Washington sentinel., 1854-07-19

upon INC iuttliiSohce anu patfiOtlsm OF MI.
Jefferson of which will not be guilty.
But, Mr.. Chairman, let us admit, for the sake
of argument, that the motion Of Mr.. Smith, Of
Maryland, was at the instance of Mr.. Jefferson,
and for the purpose of obtaining free expires
sion of the sentiments of the House, and then
see if the gentleman's statement is correct He
stated that Mr.. Jefferson did not make move
towards the acquisition of that territory until
after he had consulted the House, asking for
the two millions, and not then until the money
had been appropriated. Allow me to call your
attention to the facts as they stand upon the
public records Of the country, that we may see
whether the gentleman is not in an error, even
under his amended statement. The resolution
of MIR. Smith is what now understand him to
contend for, as the act of consultation on the
part of the President. That resolution is re-
ferred to, in speech of Mr.. Bayard, as having
been submitted by Mr. Smith on the 18th Jan
uary, 1903. hope the committee will notice
the dates. On the l4th February, l803 the
House, by Mr.. Nicholson and Mr.. Bayard, its
committee for that purpose, delivered to the
Senate the message which | now propose to
read.
"GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE: We transmit you
bill which has passed this House, entitled An
act making further provision for the expenses at
tending the intercourse between the United States
and foreign nations and in which we request
your concurrence. This bill has been passed by
us in order to enable the President Of the United
States to commence with more effect a negotiation
with the French and Spanish governments reia.
tive TO the purchase Of the island of New Orleans
and the provinces of East and West Florida. The
nature and importance Of the measure contem-
plated have induced us 10 act upon the subject
with closed doors. You will, Of consequence,
consider this communication as confidential"
On the 22d of February, 1903, the Senate,
through Mr.. Wright, one of its members, de-
livered to the House of Representatives this
message:
"GENTLEMKS OF THE House OF REPRESENTA-
TvEs: We return you the bill which passed your
House, entitled An act making further provision
for the expenses attending the intercourse between
the United States and foreign nations and the
bill entitled An act for extending the external
commerce of the United States both Of which
the Senate have passed without amendment
The act first named in this message-the
one appropriating the $4,000, ,00O-was ap-
proved by Mr.. Jefferson on the 26th of Febru-
ary, 1903; so that we have distinctly before
US the data to enable us to know, according to
the gentleman's hypothesis, when Mr.. Jefferson
consulted the House of Representatives for
the purpose of obtaining its consent that he
might endeavor, by treaty, to acquire Louisi.
ana and the Floridas.
propose to read few extracts from the
debate in the House Of Representatives on
resolution by Mr.. Griswold, calling for certain
documents and information from the President
of the United States relative to the cession of
Louisiana by Spain to France. In the discus.
sion of that resolution on the 5th of January,
1903, Mr. Rutledge said:
"The cession Of Louisiana has been stated in
all the public prints of Europe and this country
n n ri "a n he Pa
cession had been made year ago, and notwiih-
standing the eapse Of this time, we have received
no official information on this subject. Is it not
natural for the people TO ask why Congress do not
President has done his duty in stating the fact"
n Il
sWhether in the present instance a negotiation
was pending, or was not, he did not know. He
was, therefore, for postponng the resolution till
this was known 10 the House"
Mr.. Davis observed:
But let the call for information prevail lei us
draw from the President such information as he
may think II proper 10 give; and let then refer
that information TO a Committee of the Whole
and they will be able TO deliberate wisely
Mr.. Huger said:
He could not but express his surprise that the
House had received no official documents on this
important subject. He could not comprehend
why Congress should not know the contents of
the convention. If proper, we ought TO have
those documents; and il not proper, we ought TO
have a reason for it. The country was in a state
OF serious alarm, and it might have bad effect if
something was not Immediately done, and dis
position exhibited 10 act, in case il should prove
necessary"
Mr.. Griswold, speaking of the cession of
Louisiana by Spain TO France, said:
"What do we know respecting the cession
Though made for more than one year. we have no
information, except that contained in the message,
which hardly mentions the fact"
Mr.. Lowndes, speaking on the same subject,
said:
at was most extraordinary circumstances in
the annals OF the United States, that. notwith-
standing the magnitude of the cesson of Louisi-
ana, the length OF lime since il made, and the
necessary consequence Of having new and
powerful neighbor on our frontier, we had yet no
official Information on the subject. The President
in his message really tells us nothing. He saws
the cesson of the Spanish province Of Louisiana
TO France, which took place in the of the late
war; this we had been told long before by the public
prints, and in discussion before the British Par
lament, but he goes on and says: will, if carried
into effect, make a change the aspect Of our
foreign relations, which will doubtless have inst
weight in any deliberations Of the legislature con-
nected with that subject'n
On the llth January, lsO3 Mr.. Bayard
said:
An honorable member from Maryland (Mr S.
Smith has just laid upon our table resolution
calling upon The House TO place S2,000,O00 at the
discretion Of the Executive"
These gentlemen, who were members of the
House Of Representatives at that time, seemed
not TO have been consulted; on the contrary,
they were very desirous to get information as
to the condition Of the transfer Of that territory
to France. We can hardly suppose that the
House had been consulted at that time. Let
me proceed step further. In the message of
1903, which was read by me few moments
ago, speaking of the cession of the Spanish pro-
vince of Louisiana to France, and perhaps Of
the Floridas, and the late suspension or our
right Of deposit at New Orleans, and of the
measures he had taken on both occasions in
relation I'd them, he says:
"The objects OF these measures were 10 obtain
the territory on the left bank Of the Mississippi
and eastward Of that, If practicable. on conditions
TO which the proper authorities Of our country
would agree