Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-03-21
,.,Rr,ETu coSGREss--Flrst Session,
THURSDAY, MARcH l6, ls4S.
SENATE

Several petitions and memorials were Pfesen'
;. nv hiessrs. Allen, Sturgeon, Davis OF MISS
mn BENTON. Johnson OF Lay Cameron, west
-o,. and Atchison.
MIR. Johnson, OF Louisiana, submitted a reso.
,,,;on. which was adopted, instrucIins the COM
niaee on Naval Affairs 10 enquire into The Ell
~nsdiency Of making an appropriation 10 lndemnl-
+ me officers, seamen and marines OF the US.
tsam f-isaie Missouri, for The losses sustained
~ them by The destruction BY fire of that vessel.
Mr. Clarke submitted a resolution, which was
adopted, calling on the President 10 furnish a CO.
~ Of a dispatch forwarded 10 the U. 5. Consul at
Monterey By Capt. Gillespie, and destroyed.
Mr.. Niles submitted a resolution. which was
adopted, calling on the President for copies OF
correspondence between the United States and
G,ea, Britain, relative 10 postal arrangements.
MIR. Cass, from the Military committee, re-
,,r,ed a Joint resolution awarding medals and
certificates to the officers and soldiers, regulars
,n3 volunteers, for gallant conduct in the wal
MIN Mexico, with amendments, one or which is
"a. he bronze medals shall be made OF cannon Ia
Ian on the field Of battle.
~ o,otion Of Mr.. Anterior, the deficiency ap.
.,snr;o,ion bill was then taken up, and a melton
pmsts "a amend i. by inserting 5000 for contingent
arn.nsss in Inc Treasures office. Agreed to-
g. aiso moved further 10 amend, by striking out
1000 and Inserting $4,000, 10 pay Mr.. Crutch.
a., ~, lighting the Capitol, &c, with gas. Agreed
- Mr. Breese Offered an amendment, which
was also agreed 10, providing Tor The appoint.
ment oi eight additional. clerks IN the General
Land O%fhce-four al sl,2uO, ana iour al Si,oOO
per annum. ;, 10 .u.,suo,,s
nnse5 h. Mr.. Benton, 10 strike out 800, 900
IA ;nsrri s3l 900 for The mission to Rome, Mr..
D srn,aiosJ his object 10 be 10 change the mis-
s;on ,fom a charseship 10 a full mission.
Nh. Badger had been unable TO perceive the
necessity oi establishing either q tull mission or
= charseship. Our present arrangements had Tor
% years been adequate Tor the protection of our
commerce in The papal States, which was very
small not exceeding, he was understood TO say,
100 900 dollars per annum. Tn. recen, political
events, under the present Pope, he said, did not
,enler j, necessary 10 send a minister. In wha,
way could this mission control or influence
events there, or he Of service 10 either country, he
could TO, perceive. The present Pope is as abb
s,lu,e a monarch as any Of his predecessors-in
cemoa.isou with others, he was nothing but a
g0ci and Kind master. He had made no reforms
AMI welded Inc SAME absolute sceptre which had
been welded BY all his predecessors. II was
doubtful whether his holiness would consider him.
sci. in The least strengthened BY our countenance
aac support.
There was nothing in our MINER requiring
Inc mis>ion-it was solely a religious mission &c
The frs; bishop OF Europe-not only the FIRST, bu
he universal bishop OF Catholic Europa secu
lar bishop in his own dominions, and a spiritua
bishop throughout Europe. The establishment
u hi, mission would be considered by PROBES
,an!s in this country as intended 10 put the Calho
lie church upon a different i%ooling-as a depart
u!e from the uaiversal spirit OF liberation intend
sd 10 be secured by the constitution. He woulC
nc, vote for either a full mission Of a chargeship
The yeas and nays were asked on the amend
ment, by Mr.. Benton, and ordered.
MIR. Critienden also opposed The amendment
i. was nc, proper 10 pass by States OF far greater
Importance, where We now have only Charges
and give a full Mission TO the Papal States.
