The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-25

to CONCLUSIONS different from those to which that gen
teman seemed to arrve he did not expect to spread
any fact before the country nor to change solitary
vote in the House; but he expected and desired merely
to discharge his duty as representative For this pur
pose alone he rose and he hoped the House would ex
cuse whatever appearance OF selhshness there might be
in this declaration. 49,.
charge OF On extraordinary character had been made
Upon the chief executive officer OF the United States 1t
was, that he had unnecessarily and unconstitutonay
waged against the Mexican republic II was
the object of Mr. G to look at this charge partcu-
lary, and the position intended to be occupied BY
those who had preferred II; and, in justice 10 the
President and TO those who gave him their support he
asked the attention OF the committee to few eonsdera
tons. few days since, eighty five members OF this
House voted that the Mexican was unnecessarily
and unconstiiutonally commenced BY The President
This was guarded phraseology, and could only be
made 10 refer to the commencement of the war Ii was
not declaration that the unconstitutional
that its prosecution could be considered the
act of the 18th OF May, 1916 He drew the conclusion,
therefore, that these eighty five gentlemen themselves
regarded the war now constitutional war. This was
the Question which he desired TO put to the opposition:
Would they still again declare by another resolution
that since the act of May. 1916, the has also been
unnecessarily and unconstltutionay waged' Would
they come up and put their finger upon the record,
such was the declaration of policy which they in
tended TO pursue in the contest of, 1sls II they
would do this, Mr. @ declared that The result of such
course could be most readily determined. But as
the case stood, the Executive was chargeable, in
the minds OF these gentlemen, only with the blood split
IN this war prior to the 18th OF May 1876; while they
ton OF the responsible for all the blood split in
The since that time
Mr. @. would not say, the war was usiiable because
Mexico was our debtor; would he justify the war
the ground that Mexico committed the most shameful
depredatons on the property and lives OF our citizens
nor on the ground of spolaions frequently committed on
the commerce OF our people. These might all be good
for declaration Of war by Congress, but not by
the President, The only right under which the Pres-
the constitution which requires him to ''repe invasion,
and suppress insurrecuon;" and if Mr. g. could show
that the President had done than this, then, in
deed he uslfabe, and these railing accusations
must all be hurled back upon the heads Of those very
who had freely bestowed them upon the President
On the 18th of May, the Legislative authority OF the
declaration of could amount to nothing than this
What declaration of WARP The constitution pre-
scribes that Congress shall declare war, The form is
not prescribed The announcement of the existence of
war; and declaration of esteemed as the same
thing by all the writers international law which MIR
g. had had the opportunity to consult He did not think
Unconstitutional. He could not believe
that gentlemen could be named by party zeal thus
to into the face of stubborn facts and he felt hmse
sustained in this belief by the fact that when PROPOSE
onwas offered in the House few days ago to withdraw
the army from Mexico there only forty fifty
beers who found themselves prepared to vote in favor oft
and those who voted thus for the return Of the
army, might have done from considerations of policy
aside from any belief that the unconstitutional
Mr. g. referred to the consequences which the opposers
of the of 1912 brought upon themselves by declaring
that to be nstltutona and read an extract from
Mr. Cays late speech at Lexington, wherein he says,
that the of 1si2 being deliberately and constitution
ally declared, it the duty of all parties to have
given it their hearty support but many did not and there
by they justly brought upon themselves the loss Of the
public confidence If, then, the present war was con.
sttutional war, those who might choose not to give
it their counenance and hearty cooperation, must
expect to lose the confidence OF the public. Mr. G. then
appealed his wing friends and submitted the inerrog
alive, whether they had all given to this their hearty
support and cooperation since the act of May 10, 1876
For if they had not and it should appear at last that the
k,-x Xt,,t,,
they must inevitably fall into the category with
those who opposed the war OF 1912. Mr. Clay himself
being Judge, they must expect to lose the public cont
but he would venture the declaration, that, If the Prcs
dent guilty of the blood of this prior to the 18th
Of May his oPposers were guilty with him Of all the
blood which it had split that time 1t could not be
held that the President who began the war, guilty,
long those who have prolonged it could be consd
cred innocent
Mr. G. then called attention to the consutionality of
the act OF the President, in commencing the war; If he
has been guilty OF an unconstitutional act, 1t would be
wrong wink at it. Old grievances, he had before
said could have no bearing this question The ques
ton whether just and right for the President
to order the march of troops to the Rio Grande That
the constitution required the President protect the State
of Texas from invasion This was admitted by Mr..
Clay and Mr.. Gallatn. 1t also conceded by these
war; and annexation was by the of Congress- and not
by the act of the Executive The conclusion inevi-
table, that the act of the President was iustable and
tutiona The rule against occupying disputed terri
tory did not, and could not apply to Gen. Tayors occu
patton of the territory east of the Rio Grande for Mexico
stood in hostile position declaring that she would invade
and reconquer the State which had been annexed to this
Union Mexico as proved by the correspondence of Mr.
Black, acknowledged that existed by agreeing to sus
pend hostties Another why this rule could not
apply was, that Mexico had refused to negotiate and
Mr. G. argued that, in the absence of negotiation, the
Texas to its utmost verge These factsthe hostile posi-
ton of Mexico threatening to invade territory to the
Sabine river and the failure of every means by which
the President had sought settle the boundary by nego
tiaon--to his mind, fully justified the order to occupy
the east bank of the Rio Grande
Mr.. G. then proceeded TO documentary proof that the
Rio Grande, since the revolution of Texas, had been
uniformly claimed the western boundary of that State
that was so marked in the treaty with Santa Anna
acknowledged by several of the European powers and
he quoted from message of General Jackson, under
date OF January 81 1885, in confirmation of the principle
that the title of Texas to this boundary identified
with her independence
Mr., proceeded TO enlarge upon all these considera
TONS alleging and showing from various sources both
the justification of the President at the of
the and the consutionay of the act for the pros
ecuon of the war, and continued to address the commit
tee till the expiration OF his hour.
MIR. PALFREY then obtained the floor but gave way
for motion that the committee rise which motion pre-
vailed, and the Speaker resumed the chair.
Mr. DONNELL moved reconsideration OF the vote
of Yesterday adopting the resolution terminate this de-
bate in Committee of the Whole Wednesday at
O'clock p M. but before the question was tax en-, mo-
ton to adjourn prevailed,
And the House adjourned
ebp Japu