Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-02-03


sof The Government had determined 10 depute
"a foreign mission, the House Of Representa-
tfTes lad no right 10 question its proprety
but were bound, as matter Of course, when
called upon for an appropriation merely, 10
grant the necessary supplies to carry itsa.o
effect that ttey had no figst TO deliberate,
consider, and exercise a sound Judgment on
the subject; but were mere passive agents, to
record the DEGREES Of the President and Senate.
For himself he was OF different opinion
am OF different opinion now, (said Mr..
I'd and he has changed. ''He believed
when The Representa- ives of.the people were
called upon 10 appropriate The peoples money
for any purpose, they should not dc il hood
wInked, or upon the falt5 of others, but should
exercise SQUAD dissection aad 30 i! under
standingly."
The expenses offhat mission {said Mr. To
were some forlyrfve or iiily thousand dollars,
and yet we heard from Mr.. Representative
Po X such high SCUM ling terms aboutt the peo-
pies right and the peoples money. But now,
when Mr.. Executive Polk calls upon us TO
vote away hoodwinked hundreds Of Millions
ofthe peoples money and tens Of thousands
OF the lives Of our proudest chivairy, and we
ask 10 be informed Of the objects to be accom-
plished. he SAYS: s'Ah, YOU rascalsl you
Mexican Whigsl YOU aforders of aid and
comfort 10 the enemy! you are bound 10 do
1T, and do il hoodwinked for amthe Lords
aBointed il is my prerogaiive. If you have
any doubt about my prefegatlve refer you to
the gentleman from Alabama with the dog
cared books" Laughter.
In the extfaci Of Mr. PoLK's speech, which
ne had Just read, he Mr.. p. declared II to be
not only the right but the duty Of the Peoples
Representatives. when called upon to vote
appropriations Of the peoples money for ray
purpose. to exercise sound discretion, and
mot do il on the iaiih Of others That was all
the House asked now; that his principles
then should prevail That was all they desrr-
ed, all they asked. They claimed under our
constitution, under the genious Of our Gov
eminent, in the name OF our Revolutionary
fathers, fired by their spirit. baptized as that
spirit was in the blood of the Revolution, that
they had a right 10 demand and know, when
ever the war power was exercised how il was
exercised. and for what purpose
These were the sentiments of Mr.. PoLK
when Representative, when he was court
ing the people, appealing to the sovereign
Will 10 grant him promotion and power; but
now, when he had attained that giddy heigh,
10 which perhaps his young ambition at that
day never asplred, he had changed his tone.
Mr.. Polk felt then as Glosler did when he
was seeking TO make his way 10 the British
Crown through the blood Of the innocent
princes. He could not effect his object with
out couring the populace Of London. And
when waited upon by the Mayor and the off.
GERS Of the Corporation, with seeming devo-
lion to popular rights, like that exhibited by
Mr.. Polk in the extract he had read in sub
'dued and humble tone he accosted them thus /:
81 do suspect have done some offence
That seems disgracous in the cty's eye,
And that you come to reprehend."
But when he had made his way to the
shrone, when the blood of murdered princes
and mobiles bubbled beneath the wheels of his
royal car, and the crown OF the ancient Brit
ons bound his blood stained brow, and Rich
mond had collected few of the hardy barons
and the free spirits OF the realm TO rescue the
scepre from Richards arrogant and despotic
hand, Richard, on hearing Richmond's forces
enumerated, stormed from the lnsolent height
OF his royal prerosative--
'sWhy, our battalia trebes that account;
Besides, the King name is tower ofstrength,
Which they upon the adverse faction want"
Now, Mr.. Polk seemed 10 think that lis
name, fortified by the Executive prerogative,
was "a tower OF strength" TO which the Re
representatives. Of the people must yield that
VIC AShtu WI. dit iitiFt] VI tic uuhVlSt
faction J" but we must teach him. and may
-tio il by reading his own speeches TO him, this
lesson, that the People are King.
But, for lear Mr.. PoLK's would no: be sat.
ished with this extract, be referred them TO
Mr.. PoLK's first speech. 1t was elaborate
-one among the ablest speeches he had ever
made here or any where in his lite-and per-
haps now, since he had bid adieu 10 those
frank, generous, republican feelings which
then seemed to actuate him--since a sense of
the rights o. the people had ceased to inspire
him, he never would make such speech
again. 1t would occupy 100 much time to
read from ii, and bis friends would find it in the
first part OF the ID volume of the Register of
Debates.
He (Mr. To must draw has;y distinction
between the tieaty power and the war power.
The constitution vested in the President and
Senate the power TO make treaties, and the
question arose, should the House, or not,
without inquiry into the proprety of The trea
ties made, or their operation upon the people,
as affecting the interests, the prosperity, the
the liberty of the American people--should ii
blndly vote appropriations TO carry them into
effect lie agreed with MIR. Representative
Polk that they should not. Suppose the
President aud Senate should surrender New
York 10 the English, as the Spanards sur
rendered Gibraltar, ought the House 10 vote
the appropriations which might be necessary
10 carry the treaty into effect? He admitted
this was an extreme case, but it exhibited
more clearly the principle. The representa-.
tives of the people would be derelictto the
highest obligations of freemen TO vote ap.
preparations to carry into affect treaty with
on, understanding how that treaty was TO ef-
feet the public interests. But widely different
was the case of war. The constitution did
not vest that power with the President and
Senate. When the people adopted the con
stltu,on they retained the right--5elng the
true sovereignS--of the war-making power, to
he exercised through their representatives in
Congress; and this information now called
for OF Mr. Polk was in relation to war Con
gress wanted to know, in relation TO this war
wha, was to be accomplished; and how it
was TO be accomplished And most especi.
ally did they want to know for what purposes
SANTA ANNA was sent back by the President
10 head the array of Mexico and how it could
contribute 10 the accomplishment of the objects
he had in view in the prosecution of war
The gentleman from Maryland (Mr Nc
LAEE) was for vigorous prosecution Of war
until 1t resulted in an advantageous and hon
orabIe peace. Mr.. 7. would like 10 know
what that was. Why, If Ne Administration
should take it into their head TO withdraw the
,rt,,t a, tltfe side Of tho Nnacao Ia tho orc,,