The North-Carolina standard., 1848-01-19
ru1RrIErH coNGREss.

the
- .ill discussing the Ten Regiment Bill. Mr..
n'1ordy wa Johnson, of Maryland, whig Senator,
l.d delivered an eloquent and powerful Speech, in
rbicb he afirms the war to be just and advocates
noous prosecution of it in the heart of the enemy
'anntrv. In our next we shall endeavor to lay ex-
lots from this Speech before our readers. @
In the House of Representatives, on the 18th i'm
...ut the following Message was read from the Presi
1ont of the United States:
N The House of Representatives of tie United States
have carefully considered the resolution of the
ouse of Representatives of the 4th instant request
mo the President to communicate to the House
"any Instructions which may have been given to any
of the officers OF the army navy of the United
States, other persons, in regard to the return of
President General Lopez de Santa Anna or any other
Mexican to the Republic of Mexico, prior or subse-
ouen the order of the President or Secretary of
War, issued In January, 1896 for the march of the
army from the Neuces river across the stupendous
deserts which intervene to the Rio Grande that the
date of all such instructions, orders and correspon-
dence be set foth together with the instructions and
orders issued to Mr. Slide any time prior or subse-
ouent to his departure for Mexico as minister miami
poentiary of the United States to that republic
and requesting the President also to communicate
all the orders and correspondence of the government
in relation to the return of Gen. Paredes to Mexico
transmit, herewith, reports from the Secretary Of
State the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of the
Navy, with the documents accompanying the same,
which contain all the information in the possession
of the Executive which it is deemed compatible with
the public interests to communicate.
For further information relating to the return of
Santa Anna to Mexico, refer you to my annual mes
saUc of December 9Th, 1916. The facts and consid-
rions stated in that message induced the order of
the Secretary of the Navy to the commander of our
squadron in the Gulf of Mexico copy of which
lis herewith communicated. This order issued
mxltanecusly with the order to blockade the coasts
of M.xco, both bearing date the 9Th day of Nav,
1876 the day on which the existence of the war
With Mexico was recognised by Congress. 1t was
ssued solely upon the views of policy presented in
that message, and without any understanding the
Subject, direct indirect, with. Santa Anna any
.other person.
General Paroles evaded the vigilance of our COM
|bined forces, by land and sea, and made his way
back Mexico from the exile into which he had been
rYen, landing Vera Cruz, after that CITY and the
aste of San Juan d'Ulloa were in our military oc-
upation, as will appear from the accompanying re-
bortS and documents.
The resolution calls for the instructions and
rders issued to Mr. Slide at any time prior or sub
equen to his departure for Mexico as Minister Plen-
potentary of the United States to that republic
he customary and usual reservation contained in
als of either house of Congress upon the executive
information relating to our intercourse with for
nations has been omitted in the resolution before
he. The call of the House is unconditional. 1t is,
hat the information requested be communicated, and
hereby be made public, whether, in the opinion of
he Executive who is charged by the constitution
gn powers, such information, when disclosed would
prejudcial to the public interests or not 1t has
een a subject of serious deiberation with me,
whether could, consistently with nv constitutional
uty and my sense of the public interests involved
nd to be affected by it, violate important princi
pie, always heretofore held sacred by my predeces-
ors, as should do by compliance with the request
f the House.
President Washington, in message to the House
Representatives of the 30th of March, 1876, de-
lined to comply with request contained in reso-
ntlon OF that body, to lay before them I" copy of
instructions to the minister of the United States
Fho negotiated the treaty with the King of Great
Britain together with the correspondence and
ther documents relative to said treaty, excepting
uch of the said papers any existing negotiations
bay render improper to be disclosed" In assigning
is reasons for declining to comply with the CALL he
ecared that &" the nature of foreign negotiations
uires caution, and their success often depend
n secrecy; and even when brought to conclusion.
full disclosure of all the measures, demands, and
Fentual concessions, which may have been proposed
contemplated, would be extremely impolitic; for
hs might have perncious influence on future nego-
htions produce immediate inconvenience, per-
fps danger and mischief relation to other powers.
he necessity of such caution and secrecy was one
pgcnt reason foI vesting the power of making trea-
s in the President, with the advice and consent of
e Senate, the principle on which that body was
rmed, confnlng 1t to small number of MEM
RS. To admit then, right in the House of Rep
sentatives to demand, and to have, matter of
purse, all the papers respecting negotiation with
reign power, would be to establish dangerous pre-
dent." In that case, the intructons and documents
Piled for, related to treaty which had been con-
u9ed and ratified by the President and Senate, and
negotiations inrelaton to it had been terminated.
here was express reservation, too, excepting
ON the call all such papers related to "any ex-
ting negotiations - which it might be improper to
sclose. In that case, President Washington deem
/ it to be violation of important principle, the
Establishment of s. dangerous precedent" and pre-
dcial to the public interests, to comply with the
fll of the House.
fcasion to examine decide upon the other reasons
Rslgned by him for his refusal to communicate the
formation requested by the House, the one which
herein reclted Is, IN my judgment, conclusive In
pc case under consideration.
Indeed, the objections to complying with the re-
pest of the House, contained in the resolution be-
re me, much stronger than those which existed
the case of the resolution in 1906 This resolu-
on calls for the ssinstructions and orders to the
mister of the United States to Mexico, which re-
tie to negotiations which have not been terminated,
hd which may be resumed. The information called
b, respects negotiations which the United States
fered to open with Mexico Immediately preceding
Pc commencement of the existing The in
rucons given to the minister of the United States
late to the differences between the two countries,
pit of which the grew, and the terms of adjust
ent which we prepared to offer to Mexico in
anxiety to prevent the war. These differences still
nain unsettled and to comply with the call of the
lOuse would be to make pubIic through that chan
Eel, and to communicate to Mexico, now public
nemy engaged in war, information which could not
pl to produce serious embarrassment in any future
egotlation between the two countries.
have heretofore communicated to Congress all
pc correspondence of the minister of the United
ates to M:xco, which, in the existing state of our