Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-02-23

~ It would be wise thing for he people Of
the United States to ascertain definitely whether
there are any constitutional limits 10 the power of
the Presiden and fso, 'chat they are, and whether
it is worth while TO insist upon not having them
transcribed The history OF the country for the
past few years shows that the Executive Depart
ment considers itselfsupfeme in matters of the nj
most importance; and if coordinate branches were
consulted al all, il not until after affairs were
in such 4 shape, that assent 10 Executive move
mens was almost matter Of necessity,as regarded
the interests and honor of the nation. The plan
Tor the annexation of Texas with the conditions
under which it was finally consummated, was not
developed until the country was so far committed
that 10 have rejected the proposition would have
been considered a breach of good faith And after
It's consumm ation with a condition which it was
supposed would save the country from war,
the President in violation OF pledges he had given
to be governed by that condition in his subsequent
acion deliberately took course which he could
not but iorsce would bring about the result which
Congress was very anxiousand had made provision
to avoid. Disguise the matter as it may be, the
Executive Department OF the government virtual
y declared war, not only without the sanction, but
in opposition to the known wishes of the represen-
tai,es of the people, and the support and sanction
which the Congress Of the u. S. subsequently gave
to the Executive movements was more a matter Of
coercion than choice. Well the war is finally
concluded, and treaty is formed which is SUBJ
United to the Senate OF the United States, and
with certain amendments ratified. Ncsgrs Sew.
cr and Clifford are sent as Commissioners with
the amended treaty 10 Mexico for the ratif
cation Of the Mexican authorities. Those Com.
missoners Ito use the language Of the New York
Trbune) "diseharged the duty assigned them, ex-
chan ged rati6eatous with the Mexican Minister foI
Foreign Affairs, and returned with report that all
was settled-as the Senate had insisted it should be
Not hint was given not whisper breathed, that
any conditions or notifications had been ex.
acted by Mexico. In the faith that all had been
adjusted on the basis required by the Senate the
War was closed, our Armies withdrawn, peaceful
relation. resumed, and the payment Of the s;pua-
ted indemnity commenced.
And now, SIX months after this adjustment, ii
tranSPircs that the Treaty is very different from
what we have all along understood il TO be-what
on its face it purnortcd to be--that the Mexican
Government demanded and obtained OF our Envoys
Messrs. Clifford and Sewer, new conditions which
IN effect rnly the action of the Sena,c in striking
out The Objectionable articles; that three articles
were by them appended TO The Treaty on their face
explanatory bus III reality subyersive Of the aItcra
tlons made therein by the Senate and that thus THE
country is secretly committed 10 acts which the
Senate had officially decided that we should not and
at least one that We consiituionally could not do
And all this has so long been kept profound secret
from the People and even from the Senate itself and
now comes out in Mexico through the publication
by her Government OF the secret articles Of the
Treaty! That Government seems TO have grown
weary Of resting under inputa,ons oil having con
ceded too much, has given publicity to the secret
cocicil, and thGs it is made known to our people 4"
Himportant articles of a treaty may be modified
or annulled by Executive authority, and if conceal
ments OF this kind TO be justified, we are at a
los: to imagine what acts or movements OF a Presi
dent would moi be justhable
As the matter now stands, we nave really no
treaty with Mexico-the instrument with the
eodicI attached, adopted by the Mexican authorities
being very different affair from that which received
the constitutional sanction of the authorities of his
country. In what way the difficulty will he obyi-
aied and our peaceful relations with Mexico pre-
seW ed, remains 10 he seen.