Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-12


racer OF his (Mr F's) democracy He claimed for other
nations, as well as for own the right establish either
republcanlsm, an asocracy, anarchy. II other
tons submissive despotism il is no business of
II gives us no right TO interfere with them and the
erce OF such power he again asserted could not be
sistent with institutions.
The President told that the whole object Of the
to obtain indemnify That the avowed object Of this
The President claims indemnity only spoiaons
the property OF citizens but for the expenses Of this
Now, where were they 10 stop He again appealed
TO the Houseto every member Of it, patriot jealous Of
the honor Of his countyto aid in putting stop this
If proceed with the this principle the result
obvious II evidently the determination Of the President
subdue the whole Of Mexico and it to the United
States and this he (MrF would endeavor to prevent
far he had the power Could this be done Gentlemen
opposite had asked what terms of peace and to
that question he answered that hs would make peace
csey he would have made peace after the began
He would claim nothing account of the expenses of the
war and hence he held that entitled to nothing
that we had claim before the commencement OF host
ties He would in the next place, seek to establish boun
Diary line between the two republics and that line he believed
should be in the "stupendous desert beyond the Nueces
He would then secure indemnity for citizens for the losses
they had sustained and this all he would DESIRE and II
all we should expect the Mexican Government consent
to- We should remember that by wagng unjust war; by
contendng for unreasonable indemnies shenoDg
our nation Some gentlemen who had preceded him had
well said that injustice and ungheousness consistent
with national honor So far bravery battle and the
of our concerned have gained great honor
in unjust but, at the time, have been
nshing the national honor home. And how shall
deem ourselves from the stain The first step should be to
stop this unjust As nation must be just for
read in The inspired volume that righteousness exateth
nation, but sin is reproach to any people" s
The Chaiman's hammer here announced the termination
of the genemans hour and he yielded the floor for which
there were many competitors.
Mr. THOMAS, of Tennessee, referred to the variety of
subjects which had already been discussed during the PEN
dency Of this bill in justification Of the of remark which
he should take call had been made upon the President
for the instructions given Mr. Sidel compliance with that
call had been refused and heard the of the
President denounced throwing himself his oyal pre-
rogave in Withholding information But the House had
been passing resolution after resolution since that time asking
information of the President f in his opinion it
compatible with the public interests be communicated
Thus the very course of the House stood clear usca
ton of the President
But this point he would refer the views enter
tanned by who knew Of the pt Of the constitution
than he prossed know He would first read from record
made by Mr. Jefferson of the consultations of President
Washingtons Cabinet, dated March 81, 1892:
'MARcH THE Sist 1792-A meeting the Presidents:
present Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton Henry Knox,
Edmund Randolph The subject was the resolution Of
the House Representatives of March 2 appoint COM
mee TO inquire into the causes Of the failure OF the late
pedon under Major General ST. Clair with the power to
call for such persons papers, and records be
assist their inquiries The had Knox
tor the original letters instructions &C. The President had
called consult merely because the first example,
and he wished that, far should become precedent
acknowledged
desired nor even doubted the Of what the House
dong for he had not thought upon it, acquant
ed with subjects of kind he could readily there
might be papers OF so secret nature they ought be
given up We were not prepared, and wished time to think
and inquire.
2-Met again at the Presidents on the same SUBJ
jec We had all considered and of mind FIRST that
the House inquest and therefore might institute
qeirie secondly that it might call for papers generally
thirdly that the Executive ought communicate such papers
the public good would permit and ought refuse those the
disclosure OF which would nure the public consequently
to exercise a discretion"
He alluded the message of General Washington in 1896
upon this subject to which frequent reference had recently
been made part Of this message, he said, wholly dis
approved Of by the Republican party of that day. led
Giles and Madison. Mr. Madison made able argument,
which reported length against the message of General
Washington. But he did not say single word against the
position which quoted by President Polk from General
Washngons message. On the contrary, Mr. Madison, who
was then heading the opposition 10 President Washington,
used the following language clearly sustaining Mr. Polk in
the position he had taken In the House Of Representatives
April 6, 1876, Mr.. MADISON said
He thought clear that the have right in all
ask for information which might assist their delibera
tons subjects submitted them by the constitution being
responsible nevertheless for the propey of the He
due responsibility also withhold information when OF nature
that did permit disclosure of the time. And If the
refusal Of the President had been founded firmly repre-
sentation that the state of the business within his department
and the of the papers asked for required IL although
he might have regretted the refusal he should have been lte
disposed TO critcise IT,"
Again he says
Ifthe Executive conceiyes that relation his de-
partmen papers could be safely communicated he might
ON that ground refuse them, because he ths competent
though responsible Judge within his own department"
Her, them we had the authority of Washington and Madi
sustaining the course Of Mr.. Polk. Mr. jefferson, Mr.
Monroe Gen. Jacks n, and other high authorities could be
brought forward this side and not single one could be
found 10 the contrary.
Mr. t. referred to the effort that had been made by refer
to the of Mr. Polk upon the call upon President
Adams for information relative TO the Panama Mission, TO
convict him (M Polk Of Inconsistency in declining to
communicate all the information demanded by the House, and
he entered minute examination of that with view
TO the complete vindcaon Of Mr.. Polk He maintained that
the doctrine the friends Of the President advocated the sub
ect had been the doctrine Of all parties since the foundation of
the Government and he referred to Judge Story and other
elementary writers the constitution, all Of whom, he said
went far say that the House Of Representatives had
right demand information Of the President upon any
subject in relation 10 foreign affairs, but could 60
further than request it. They held that this the whole
right Of the House.
Mr.. TnoNAs said il oil important TO look at the
history Of this war; how far had progressed what
sums had cost, and, what Of far consequence
what amount Of human life had been expended in its pro-
sccution The gentleman the other side, after contempla
ing the whole Affair." TO the conclusion hat was wrong
all wrong and that all this vast amount Of evil had been in
Cured in the prosecution OF unjust unnecessary and
constitutional II that gentleman in the right to
the character Of the war; and the unconstitutional manner in
which had been commenced then he right in maintain
ing that ought recall troops and make treaty with
Mexico precisely the basis had offered at the be
ginning; but his principle right thus iar ought to
have carried him further II we bad gone to war with Mex