The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-22


fright | have every confidence in the honorable sena
tor His statement TO personally IN relation 10 mat
ter of private confidence would be as satisfactory as
any testimony but that as he Will perceive, not the ques
ton We have right 10 the official information
that constituents may and read il and that may
go to them, not in the unautherucated form OF verbal
communication here, but in the authentic form OF gov
eminent document lie knows and percelves thisi ana
ask againwith great Difference to the honorable senator
and without detractng, intending TO detact from his
Just and deservedy eminent station here and in the coun
try at iagewhy II that the secrets important TO be
kept should be communicated to him. standing on the
same footing with us, but withheld, sacred from US
Is there 10 be chosen body of enlightened Legislators here
and another body, who, al their peril, follow them
without information and in darkness Will the gentle
man contend Tor that and does he not that TO that his
argument leads2 he is furnished with informaon and
other senator may be furnished with normaon and
he TO deal out 10 the Senate according to the cxgen-
cy OF the case and his knowledge of that portion of light
of twilight, to insure their in the
proposed There IS to be great distinction of light
and know ledge and when ask for more, told ii
may be mischevous and may get to those to whom do
not wish to give information This argument IS OF uni
versal application 1t applies equally to your call for
full Information as to any other subject To every inquiry
you Will have the repy-'Secres! secrets government
secrets III nations must have secrets-you cannot
pect to give you the secrets There impenera
bic region into which the curiosity OF the profane must
not seek TO enter This Is, must say novel doctrine
and new sort OF argument-a new sort OF application
altogether, Of aprncpe acknowledged by all In its prop
er place. and with Its Just appreciation hope, sir such
doctrine is not TO be sanctioned by vote of the Senate
refusing the information asked for in the resolution.
MIR. ALLEN. ! understood the honorable senator
from North Carolina say that he had objection to
the insertion of the usual words in the resolutions f not
incompatible with the public interest,"" leave it dis
cretonary with the President.
Mr. MANGUM | said So sir.
! MIR. ALLEN. shall have difficulty, then, in
ting for the resouIon-none whatever So far as the
general order that has appeared in Mexico is concerned
it not 10 be supposed that any general officer, under
any circumstances, would issue order OF that magni
tude without the authority either express or implied, Of
his government do not suppose, therefore, that any
I is | m 2
that the subject of secrets has attracted much al
tenton in this body as think is always of advantage
crets" should be considerably canvassed. SHALL there
fore embrace this occasion for renewing ancient
ton for opening the doors of the Senate all occasions
save one But why, sir are SO much aifrighted at
'secrets" when we ought to begin by making own
public 1t is only because large portion of our
own acts made public, that am now not permit
| ted 10 to facts which could alduce with over
wheming influence the discussion of this question
of secrecy But, sir, | shall tender my ancient reso
is displayed in words in this discussion believe
sir, that if every document upon file in the Department
of State and in the Department of War this day
opened to the full light of the sun, the government
would be strengthened far more than weakened by the
disclosure. 1t is rather an Executive habit than an
Executive essity; it is because the preceding Execu-
tves have done this thing, that the present Executive
does it. He feels himself bound by precedent than
by principles upon this subject His predecessors have
uniformly acted upon the principle that the disclosure of
parts of the information in their possession might
tend to the prejudice of the public interest And il is
upon the authority of the practice OF his predecessors
that the Executive acts rather than upon the existence
of any secret for his conduct And willing,
as far as my vote is concerned--l could give It de-
tached from other consderatonsto vote to let in the
full blaze OF the sun upon every transaction that paper
contains growing out OF this war. 1 should like myself
to the estimates made by the generalsin chief com
mandng those two columns in Mexico, and also their
advice given to the Executive at the ncpent stages OF
the waradvice sought, because of the parties from
whom it was sought was at the head of the American
army, and had therefore night to be consulted by the
Executive, who is not military should like to
see all these things, sir, SO that might know to what
extent any all of these generals may be RESPONSE
beI do not say for the the war; but for the
which 1t has been prosecuted Sir, do not speak
authoritatively am not now at the head OF any COM
mee which authorizes me to into the several depart
ments and make inquiry in relation 10 these subjects.
| am not charged particularly or expressly with any
branch OF the Senates business, and therefore know
nothing personally as to what facts not
tanned in the archives of the Executive departments.
Now, sir, upon another branch of this subject The
honorable senator from North Carolina who has the
lead upon the question Of opening the doors and admit
ting all the information that may be in the possession of
the Executive, agrees with upon this question; and
the next meeting of the Senate. | hope then to have
the aid $50 potential in all matters in which he takes parD
of the honorable senator. But the honorable senator
from North Carolina wants the information called for by
this resolution and other infomaton for certain pur
pose. Now, what is this purpose Why,it is to know
what the political designs of the Executive in regard
to the war; that say, what are his desires the
result of the war! Now, the President of the United
States only branch of the of the United
/
this country, whose voice, possibly potential within
as it is without these walls, has laid it down right
belonging to the two houses OF Congress- that they
should call upon the President to know what he
means, but that they should express what they mean
should be the end and objects of the Therefore,
/ if the honorable senator from North Carolina has
any extreme solicude upon this subject it is OF far
more Importance for him to know what Congress means,
than TO know what the President means; because the
President cannot act without the consent of Congress
Now, if the senator desires to know what Congress
means to dowhat object they desire to ACCOMPLISHING
node in which he can ascertain it, is simply to offer a
resolution declaring what Congress shall be the
objects aimed at in the prosecution OF this 1t is Of
consequence, sir upon this great question, to bubble
about what the President may secretly design. We are
! told by the high authority with the gentleman and his
friends that il is the right and duty of Congress TO de-
clare what shall be the objects and purposes of this
Let them up to the mark, and lay before their
views.
| Mr. SEWER / would suggest, Mr.. President, that
the time has arrived for the consideration of the special
order of the day.
Mr.. ALLEN. Yes, sir i am doubtless tespassng
upon the time that ought to be devoted to my honorable
friends speech have however, but few words more
TO say; and really did not intend enter al all into this
discussion but the debate TO have spread itself out
TO such extent that could scarcely avoid engaging
IT. shall vote for the senator's resolution when the adj
dtion is made which he says he is willing to make
desire that addition made because this has always been
the practice out of respect of the executive branch of the
when address the Executive and the word drect'
when we address the various subordinate departments
has been for the purpose OF expressing these
that1 have trespassed upon the time Of the Senate
I Mr. MANGUM. | am extremely reluctant, sir, TO en-
croach upon the time which belongs TO the honorable