The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-18
| was then passed unanimously.
REMARKS OF MR.. BAYLY,
OF VIRGINIA,


REMARKS OF MIR. BAYLY, ~.
OF VIRGINIA,
On the message of The President relation 10 the sez.
ure of the Black Warrior; delivered in the House.
Thursday, March 49, 1854.
Mr. BAYLY said: Mr. Speaker, | do not mean this
morning to go into any extended discussion OF the aues
tons which the gentleman from Ohio has raised
The communication which was made to the House
yesterday has not yet been printed and sir the
committee TO which that communication was referred
have not had be opportunity Of satisfying themselves OF
all the facts connected with the case Such being the
condition OF affairs. il is perfectly obvious that this dis
cussioa is premature Still sir, there remarks
which have been made by The gentleman from Ohio
which, IT occurs 10 me, ought 10 notice at once
He has attempted TO PREJUDICE this case The gentle
man, undertake TO assert here, cannot be entirely
formed about the subject upon which he has spoken
although know his diligence most OCCASIONS yet
know, also, own of this sort; and know
have not. with every facility al command do il, been
able TO inform myself thoroughly upon the subject under
discussion
Mr. GlDDINGS (nterupting) | did not intend to
PREJUDICE the OF the Black Warrior. | only stated
the facts far as was informed upon them and stated
that we had yet heard from Spain, and knew
not what her version OF the matter would be- My COM
menis were upon the residue OF the message and
above and outside the of the Black Warrior.
Mr. BAYLY. That is one OF those points made by
The gentleman which, II to me, ought not 10 de-
lay tor moment 10 answer. The gentleman says that
The President has not upon this occasion, satisfied him
self with merely Answering the call which III. House
made, but has volunteered message Well sir, in this
respect IN communicating with the Congress OF the uni
ted States, there are two classes OF in which the
President is called upon TO act in where he merely
communicates the information, and no occasion to
make recommendations oi his own; and II is matter of
discretion whether he will content himself with that or
20 further The constitution OF the United States ex-
pressly requires the Pfesidcn goes further than
authorize him. requires hn--to communicate to Con-
gress in respect to such public matters his opinion
may demand their attention The language OF The cons,u
lion f" He shall IRON Il time give 10 the Congress
information OF the slate OF the Union, and recommend TO
their consideration such he shall Judge
cessary and eSpedien" And beg leave say that,
my opinion, that clause OF the constitution refers
particularly to questions relating TO foreign relations
than 10 those appertanlng 10 our domestic affairs Tor the
simple reason that the Executive, being the department
OF the government more especially placed in charge OF
foreign relations may be supposed 10 be better in
formed than any other department of the government in
respect to them and 1t is therefore especially in refer
ence foreign affairs that the President ought TO
communicate TO us freely his views when he calls upon
us for action and on such OCCASIONS to recommend such
measures as he shall Judge necessary and expedlent
inquiry OF ours that we contemplate u When the trans
action is ended, he ought 10 content himself with fur
nshng the papers asked for. But wsen IL is not, he
ought either withhold the papers accompany them
with his view i respect 10 the case
| Mr.. GlDDlNGS, (iDleuupling TIE position took
upon that matter was distinctly that he did not oommuni
cate Il TO Congress, but 10 tbs House alone, and left the
Senate in the dark and therefore he could have been
acting under the constitutional provision.
| Mr.. BAYLf. he resolution OF inquiry from
Il
that be not only sent the Information asked for In
laon 10 this case, but he makes, he ought 10 have
done, bis suggestions in regard to tthere is in
trusion upon bis pahe makes as was bis duty in
nexion with this mauef-CDe affecting foreign al
farssuch suggestions as occurred 10 him ought 10 be
made by him And II he has committed any error IN this
respect is net IN bis having sent message but iba
his recommendations are mol more specific hold, in re-
sptct 10 our foreign affairs, that s the duty OF the
House rather 20 follow than 10 lead the Executive
follow them bindy, but TO defer them in respect
Questions where the constitution implies that they should
be more fully informed than giving Them the
better means OF obtaining information,
! The gentleman from Ohio MIR. GIDp,Nosl made an.
other point He undertook compare this case with
the Ordinary seizure in Boston New York, OF any
where else OF veesels Tor he violation Of some reve
nue. regulation. The gentleman treated this afa
lightly The whole distinction between THE case and
that class of to which he referred tbis q
not beeved-by me al any rate, and presume, from b,
character OF the message OF the President OF the UnIet
Staes that he does not belevehst the conduct OF the
Spanish government in this ~ bona nd,
ton Of their revenue laws 70 Cuba, and merely IN good
faith punish fraud upon them Why do not believe
u2 Because The records of the committee over which
have the honor 10 preside show that there o.
constant occurrence in which the most irritating and bar
assng violations of their own laws. according 10 the
own admission in some cases made by the Spanish
authorities in their West India islands upon our marine
The under consdef ration IS not isolated
II IL oil constant occurrence. We have now beor,
that committee several cases Of similar character W.
believe, TO use common expression that they are dis
posed to whip this nation, IRON feeling OF dislike
over the backs OF unoNendlrR clllzens
There are cases MOI 10 be accounted for any othe
4 supposton.
Mr.. GiDDINGS. wish TO know OF The geatemar
from Virginia how he received information ol those ohe
cases How came they before the committee OF whiet
he is chairman @H.#r .#W-
/ Mr. BAYLY, The gentleman from Ohio [nr. Gip
psesis one Of the most attentive members OF this House
surprised that he does not know that there hav
been several OF this kind referred by express orde
| Of the Hoose, TO the Committee on Foreign Aaairs
shall not undertake, on tbs occasion 70 open the secret
Of our prison house but win refer the gentleman /.
one case, and say TO him ser discs omns" refe
| him to the of Captain Bcacher The communica
on in that has already been printed, and is in IN
gentlerans desk, in his box IN the document room
presume. This was case in which the most unlusti