The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-17


maured, and has taken the shameless shape of deter
mined and desperate eior, oprolong the indefinitely
and to prevent at all hazards the obtaining of Just and
honorable peace from Mexico! We have heretofore a3
before our readers much evidence going to show the e
stence of this monsrous design the part OF the wbr
leaders In this view is that they have from the frs,
DETAINED the of country and advocated that
of our enemies In this view they have substantially
promised Mexico that she may have peace without grant
ing any indemnity, if she will but hold out til The
political power of the country can by the next preser
tal election, change hands. In this view they have held
out to our enemy the idea that treasury must become
bankrupt if attempt to sustain and prosecute the war
But has been reserved for the last few days to disclose
determined purpose the part of Of the whig
leaders prevent the attainment OF peace if by no other
mode than by snatchng from the department of our gov
eminent in which they lodged by the constitution The
custody and charge of negotiations with foreign
powers for the purpose Of exposing to enemies not those
negotiations only, but the eousels Of erecure gorern
ment upon wlich they are founded!
That the House of Representatives has no right ,r1o,
eUer demand the publication of negotiations in an nm
finished controversy with enemy power save in so far
as the Executive may deem such publication to be co
patibe with the public interest,"" is principle as well
settled by the provisions of constitution and the i'm
memorial and nvariabe practice of our government uO
der that instrument as any principle can be- That the
right of opposition party in accidental majority in one
house of Congress to call for the records of negotiations
actually had with foreign power, when case for
such call brings up that power in its fullest latitude
subject as it always is, to the Executive dscretongy
hat riph wh IN all ,I..t.I
matte instructions, which our enemy has not per-
nitted at all to take the shape of negotiations, is
maxim not only established, in the very nature Of
the distribution of the powers of our government into
executive and legislative departments, but itrs con-
rmed by the nvariable usage of all civilized govern
ments and indeed, implied in that fundamental right of
SELF preservation, which must in the very nature Of
things, emancipate any government from the necessity Of
disclosing at the demand of Infatuated opposition its
most confidential deliberations to the scrutiny of its
public enemy, armed against it in actual war
We deem it, therefore, wholly unnecessary to cite the
long and unbroken line of illustrous precedents-em
bracng the opinions and action of the wisest statesmen
who founded, and who have administered our govern
men-whlch fully sustain, and much more than sustain
the President in his refusal to communicate to our M
uettUeTUfiOHS
by publishing, in compliance with the peremptory call Of
the whg opposition in the House of Representatives the
instructions furnished by that cabinet to an American
minister, whose negotiations, before the war CON-
menced those same enemies have spuyned away, I'm.
heard, with oboquy and insult! The discussion of III.
subject in the House, which is set down for tomorrow
will doubtless bring out these precedents in their full
force and here for the present. content to leave
them.
But that the full Righteousness of the designs of SOM
of the wing leaders in this matter may be known, and
the desperation with which they have set themselves
the work OF defeating the hope Of just peace, and pro-
longing the horrors OF war, by betraying the councils
our government to the enemy may be truly Judged by The
country, quote the following passage from the leading
article of the National Intellgencer OF this morning
showing that in some OF the high quarters whence thu
central wing organ is supposed to take its cue, the ida
has already been put forth and canvassed to resort
FORCE OF ARMS, in order to compel the President I
disclose the State secrets which the constitution hE
lodged in his keeping, to the wing opponents OF the
and to the public enemy!
"But do difficulty in the enforcement Of The
right Ito the publication Of Mr. Sdels Instruction.
the House of Representatives. Impeachment of the Pes
dent lift itself an impracticabe provision unde
almost any supposabe Of things, would be too cum
brous and too slow process Withholding the supplies
such cause, would be an experiment of some hazard
And for sending the Sgeant-at-arms Of the HOUSE, w
the Speakers aud posse conitatm TO search
and take possession of the record in the Executive department.
that ,oould be at ciuH
s'We dare say however, that the House will find sons
proper mode of asserting its right in the premises, fun
not able to enforce it,"
Here is matter worthy Of the gravest considerations
the country The question considered is, how the be
travail to our enemy of our Executive counses agalns
the firm determination of the Executive, resaTdluI
of the public interest and safety, shall be "@ia
forccdr Impeachment is pronounced to be "@t3
cunbrous and slop a procsss"' Through 1t, @
Mexican rulers might not get the information que
in time to prevent the conclusion of satisfactory peace
10 stop the supplies more eligible but "i|
experiment" has some hazard in it But an act OIL
cipi ,carthe march of the Sergeant -atArms, with h'
search warrant, and his posse prepared to put downs
resistance, and seize the papers in the Department
State-ths plan is presented without allusion either
its slopness or its hazard and forthwith are assure
that at least some mode will be found of asserting ~1
right to publish the papers, whatever difficulties Una
stand in the way of its enforcement
In view of the spirit here manifested by those
whom the wing organ speaks, deem it ama'e
sincere congratuaton to the country that IFS Negotiate
with Mexico are, in the present crisis, in the keeping
an administration firm enough and patriotic enough
look down with scon and defiance upon all such thiea
,,;olonca and all auch eforts nj intimidation Far