Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-02-19
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


a loan not exceeding Sis, SOC, 900.
Mr. CROZIER of Tennessee, being entitled to the floor,
said that the bill before the Committee Of the Whole
the state the Union, providing for loan of eighteen and
half millions Of dollars, Of series of important
sures to the favor of Congress by the Executive
He not therefore, surprised when, few days SINCE his
honorable colleague from the Maury district (Mr THoMAs
who ardent supporter Of the present Administration,
and who had the honor of having the President Of the United
States for Of his constituents addressed the House. hear
him declare that he prepared TO vote this measure
geher with all the other Important measures under consdea
on and which might be presented to their consideration by
the President without debate. Mr. G. had hesitation
in saying that when his honorable colleague made this dec
ration he only spoke for HIMSELF but expressed the sen
mens feelings and wishes Of every member of his par
wi for it was characteristic of all those who favored the
usurpaon of Executive power against the rights Of the peo
pie that they invariably foes to free discussion. Whe-
Their the party who friendly to the Administration this
floor were liable TO the charge Of vorng usnpaon certain
was what had seen this session and the last Congress-
that they eminent degree the quality Of being
opposed tonk and free discussion During the last Congress-
when this dominant party had large majority in this House,
there many remarkable where this action took place
where they upon most important questions with
out allowing any thing like adequate examination Of them
But was not necessary go back. AT this session had
the same disposition manifested the side Of this
House, from the OF the session down TO this
morning Resolutions had been introduced from time time,
by members of the opposite side OF this House. for the pur
pose of stopping debate the Presidents message Scarcely
had been under consideration three days before gentlemen
commenced introduce their resolutions to stop the debate
And what the for this done, as he beev
ed that they might out to the country with the false pre-
tence that they were do the this House,
and that debate upon this question hndered the progress of
the business He had hesitation from what he had
Of their action during the present. as well as during the last
Congress- concluding that gentlemen that side at
tempting make upon the record of the House proofs go
before the people that they anxious to do the bust
this country and that the Wings opposed to it.
This shallow humbug he could inform gentlemen, would have
no effect would be swallowed up in the next by
much important questions, and would never be heard OF
again. The would be perfectly understood why they
had introduced these resolutions time after time not to exe
de the progress of business but for the purpose OF stopping
debate upon the present critical situation country brought
the head Of their party and every day becom
ing and more alarming Members OF the democratic
party may shrink from debating the present condition Of the
country and may dislike hear their opponents speak OF 1t
but very certain that the people VIII hold them RESPONSE
bic for all the important consequences OF this war.
In the brief allotted him, he should back to the
Presidents message although gentlemen on the other side
seemed very sensitive in the discussion OF the measures recon-
ended by the Executive and before the county TO the
consideration Of this House. Some most important measures
were spoken to in this message of the President he would
rst occupy the attention Of the committee by few remarks
what he considered singular paragraph in the mes
sage. Near its commencement, the President said
" On learning that hosties had been commenced by Mex
ico promptly communicated that fact accompanied with
succnct statement of other OF complaint against
Mexico to Congress- and that body by the act OF 18th OF
May ls46 declared that by the act of the republic OF Mexi
state OF exists between that Government and the
United States This declaring the exist by the act
OF the republic of Mexico and making provision for its
secuon to speedy and successful terminaton passed
with unanmty Congress- there being but
tive votes in the Senate and but fourteen in the House Of Re
presentatves'
Now would be remarked by every member here present,
that when the President of the United States after the bill
cognisng the existence Of the and approprang and
for its prosecution passed. undertook to speak from
the record he made three quotations from the preamble of the
bill The President protested lay before the people Of the
United States the both Houses Of Congress upon the pre-
ambe to the war bill and how did he represent He said
there in this House but fourteen members voting against
IT. and in the Senate there but two Let them turn TO
the record and appeared clearly that the President Of the
United States must have the vote the preamble
Independent proposition which vote Immediately before
the vote the whole BILL and he could not have looked
the without seeing the other So far from there being
fourteen members Of this House, the President falsely
presented who voted against this preamble there sixty
who voted against it, and among them his mr. Cs)
found recorded and also the Of fourteen
Democrats the friends of the President Of the United States
this floor.
He gentleman (Mr srns) in his seat, who was
friend Of the President Of the United States who voted against
this preamble and who addressed the committee on yesterday
evening for hour without saying word this point
Mr.. SIMS wished an opportunity TO explain.
Mr.. CROZLER sgnfed his willingness TO YIELD and wish
ed to ask the gentleman question He was very desousto
hear why Democrats voted against the preamble.
Mr. SIMS said he voted against il not because he dsbe
eyed one word which said in it. but because he thought
IT improper mode Of doing business He for
paratng the messagefor referring much Of related to
declaration Of war to the Committee Foreign Affairs and
let them propose simple declaration Of war, and much
related to raising troops and munitions Of the Commit
tee on Military Affairs But when both were put together
he had no hesitation in voting for the bill
Mr.. CROZIER (resumng) very happy TO hear the
explanation Of the gentleman, and IL furnished authentic
form, would be very happyto put in his speech The gen.
eman from South Carolina stated that he voted against the
preamble mere technically the bill spproprang
fifty thousand and ten millions Of dollars for the vgo
prosecution Of the war; the gentleman willing
the preamble out Of the BILL and on mere technicay The
gentleman took the ground his honorable colleague who
addressed the committee some days since, (Mr RHErr.
de would be glad to hear from other gentlemen of the De-
mocatc party who voted against the preamble explanation
OF their votes He should like TO hear from the gentleman
from Virginia Understood to refer Mr. BEpSeER) this
subject, who not in his now That gentleman adj
dressed the House several days for hour he like
wise never said word about his against that preamble
Now far Mr. g. concerned the reason was plain
for his vote against the preamble. He opposed IT, He
did not believe that what contained was ue and therefore
he voted against it. In this he satisfied his conscience and
stood justified before the country Posey would know every
body knew why the Wings voted against the preamble
They believed the declaration contained 10 be gross false
hood and they satisfied their conscences by voting against it,
and having they voted othe whole BILL as BY the De-
mocatc majority this floor they obliged do or TO re.
fuse to vote supplies for army peril He had reflected
upon the subject for nearly years. and he could not act
differently were the question TO up again he would lie
compeledo vote in the way His honorable colleague
CMr THoMAs) could how the Wings could vote for
succors Tor Gen. Tayo and held that because they did not
believe the preamble 10 be true they justified in