced upon them by the tyranny OF relentless party mao
iy. And why For the have already given be
the whole country in painful apprehension for the
safety Of the gaan, Taylor and his brave little army Thoy
lad time TO inquire they rushed almost his
escue. was in favor Of their II should arrive
spot where found my father actually engaged in conflict
with another man. and blood had already been she'd would
not stop inquire how he got into the fight 10 weigh
nice questions to which party might be in the right
should rescue him from the grip Of his adversary and
would haye examined aeward into the grounds Of the quarrel
That was the feeling which acuaed and rejoced then
and rejoice now that the Whg party did not allow themselves
70 be put IN false position by preamble which was forced
On them with that design by despotic majority.
But that a very different from that presented