The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-14
T H E r E P u BLIC.
SPEECH

and .Nep .Werico.
| The House being in Committee of the Whole or
the state OF the Union, on the Civil and Diplomatic
| Appropriation Bill
| Mr. WILLIAMS said:
1t is certainly true, Mr.. Chairman-and pre-
sumo the position will not be denied by any gentle
man--that the Texas boundary is a settled or al
unsettled question. Which is il? Ia il a debat tabl
and open question, a settled questions, Ii woult
be strange, indeed, ifit settled question, tina
Texas, by her representatives, have long beer
knocking at the doors of Congress for the pur
pose OF procuring a settlement of it. Does mo-
| the whole country know that the Texas boundary
question is unsettled? Yet we find from the ar gu
| ments that have been made here this morning, tha
1t isa settled question, beyond all controversy OF
| doubt In addressing the House to- day, | wish I,
| express my views In regard to the whole question
| II Is time sir, for every member to speak out hi
honest convictions. Such is the extraordinary cha
racter OF this debate-civl war, disunon, and the
burning OF gunpowder are threatened 30 frequently
that II stranger to step in here and listen to
! the debates, he would suppose he listening to
set OF representatives. from the different nations OF
the earth, who were threatening to carry and
desolatlon throughout the whole civilized world.
l am heartily sick and tired of all such gasconade
would myself scorn such a course. / may be as
willing, and think am, to stand by what be-
leve to be the just rights of my country any
| other man; but when, by accident by death,
| one President Is displaced and another comes in
| and when measure of compromise has been de-
| bated In the Senate of the United States elicting
|
| as were never felt before, and when that cele-
brated project for giving peace to the country has
failed, Texas, few days before the death of Gen
eral Taylor, has, by her Governor, sent to the
President OF the United States special communi-
cation, to ascertain WHAT To ascertain whether
the President of the United States approved of the
proclamation Of Colonel Munroe. That commu-
nlcation was not answered by President Taylor
Mark you, Sir, 1t Is Just after the failure of the
Compromise bill that it has become the duty of
| President Fillmore to answer this communication.
| He has done through the Secretary of State,
and he has felt it to be his duty to send to this
! House message; and doubtless this message
strikes the minds of different gentlemen differ
| emily.
In the communication of the Governor of Texas,
he gives you notice, and gives notice to the world,
that he has convened the Legislature of his State
| expecting the Legislature will direct the assem-
bling OF force for the purpose of taking posses-
sion Of four counties, said to be part of New
| Mexico, by force.
| The President of the United States points you to
the Constitution of the United States, and the acts
of Congress passed in L 95 and 1907, believing that
the Constitution and the acts referred to made it
| his mperous duty, as President, TO see that the
laws were faithfully executed, and, If necessary,
| to call upon the militia and army Of the United
States.
The peculiar fancy Of my talented friend from
! Georgia (Mr. STEPHENs) has distorted the ques-
! ton, and pronounces the principles and doctrine
contained in the message high handed usurpation
| of power, not warranted by the Constitution and
acts above referred to-
| The President in his message presents to this
consideration of Congress full detail Of the diff.
cutes that exist, and he proceeds TO point out wha
he believes TO be his duty under the circumstance
as commander in chief Of the army and navy o
the United States He believes il to be his duty IL
| case Texas attempts to carry out her threats by
force, TO call TO his aid this power True he pauses
with the inquiry, whether there Is any law in New
Mexico that would make 1t his duty, under the
soemniues Of the oath he has taken, enforce; he
points 10 the treaty that ended the with Mex
leo, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and refers
particularly 10 the ninth section, which guaran-
! ties 10 the citizens of New Mexico the rights of
citizen. of the United States, 10 be protected ia
their persons and property until Congress clothes
them with that right and gives 20 the Congress OF
the United States his views upon that particular
subject.
After having done this, and after giving his
views upon some other points, he suggests TO the
Congress of the United States that il Is not in his
opinion best 10 refer the matter in dispute the
Judiciary; is il best, in his opinion appoint
commissioners for that would be but special ar
bltration, and delay in either would ensue.
He says TO you modestly in his message, you arc
in possession OF all the facts in the case pray
you 10 relieve me, decide II, me by your ac-
| ton from my unpleasant situation; If you do not,
/ collision may arise, the results oil which no hu-
man eye can forcsee; and he asks you TO aid him
! by your prompt, decisive, and constitutional ac-
/ ton. lie says, am gratiiicd that Congress is in
session, and appeal TO you TO give satisfaction to
Texas, by giving her just compensation for her
/ claim 20 part of New Mexico. If you are not
\ pleased and satisfied with my suggestions, settle
/ the matter in such way shall suit yourselves,
and will approve Of it. What more could he
say? IL is a most admirable State paper, mild,
dignihed, and concliatory; stil, when this gentle
and soothing message was read in the House Of
Representatives II produced effect upon the feel
ings Of some gentlemen that bomb or sky rocket,
thrown suddenly in this hail. would have pro-
duced. gentleman this morning, for whom
| have high respcct-a gentleman Of high order
- ii rnaN
an extraordinary amount Of feeling. Why this
suppose he was right in every position he has
| taken, and that the President had mistaken the
law under which he considered II 10 be his painful
duty TO call upon the army, If Texas resorted 10
forcc-having appealed TO Va 20 adjust the matter
aud relieve him from 40 unpleasant duty, why
not act and help the President save the country
/ from the dangers with which We arc surrounded and
monaced, Yet We stand here and talk Of war and
dcsolation, and every thing that is horrible, when
/ you have the power to adjust the difficulty; the
/ power u lodged here; the happiness, the honor
| and the interest Of our country require action
not Words and yet gentlemen threaten in this
manner.
The argument Of my friend able az he is, wa,
unquestionably erroneous upon the question o.
power and duty Of the President Of the United
states. will read the act commented upon by
him with such signal ability. intend making but
/ short comment upon the acts Of 1895 and lSO7
| which are as follows:
The second section Of the act Of the 2Sth Of Feb.
Fuafyf ittss nat whenever the laws O
the United States shall be opposed, or their exccu
ton obstructed, in any State by combinations toe
| powerful to se suppressed by the ordinary cours,
Of judicial proceedings, the power vested in th,
msrshas, the President may call forth the militia
20 far az may be necessary, 70 suppress such com
binations, and to cause the laws to be duly exc
cutcd."
BY the act Of March 3, 1907, il is provided "tha
in all Of obstruction 60 the laws either Of th,
United States any individual State or Terrific
ry, where il is lawful for the President to cal
forth the militia for the purpose Of causing On,
laws 10 be duly executed, II shall be lawful for
him 10 employ, for the same purposes, such par
Of the land or naval force of the United States a.
shall be judged necessary"
From this language my talented and dstin.
guished friend supposcs thatitis duty which Is mol
thrown upon the President Of the United States in
any case unless il in tho enforcement Of judicia
decree. That contracted construction Of the acts
would make the President Of the United States
marshal to enforce judicial proceedings only. Hs
has the power TO call out the militia and army when
ever any law is obstructed. Take the case Of peo-
pie resisting the collection Of your revenue, which
operates violation Of your law. ] ask If the
President of the United States would not in such
a case, be expected 10 enforce the law-nay, bounc
10 do 80 by his oath' The power was lodged in
the hands Of the President, TO be used cautiously
and only in extreme The gentleman from