The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-08


thmus of Tehaantepec shall be retained in the treaty
if this should be stricken you authorized to stPu
0f s % Addition II ,ni New @ e and
iorna." ~
Thus it will be that under these Instructions Mr.
Trist is authorized to give S50000o0 for this right OF
way Alone and only asked to appropriate the
OF Sl0000000 to release from all claims that Mexico
has upon under the eleventh article OF the treaty OF
lS48 enable maintain lasting peace with neigh
boring republican government settle southern bounda
ry line in dispute under the fifth article give the right
of way for railroad upon soil secure to us the
free navigation of the Gulf of California the Rio Grande
and the Colorado cedng to the United States twenty
millions of of land and in addition to that grants
the right of way Mexican soil transit right for
our military stores and munitions Of war; well
limited commercial privileges cannot recoect precisely
how much this route would shorten the time in reach
ing Pacific possessions but if am not Mistaken IT
will at least onethrd if not onehalf OF the time
consumed by the way of the ishmus, or the Nicara
qua route. -
did not intend however occupy the time of the
mittee in discussing the merits Of this treaty 1t not
this that my attention has been particularly turned
though had made up my mind TO vote for this treaty
purely its merits. Under all the circumstances had
idea that should have occasion to say thing upon
it, for its merits its face and in the history of the
country and did not presume that my opinions would
be OF Importance to any 1t not until after hear
ing the honorable gentleman from Missouri Mr. BENTON
announce to this committee and to the country that
about to establish precedent thai would destroy
of the fundamental rights and preogaves of this body
that made up my mind to take part in the discussion.
Sir, yield to in my attachment to the constt
ton of the country to the rights of the political body
OF which have the honor to be member have per-
sona paralies for this treaty; local advantages
secured by it TO my constituents and there is nothing
der heaven named in it of such character either u
huencc my vote control my Judgment | governed
solely by the interests and honor of country
understand them If the honorable gentleman from
Missouri will only therefore, make good what he promised
will go with him with my whole soul against any act the
effect Of which would be infringement upon the prerog
ativcs Of this House have feelings to crafty in
erests to be served objects to accomplish which would
make Inc hesitate for single moment to oppose with all
power any act of forfeiture of the privileges of this
body and an honest earnest support of those privileges
with me- paramount to all other Objects and vastly para
mount to anything contained in this treaty.
Having made up my mind to vote for this treaty upon
its merits, and the gentleman from Missouri having
nounced that the treaty has been negotiated in violation
the privileges of the House, could not in justice my
self and to my constituents cast my vote without saying
something, at least in reply to such charge There
other why should do so, peculiar TO the
whence this objection comes 1t gives pleasure to
say that in bygone times, when had anticipation of
the pleasure of meeting the honorable gentleman from Mis-
souri, Mr.. BENroN in this body have read and studied
with deep interest the fundamental principles of consttu
tona law and free government expounded and eluc
dated by the gentleman from Missouri with signal ability
great research, high order of intellect and of ripened
| and matured Judgment
represent constituency who, perhaps in their deyo-
ton to General Jackson and to his leading in
the trying times of his administration has been
passed anywhere and will say to the gentleman from
a y ss an % to
tions Of that day nowhere highly appreciated
in this country than in the county Of Bers In the State
Pennsylvania which have the honor represent at this
time in this body And although it becomes necessary for
me and my constituency to differ with the honorable
gentleman upon important subjects land with all due
spec think the gentleman differs from his former self
say now that when that gentleman puts FORTH the
suit of his deliberate judgment that about do
act destructive in its character of the privileges of this
House. that coming from such respectable source it is
entitled to serious consideration The honorable gentle
man from Missouri yesterday in his place and,
question of privilege proposed read to this House four
resolutions to which he called the attention of the House
and the country. The resolutions are as follows:
"Rcsolrsd That the House will consider the question
Of appopriating 900 to carry into effect the Mexican
treaty Of December 80 1858, for the acquisition of foreign
territory until shall first have considered whether there
breach of the privileges this House negotiating
and concluding said treaty nor until after the House shall
Rsso'ysd That the said treaty depending for its exseu
by the constitution the power Congress it is the
sitional right and duty of the House of Representatives
such treaty into effect and determine
as in their Judgment may be most conducive to the public
Resored, That the admission of States into the
Union being question exclusively granted to Congress by
foreign territory with right be admitted as State
without authorization from Congress breach of the priv
and void. -
IResolred That purchase foreign territory by the
stutioh Of the legislative and executive de-
parments Of the former BY an net of Con
eonnmaton of the act and has been 80 held in the
chase of Louisiana, Florida, and California
Resored That the House of Representatives has right
to the information which would enable judge the merits
of the Mexican treaty in its Legislative consideration hereo
and that the President be respectfully requested to furnish
the House OF Representatives OF the instructions under
which the negoated and of the correspondence
subectthc said copies to be communicated oondenal if
IN the opinion OF the President the public good adj
nit OF their preseDt publication"
These resolutions read, ruled out of order by
the Speaker, because they not privileged in the
House but the honse going into the Committee of the
Whole the state of the Union are now properly dis
cussug this treaty inasmuch the resolutions offered
the gentleman from Missouri have been printed and
gentleman from Missouri himself has made speech in this
committee covering the whole ground of debate fully
it the resolutions here pending deem il my
duty TO reply to the resolutions in the it
would be proper 10 do If they had been read in this
mttee. This is an important subject and as do not
yield Mr. Chairman to man living in desire TO de
icnd according to the best dictates OF my Judgment the
rights and privileges OF this House and this emneny
practical question, wish to bring the attention of the
House directly TO the issue This House is asked make
| an appropriation Of Sl0,000OoO.
The gentleman from Missouri says, mboded in his
rs and second resolutions the cannot be appro-
priaed by the House without violation its high
est privileges unless the papers relative to the negotiation
are first produced and laid before the House Now sir
agree with the gentleman from Missouri that the House
has the rg to call for the papers relating this treaty
No member IN my Judgment, who has read the debate
the House in reference 70 the celebrated Jay treaty can
doubt that fact or at least controvet il successfully
General Washington called upon by 4 resolution of
that House, to do wha2 10 place in the possession of
that body all the correspondence documents instructions
and papers which had been used in the negotiation of the
treaty itself General Washington refused comply with
! the request ..a
But the debate that then arose did not turn so much
upon the question whether the House had the right call
1 r. -