The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-29


esenaves 70 interfere with the treaty making power.
which, BY the constitution Of the United States vest
ed in the President and Senate The different branches
their peculiar and appropriate duties and each expressly
prohibited from interfering with those which pertain TO
the other.
and Senate. with authority given to the House of Rep
esenatves 20 direct CONTROL restrain the free exercise
of their constitutional functions in any manner whatever
And yet there was attempt by the House OF Represen
aves to interfere and dctae 70 the President and Senate
particular clause 10 be inserted in the treaty The
scheme became more insidous and mschievous, when
it that bare majority in the House and Senate
TO dictate the terms OF treaty, which, under the
constitution could not be ratified short OF vote OF two
thirds. -
II the Wmo Proviso could be forced into the treaty
in this irregular and unconstitutional manner, il was
known that the treaty could receive the sanction
o. as T., rs
no senator representing slave State could be expected
to vote for the ratification OF treaty acquiring territory
with such condition annexed. Hence the adoption of
the Wmot Provso was well understood 10 be decision
against the acquisition OF any territory from the republic
OF Mexico. by way Of indemnify or otherwise Il re-
Of the opponents OF territorial acquisition, and OF the dis
appointed politicians who anxious to PROSTATE the
administrations President Polk from motives Of revenge
II the votes in committee OF the WHOLE OF which, by the
rules Of the House, journal kept, could have been
recorded and published TO the world, they would have
have been found southern wings and northern abol-
tenists northern wings and dsaected democrats, press
ing between the teers arm in in favor Of fastening
the Wilmot Proviso upon the two-mon bill, with the
view OF forcing It into any treaty which might be con-
cluded for the acquisition Of territory with the certain
knowledge that must necessarily result 10 the rejection
OF the treaty and the defeat Of the acquisition Some Of
the evidences OF this coalition between southern slave
holders and northern aboltonss to defeat the
ton q CafSa and New Mckee BY the adoption q
upon the third reading OF the bill which was to test the
vote Of its passage
that the anti and anii-tertory had united with
the abotonists in favor Of the Wilmot Provso and
pointed out the Of John Quincy Adams, Charles
side BY side with The names 81 Henry Order and William
p Thomasson, of Kentucky, in favor OF the Provso
All the southern wings who had voted the Provso in
not bold enough to register their names among the
yeas and nays the House, and hence is that many
of them have been absent and not to have voted
at all But the journal shows enough 70 convince every
impartial mind Of what every man who was present
knows have been the facts Of the chief objects of
the Proviso was TO embanass the administration in the
the conclusion of any treaty Of peace by which territory
could be acquired indemnity secured The allied forces
were strong enough 10 carry the measure through the
House of Representatives the heads Of the real sup
Porters Of the and the friends of the administration
The Illinois delegation, with the exception OF Mr..
Wentworth stood firm and united in opposition TO the
measure. Hopes were entertained OF amending the bill
in the Senate by striking out the poviso and passing the
bill without but all will recollect that, being the
last day OF the session. Senator Davis OF
spoke against it until the hour OF adjournment arrived
and thus defeated il for want Of time act s due to
the gentlemen who then represented Illinois in the SEN
ate and both Of whom were now present. to say that they
were firm and decided in their opposition 70 the Provso
and in their desire for the passage of the bill without it,
Thus all hopes OF terminating the that by the
Of an
scheme, called the Wilmot Provso The prosecution Of
the war was renewed with increased vigor. and the
cero Gordo followed 0 aa President Folk a. the
next session. renewed his application TO Congress for
appropriation of three millions Of dollars, to enable
able and satisfactory to both nations The Wmot Prov
attached to this also by the same combi
nation which had fastened upon the other and of course
the appropriation defeated During all these trying
conflicts Mr. d. had justified and sustained the wat, and
had supported the administration OF President Polk in all
Its Efforts for vigorous prosecution OF the war; and for
mot Proyso with all his energy, and felt sympathy
with the allied forces who, by the arul OF that in
sidous measure, were attempting TO PROSTATE the admin
straon, and with II the democratic party by embarrass
ing the prosecution OF the war, and, at the time,
preventing The conclusion OF an honorable peace, and
thus forcing this proud republic 20 withdraw its armies
and back out OF the contest in dishonor. He had no
sympathy with any such movement. with those who,
by such movement willing to disgrace their coun-
try in the eyes all Chrsendom in order TO secure petty
partisan triumph over political adversary. After Mr. d
had given the votes to which he had referred and while he
was following out the line OF policy he had indicated, he
was honored in his absence election TO the Senate of
the United States. under circumstances particularly gafy
ing his feelings and for which he felt profoundly CRATE
fn In the meantime the President, finding himself un-
able to procure from Congress appropriation Of money
10 enable him TO form treaty and pay the first install
ment Tor any territory he might acquire, determined TO
make the experiment OF negotiating upon credit, sub
eet Of course TO the ratification Of the Senate and trust
ing to Congress 10 make the appropriation after Calfor
MIA and New Mexico should have been annexed, and
when the Wimot Proviso would have become obsolete
Hence Mr.. Trst sent 10 Mexico with the draugt OF
treaty containing the terms upon which our government
was willing and DESTROYS TO terminate the war The gov
eminent soon becoming dissatisfied with the conduct OF
MT Trst, revoked his authority. and ordered hun i'm
mediately TO return to his own country He refused
obedience TO this order, and persisted in making what
pupored TO be treaty Ia violation OF his instructions
and without the slightest authority 10 bind gov
eminent, When this piece Of paper. entitled the
Tnst Treaty." was forwarded 10 the President, he
laid IL before the Senate a private and unofficial
was willing to make treaty with and asking the ad
vice OF the Senate. stating at the time thai Of
the provisions were entirely inadmissble. Upon the
rst reading OF this document il evident that could
never receive the approval OF the Senate without such
notifications as to materially change its whole character
ticle in their order Sore articles entirely stricken
out, others were amended, and provisions were in.
serted until II was finally put in such shape that
celved the sanction OF the Senate by the constitutional
majority. Among the amendments which were proposed
and voled down was the Wilmot Proviso. Mr.. d. op-
posed the Proyiso there he had repeatedly voted
against II in the House Of Representatives Obnoxious
as the first treaty was and unwilling he to give
the slightest countenance yet he free to confess that
II possessed merit and that that IL did not
tain the Wilmot Proviso When this document had un
dergone such changes and notifications TO be accept
able TO twot thirds Of the Senate il ratified MIR
SEWER OF Arkansas, and Mr. Clifford (he Attorney Gen
osof~