Mr.. Benton said it was not in a commercial
but in a political view which had induced his pro
position for a full mission. He was looking Il
the stale OF all Italy, most wonderfully scan, 0
al. diplomatic representatives t5cm this country
There wegessome &c, 1000 900 ot people in all La
i. and throughout this whole extent Of country
there was no full minister from this country. |
was in this enlarged point Of view, that he hat
proposed a minister OF the highest grade 10 Iialy
taking in all that is politically Italy.
On molten Of Mr.. Cass, the bill was now pass.
ei over informally, and the zen regiment bill Ia
ken up. ;,
Mr.. Calhoun being entitled 10 the floor, said
that, after a careful examination, he had not beer
able 10 discover an argument 10 show the neeessi-
" OF The passage OF the bill al this lime. The
a.sumen had been used by the friends OF The sill
thai lis passage was necessary 10 induce The rati'
hca,ion OF the treaty by Mexico. II Mexico were
s,rong, this nigh, be a sufficient argument in IA
yor Of The immediate passage OF Inc bill. Blu
e,,n = MOI tho naca Sparcplv The ypSIiOp nj q
government remains.
The danger is not that Mexico will resist the
ratification OF the treaty; but that the present GO.
vefnme will cease 10 exist before it has time lo
aci. But there is another consideration which is
sufficient to render The passage unnecessary, as
measure OF intimidation. 1t Mexico should not
lati'y the treaty, we could fall back on a line and
maintain il, thus avoi The necessity OF pay.
ing The $40, DOC, 900 which yumor says We are &c
paw Tor me territory ceied. The effect on The
country would be, too, 10 induce the belief tina
great apprehension is entertained that the treaty
vii! not be ratified by Mexico. This act Of bra.
gadocia, TOO, If carried into effect, would cost the
government al least -, 1000 600.
MI. Calhoun was opposed 10 the bill under all
circumstances, and would have voted against i,
had The treaty not been made. The passage OF
lie bill would be in effect a pledge TO line country
hat we will vigorously prosecute this war. He
was opposed to giving this pledge, for reasons
which he mad stated on a former occasion. Ii
would resul; in the annihilation Of Mexico, and
renter necessary either the holding Of her terrific.
re- as provinces, or its incorporation into the U
States. Nor could the pledge be redeemed.
10 supposethar, il this treaty be no. ratified hy
Mexico, this war is 10 be renewed and prosecu.
'ec with increased vigor, was a dream which ne.
Ter could be realized. The only course, if the
'fea'y we're no! ratified, would be 10 tall back on
asIae, and maintain that line. But The vigorous
prosecution OF the war is not the only object Of
ms bill. II was part OF a system OF finance
me establishments of a system OF taxation in Mex
ico-which never could be carried out.
The President had no authority to establish
such a system. Il was not TO be found in the con
%s'fntion, nor in the implied powers given by tina
instrument. There was an express ~povision o
Tue Constitution, transferring all these implied
powers 10 Congress. The President possessed
10 such power, as Commander-in-chief, mol
you'd he exercise any power in Mexico which
ne would not exercise IN the United States. Other
Tise there would be no limit 10 his power. moi
voul1 there be any remedy.
His power as Commander-in-chief was con
aaed 10 the command oil the army and navy, anc
I'D not extend 10 the establishment OF such a sys
'en of finance as had been established in Mexi
60. IL was The United States, and no, the Presi
1eni which had conquered Mexico, and TO the
United States, through their representatives here
belonged the right of levying taxes in Inc enemy:
eounlty. lie pot in hi, solemn protest acains
Inc exercise OF this power by the Executive
AND II became this body, now that the question
had come up, 10 put upon the exercise of hi,
power BY the Executive, its strongest condemna,
In what he had said, he put himself above al
parry ana local considerations, and he trustee
that ne had put himself righ, before The couptr,
on this subject.
MI. johnson, OF Georgia, desired to express,
ms views ou' was not disposed 10 do SO al mi.
late hour, nor was he disposed to inlrude his 70
marks upon the Senate al all, ii there was a ii.
position TO take the vote on The bill Today.
Mr. Cass was opposed TO pos,ponement.
Mr. Berrien hoped i! would be passed over nm
y. tomorrow, 10 give his colleague The oppor,u
my which be desired.
Mr' Anterior also opposed the pos,ponemen,
Mr: johnson accordingly proceeded 10 give