Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-15

Mr.. HOUSTON said something not distinctly heard by
the Reporter but understood be disclaimer OF PREPARATION
Mr.. COLLAMER said that though they on his side had
not enjoyed the opportunity from previous knowledge OF the
contents Of this Executive document digest at leisure
argument in py yet what had been said in defence Of the
message ought not to be permitted 60 OIL as II there was no
answer to be made to it Mr. G. should speak 10 the as
ne understood It, as the gentlemen the other side had put
IL and as the President himself put it, The only precedent
quoted and relied by him thecase Of Jays treaty and
the action which had in regard TO it. Let what
was the decision of the House of Representatives President
Washingtons refusing the correspondence asked for
by resolution The ground insisted by Washington was,
that as the treaty negotiated by Mr. Jay with Great Britain
had been ratified by the Senate il became according to the
provision Of the constitution that subject the paramount
law OF the land and such bound ALL bound the House
Of Representatives with Others 1t bound the House 10 vote
the requisite supplies to carry the treaty into effect since
was always the duty OF that House to provide carving
law into effect until it repealed. As treaty. therefore,
was law TO ALL and could not be repealed was law to
Congress- and they bound TO make the
priations to fulfil it. As TO the papers called for the res
dent said he had submitted all Of them the Senate who
Were The proper authority judge of the propey the treaty.
Mr. " said that he did find the eso that this ground
taken by President Washington had been oyerrued by the
House was true that the House had aerward voted the
supplies but had any where denied the positions taken in
the message.
Now, if the existing President put his present refusal 10
furnish the correspondence with Mr. Sdel on this precedent
OF the refusal of Washington In the of Jays treaty. what
We're the necessary coelaives to constitute the one us
hcatlon of the other When Congress declared war; but
without any manifesto they delivered the the Ex
ecutive to carry his discretion, he being the sole
Judge Of the mode Of doing this He might carry it on and
bring it to end in any way that might seem to him best
Congress had lost all control Of the matter they had given it
an over TO the President and therefore had right auhoa
lively to demand any further information from h ia regard
70 IL Now the ground taken by the President was that this
case Of the war with Mexico parallel to that of
Washington in relation to Jays treaty. But no power of
logic could show to be parallel The comparison not
only did not upon all ours had not as many as two
legs said that Congress had made the war
and committed i to the President carry on at his dscre
on and therefore Congress had no right to emand these
papers from him. Was this so Were the cases alike
Were gentlemen prepared say that Congress by declaring
Tins war without any manifesto Of the reasons SO committed Il
Internationally to the Presidents management and control
that they had lost thereby all control of the subject If So
then this was parallel and Congress bound to give
the President whatever he asked and demand no expana
tons or information he chose to withhold.
Mr. u said he that there were some gentlemen
not little inclined to this view Of the Many seemed
TO think that the nation at war; Congress must appr-
pirate for the expenses of the war and the President must
conduct in his own way So he must if left to his
discretion That was the only thing left him to do he had
no choice ne must in that case, be governed by his own
discretion and the whole duty of Congress CONSISTED in sup
plying him with the requisite means
But Mr. G. denied that because Congress had not al the
time declared war to exist with Mexico declared the pur
pose or ends for which should be waged part there
fore could not make such declaration Now Suppose that
the President should say that in his discretion the war
should be carried into Great Britain possible that Con-
gress had no voice control in the natter but must vote
him the men and money do Had the judgment of the
President obligatory force that House Had they lost all
control of it Mr.. G. utterly denied it. He insisted that
The same power which made the might at any me de-
clare the ends and objects for which should waged and
or which alone and might graduate its supplies Of money
md of to meet that end and provide IT, and for ony
Mr. O. did not the President so much to blame
using his discretion when Congress had given him no
'ther guide. All Congress had do to manifest their
Viii as to the end for which the should be carried on If
ne President told them he going conquer oil Mexico
md Congress did not approve of that purpose all they had
do to grant and money condition that the pur-
'ose il did like should be the end which alone they should
'e applied Put that in their bill, and then the President
would have guide.
Mr. O. did not intend to go into the subject; but he
aid that because Washington thought and declared that he
lad communicated the papers asked for the only proper
gan to judge Of treaties, and that Congress bound to
make the appropriations carry treaty effect no man
oud make that parallel with this unless he could first
how that Congress had lost all control of the conduct of the
and forced conform itself the discretion of the
PRESIDENT
Mr. TOMPKINS moved postpone the subject to Tuesday
ext TO make il the special order for that day. and that the
message be printed which motion prevailed.
And the House jjourned.