The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-02-17
THE NEW STRIDE. OF EXECUTIVE
POWER.

:. THE NEW STRIDE OF EXECUTIVE
POWER.
While President Folks Message dcclin-
iae to communicate to tho House Of Repre-
sentativcs certain documents TINT had been
called for, touching the return Of Santa
Anna 70 Mexico, and Mr.. Sldcll's mission
10 that country, was before the House on
tho 18Th ult., and pending moiion to re-
fsr il 10 tho Committee on Foreign Ail.,irs
ssd print, John Quincy Adams ross and
spoks briefly ~ follows:--
NE. SrEAKeR: Tho state Of my voice
b such that il 10 NOT in my power to make
90 this House the observations which ]
should Otherwise hnvc felt !, my duty 10
mako upon this case. will state, sir, that
tho reason Why have eel, ], my duty TO
tske ihis course is, that consider il nov
d thing; and thing affecting tho rights Of
this House, and of The constituency Of this
Housc-.the People Of the United States.
i Denies, sir, 40 I understand il, the pow
or, tho constitutional power &c this House
10 call Cor that information. believe il j.
The first time 10 tho history of this Uniou
that il has tccn dcnicd. In tho cnsc 10
which the President refers, when call
was undo upon President Washington,
there WINS (which the message om,s 10
state) m exception Tor cascs which he
might think not proper to be inquired ia.o
Ut the time.
Now, sir, the Presidcn, has not added
whit wss the action oflhc House upon that !;
and tho action Of tho House was in direct
opposition 70 the resistance Of President
Washington 10 their call. Tho House Tor
mally dcclarcd--and wish the Journal
might DO looked 10 TO scc-tho House for
mally declared, against President Wash
ingtou, their right TO cal! for such inlorma-
tion. That wos their action: and, as Eur
as know-al.hough the very memory Of
Washington, bv every body in this country,
At this time, land By none more than nv
selE,) Is revcrcnced next 10 worship-ihe
President was wrong in that particular in
ssancc, and went too Eur 10 deny the power
al the House; and as to his reasons, never
thought thoy were sufficient in ,hat case.
And have always Lecn Of The opinion, md
most assurcdly that has been the opinion
Of tho Democratic party, 10 which ! do no,
profess to belong, In laugh.l they have
unanimously disapprovcd of that net Of
President Washington, rs interfering with
the rights Of this House, and Of their con.
stitucnts, the people Of the uni.cd States.
] say cannot enter into mn argument
upon this subject; but consider il Of such
importance that am certainly indisposcd
TO lay this message upon the tabis. dc.
sire Il may be printed, that il may 90 to tho
whole country, that il m,y be decided upon
by the people 40 well rs By this House. II
think this House ought 10 sustain, in the
strongcst manner, their right 10 cab for in
formation upon questions ia which war and
peace arc concerned. They ought 10
maintain their right, and maintain il in n
very distinct manner, ngains, this assertion
m tho part Of the President Of tho United
States. Now, should 10 perfectly sniis6
cd In refer the message to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, whatever my feelings
may bc in respect 10 their 6rmncss in re-
sisting this claim set up on tho part Of the
President Of the United States. II the
Committee on Foreign Relations will take
il, and will cxnmino tho constitution IL The
United States, lis principles, the history Of
the administration Of the Government from
that time to the present, and will mako a
repor. upon it, shall be satisfied. .Asioa
select committee, shall he perfectly salts
fed ihat select committee should be APP
pointed by tho Speaker, instead of referring
il to tho Committee on Foreign AfIsirs.
And, AZ mark Of respect 10 the President
Of tho United States, should 60 far a Sc.
lsct committee, provided am not TO be a
member Of il myself
| therefore, myself, in the 6rst place,
hnpe that . select committee, Of which !
shall not 10 member, viii 10 appointed;
and f that il MOI in conformity with the
opinion q . mnjoriiy Of this House, that il
shall be referred to the Committee IN For
eign Affairs. All the messages of,hc Pres
idsnt arc usually referred.
should say much more, sir, if ! had the
hover.