The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-02


was called upon To ansa err why lac had sent Ger
tain troops to port in one OF tho southern States
His answer was, that he was commandments chief
OF the army OF the United States, and gave no
other answer. lie thought similar answer might
be with propriety made to this demand upon him
why he ordered portion OF the naval forces OF the
United States TO any particular locality He was
of opinion that the President had full power and
authority over this matter, and that Congress had
nothing 10 do with it.. As to the expedition he had
but little to say. One had already been sent out
at great expense, and had returned, and Congress
had not yet done approprlatlng money 10 pay ior
il. II had been good job to the book makers
and to cngravcrs if to one else. That exploring
expedition one Of the greatest humbugs ever
heard OF, and this expedition might be one Of the
same family; but with this he thought Congress
had nothing to do. The whole subject was under
the exclusive control of the President.
MIR. BORLAND said that this resolution was no
ing out this expedition But Congress. who had
10 vote money TO pay its expenses, had right to
know in advance its objects. He did not suppose
the Senator from New Hampshire had any autho
rity to speak for the President, and would not
therefore reply 10 him.
MIR. BADGER said that ne could not agree with
the Senator from Arkansas, that nothing in the
administration of the Affairs OF this Government
ought to be secret. That people Of this coun-
try the sovereign power, and that the officers
of the Government were but the agents OF the peo-
pie only, appointed to execute their will, was very
true; but that all measures OF administration and
perhaps, we'll grounded. 1t true, all the acts
of the Government affected the interests and well
fare of the people The Senator s.theOry was, that
We were all of one family, and had a common in
terest, and that all should know every thing that
was DONE for the interest Of all was TO be affected.
Ii might be very we'll in theory to insist that the in
tercsts Of the family Of twenty millions OF persons
should be discussed in the presence of the whole
family, but the great difficulty here was, that. il
every thing affecting the interests OF our family
be made public. il must be made public to the
whole world
Mr. BORLAND said he had no objection to that.
Mr.. BADGER said that man might discuss
with his own family the breakfast table mnt-
tiers touching the interests OF the family, but no
wise man would discuss them before the whole
neighboPhood
There were many things advancing the public
interest which could not be discussed and made
known in public manner, and which, II known
to the world, would be by that very reason de-
featcd. He referred to treaties which were made
by the President, and to the manifest propriey OF
acting upon them secretly.
In answer to the remark that such resolution
OF inquiry had ever been opposed before, he stated
that he never heard Of any such resolution being
offered in the Senate before. He repeated the many
reasons why this call should not Be made because
Of the probable injury it would cause to the public
service.
Mr.. CASS said that a most important naval ex-
petition, the papers stated, was about to start.
Now, what reasonable objection could there be to
informing Congress, in advance OF it's departure,
tiers which, it may be thought, ought to be kept
cret-if 50. they need not be disclosed; but there
was information which it was proper Congress
should have. II the resolution be passed, and the
President replies that certain portions Of the infor
nation asked cannot be disclosed without injury
to the public interests very well; but il you refuse
to pass it, you refuse to call for that information
which it is proper should be known to Congress.
The President was commander in chief OF the
army and navy, and his powers and authority are
distinct; Congress cannot deprive him OF them
But Congress has its rights and duties also- Sup
posc the President should order all the naval forces
TO the banks Of Newfoundland, and withdraw the
army from the frontiers and station II here, would
not Congress. when called upon to vote the sup
plies, demand to know the reason OF this disposi
ton of the forces? Would Congress vote the same
supplies for the army, if it were stationed here.
that il would otherwise? The power to vote or
withhold supplies is the check Congress has over
the President Ii can, II it think proper, disband
the army and navy. No President would refuse
the Information Congress asked in order to know
why il should vote supplies.
Ii was important that Congress should a, least
know the general objects Of this expedition, in or
der that II may vote understandiDgly upon the APP
preparations for it's expenses. He had no doubt
but the expedition was properly intended, and
could not see why there could be any objection TO
having its general object disclosed.
MIR. SEWARD said that while he did not know
but that he might eventually vote for the resolu-
ton, he wac not prepared 10 vote for II to-day
There might be danger IN passing the resolution
| ting IL lie over for few days He thought that u
wac exceedingly proper that this expedition should
be cent out 10 Japan. The trade Of the East
in the hands OF European powers; for two hun
bred yoars they have had the control OF IL anc
have parcelled IL among themsclves, and now one
nation monopoizcs the whole trade Of Japan The
| question, he thought, was not why the expedition
ls now sent out, but why one has never been seu'
| before.
Mr. BAYARD moved TO amend the resolution
! by striking DOT those words calling for copies o
! the instructions sent to the commander He though
| instructions must be in the nature OF conhdcnua
communications, and ough, not TO be made public
| Mr.. BORLAND said there would be much fore
| in the suggestions II the Senator from Delaware
were IL not that the resolution allowed TO the Pre-
sidcnt complete discretion as 10 what be sboulc
communicate and what lac should not.
Mr.. HALE saio that Lc did NOT expect 10 be Pre-
sident Of the United States very coon. But the
Senator from Michigan might be placed in posi-
ton hereafter If the wishes Of his riends prevailed
where he would be called upon TO exercise the con
sututional powers Of commander in-chicf. III
then argued that If the meant any thing
IL gave the President entire control over The army
and navy-a control to be exercised independent o
/ any power OF Congress
| Mr.. CASS replied; contending that Congress baC
The right know the destination Of the orcos anC
/ the object Of ibis expedition in order that they
might judge Of the propne,y Of voting for the np
| propria,ions tax upon the pcoplo-to deirny ~
expenses
Mr. DAWSON opposed the resolution. II bac
|
/ pspcrs A squadron had for years been in tba
ocean without oocssioning remark; and were j
not for the fact that a Presidential election VA,
sppro ,chng, he thought nothing would be ssit
| now concerning squadron about 20 be sent there
not under estimates fa Il, bot under appropriation
! already made for keeping IL aloat. lie urgec
| strongly the impolicy Of making this call, wher
the publicity Of the object would defeat IL.
| Mr.. RUsk thought that 1t would appear 10 the
country from Incorporation made TO the resolution
That there ~ss somc stupcndous secret involved IN
the matter. lie could sec no objection TO the dis
closure Of the object Of the expedition.
Mr.. BADGER said that be opposed the resolution
bocausc nw was unbeooming, was without recedcnf
could do no good, and nigh, do much harm. III
knew nothing Of the object of the expedition; N
had never exchanged word with any rncrnbcr o
, the Administration upon the subject. lie had ~
doubt but # any Senator would go 10 the dcpar,
menis nc could satisfy himself Of The object of ih
expedition. and then, II he desired ~, hecould
20 the Senate and make tho call.
Mr.. MANGUM said that he would move 90 IN
the subject on the table, not A final dispositio
Of II, bot tina, IL might be called up again in fe'
dBys, when The Senate knew more about the matte
/ Suppose during the Mexican war, when the blot
wac intended for Vera Cruz or Cerro Gordo, som
Wing had moved TO call upon Mr. Polk, and as
him 20 tell the world where he Intended 10 srilJ
| nd vet hat frt, Bav hcc NIT