Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1848-01-22

THE JOURNAL.
PRESIDENT POLK'S MESSAGE.

WHICH was received IN the House OF Represen-
tatives on the 18th instant, caused warm
debate, and excited considerable feeling:
To Tie House of Representatives
! Of the United States:
| have carefully considered the Resolution of
the House of Representatives of the 4th inst,
requesting the President to communicate any
instructions which may have been given to any
OF the officers of the Army or Navy Of the Uni
ted States, or other persons in regard to the re-
turn OF President Gen. Lopez de Santa Anna.
or any other Mexican TO the Republic of Mexi
co, prior or subsequent to the order of the Pres
ldent or Secretary of War, issued in January,
1916, tor the March of the army from the Nue.
ces across the stupendous deserts which inter-
yene the Rio Grande; that the dates of all such
instructions, orders and correspondence be set
forth; together with the instructions and or
ders issued to Mr.. Slidell at any time prior or
subsequent to his departure for Mexico as Min
lister Plenipotentiary of the u. States TO the
Republic; and requesting the President also to
communicate all the orders and correspondence
OF the Government in relation to the return of
Gen. Paroles.
| transmit herewith Reports from the Secre-
rary OF State, Secretary of War, and the Secre-
tary OF the Navy, with the documents accom-
panying the same, which contain all the infor-
nation of the Executive which it is deemed
compatible with the public interest to commu-
nlcate. For further information relating to
the return of Santa Anna, refer to my annual
Message of December Sth, '46. The facts and
considerations stated in that Message induced
the order of the Secretary of the Navy to the
Commander of the squadron in the Gulf of
Mexico, copy of which is herewith commu-
nicated. This order was issued simultaneously
with the order to blockade the coasts of Mexico,
both bearing date the 18th of May, 1916, the
day on which the existence OF the war with
Mexico was recognized by Congress. 1t was
issued solely on the view of policy presented
In that message, without any understanding on
the subject, direct or indirect, with Santa An
ma or any other person.
Gen. Paredes evaded the vigilence Of our
combined forces by land and sea, and made his
way back to Mexico from the exile into which
ne had been driven, landing at Vera Cruz after
that city and .ftheai occupation, as VIII APP
pear from the accompanying reports and docu-
ments.
The Resolution calls for instructions and Or
ders issued to Mr.. Slidell a long time prior or
subsequent to his departure for Mexico as Min
lister Of the U. States to that Republic. The
customary and usual reservation contained in
calls of either House has been omitted in the
resolution before me.
The call of the House is unconditional. 1t is
that the information be made public, whether,
in the opinion of the Executive, who is charg-
ed by the constitution with the duty of con-
Quoting foreign negotitians, such information
when disclosed would be prejudicial to the pub
lie interest or not. 1t has been subject of Sc
rious deliberation with me whether | could,
consistently with my constitutional duty and
my sense of the public interests involved and
to be effected by it, violate an important prin-
ciple, always heretofore held sacred by my pre-
decessors, as should do by compliance with
the request of the House. President Washing
ton, in message to the House of Representa-
tives of the Both of March, 1896, declined 10
comply with request contained In resolution
of that body to lay before them a copy of the
instructions of the Ministers of the U. States
who negotiated the treaty with the King of
Great Britain, together with the correspon-
dence and other documents relative to the
said treaty, excepting such of said papers as
any negotiation may render improper TO be dis
closed. In assigning his reasons for declining
to comply with the call, he declared that s'the
nature of foreign negotiations require caution,
and that success must often depend upon Sc
crecy, and even when brought to conclusion,
full disclosure of all the measures, demands,
and eventual concessions which may have
Deen proposed or contemplated, WOulu Oe eA-
tremely impolitic; for this might have per-
nicious influence on future negotiations, or
produce immediate inconvenience; perhaps
danger and mischief in relation to other pow
ers. The necessity of such caution and secre-
cy was one cogent reason for vesting the pow
er of making treaties in the President with the
advice and consent Of the Senate the principle
on which that body was formed combining it to
small number of members. To admit then
right in the House of Representatives, to de-
mand and to have, as a matter ofcourse, all the
papers respecting negotiation with foreign
power, would be TO establish dangerous pre-
cedent.
In that case the instructions and documents
called for related to treaty which had been
concluded and ratified by the President and
Senate, and the negotiations in relation to it
had been terminated, Here was an express
reservation too, excepting from the call for
all such papers as related to any existing ne
gotiations which it might be improper to dis
close.
In that case Gen. Washington deemed it to
be violation Of an important principle, the es-
adjustment of dangerous precedent, and pre-
/ judicial to the public interest to comply with
the call of the House.
! Without deeming it to be necessary to exam
| inc or decide upon the other reasons assigned
by him for his refusal to communicate the in
| formation requested by the House, the one
which is herein recited is in my judgement con-
clusive in the case under consideration.