The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-16

WASHINGTON, March IL, lSiS
The Treaty. The President The System Of Closed
Doors.
While this treaty will be received with passive
acquiesence by most people, it will produce
no enthusiasm in the country. This is not peo-
pie who love retreating, and the tergversations
ota tmid President, though they may be toler-
ated Tor the sake OF peace, will never be endors-
ed. The Presidents organ, with ludicrously bad
grace, attempts family, to aud the treaty, and,
In doing so, is compelled to use those arguments
that, after the example of Mr.. Polk him
self, it denounced as treason two short
months ago. 1t would not be at all surprising.
though such eiIrontory Is scarcely TO be ina
gined, an attempt would now be made by this ia
Gle instrument of Mr.. Polk, to prove that he
has been wholly consistent throughout, and that
the treaty is fully up to all his positions and de-
clarations. That he has influenced many votes
in the Senate by such or some other similar re-
presentations, Is demonstrable. Such an ATTEMPT
to practise upon public credulity is scarcely con-
ceivable; yet IL was not to be expected that Mr..
Polk would have avowed his weakness; incon-
sstency, when detected, never gives up, but
boldly adds lmpudence to lmpostufe.
The treaty VIII be productive of some good
result. When every thing connected with II
shall be made known-hc mode OF its negotia-
tlon-the manner in which the negotiator was
trclSed into II by interested partes-the cores
pondence which led to 1.-THE expedients resort
ed TO by the President TO ensure its ratification
the spells by which some men were spirited
away, and others gained over to its support, there
will be a universal demand that forever hereaf.
ter, pending the deliberations on a treaty the
Senate's doors shall remain open. | saw with
entire confidence, that during the deliberations
on the treaty, there was nothing brought for
ward of which the people had not right TO be
Informed, or the revelation of which would have
affected the issue OF peace or war in the slight
est manner How could there be Mexico Is
PROSTATE. An anomalous government, like the
East India Juggler, suspended In the air without
any visible support-without popular suiira-
ges, or party strength--sef constituted for aught
that appears TO The contrary-by the aid of
an Engllshman OF the name OF Thornton, (Hea-
ven, only knows by what authority actlng,)
nous treay-for infamous 1t was, as it came
from his hands, providing, as it did, for the plum
der of halt the people of Texas of their property
this same Mr.. Trist at the same time violating
a law of the United States, In holding any inter-
course whatever with this queer Mexican GO
vernment. So bald Is the imposiure attempted
to be comprised IN the treaty, that even the Pre-
sldent 10 ashamed to send 1t to the Senate with
out bearing witness against some OF Its prOvi-
slons This Is the thing which is sacred that
1t must be kept from the view OF the people. This
| Is the document, bearing the deep impress OF
| llegaity and fraud, about which Mr.. Polk en-
| joins his cabinet not TO breathe word, and
| which he communicates IN solemn secresy to
the Senate, at the same time that members of his
ferrous whispers, to those OF their especial ac-
qualntances, SO much of the truth as will barely
serve to delude.
But it Is said, if the Senate's deliberations
were public, the treaty would be defeated. This
argument is used IN blind Ignorance of its ten
dency. Ii 1t have any meaning at all, 1t is that
the people would not tolerate the ratification OF
| this treaty, II all its cogcOmitants were known.
| Then IT 1t be not such az the people would APP
prove of, let 1t be defeated. The Senate, re-
| spectacle as 1t Is, as body, does not mOnopOhse
| all the wisdom, and atriotsm, and integrity of
the country. Its powers, as some Senators
would do well to reflect, are but delegated, and it
| has no right to say yes when the people say 40:
! II, then. the Senate thong ht an exposure would
defeat the treaty, they ought, from respect to the
! source whence the power Is derived, have
| thrown open their doors, and listened with de-
| ference to the voice OF the people.
1t is not perhaps generally known that for year
after the first constitution of the Senate, it sat
with closed doors, until vt length the waves of
| popular opinion dashed down the frail barriers
erected by prerogative, TO hedge IN from protane
contact with the people, Its most vain and empty
dignity Side by SIDE, with the young virtues of
repubicanSm still grew the old vices OF monar-
chy potion of them was torn up by the in
| dignant people; n portion of them IL is To be
GREETED, still remains; but will not remain long
| after the transactions Of this negotiation shall
have been brought to light. Prerogatlve in q
monarchy may be tolerated; 1t is the breath of
| lis nostrlls, without which 1t cannot exist; in a
republic 1t Is either the offspring of stod va
nifty, or a silly and ill-concealed aping OF de-
spotlsm.
/ have always found that those Senators who
most strenuously advocate the system of closed
doors, are always the least economical of the
Senate's secrets.
But another argument is used in support of the
| enforcement OF the system in the case of this
! treaty. 1t Is said that If the provisions of the
treaty were known in Mexico by the pc ople gen.
orally, it weuld never be consummated. If this
treaty be such, that upon full understanding of
| 1t by the people of Mexico and the people of this
country, it would be scoutedby both, or by either,
| then 1t should never have been negotiated, still
| less should IT have been sent in to the Senate
with the recommendation of the President and
least of all should 1t ever have been ratified by
| the American Senate. | do not mean to pro-
nounce judgment the acts of the Senate,
though at full liberty to call in question the Wis
dom OF their decision, but merely to expose the
weakness OF this argument for closed doors.
GALyIENsIs.