Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-02-02

involved and 70 he effected BY II. violate
an important pr.uciplc. ALWAYS heretofore
held sacred BIZ my predecessors, as sHou!G
do bv compliance with the request oi the
House.
President Washington. in Ucszac &c the
Hons, Of Representatives. at the som OF
March. 1895. declined 10 comply WA Il
request contained in resolution OF TIA,
BODY. to Law before iher. "a copy Ct the IN
structions To the Minister o. the Lnlt''d
States. who negotiated ihe treaty with the
King Of Great Britain. '-'tog1ther with
the corresponiencr and other documents
relative 10 the sa;d treaty, excepting saci
Of the SAID papers as any eAi>''h- heseua.
tons NAV render lmptop1rio be discussed
In ass gninI his reasons for deei'h'hG 10
conpl, with the call. he declared that "'he
nature Of fore gn negotiations requires eau
ton. and their success must often depchu
on secrecy: and even when brought 10
concus on. a full d Sclo>urc OF all the mea-
sures. demands and eventual concession,
which NAV have been proposed or conteni-
plated. would be extremely iinpo!tiic; fof
this might have 4 pern'clous influence on
future ncootia, ,on>, or produce immediate
inconvenience. perhaps danger ahl ms
chief. in relation 10 other r""o'S. ihe
necessity OF euc1, CauIion ana CfCct was
one corcnt reason for vesrng the power
of making treaties in the President. WIN
the advice and consent Of the Senate: IN"
principle on which that holy was formed
confirming it 10 Il small number OF members
To admit. then. a RICH, n the House o.
Rpprescnta.ivcs 10 demand. and 10 hive. q:
a matter of course, all the papers respect
ing a negotiation with ign power
would he to establish a dangr,ons precc
dent" In that case. the Instructions ant
documents called for. related 20 ircntl
which had been concluded and ra'lii' q h,
the President and Senate. and the nogo'i
atoms in relation 10 il had been 'crin'naten
There was an express ros2rva'loa, 100 "oN
ccptine' from the call all such papers as re
lated TO cary existing ncg"Sations which
il might be improper TO d los". In tia
case. President Washington deem il L
he n violation ot an important princ.p pie
the establishment of 'dInGctous prccc
. dent and pre- judicial To the pubic inter
ests. to comply with the call OF the House
: Without deelnino it 10 be n ccssarV. OF
the present occasion. 10 examine ar decide
upon the other reasons assigned by hi'n. 70
his refusal TO corniIl,ln cate the information
. requested bv the House. tho one which l
t herein recitcd is. in my Judgment, con
} elusive in the case under consideration.
Indeed, the objections 10 complying Will
the rsGucsi Of the House, contained in tn
resolution before me. are much strcnIe
than those which existed in the case o
the resolution in 1896. This resolution
calls for the ..instrnc,ions and orders 4
e FL, t,1a hpN,
60. which relate to n"coiat ons VIII ch hav
not been transmitted. and which may be re
sumcd. The information called for, ros
: poets necotia, ons which the Tn ted State
offered TO open with Mexico inme diatel
preceding The commeuccin nj OF The exist
ing war. The Instructions given 10 ih
minister Of the United States, relate TO tn
differences between the two countries, on
Of which the war grew, and .hc terms @
: adjustment which uc were prepared 10 OF
fer 20 Mexico in our anxiety 10 prevent In
war. These differences still remain TN
settled; and to comply with the call g
the House. would be 70 make public
through that channel, and TO communicat
with Mexico. now a public enemy engage
in the war. information whiclcould nc
fail 10 produce serious embarrassment i
any future negotiation between the tw
countries.
= have heretofore communicated 10 Con
: gross all the core p.ndencc of the minis
ter Of 'he United States TO Mexico. who
in the existing state of our relations Wit
that Republic. can. in my Judgment, he a
this time communicated without serIou
injury to the publ c interest.
Enfertainr this conviction. and with
, sincere desire TO furnish any information
! which may be in Tie posi- as.on of the Ex
ecuIive department, AID which eiihe
house of Congress may a, any time re
guest, regard il TO be my constitutional
right, and my solemn duty, under the cir
tcnmstaHces Of this case. TO decline com
pliancc with the request Of the House con
tainhd in their resolution.
JAMES Il. POLK.
WASHINGTON. January -, lS4S.