Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-08-05

6M unanimous appiouduon oy the senate Oh tnis
war of his.
We thus learn that Mr.. CAss. who had just be-
fore exerted in vain all his powers of eoquence and
persuasion to engage the country in one war, ap-
peared quite happy to find that his friend the Pre-
sident, had contrived to get into another war,
without the aid or consent of either the Senate
the House of Representatives, and had thus put it
beyond their power to prevent it.
1t was at the succeeding session that Mr.. CAss
maintained the alarming doctrine acted upon by The
President, and broadly avowed by him in his late
Message to the House of Representatives in reply
TO call for information, that, when the country
becomes involved in war, whether by the act of
Congress, or in this case, by the act Of the Pre-
sident, CONGRESS has no control oUer the conduct
of the war! These were the ever-memorable
terms in which he announced this doctrine:
"As had been very well said by the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. ALLEN the constitutional manage
ment Of the war belonged to the President Con-
cREss could neither give him the po,cer 10 carry
on the ,oar NOR CONTROL THAT WAR"
This we pronounce-in the language borrowed
from very able Western writer, Gin the St. Louis
Republican, but most exactly expressing views
which we have heretofore often intimated-a pre-
posterous heresy bold high-tory doctrines as
absurd in principle as it is wicked in practice.
ssThe clause Of the Constitution which makes the
| President Commander-in-chicf of the Army and
Navy, gives no po,oers, and was not designed to
give any; it merely indicates the man who shall
fill the Office, and exercise the powers and duties
lawfllly belonging to it. The contrary notion
is at war with the whole theory and practice Of
our institutions, and with all our cherished ideas
of constitutional liberty. History, and the hal
lowed fathers of our Revolution, teach us sau-
tary dread of armies and there is hardly State
Is Constitution in the Union that does not provide
that the military is and at all times shall be, in
strict subordination to the civil power. Yet, these
n Democratic politicians would reverse the whole
: order Of our Institutions they would place the
: servant above the master they would make the
military officers, who are but the chosen instru-
ments Of national violence, the fountains of the
law, and the administrators of the justice of the
country. God forbid that such toryism should
! find favor with any considerable portion of the
people Of this country! That it should find favor
with any-that enough should support it to raise
the queston-is conclusive proof OF the baneful
effects Of war upon the morals and politics of the
country, and of its potent influence to destroy
written constitutions and civil liberty
The ertenf to which Gen. CAss might be expect
ed, if chosen President, to carry his passion for
War, Conquest, and Annexation, may be inferred
from what fell from him at different times at the
present session of Congress, before his retirement
. from the Senate.
i On the 18th Of January, in reply to gentlemen
who had expressed something like horror at the
tone of the Presidents message concerning the
war, and at the eagerness Of certain Senators to
carry out his recommendations of further conquess
and of the occupation, if necessary, of all Mexico,
Mr.. CAss ridiculed the apprehensions of Senators
who had spoken of the present perilous crisis.
Let me say remarked Mr.. CAss, /" that it
takes great deal 10 kill this country. We have
! had an alarming crisis almost every year. But
we have outlived them all, and advanced in all
the elements of power and prosperity with ra-
pidity heretofore unknown in the history of ma
tions. II zoe should SWALLOW MEXICO Tomorrow,
8 4 do not believe IL scould kill as. The Senator
from North Carolina and myself may not live to
see it, but am by no means satisfied that the day
will not come in which THE WHOLE OF THE VAST
+ COUNTRY AROUND will form one of the most mag
nifce,a empires that The worid has yet seea.''
On the goth of January, upon resolution propos-
ed by Mr.. MANeUM, calling for Information in re-
gard to The reported orders to Maj. Gen. SoorT lin
conformity with the policy suggested in the Presi-
dents preceding annual Message) to spread our
army over the whole of Mexico, Mr.. CAss ex-
pressed his hope that the Executive would COM
muncate fully to the Senate and TO the House the
whole objects which the proposed call had in view.
"Ihope," said he, /" that the Executive will say,
in so many words, that its object is, IN ary cir
cunasfGaces, TO CONQUER MEXICO.
Mr. MANoUm, Gn his seat) To conquer
Mexicol
"Mr. CAss. repeat, to conquer Meriee.
"SEvERAL SENATORS. The Uhole?
"Mr.CAss. The whole-but not to hold all To
conquer Mexican injustice-to conquer Mexico
until she seek fair and honorable peace and
hope that the Executive will carry on ats opera
fions IN euery part Of The Merican country till
that object be accomplished"
In a subsequent part of the same debate, his for
NAL declaration about swallowing all Mexico"
being brought in question, the General said:
well, sir, repeat again that have no belief
that, u Merican independence ,oere dnnihiiated
tomorrow, and the Uhoie country ANNEXED TO the
la u C<~s.. 2