The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-17

his country!
Contributions In Mexico.
The wings are determined to throw something like
Parhian arrow behind them The Mexican is at an
end The administration is going out OF power on the
4h of March When the system which the admnistra
ton had adopted for evying contributions the enemy
was communicated to Congress, then the time join
issue with the Presdentthen the time to investigate
the queston-then the time rebuke his proceeding,
and if proper, to institute impeachment against him.
But the wings suffer all this time to pass away, the
system to be Carried out, the to be ended the admin
istraon approach its end, before they take up the
subject, and refer it to committee of inquiry and
buke. All this appears to in the worst possible taste
1t speaks malignant disposition to wound an expiring
administration. rather than to vndcae the rights Of the
country. The fact is, the President has committed no
error, and given just for complaint His conduct
may DEFY the severes, scrutiny of the select committee
They have not yet made report. We should have
been happy to lay Mr. Santons able argument before
readers and may yet have the pleasure Of repubsh
ing it, For the present. copy the following appropr-
ate article from the N Y Express, (whg) We hold the
message OF the President the subject of the Mexican
contributions and their disbursement unanswera-
be The reader will observe that the right to levy
trbutions is fully admitted by the Opposition On this
point they only say that seize the public of
the enemy and continue to levy the whole part of
them, is not to levy contributions! This is very finely
sa but is too absurd to be insisted by any statesman
Of the least character pretensons.
The other point does not arise We see in the latter
part Of the message that these military contributions have
been dsbursed upon objects connected with the war,
for which COngress had made annie apDrouratio ns
thereby relieving the treasury, and leaving in large
balances of those appropriations So that the question is,
whether the duty Of the Executive TO incur the
trouble delay risk, and expense OF transferring these
contributions from Mexico the United States and de-
posting them in the treasury, for the purpose of taking
them again and sending them back Mexico, to be
discussed for these objects. If issue be
made upon such point that, why, let the wings
make il.
Congress- far from Withholding money for the pur-
pose of checking gallant army in its of vic
tory made ample appropriations Tor every object deemed
essential by the President. If any officer in command
has dsbursed moneys collected in Mexico for any other
purpose which Congress has approved sanctioned
let the opposition pick the items out of his account and
wage petty war upon them. The President has taken
the utmost pains that these moneys should be applied to
the payment of the first nsalmen due under the treaty
Of peace for which Congress had made appropriations,
and that the balances should be paid into the treasury
From the New York Express
We inclined the opinion tina, all the needul "au.
thoriy' was given the President by Congress itself in
the declaration OF war against Mexcothe President being
The constitutional agent for carrying that declaration
elect The prosecution of is the highest and most
solemn exercise OF national sovereignty and carries with
by The la w
Of nations for njuring the enemy and strengthening the
agencies by which is carried 1t includes the right
to evy contributions in every shape-whsther by duties
on imports carried into the enemys territory direct taxes
on the enemys people, of ships and towns any
other conceivable form Of injury appropriation And of
COURSE the Executive being charged with the duty of pros
ecuing the upon him devolve both the right
oegeency If Congress does like the Executive
employing those manufacturing that right and fulfilling
that duty-Congress must declare that is ALL
The action OF the President in this is called
usurpaton-and perhaps it But then it a
usurpation Tor limited time and a temporary purpose
made by the of the case and to
acean extent justified by the very neglect of Congress
BHtate upon the subject. In there be wait
lug Tor 'pccfc Legislation things which may be necessary
o'expedicnt must be done The time in which
mey can be useful may pass by and be lost forever il
legislation is to be invoked every step Congress ought
10 have foreseen that military contributions would probably
come advisable in the progress of the war; and
YES on imports into the enemys territory might be an
elective means OF levyng such contributions. With its
declaration of war; therefore, Congress should have eQis
oo on ts SUBJECT either to sanction prohibit levy
and the duties. Not having done So it fell within the duty
VI ho PRESIDENT to take the responsibility" If he did
s' me duty OF Congress now is to provide against any
'e repetition Of such wrong doing not to censure the
resident Tor acting in case for which Congress had not
Provided"