The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-02

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believe that the President would indicate the objects OF
military expedition. the port 10 which II 10 destlaed
Would il be Inconsistent with the true policy OF the
government Suppose that II Is hed out for the adj
vancemen OF our commerce, the extension OF com
meIcia interests would IL be poliuc 10 publish the
instructions intended 10 advance the public interest,"
and 10 10 foreign nations at once that we
intend 10 improve the condition OF our foreign CON-
merce 10 throw II before ths world, ana lei Tor
eign nations be aware OF our purpose, ana mus anci
pate the very purposes we had in view Look at II as
question OF expedency a question OF policy and
you will the proprety OF not calling Tor thls nor-
nation but SIR suppose that the Object Is 70 check ,e
progress OF this squadron The senator who moved TINS
resolution is already too late; for the squadron sailed
yesterday as j understood.
MIR. BORLAND. Will the gentleman allow me to
state that the chairman OF the Committee on Naval Al
fairs in the House OF Representatives said that was TO
sail on Wednesday, will state further TO the Senate
that as 10 the time when il will sail do not know.
have heard that il would not sail so soon But will
add now, what ought TO have said before, that The
chairman OF the Naval Committee in the House OF Rep
rescnalives opy made this statement but gave IL
for the passage OF bill connected with the
pending resolution in the other House and he said 1t
positively. fact, of obtained from the admin
straon and necessary 10 be known IN order TO Sc
cure the passage OF the bill then pending
| Mr.. DAWSON. And that is the strongest reason
wherefore the senator from Arkansas should have fe
no alarm The chairman OF The Naval Committee in the
other branch OF Congress is nearer to the Navy
than the chairman OF the same committee IN this branch
that being the place where all appropriations originate
and all know who is at the head OF that committee
gentleman who lis not friend 10 the present admnls-
traon; and when he asks before the country that bill
should be hastily passed, is j to be presumed that i IS
for the purpose OF doing any injury to this country IN any
point OF view whatever This IS reason wherefore
the senator from Arkansas should have had no Alarm
result OF which he cannot himself ioresee. The great
objection have to the resolution is this that II Is found
ed upon want OF confidence in the various departments
of the government II is unkind and ungenerous TO in
dulge the belief that any Of the various departments
of this government could act improperly. And II IS nn
dersood by everybody that the President is commander
chief OF the army and navy; and II squadrons are sci
afoat by his order. it is presumptlve that j is for the
good of the country and interest OF The nation but we
never should call for instructions given to the con-
mander OF an expedition OF this kind, unless we have a
foundation to stand upon.
My own opinion is, that Congress has power At any
time to demand OF the executive the objects he has IN
view but that demand should be exercised always with
prudence and caution And believe, further that It IS
always against the public interest TO tell the world what
we are about to do, or the various objects We have in
view In the language OF the senator from North Car
DINA. [Mr. BADGERl what is fifty 10 be spoken around
the residc. the family circle, around the family Ia
Bile, in relation 10 domestic AFFAIRS would not be suitable
TO courtroom or parliamentary hall These domestic
questions domestic objects, all intended tor the good
of the country should not be made subject to general
observation here, aud should never raise an mputa-
ton and throw it before the country unfavorable to any
head of department, unless there is some ground or
reason TO sustain IT, Here there is none. The govern
ment, believe, has acted IN this instance Tor the
good of the country, and has acted, have nc
doubt, wisely And ii any senator on this ioor should
go TO the head OF the Navy Department and ask for az
be allowed fair opportunity, have no doubt. TO reat
the instructions member OF the government; ant
them after doing he thought they were nconssten
with the public interest. he could here and make
call for those instructions upon The ground OF pubc IN
lterest.
Il Mr. RUSK do not know that there is much in hs
resolution, and have cared bat little about il but We
are to Judge from the character of the debate, il would
seem that there is great slupendoas secret mattel
here for the benefit Of the country can see no sort o
objection 10 calling upon the President 10 inform vi
wherefore he sends out an important expedition to
country have not been in the habit of visiting hereto
FORE One gentleman rises and says our seamen tina
have been shpwrecked upon the Japanese coast hay'
been badly treated, and we ought 10 have somebody
there To punish the inhabitants OF the country for il
WE'LL the protection OF seamen is as much devolvns
upon Congress upon the President, and do not know
that there any necessity for any great secret operation
where The question OF protecting our citizens IN foreign
country is concerned.
Another gentleman says il is for the purpose of esab
fishing commercial relations with country OF high i'm
porance Well, in that respect, Also Just much
sponsbilty devolves upon Congress upon the Pres
dent and should apprehend that Congress could udg
just about well the President in regard TO lha
matter.
can see no mischief resulting from this inquiry
There may come large bill of expenses to be footed vi
for some expedition OF this description for we have ha'
several OF them. One OF them recently sent out L
survey the boundary between this country and Mexico
and all that have OF is that they have lost part
the plants and under stand there is immense
bugs and lizards 10 be transported here al the expens
of the government We already asked 10 vote SOM
$4,000 for it, Here is expedition that nobody know
anything ABOUT, ANYBODY KNOWS anything
is the Presidents and think have perfect right
ask for the Information do not think this resolution
contempaies anything injurious 10 the country and IL
respectful in It's character, and should meet with re
/, spectiul answer.
Mr. BORLAND. | repeat, Mr.. President that ihi
discussion has been very unexpected by me; Tor
really could not have anticipated that there would be
opposition 10 the resolution. II disposed to sus
pec the administration OF anything wrong, TO attribute
bad motives or to cas-, censure, and draw unknd, i'll
naiured dsrespectful inference from the pur
sued by the friends oil the administration upon thl
hooral OF which dsavow. and have done 80 from III
begnnng- might say, in the language OF Scripture, 9TH
guilty flee when no pursueih" Now, | hal charge
no improperly had said repeatedly that the resolution
fairly and justly assumed proceed upon the groun
simply that expedition involving the public interest
not inunously perhaps had been ordered
think what have said will bear that construction.
think the resolution itself will sustain 1t. Why, then
should the friends OF this administration make such op
position to in II the object be good one why should
be kept from the country II II be bad one, sure
they will not say ought not 10 be put stop to-
Sir, have disposition 10 be Inquisiuve-certain
not inqusorian regard to the affairs OF this admins
tra,on but do bold that have right here-not be
yond the walls OF this Capitol, not in my individual ca
pacy but simply in my representative capacltyto asl
this information from the administration. II were 4
go TO the head OF the department as was suggested byth
senator from Georgia, Mr. Dawson and make such al
inquiry made in regard sending troops into tb
southern country, TO which the senator from New Hamp
shire [Mr HALrl has alluded, he might very well say Z
me las individual, you have right 10 have IT,
Now, do not choose 10 put myself IN that position u Il
one which have no night TO occupy. am exercising
my legitimate functions here when ask Tor the infoma
ton which should have, and have always exercised
the right OF calling for such information, no, only ~ re
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