Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY, JANUARY l3, lS4S.
THE INSTRUCTIONS TO Nh. sLIDELL.

To the H0Hse Of Representatives. Of the United Stafes
have carefully considered the resolution OF the House OF
Representatives of the 4th instant requesting the President
communicate 10 that House any Instructions which may
have been Of the officers OF the army or navy
Of the United States, other IN regard to the
of President General Lopde Santa Anna or any other
Mexican the Republic of Mexico prior subsequent to the
order OF the President Secretary OF War; issued in Janu-
ls46 for the march of The army from the ueces river
the sapendous deserts which intervene to the Ro
Grade that the date of all such instructions, orders, and
correspondence be forth, together with the instructions
and orders issued Mr. Sde at any time PRIOR subse-
queut his departure for Mexico Minister Plenpoten
of the United States that Republic and requesting
the President also communicate all the orders and
spcudence Of the Government in relation the return of Gen.
Parsdes,"
Transmit herewith reports from the Secretary Of State
Secretary Of War; and Secretary of the Navy, with the
documents accompanying the which contain ali the in
formation in the possession of the Executive which is deem
ed compatible with the puhc interests to communicate.
For further information relating the return Of Santa Anna
to Mexico refer you my annual message OF December S
1896 The facts and considerations stated in that message
induced the order Of the Secretary Of the Navy to the
mande squadron the Gulf of Mexico, copy of which
is herewith communicated This order issued smuta-
neosy with the order blockade the coasts OF Mexico, both
bearing date the 9Th of May, ls46, the day on which the
of the with Mexico recognised by Congress
Ii issued solely upon the views of policy presented in that
message and without any understanding the subject direct
0, Indirect with Santa Anna or any other person
Cen Paredes evaded the vigilance Of combined forces
nv and sea- and made his way back to Mexico from the
exile into which he had been dven landing Vera Cruz
after that city and the castle Of San Juan de Ulua in
military occupation, will appear from the accompanying re-
ports and documents.
The resolution calls for the Constructions and orders issued
Mr. Sde time prior subsequent to his depar-
ure for Mexico Minister Plenipotentary of the United
States that Republic" The customary and usual
walton contained calls OF either House of Congress upon
the Executive for information. relating to our intercourse with
foreign nations has been omitted in the resolution before
The call OF the House is unconditional Is, that the infor-
maon requested be communicated and thereby be made
1f tha tyhp Ic
charged by the constitution with the duty of conducting
tatons with foreign Powers such information when disclosed
would be pedca the public interest not 1t has been
subject of serious delbeaton with me whether Could con-
sis,enly with constitutional duty and my sense of the
public interests involved and to be affected by it. violate an
important principle always heretofore held sacred by my pre-
decessors, should do by compliance with the request Of
the House President Washington in message TO the House
Of Representatives of the 30h of March, 1885, declined to
comply with request contained resolution OF that body,
to lay before them copy of the instructions 10 the Minister
of the United States who negotiated the treaty with the
King of Great Britain ogetef with the correspondence
and other documents relative the said eay excepting such
the said papers any existing negotiations may render
improper be disclosed In assigning his for de-
cinng comply with the call he declared that the nature
of foreign negotiations requires cauon and their success
must often depend secrecy and when brought to
Conclusion, full disclosure of all the measures, demands
and eventual concessions which may have been proposed
contemplated, would be extremely impo!c tor this might
have perncious influence in future negotiations produce
immediate nconvenences perhaps danger and mischief in
relation TO other Powers The necessity of such caution and
secrecy was cogen for vesting the power of
making treaties in the President with the advice and consent
of the the principle which that body formed
confnng ii small number of members. To admit then
right in the House Of Representatives demand, aud 10
have, mattr Of course, all the papers respecting
gotation with foreign Power would be to establish
dangerous precedent In that the instructions and
documents called for related 10 treaty which had been
concluded and ratified by the President and Senate and
the negotiations in relation TO it had been terminated.
There was an express reservation, too, excepting from
the call all such papers related TO any existing negoia
tons which might be improper to Disclose In that case
President Washington deemed it to be violation of inn
portant principe establishment Of dangerous prece-
ceden and prejudcia the public interests comply with
the call Of the House. Without deemng il to be necessary
the present occasion examine decide upon the other
assigned by bin for his refusal to communicate the
information requested by the House, the which is herein
reced is in my judgment conclusive in the under
sderation.
Indeed the objections complying with the request of the
House contained in the resolution before much stronger
than those which existed in the of the resolution in
This resolution calls for the instructions and orders the
Minister Of the United States Mexico which relate nego
taons which have not been terminated and which may
resumed. TIE information called for respects negotiations
which the United States offered to open with Mexico mme-
1aey preceding the commencement OF the existing
The instructions given the Minister Of the United States
relate to he differences between the countries out Of
which e war grew and the Of adjustment which we
were rep,ren - offer 10 Mexico in anxiety prevent the
war These d.re,ces still remain unsettled and comply
With the call OF the d0usc pS through
that channel and communicate TO Mexico public
enemy engaged in war; information which could not fail
produce serious embarrassment in any future negotiation be-
tween the two countries, have heretofore communicated
Congress All the correspondence of the Minister Of the Unt
States TO Mexico which in the existing state o. or relations
with that Repubic can in my ssmont be at this time COM
municaed without serious Injury the public interest
Entertaining this conviction, and with desire
furnish any inf,mson which may he in possession Of the
Executive Department. and which either House Of Congress
may at any time request regard 10 be my constitutional
right and my solemn Duty under the circumstances Of this
case 10 decline compliance with the request of the House
contained in their resolution. JAMES K POLK,
The reading Of the message having been concluded
Mr. GOGGIN moved that it be laid the table and printed
Mr. SMITH, Of Connecticut, moved its reference to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Nj. GOGGIN, after moments conversation, withdrew
the motion TO lay on the table.
Il Mr.. HOUSTON, Of Alabama, renewed il.
Mr.. SMITH Of Connecticut, demanded the yeas and nays
\ on this question; which were ordered.
The SPEAKER suggested that, IN order to avoid difficult
ts there objection the question would be divided
50 a. 10 be taken upon laying the table and upon printing
sCpsratsy.
This suggestion acquesced in and the question TO lay
| on the table announced 10 be first in ofder.
Mr. GlDDiNGS inquired Of the Chair as question OF or
der after the question to lay the table were taken il
would then be in order amendment 10 the motion
\ to print.
The SPEAKER replied, that the question on printing
would be an entirely separate question, he would suggest that
the question Of order would rather relate to than to the pre-
4 sent question.