The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-14
CITY OF WASHINGTON FRIDAY MORNING, it

would avoid breach by the Executive OF the priv
eges of this House which otherwise would be inflicted
If the negotiation of treaty for the purchase OF ertor,
be breach of our privileges us the guardians of the pub
lie purse, unless asked for the purchase-money
in advance would it be equally breach only to ask fo
very small part and leave the dark as to how much
would be required Nay as shall presently show
il would be greater breach of them
These remarks apply with s greater force to the cases
of the acquisition Of Florida and part Mexico AT the
time of the acquisition of louisiana the constitutional au-
hory to purchase territory much questioned even by
Mr. Jefferson himself; although as the gentleman from
Missouri Mr. BRNTosl knows, he subsequently dismissed
all doubts on that point and it prudent that he should
see how far he might expect the this House
In Mr. Monroe and Mr. Poks time all such doubts had al
entirely disappeared AS far as the question of con
sutonal power concerned they were not treadne ON
doubtful ground, to do which with confidence the prior
concurrence of Congress WAS convenient They asked for
the comparatively small appropriation in advance only to
deiay the expenses of negotiation and to enable them to
pay earnest
Again, to the question of privilege If our privileges
have been invaded they are those which pertain TO us
guardians Of the public purse 1t because our entire con
troll Of has been impaired and burdens placed upon the
people without consent But this cannot be So the
gentleman is right power withhold appropriate
tions to treaties. He will vote against it and if
he can get majority to vote with him. no appropriation
will be made burden placed upon the people and our
hold upon the public purse made secure But if majority
of for it. then the burden upon the people will be
imposed by their own and the public purse
will be opened voluntarily by those to whom it constit-
tionaly intrusted
But will the gentleman say that by the negotiation of
this treaty put under moral consraint sort of
duress, pay the money! We would have been under
greater constran if the course he contends for had been
pursued Suppose the President hod come here and asked
u.s. in advance appropriate 100000 TO enable him to
negotiate with Mexico i'm respect TO The subec embraced
in this treaty: does any one doubt that we wouId have
made the appropriation?
Suppose we had and the President had nscd n as he
probably wonld have done yonld vn not in to, cS 3 ~ L
under more constrant than we are now The aroumen
then would have been two millions are none and Won had
hetter onnronriate tbe ras, nr Un, ,nsa ~ 49,, s IN
Ip,t. Ian
ney is concerned losing ANYTHING donbt the nronrietv
except in cases of necesstyanI bs as royed ,ot ~
have been one-of making annronr;at;ons in advance
majority of the two houses mpt make an oppronration
to enable the President to neeotiote treaty and ban II
might not be ratified by twohirds of be Senate We had
better get the treaty rat and naEe rho e
forwards M -
Mr. Chairman in this connection beg IN sov Tint IN ,pv
opinion ii would be very bad practice for anv resdent
to communicate with this House in advance in resncct o
the negotiation of treaties OF all the bodies in he world
it is least sncd for It and SO toncbt th Trainers of the
constitution In most negotiations secrecy is necessary s
to the Character and nroores Of ndaed oSe tho
very knpwIefpc of The nendencv of n;b, h
atn TO its sccessas for psance ybsro o,o,ar nat;o
had its eve upon the same object with view to ts attain
ent for Themselves or where avaro otar ations nubt
wish to defeat II to nrevent an adyantana tn rwa Tn
such case the mere knowledge of the nendencv Of the me-
gotiaton would set them ot work 10 tbwart 4 Rnt e.
crecy with such body as this would be impossible Even
the Senate keep its secrets 1t was for these rea-
that the convention which framed the constitution
Guided from all participation in making treaties After
tey are made play important in executing
them. in cases recurring legislation
Besides these views Others were presented in ,he
ton 1t WIS contended that ths body wouId Le 40 ,c.,,
ting from frequent changes owing TO our short term of
Office there would be but little nduceent for us to study
foreign relations the know ledge of which would be of
little service private life to which most of us
must be constantly looking.
Mr.. Chairman, in troubled times. The great
powers of Europe at We ought to be circum-
spect respect to our foreign affairs Let us not take
step by endorsing the views of the gentleman from Mis-
ty fo bf.
to the steps aken in the management of them unless we
to put ourselves the greatest possible disadyan-
tage; unless mean, to figure which, to my mind
expressive to set out to play cards with our hands
laid down the board for everybody look at when all
the other pnes have their hands closely concealed Uu-
less we play game OF that SUCCESSFULLY we had
better observe secrecy towards them in the of
our foreign affairs other nations will be sure do to-
wards do undertake say that rs little nforma-
on in respect to pending contemplated negotiations
ought to be this House rs the constitutional pro-
visions make Indispensable. And do think for that
reason where we wish to make purchase had better
be asked for the appropriation after the treaty is concluded
than in advance. There is margin for good bargain
II we appropriate i'll advance There opportunity for
negotiation if the whole thing be brought into this
House. where secrecy is impossible How often has il been
that in concluding treaties, have paid less than we
were willing to give? This would have been impossible if
our ultimntum had been known
What chance have we to act on equal terms with other
nations when everybody knows what we mean to do in
advance We have the power in palpabe case of error
to withhold appropriation or other cooperation when
and there man upon this floor who would
act more sternly in of that than would
would yield all doubts as to the teay-makinp power bu
would not follow them blndly would not do what
was fagranty wrong; but would defer, to large
tent to two-thr OF the Senate and the President who have
the primary means of information through the missions
which the constitution gives him authority to institute In
Lpta pt,Ar.