The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-02
THE UNION: WASHINGTON FRIDAY MORNING APRIL 2, 1852.

not be transacted without great public derlmen in open
session Now cir, il this view oil the senator be true,
il would follow that. as the President OF the United
States 10 about sending naval squadron with instIuc
tons TO the officer IN command, the purposes OF the ex
pedIlon the cousre TO be pursued embraced those
Instructions should all be published to the world simul-
aneously with it's departure, and that should have
nothing secret think il is manifest, however beautiful
such scheme might be in theory, that would be vast
y nieu and would render the expedition OF The
government very impfactcabe.
The senator says thai since he has been member OF
the Senate he has known resolution OF this sort
made the subject OF objection would ask the senator
II he has known resolution OF this sort offered
here. have been here longer than the senator from Ar
kansas My memory ID not very perfect; and am not
perhapsa very observer OF what place here
But have known resolution offered in the Sen.
ale having any resemblance TO this in its character II
any such has been offered il must have failed TO attract
my notice at the time, has strangely gded from my
memory since. Why, sir. the President OF the United
States has been in the habit for years and years. OF send
ing squadons and ships TO the Mediterranean, the East
Indies the Pacific, and the Brazil coast, any such
portions OF the world be deemed necessary and adj
visabe 10 make the navy answer It's great purpose oil al
tording adequate protection to commerce and |
would ask, AIR. President If instance has ever been
known before OF call being made by either house oil
Congress upon the President to advise them beforehand
OF the instructions he has given 10 the commanding OH
Ger of any such expedition. Now sir. no argument can
be deduceJ in favor OF the particular proposition before
the Senate the ground that other propositions have
not been objected to- unless other propositions liable TO
the objection have been adopted by the Senate and
Tecollect none. 4to
1t seems 10 me, suggested by my colleague, lMr
MANGUMl that, al all events, injury arise IRON
allowing this proposition think is Of entirely
novel application. and which, so far as can see, can do
us good, and in various contingencies may do evito
rest, at least for lew days. until have oppor-
tunily Of looking into il.
Mr.. CASS. One of the most important naval expedi-
tons which went from this country the papers say
is upon the point of leaving for some purpose other
ask any member Of the Senate what reasonable obec-
ton there is to knowing the general object OF the ex
petition What reasonable objection is there 10 It's being
made known us, who have 10 furnish the supplies and
TO pass the appropriations II is objected that there may
be secret objects which ought not TO be disclosed II may
be- Mr. President. and have not word 10 say upon that
subject but il there are, that precisely met by
the form OF the resolution before The resolution
leaves that question wholly within the discretion OF the
President 1t asks him for nothing which It is not per-
iecty proper for him 10 make known TO us. How, them
does il stand You ask for information The President
says he cannot properly communicate it, Then he does
not communicate it. That is within the scope OF the
resolution II you refuse TO pass the resolution upon
this ground, is refusing to ask for proper information
You have either horn OF The dilemma one or the other
proposition is unavoidable II the information is proper.
you refuse to ask for and il II is improper il will be
| retained by the very terms of the resolution.
Allow me 10 say that with respect TO the general object
Of the expedition, have doubt whatever that il rs
proper 10 send expedition TO the eastern have
not heard word from the senator from Arkansas
blaming the administration the ground that the exped
lion is improper Certainly unless we know something
more than we now know, we must admit that the exped-
very proper But equally that the general
object of the expedition should be made known to the
American Congress and the American people Some
strange ideas have been advanced BY the from
New Hampshire, mr. HALE] He said the President
was the commander chief, and had no right to ask
him any questions There two questions connected
with all maritime and warlke expeditions They are,
first, the political, and then the strictly military You
cannot issue orders for bae that is his preroga-
i've You cannot issue orders 10 bis officers that is his
perogatIye. You must not interfere. But let sup
pose case; il is one which has happened, and
never will happen Suppose that the President should
choose 10 have your whole navy upon the Banks OF New
1 nd ka
tam the reason Tor that move And ii 1t absolute
~ refused. would you not cut down the appropriation
The very object why an administration is forced TO come
to Congress for supplies that we may inquire what
they wish 10 do with them aud to Judge accordingly
the President instead OF sposng Of forces upon the
frontier for its protection should choose 10 have them
all a, Washington. do you suppose that we should go on
aud vote supplies Suppose you should ask him for his
reasons, aud he should refuse TO ycu should
give you very unsatisfactory answer do you think thai
Congress would go and grant supplies That is one
OF the great checks upon the administration II rs ouI
great strengththe power 10 withhold supplies and we
exercise IT, When the for The expenditure are
not stated it is your great legislative check You
TO know what the Executive intends 10 do with certain
species Of force. TO justify you in making the supplies
cessary ia maintaining that force
The senator from New HAMPSHIRE says that the Presi.
dent has been asked question OF this Sort and has
fused 10 answer. Refused TO give an answer Nc
President in the executive chair, viii
sal there. who will refuse such an application. Because
an application made by individual to the Pfes
dent TO know the why he had made certain DIS
Ot tue American
dent chose TO refuse TO H. will he therefore refuse
TO answer similar application from the Congress oil iht
United States Never II never entered INTO the head
President oil the United States 10 refuse II. II Their,
in the mind OF the President, and II there
such reasons they mus, be OF peculiar character 10 jus
ny him IN making certain movement and not giving th
reasons for II, he would have been obliged 10 satisfy
Congress that they OF such character, and tina
would be the end OF it.
agree with my friend from California that we do
an expedition but do not know the object, and we d.
not know the OF force, OF This expedition, and
very proper that we should know both. How many yes
sells there How many sailing vessels and how NAM
steamers How many men going What will b.
the cost All these matters will come up when we COM
TO make the appropriation We all know That they vii
be thoroughly discussed and Congress will be required
know upon its responsibility, why the expedition wa
sent, and 10 meet the necessary expense repeat that
do not consider the resolution casting the slightest
sure upon the Navy Department II would be wrong 4
do H. know OF reason why should not pass il
for il fairly within the scope OF our Legislative
duties
Mr.. SEWARD. | do not know, sir, that after du
consideration shall have any objection TO the passage
this resolution. can only say now that am not pre-
pared TO vote for II to-day The subject is here
think that there is possibility that some injury may b
while evil consequences possibly result from let
ting IL lie over, at least for day or two.
1 The honorable senator from Michigan Mr. CAssl ba
said very Justly that he could conceive why would b.
very proper that there should be expedition 10 hos,
There may be many reasons, and think. SIR,
imagine very many reasons which may well exist
which would render such expedition necessary. and
which reasons might be proper Tor the Congress OF
United States TO understands and yet a, the same time
might be very wise for the Congress OF the United
States to communicate these reasons to the whole world
Bat when look a, the relation which the subject bear,