Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-03-02
W HOLE NUMBER rs.

those amendments must be made in the teetl
OF the treaty as ii is construed by Mexjc.
with the consent Of the President. and with
out the consent or knowledge of the treaty
making power in this Government.
: W hat Is to he the consequence of this las
and unparalleled assumption by the Presiden
OF the United States Of power probably mo-
constitutional, nor In any sense legal, and
which he caRnot claim-as has been done in
the case of other transactions of the same sort
as resulting to his Presidential Office from
1 analogous power in Monarchial Governments
we are wholly unable TO foretell. AS q,
present advised. we do not see how this pro-
ceeding of the President, In the teeth of the
Constitution is to be legaliZed, but by the
Treaty being again laid before the Senate. and
that body agreeing, from the necessity of the
case, to ratlty the treaty over again, with the
Protocol incorporated or annexed.
Without some such proceeding, as the
reader Will at once perceive, neither California
or New Mexico, nor the boundary to the Rio
Grande, belong to the United States, the ces-
sion Of those territories having been accepted
by the treaty-making power of the u. States
upon conditions which Mexico has not agreed
TO yield. Until this difficulty concerning the
Treaty with Mexico ne adjusted, all effective
Legislation concerning those territories would
seem to be out of the question:
On Monday Mr.. Stephens again asked and
obtained the general consent to offer his reso-
lutlons, calling upon the President for infor-
nation In regard TO the existence of protocol
signed by the American Commissioners and
Mexican Minister, Rosa, declaring the amend
mentS to the treaty of peace, by the American
Senate, to be matters Of form and not of sub
stance.
The resolutions We're read by the Clerk.
rth cd Ia
nays In suspending the rules, in order to act
upon the resolutions. A vote was taken and
decided IN the alirmative-yeas ISL, NAYS 3.
The resolutions being before the House,
Mr.. Stephens In his usual earnest manner,
discussed the merits of the case. He read the
resolutions which had passed the House on
former occasion, calling upon the President
for his instructions to the Commissioners who
had been appointed to conclude treaty of
peace with Mexico, and a correct copy CT that
treaty. And, what said Mr.. S. was tire Pres
ident's response to that calll That it would
be incompatible with the interests of the pub
lie to furnish the information desired.
lie believed, he said, in the existence of
this protocol, and IN case it was nor produced
upon this call of the House, he would move
for the appointment of Committee, with
power to send for persons and papers, He
viewed at length those passages in the treaty
of peace which had been struck out or altered
by our Senate, and said that they were not
what the protocol represented them to be. He
asked how the President or his agents dared
to impose this fraud upon the Mexican Gov
eminent.
Nir. Houston, of Alabama, followed, reply
ing to Mr.. Stephens remarks with considela-
bic warmth.
Mr.. Houston closed his remarks by offering
an amendment to the resolutions, which was
to the effect that the President need not re-
spond TO the call if he should deem it incom-
patable with the public interests.
The question was first taken by yeas and
nays, on Mr.. Houston's amendment, and it
was negatived 81 to %.
Mr.. Wentworth appealed to Mr.. Stephens
TO embrace III his resolution, a call for the in
structions to our Commissioners and the cor
with the Mexican government
subsequent TO the ratification of the treaty by
the Senate of the United States. Mr.. Ste
phens consented to the modification, and the
yeas and nays were then ordered on the reso-
luton, as amended, and it was adopted, 147
to 81
This act of the President or the Commits
sioners under his direction, thus far concealed
and hidden from the public eye, is itself
sign of guilt; by which the coordinate action
of the Senate to treaty is deprecated, mis-
and treated asIf of no consequence,
to foreign power; by which innocent par
ties have been induced, under the faith of the
treaty as published, to make, accept and trans
fer titles to lands; but whose action IS Inval-
id, if that secret protocol is genuine-is a
sketch of usurped power without parallel in
the history of our government, deserving the
strictest investigation by Congress, and If
found to be as stated, worthy of the most con-
dign punishment known TO the Constitution.
. PENN. TEE.