The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-13

OCCASION Il on no other, he would award to the Pres
dent The need q mis- admiration
Nj oCHENCK: The President calls to sup
port his conduct OF the and yet refuses to respond to
call for his correspondence in relation thereto Mr.
s. called for the reading of the rule and stated that he
might have made his communication confidential instead
OF telling the House, he has done in effect that
II not worthy to be trusted with his executive
acts Should 1t go abroad thai all the power we have
here the peoples representatives record the edics
OF master Had II really come TO pass, that must
thus go il blind, and leave with the Executive the
ercse OF all matters OF judgment IN relation to these al
fairs OF the most serious national Importance! Ii an
evasion OF the question to resort Tor precedent to the
case of Washington, He hoped the reference of the
subject to any standing committee would FAIL and that
might 90 10 select committee.
Mr. q. S. HOUSTON desired 10 reply briefly to some
OF the remarks by the honorable gentleman from Massa
chusetts But first he would offer word in reply TO the
gentleman from Ohio who says, that while we called
upon to vote men and money to prosecute the war, he
desires to know the character OF the war; and to have all
the information OF the President in relation 10 it But
with what sort OF grace did this demand come now from
member who but few days ago, recorded his vote IN
favor OF declaration that the war with Mexico was
unnecessarily and unconsttuonaly waged by the Pres
dent? Now his sentence has been passed, he in
asking Tor information Ay sir, information might have
done him good at an earlier day; but that time has now
passed and, far this subject is concerned he may
be given over 10 hardness OF heart AMI reprobacy OF
mind.
Mr.. H would now advert to the question. He desired
to compare the before the House with the
alluded to in the message. and commented on by the
honorable gentleman from Massachusetts, whose re-
marks he did not hear distinctly He understood that
similar to that of the call upon Washington for nior
nation, which he withheld. In the present case, the
resolution mandatory and IN the case OF the call up
on Washington, the question OF furnishing the informal
ton submitted to his disrletion If this were
correct understanding Of the gentleman he desired to say
a word in reply.
As the honorable gentleman did not correct his under.
standing, he proceeded to read the House resolution
which constituted the call upon General Washington
by which he was requested ITO lay before the House
States who negotiated the treaty with the King Of Great
Britain together with the correspondence and other doc
umens in relation to that treaty. excepting such of the
said papers any negotiation may render improper to be
disclosed"
Mr. c. J. TNGERSoLL interposed here 10 say that the
above resolution originally introduced by MIR. Inv
ngs ton and that the latter clause was adopted
amendment proposed by MIR. Madison.
Mr. HOUSTON. &c. then see here that, so far as
the resolution related to the treaty submitted to the
House, commonly called the Jay treaty, and under which
a call had been made upon the House to provide the
means necessary to carry out It's provisions so lar It was
mandatory that which had been directed to the Pres
den in the present case but was referred to the dis
cieton c General Washington to withhold not such
papers any negotiation might render it improper to be
disclosed.
Mr.. H. had one word more After General w ashing-
ton had made the point embraced in the extract copied
into the message, and which commends itself to the I'M
dersanding of every nan-that secrecy connected with
pending negotiations should not go out from the Executive
after having made this point he goes on to show tina!
the House of Representatives was bound to carry out all
treaties made by the President by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate and this the view COM
bated in the House. After this message of President
Washington had been discussed for long time in Com
mttee OF the Whole the state OF the Union, the com
mittee reported three resolutlons az follows
81 Resoiced As the opinion of this committee, that it is
expedcn pass the laws for carrying into eifec
the treaty lately negotiated between The United States
2. Rsolrd, AS the opinion of this committee, that il il
expeden pass the laws necessary for carrying into etfec
the treaty lately negotiated between the United States an6
certain Indian tribes northwest of the Ohio river
50 Res0ued AS the opinion OF this committee, that II 4
cxpedent pass the laws necessary for carrying into eiec
the treaty lately negotiated between the United states at
the Dey and Regency OF A'Siefs"
The first and second of these resolutions adopted
and the third ordered to lie on the table:
Another resolution was then Immediately introduced
with preamble which brought up the whole question
referred to by the gentleman from Massachusetts, fol-
| lows:
The House having taken into consideration the tteatS
Of aniitS commence and naviyation between the United
in his message the LIST day March last of opinion
that is many respects highly injurious the interest
the ee
iii tie treaty. their sincere desire cherish harmony
wish to operate in Fastening final adjustment OF tn,
differences subsstng between the United States and Grea
Britain might have induced them waive their objections
to the treaty But when they contemplate the conduct
Great Britain in pursuing since the treaty was signed
American vessels aden with provsons] contrary to the
ceaest rights Of neutral nationswheher this be viewed
the construction be given articles in the
treaty. contrary to, and inlracton Of, tile true
meaning and spirit hereofihe House cannot but regard
incumbent them, in fidelity to the trust reposed IN
them orbear, under such circumstances, taking, al
Resolved That under the circumstances aforesaid and
with such information the House possesses, 1t Is not ex
pedent this time in passing the laws necessa
ry to carry the said treaty into effect
This resolution afterwards referred to the Com
mttee of the Whole the state OF the Unon and the
discussion continued for many days; after which it was
determined last to report bill TO carry out the pro-
visions of the Jay treaty; and although the House
loverrued the two resolutions embracing the prn-
cpes set forth by Washington in the afterpart OF his
message yet was not thought expedient TO take any
notice of the fact that he withheld the correspondence
and documents called for; thus evncng their acques-
cation of the information called for would prejudice the
public good.
Mr. proceeded to mark the difference between these
correspondence and instructions minister charged
with settlement of the difficulties between the United
States and the government of Mexico instructions which
relate to difficulties not yet settled, and about WHICH ne
gotiatons are still pending. The case OF the call upon
President Washington where the treaty had been
confirmed ratified and submitted to the House. and the
House had been called upon to make appropriations to
carry its provisionso carry out treaty IN which ou
rights compromised and this the House refused
TO do.
The gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. ScHENcK,l with his
usual fairness and berality makes an appeal to the
peudces OF the House and of the country representing
the President as saying to the House, "You are not n
to be trusted: have done thus and So and you mus
vote to carry it out" The gentleman must have grea
desire to make an assault upon the administration or he
, Inc have had n