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

NAVY 10 the commander of our squadron in the Gufof
Nexico-a copy OF which is herewith communicated. This
order issued simultaneously with the To blockade
of Mexico, both bearing date the 18Th ofMay
1886 the day which the existence of the war with Mex
recognised by Congress. II issued solely upon
the views of policy presented in that message and without
any understanding the subject direct or Indirect with
Santa Anna or any other person.
General Paredes evaded the vigilance of our combined
forces by land and sea- and made his way back TO Mexico
nom the exile into which he had been driven landing at
Vera Cruz after that city and the case of San Uoa
were IN military occupation will appear from the
accompanying reports and documents.
The resolution calls for he instructions aud orders
sued TO Mr. Sde any time prior subsequent to his
departure for Mexico os Mhser Flenpotentary of the
United States 70 that republic The customary and usual
reservation contained calls Of either house of Congress
upon the Executive for Information relating our inter
with foreign nations has been omitted la the resou
ton before The call of the House is unconditional
II is that the information requested be communicated and
thereby be made public, whether in the opinion of the
Executive who is charged by the constitution with the
duty Of conducting negotiations with foreign powers such
Information, when disclosed would be prendcial 10 the
public interests not 1t has been subject OF serious
deberalion with ME, whether could consistently with
my constitutional duty and my of the public inter-
ests involved and to be affected by it, violate an i'm poan
principle, always heretofore held sacred by my predeces
sors as should do by compliance with the request of the
House.
President Washington, message he Ho Of Rep
resenatves Of the Both Of March, 1896 declined to comply
with request contained resolution of body u
lay before them ga copy Of the instructions the minister
Of the United States who negotiated the treaty with the
King of Great Brain"";ogehe with the spondence
aud other doc relative the said treaty excepting
such of the said papers any existing negotiations may
render improper be disclosed In assigning his reasons
for declining comply with the call lie declared that the
of foreign negotiations requires caution and their
success must often depend secrecy; and even when
bought conclusion, full disclosure of all the meas
demands and eventual concessions which may have
be
itc for this might have penicous influence futile
negotiations produce immediate Inconvenience per
haps danger and mischief in relation 10 other powers The
necessity OF such caution and secrecy cogent
for vestng the power of making treaties in the Pres
dent with the advice and of the Senate the prn
cple which that body was formed, continuing it a
small number OF members To admit then, right in the
IIou Of Representatives demand, and to have,
Of course all the papers respecting negotiation
with foreign power would be to establish dangerous pre-
cedent In that case, the instructions and documents call
cd for related treaty which had been concluded aud
ratified by the President and Senate, and the negotiations
in relation it had been terminated There an ex-
press reservation, excepting" from the call all such
papers related to any existing negotiations which il
might be improper to disclose. In that President
Washington deemed it to be violation of an important
principle, the establishment of dangerous rsec6dea
and preiudcia the public interests, comply with
| call Of the House.
Without deeming it to be necessary, the present
Cason examine decide upon the other assign
ed by him. for his refusal to communicate the information
requested by the House, the which herein recited is
in my Judgment, conclusive in the under considcra
ton.
Indeed the objections TO complying with the request of
the House. contained in the resolution before me- much
stronger than those which existed in h- of the reso-
ton in 1896 This resolution calls for the Constructions and
orders' TO the minister Of the United States Mexico,
which re late to negotiations which have not been ermi
mated, and which may be resumed The information call
ed for respects negotiations which the United States
ercd open with Mexico immediately preceding the
commencement of the existing The instructions
given the minister Of the United States relate to
the differences between the countries, of which
| the grew, and the terms of adjustment which we
prepa red offer Mexico in anxiety pre-
the These differences still remain unsettled and
omply with the call of the House. would be make
public. through that channel and communicate Mex
leo, now publ enemy engaged in war information
which could not fail to produce serious embarrassment in
any future negotiation between the two countries.
have heretofore unicatcd Congress all the cor
espondence the minister the United Mexico
which, in the existing OF our relations with that
public my Judgment be DIT this time communicated
without serious injury to the pablo interest.
Entertaining this conviction, and with sincere desire TO
furnish any Information which may be in the possession
the Executive Department, and which either house of
gress may any time request regard be my consti.
tutonal right, and my solemn duty, under the circu-
stances of this case, decline pliance with the re
quest of the House contained in their resolution.
JAMES X. POLK
WASHINGTON, Jan. r. lSlS
| Mr.. moved mat the message be lald the
table and printed but withdrew the motion at the re-
quest OF
Mr. TRUMAN SMITH, who moved its reference to
the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. GEO. S. HOUSTON renewed the motion to lay on
the table and print
| Mr. STEWART, of Pennsylvania, asked division of
the question, which was ordered and the question being
then first on laying upon the table,
/ Mr. ADAMS hoped the motion 10 lie on the table
would not prevail II he understood the message it de-
MED the right of the House call for the information in
question The safe of his voice was such as TO put it
beyond his power TO extend his remarks he otherwise
would on this occasion. 1t was novel thing, it must
be confessed for the President to deny the power to ex
ercse this right by the peoples representatives 1t had
never been done before, but in single during the
was sufficient given to justify this OF Pres
dent Washington; and all the democratic party of that
day Ito which party he protested to belong)
/ imousy dsapproved OF this act of Washington Mr. A.
thought the House ought assert In the strongest
manner this right TO call for information and especially
in such those where questions of war and peace
depending, the right should always be maintained in
very distinct manner He felt that he could be salts
fled that the message should go the Committee on For
eign Affairs, in view of the known intelligence and firm
ness OF that committee in resisting anything like
If that committee would take up the subject, and
inc it in the light Of its whole history and the cons,iiu-
tional principles affecting it, and make report on the
case he said he would be satisfied and conented to
ceve it, But, matter of respect which was due to
the President of the United States he would prefer thai
the message might go before select committee provided
he not made member of it himself
Mr.. T. B. KING hoped the suggestion of the gentle
man from Massachusetts would be acted upon that