Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-02-03
NUMBER 10.


| TO join in the deliberations ola Congress to be
held at the Isihmus ofpanama. and which in
duced him 10 signify that ministers on the
part or The United Safes would he commits
stoned 10 JOIN in those deliberations"
! This resolution was introduced on the 10Th
December, 1926 Now, mark you, when this
resolution was first submitted, Mr. Hamilton,
the mover, inserted in il these words, in biackl
cts. mot incompatible with the public interest
10 be communicated" which clothed the Pres
Ident with discretion II was postponed,
and subsequently,, on the 3lsi day Of January
1926, MIR. Hamilton, still having The power
over his resolution, no vote having ever been
taken upon il modified il BY striking out these
words, mot Incompatible with the public inr
tcrest to be communicated ssWhereupoa
Mr.. Webster moved to amend the said reso-
luton by restoring the words so stricken out.
And on the question shall the resolution be -
amended. Il passed in tte sifirmatise.n This
would be found al page 2l9 OF the same jour-
nal. Then II went over for few days more,
Until the Sd Of February, and the proces dings
upon il then would be found on pace 2l7 Of
the same journal thus recorded -.
"The House resumed the consideration OF
the resolution submitted by Mir. HAmLroM
on the 10th December ullimo, calling on the
President of the United States for copies of,he
! documents and correspondence relating 10 the
linvitation given to The United States 10 send
ministers to tie Congress Of Panama; and the
i question REQUIRED on the motion made western
day BY MIR. lEcHAM TO refer the resolution 70 .
select committee, with instructions to strike
out these words: so far a. ia his opinion the
public interest may allow"
i The vote was taken on this proposition by
| yeas and nays; and arnoag the yeas were all
the opponents of Mr.. ApAn's administration.
He had heard it remarked by come since this
discussion sprung Up that tina. venerable gen
tlernan, who, nurtured amid the scenes Of the
Revolution, and breathing its richest spirits
of freedom. had been pillar ofof the consti.
tuition, and eliminating star in our political
armament, had involved himself in inconsis.
tency in assaing this message, while he did
not communicate every thing 10 Congress
when he acted in the Executive capacity
Blu, (holding up the Journal from which he
had been readings he SAID let the gentlemen.
the advocates OF the President aud his prerog-
alive, range through this and the Senase's
journal of the same session, and they would
find that. like true republican servant Of the
people, Mr. ADAMS had always communicate
ed, when called on, every thing il was neces-
sary for the representatives Of the people, OF
OF the State soveriegnties, or the people them.
selves to know. But, among those yeas.
what names did they suppose stood conspIcu
ousf Polk and HAMILToN--them mover ofthe
resolution and the present Executive. Now,
however, he being the Executive. and being
asked for information touching the war, and
MOI the treaty power--information interesting
10 the people. because il affects not only their
treasure but their blood--he poises himself up
on his Executive prerogaive, and with up
lifted hands and a look oil horrur, cries, Your
call is unconstitutional, because il is rncondi-
tioDal, and contravenes mn prerogaaiye. IL
booked good deal like Richie, who Lad made
The proposition 10 rob The Mexican churches
TO pay our expenses in the Mexican war,
which proposition fell with dead stiffness w.
on tide American ear, bus presently awoke =
general hiss, which Mr.. Polk perceiving,
folded about him the cloak Of his Executive
prerogatiye, and shook his royal head al
Richie, when the trucking instrument, with
trembling hands extended toward heaven.
swore by the living God a general laugh that
he had never said aHy such ,hiogi
I The motion Of MIR. TNGHAM so to amend
was 10 make the call upon MIR. ADAMS abso-
lute and unconditional. There is MIR. Repre-
sentative Polk among them, with the ayes,
10 make il such 10 rob the then Executive Of
all discretion in relation TO il to make il call
Of the represcntatyes--of the sovereignty.
that could brook no equivocation or evasion
on the part of their servants. wonder he did
not cite that precedent in his message the 9TH
err day, "a laugh or dog ear il for his advo-
Gates on this floor, He found voting with
Mr.. Polk al! the Democrats Of that day--ai
those who were the opponents Of Mr.. ADAxs's
administratioD-all those who swore at its
commencement that "ii should be pulled down.
though il was as pure as the angels in hea-
ven"-all OF them voted to make this an alb
solute unconditional cali. The noes prevailed
tien. But when the resolution came I'D on
its final passage, l25 voted for it, and 40
against il; and among those forty whose name
did they suppose was there found7 Mr.. Rep
resentative Perks. He couldn', poke it in
the other time. and he thought he would poke
ii out now. { laugh.] And why did he
vote IN the negaiive2 Because il was uncon.
dilional absolute call. And be i, known that
HAMILTON, the mover Of the resolution, when
they could not stamp the unconditional char
acter upon il, also voted nay upoa its passage.
Mr.. t. would dog-ear this for the benefit OF the
advocates Of Executive prerogative on this
floor, that they might turn 10 this point and
examine il at leisure.
But the next time the question came up on
a proposition TO appropriate money. The
Senate having consented 10 and advised the
appointment OF ministers, the next question
before the House was upon an appropriation
which was proposed TO be made to cover the
expenses OF the mission, and when this was
under consideration this same MIR. Represen-
lative Polk introduced series Of resolutions.
twas on the lih Of April, 1876, and would
be found on psee 426 OF the same Journal
This was the first Of the series:
81. Resolred, That It is the constitutional
right and duty ofthe House Of Representatives
when called on to defray the expenses OF for
eign missions. 10 deliberate on the expediency
or inexpediency OF such missions, and to de-
termine and act thereon as in their judgment
may be most conducive 10 the public good"
! But now, Mr.. Polk said that the Represen.
tatives OF the people had no right TO demand
Of him Information, although it might be in
connection wnh the war-power Of the Govern.
ment; one widely different from the treaty.
power, and one vested by the constitution Ia
the people through their Representatives,.
However. MIR. L. would not rest there
Mr. Polk was not silent actor upon these
views OF his. He was not willing that the
journal alone should speak his sentiments. bu,
he was determined that the true sovereign.
should know what JAMES X. Polk. the r..
preventative, did not only, but what he was
7 kfa 4