The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-22
CO n G f E SIS.
THURSDAY, Jan. -.

SESATE.-Mr. ManguIn submitted a resou-
ton requesting the President to lay before the
Senate, il not inconsistent with the public ser
vice, all the plans, estim ates, and Gale alatons
presented by General Scott as in his opinion
being best adapted TO attain the objects of the
war; and also General Seott's opinion touch
ing the military means necessary to accom-
plish the objects of our government, in any
and all the alternative views that have been
considered by the Executive or suggested by
General Scott, TO bring the war with Mexico to
close.
Mr.. Mangum expressed wish TO have the
resolution considered at once, but objection be-
ing made, it was laid over under the rule.
The resolution of Mr.. Dayton calling on the
President for copies of certain letters from Gen.
Scott and Taylor, upon the subject of military
contributions in Mexico, was adopted.
The resolution Of Mr.. Baldwin, calling on
the President for copies of the correspondence
between Mr.. Trist and Mexican Commission
ers, during the armistice, taken up and
adopted.
The Senate took up the Ten Regiment bill.
Mr.. Pearce, who was entitled to the floor,
spoke at considerable length in opposition to
some Of the positions assumed by his colleague.
(Reverdy Johnson.) He entered into an argu-
ment and quoted many authorities to show that
the Rio Grande never could have been consid-
cred de faetO the boundary of Texas, and was
not so considered by the convention that deiy-
cred IL. He was listened TO with marked atten-
ton. II displays much ability and research.
Housr.--Pr.sident PoEt's R.ply--The reply
Of the President to the resolutions OF the House
calling for information and instructions relative
TO the return Of General Santa Anna into Mexi-
CO, was taken up and read. Ii refuses 10 COM
ply with the call, inasmuch as the President
deems II incompatible with the public interest
to furnish and make public the information CALI
ed for. The President refers to presidents dur
ing Washington's Administration for his line
ofconduct in this matter. Negotiations for peace
might be interrupted by the publication Of the
doc uments called for. He states that, although
| he is in possession Of such information as the
House has called for, yet il was Of such deli
cate nature that, in his opinion, il would be in
compatible with the public interest to communi-
cateit
The message being real, several motions were
made In reference to il.
/ Mr.. Truman Smith moved TO refer il TO the
committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. John Quincy Adams rose and addressed
the Speaker. Immediately tho whole House
crowded around him In b.eathless attention. lie
moved that the Message be referred to a select
committee of which he wished rot to be MEM
Der, and hoped report would be made which
would show the President that he was bound to
| communicate information of this public nature
which the House Of Representatives had called
for.
M. Holmes, Of South Carolina, in a strain OF
fervor, complimented the President upon his
frmness on this occasion. He hoped he would
In all his official acts, he had done in this act,
take Washington for his guide.
Mr.. Schenck replied, and In indignant terms,
asked II the President to be the master OF
the people aud their Representatives, tell
them that although they had called upon him for
information in relation 10 some Of his public
acts, and he possessed it., yet he deemed himself
more capable than they to say whether Il ought
TO be made public or not--that he did consider
Il inconsistentwiih the public interest TO make
It public, and therefore he should not communi-
cate II. He should keep it to himself.
Mr.. Houston, Of Alabama, next took the floor
and warmly defended the President in the mat.
ter, and replied to the remarks ct Mr.. Schenck
Mr.. Toombs, Of Georgia, followed, and de.
ciared his preference for the motion TO refer the
message to a select committee.
The question was not whether the President
would be justified in certain cases in withhold
ing from Congress information in relation Il
public affairs which might be called for, bu
whether this was one of those cases.
Mr.. Charles j. Ingersoll (the Chairman Of tn
Committee on Rules which reported the new
rule for member to address the House, II h
chose, from the Tribune, or Clerks Desk mex
rose to debate the question. .n.
4 Some member suggesting that he should tax
the Tribune, he did so, and read from the Clerk