The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-01
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY /, ls4s.

The journal Of yesterday was partly read when
Mr. GOGGlN moved that the further reading be DIS
MI j. q. ADAMS objected He said that it was an
innovation upon the practice OF the House and contrary
to most salutary, and hitherto invariable usage.
The Clerk proceeded with the reading and having con-
Guided
REFERENCE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
On motion OF Mr.. GOGGIN, the House resolved itself
into Committee of the Whole on the of the Union Mr.
STEPHENS of Georgian the absence OF Mr. j. r. IHoER-
soIL-n the char and resumed the consideration OF the
resolutions distributing the Presidents message to various
standing and select committees
Mr.. GOGGIN addressed the committee. The debate
had, he said, assumed wide range, and unworthy mo-
ves had been imputed by the other side to those who
thought it their duty to deliver their opinions In opPos
ton to the acts of the President. The gentleman from
South Carolina Mr.. RHETT] had, with new born
Ss s Pe aa a # h ws charge xas at as
that Congress alone could declare war; but, if the
President had brought into the he, and not Con-
gress. was responsible for it. He would assert, as
position that he prepared TO maintain, that the Prcs
dent had begun this illegally and unconstuiionay
The President acted from mistaken policy and had
exhibited disposition to retrieve his error He made
personal reflection on him his cabinet But what
authority had the gentleman to read lectures to that
House upon their duty Did he get it from the force
bill, the proclamation, from General Jackson' That
gentleman, under the name of Robert Barn well Smith, h
ured the South Carolina convention in opposition to the
course of General Jackson Who had commissioned that
gentleman TO say that majority OF this House wished
to proong the war for party p1poses' He read some
passages from the speeches OF that gentleman showing
the Union and to the general government He said, in
one of those speeches. that he had no ardent attachment
to this Unon and spoke of Gen. Jackson brutal and
nsoent Dictator and the bloody force bill as having given
the last blow to the constitution.
After reading these passages he congratulated himself
that the Union the constitution, and the memory of the
hero of New Orleans, had survived all these male
dictions
He alleged that some gentlemen had been permitted to
make extracts from the public documents in the State
Department, which had been withheld from Congress.
The gentleman had voted with the majority OF the wings
5 H Ss, he iSs the id
not bring il on, who did What said distinguished
democratic senator on this subject He read passage
from Mr. Bentons speech on annexation: declaring that
any officer who made an attack on the Mexcans ought
TO be sentenced to be sho-hat the scheme OF annexa-
ton was pratical, nc. -
paper money and banks had now proposed TO resort to
naper money for the ordinary expenses OF government
They insisted upon claim to the whole Oh oregon oet
they gave 1t up and now sought 10 MAKE up ior the loss
by taking the whole OF Mexico.
He adyerted TO the remarks Of his colleague mr. Bed
INGER] upon the influence OF whig speeches upon the
Meyicans He had supposed that gentleman to be an
advocate of freedom of speech and the press But his
avowei policy was such as the Austrian government had
adopedo force the citizens to stay home work, and
pray and not talk about affairs Of state.
He had wished 20 see the instructions given to Mr.
Slide for the purpose OF knowing what the President
sent 10 The Chair to be read statement from one Of the
Pennsylvania volunteers, showing that the observance
Of the Catholic religion had been forced upon the soldiers
at the point OF the bayonet
Mr. HARRISON here inerposed and stated that this
allegation had been investigated by the Committee on
Military Affairs and it had been ascerained that there
was no foundation for it. .
Mr. GOIt;iN continued On the eve OF a presidential
election, just the moment when heroic wing Amen-
can general-the victor, he might almost say OF num-
dred iis--was The OF conquerng peace ne was
suspen led from command He would suggest that. ~
the Presidents object OF senng Santa Anna 70 Mexc9
was, his colleague had stated TO get up row. 1enesa
| Scott was called home for the same purpose
| MI BEDINGER did not say, he remarked, thas Ssnsa