Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-06

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know that the Committee Territories proper
committee whichshe reference could be made he did moi
knowor he had 70 time % coa.iderwhether that commit
ter, tho Committee ON Foreign Affairs a select commit
tee, the most appropriate committee. But he deemed the
occasion spprpriaie 10 make remarks this House
the policy Of is Government towards territories Il
manifest na while the Congress Of the United States was
occupied in E various matters which had for weeks
engrossed its 4tenton there lying before thsm demand
ing their grae consideration, relation several Of the
States in Mexieo maeers of important interest the
existerce to Tue aion Of this republic than could be found in
any Of the other ahons OF this Government He proposed,
II il in order M this occasion to make remarks upon
the general policy m this Government towards any territories
which might be expected 70 be acquired from the republic of
Mexico by treaty dpeace Or otherwise.
Mr. COBB. Of Feorgia, inquired such Of remark
The SPEAKER rem. Y.kng that he could not decide whe-
ther remarks wsehn order until they ubmi,ed said
that general ee lhe subject Of territories already en-
yaish waE usSss d have Sssa ratlisd6y lie sshsts
would hardly apply to the question Of aiding people Of ano
her territory
Mr.. ROCKWELL said he understood that the message Of
the President of the United States certainly Contemplated
when viewed aspects the annexation OF the tettoy Of
Yucatan; ces of ono, and the question would arise
upon thai message IN what manner The Government should
proceed in relation 70 any acquisition from the republic Of
Mexico in any
Mr. COBB made the point of order that, the gentleman
from Massachusetts having very properly notified the House
that Il his intention enlarge his remarks to the
Whoie ground IN relation TO terilores aeauy annexed, ls
discussion irrelevant and not in order, the motion 10
refer the message just received. And he subm to the
Chair and TO the gentleman from Massachusetts that the
House intended take any order whatever the message
certainly unwise upona general debate; for the
discussion necessarily be prolonged and would eyenuatc
in preventing any action.
The SPEAKER stated that, being in the House, and not
in Committee OF the Whole the state Of the Union, the
rules Of the House must apply aud remarks would e IN
o:der which did apply Yucatan, its condition. ard the
message Of the President Of the United States In Committee
Of the Whole wider range of debate allowed.
Mr. COBB called for the enforcement Of the decision
Mr. ROCKWELL said he made the motion TO refer the
message to the Committee on Territories on the ground that
he conended all the territories hereafter to be annexed
which might be annexed, should be annexed territories
and remain for the present in The form of territorial govern
ments. The Committee Territories would be the appro-
pirate committee y consider first the message Of the President
and th4n any action Of this kind be had should
be in the form Of prQiet of territorial government.
The SPEAKER said if the gentleman from Massachusetts,
would point out any purpose ntnaon OF purpose IN the
message that Yucean be annexed to the United States
then he would decide the Of remark which the gentle
man had indicated 10 be in order.
MI RoCKa ELL bad understood, from hearing the mes
sage hastily read that the President had laid before Congress
the situation OF the state OF Iucatanhe situation OF It's
white popu!aon the danger in which they from
the uprising Of the Indians within that State; that he had
called the attention Of Congress the celebrated declaration
of Mr. Monroe in 1929 in relation TO the dominion or inter
terence Of any European other foreign Power upon any OF
the territory this continent that he had called the attention
of Congress to this matter with vewfo action; action look
p and securing protection for the people OF the state OF
Iucaan that, although he had not recommended, he had
made various suggestions looking the ultimate occupation oi
that counlrythe temporary occupation for the purpose Of
protection and he Mr apPehended that the questions
leGitimaely arnse-frsi Shall that occupation be made
second, With what view and third, In what manner lie
proposed TO discuss these questions and he thought any
thing TO be done with relation TO acquiring the territory,
It should be done in the form Of territorial government Such
the condition of that people such their Intellectual and
social state that this the only fit way in which any por-
non OF the territory OF Mexico could pen into STATE Inc
remarks he about make in reference to Yucatan were
equally applicable any oer part Of Mexico which we were
about 10 might hereafter annex.
The SPEAKER suggested whether in discussing the mes
in reference to the French people, would not have been
equally competent propose refer il to the Committee on
Territories, and discuss the policy Of territorial govern
men, in reference e The French revolution seemed 70 him
that would have been equally competent Tor the gentleman
to have made his motion and insisted upon his OF
marks upon that subject.
Mr. ROCKWELL replied he did not understand that the
French Government had called for aid or that the President
Of the United States proposed he occupation OF any part OIL
territory France but 10 territory upon this continent
that the present message referred and the President had taken
broad distinction between il and foreign territory
Mr. PETIT called for the enforcement of the decision o
the CHAIR and said the remarks OF the gentleman were out o.
order.
The SPEAKER said he had mode Of bringing the ques-
ton except by allowing the gentleman from Massa-
chuse to proceed The Chair had given bis general opinion
mat the OF remarks the gen IRON Matsachuses
was about TO pursue would be relevant and 1t the rules
were insisted upon he be ruled out OF order The gen
Genan, however, had the right 10 proceed M his speech and
then he could be called ord il he discussed topics which
were not ieeimately before the House.
Mr.. ROCKWELL said that the message which had been
communicated by the President to the House related TO one
Of the States Of the republic Of Mexico and in the present
condition OF the relations between the United States and that
republic i was impossible separate in our consideration he
various matters which related the various portions OF that
tr1et that of
upon by this Government which had relation to por.
ton Of the domain Of Mexico II ye; uncertain what
might be the fate in that country Of the treaty modified IN
this but il too much 10 assume thai the result OF all
this transaction might very probably be that large portion Of
the republic Of Mexico might become part and parcel Of the
United States aud he held that now at this une It was Of
the utmost Importance that this great question should be set
ted-this great vital question, which should indicate me
course Of this Government towards territory which was 70 DC
acquredwhehtr any portion OF that territory was to be an
hexed as Texas was annexed and admitted a. state nto
tnis Union, under that clause of the constitution which au
thorzed the admission Of States whether the otec
ton and dominion Of the Government OF the United states
first to be extended over it in the form in which hal
been extended over the whole western portion of this cont
nen Now, Il was well known that in this transaction te-
ang 70 the annexation Texas and Of all this territory,
different opinions had prevailed and been advocated with re-
spect TO The powers OF this Government under the constitution
Il had been Supposed before the question Of the annexation
OF Texas was disposed Of that this Government had no con-
stutional power to States by Congress- or
TO 10 their admission Slatts until the territory had
been acquired by treaty on the part Of this Government ~
doctrine at the time this question first discus
sed that the power gwen to Congress by the third secnon o.