Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1850.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1850.
Mr. HOLMES asked the unanimous consent of the House
o offer the following resolution
Resolved That the President Of the United States be
quested communicate this House the of the
raj claims Of the United States against Poruga the nature
Of those claims the correspondence upon the subject both at
Washington and Lisbon between the two Governments
aso the and nature of the claims preferred by Poru
gal against the United States and all the correspondence be-
tween the two Governments
There being objection, the House proceeded to consider
the resolution. #a
Mr.. HOLMES, at the suggestion of Mr. WENTWORTH,
modified his resolution by inserting the words if not ncon.
ssent with the public interest, after the words s'commun
cate to the House" in the second line.
Mr. McCLERNAND said that il the resolution before
the House for adoption, he would make few remarks, in
consequences Of the assertions made in relation movements
connected with these claims and endorsed TO by
the newspapers He had stated in several papers that
squadron Of the American Navy Navy Of the United
States had been ordered to Lisbon for the purpose of enfoc
ing the demands against Portugal by Charge who had
been instructed enforce them by He considered
the report peposterous that he did deem necessary
Gas the chairman Of the Committee Foreign Aairs) to
make any serious inquiry into the truth of these
Under the constitutions the power of the United States
and blockade belonged Congress- and would
have been usurpaon the part Of the Presden. Of the
United States to resort to it.
Mr. HILLIARD desired inquire whether he understood
the chairman Of the Committee Foreign Affairs say that
any portion Of the naval forces ordered TO Portugal with
view Of enforcing the claims inmdaing that Power
Mr.. McCLERNAND replied that, by implication, he was
maintaining the very He about say that the
exercise of such power the part Of the Executive would be
usurpaton Of authority that should be tolerated.
not to be conceived that the President of e United States
without authority Of law, would assume upon such authority
of It for that reason that he did not
make any inquiry concerning this report He supposed it
true that in consequence Of the procrasnaion Of the
Government of Portugal to pay the claims, he had in
mated in his annual message to Congress- the President had
instructed diplomatic agent Lisbon to make demand
for the payment of certain claims and in the event Of failure
ask for his passports and withdraw from the country and
be that Of the vessels Of the navy had
been ordered receive him and bring him home in the con-
tngency which he had adveed He presumed nothing
had been done. He had objection to the adoPuon
of the resolution.
Mr.. KING, Of New Jersey, said that the newspapers OF
the morning stated that Mr. Clay the Charge at Lisbon nad
demanded his passports and was preparing to leave ms pst
and that the American ships Of had sailed from the
Under these circumstances communication from Inc rre
dent would doubtless shortly be made to Congress- ana ne
object Of the proposed inquiry would thus be accomplished
without interference the part Of this House, which, tnere
fore, need in the matter He therefore oeceo 70
the consideration of this resolution.
Mr.. ASHMUN suggested to bis friend from South Caro-
lima CMr HoLMHs) that the information they had from the
public prints indicated that the matter was IN delicate posi-
ton at this time he would therefore suggest with view 70
consider the proprey Of the adoption OF the resolution, that
lie one day.
Mr.. HOLMES replied that the subject Of too
much importance, involving as It did international affairs,
and perhaps the pesce OF the country with highly respect
able though comparatively small Power of Europe for him
to have introduced his resolution without much and serious
reflection The State which he represented had direct in
terest in the natter affecting the rice trade and the Ma
dera imports and he felt il his duty, member of that
branch or the invested with the function of de-
cang war; to demand of the Government all the information
in respect proceedings which might involve us in difficult
ties with foreign Powers This House had on former oc
casions been guilty Of negligence in suffering the Executive
branch Of the Government proceed so far as TO make Il
point Of honor that should declare war If we were
entrusted by the constitution with the power Of making war
we expected by the people, whose rights and interests
and honor were involved to watch oil the proceedings Of the
Executive which might by possibility lead to war; On
the present occasion demand made upon PORTUGAL for in
demnity, arising from the capture Of the General Armstrong
an American privatee by British feet in the year 1914.