The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-15

improper vague surmise that the President may have
suggested opinion expressed in newspaper In relation
To the constitutional rights Of the House of Representatives
is offered upon which statesman in the Amer
can Congress is to base his action great matter OF
American interest and Ameri>an faith Another reason
given by the gentleman this treaty had been sent
here only few days before the money TO be paid and
therefore, full deberation has not been allowed rose at
the time, and stated what thought was in the knowledge
of ALL that this treaty had been negotiated some months
ago. that it had Immediately thereafter been submitted to
the Senate of the United States and that the Senate had
Incorporated into il various amendments; that thus
amended it had gone back Mexico, by whose govern
ment those amendments had been agreed to- and that it
only lately that the treaty had been returned to the
United States What my surprise at this point when
the honorable gentleman from New York Mr. PEcKHAA
in his place, and asked whether knew that to be
the case whether stated the rumor of the day
This sir asked by gentleman who had been engaged,
just before in earnest effort to lash this country ana TINS
House into rage, because orsooh the House of Repre-
entttiyes had honored the gosspand ISLANDERS collect
ed by him from the New York Herald and certain other
newspapers with the dignity and of respect
| full notice
/ Mr. PECKHAM put the question to the gentleman
for the purpose of showing him that he as well as Others
acting as to that record upon mere it
\ was well based, perhaps it was not well based
did not retail thing from the New York Herald or
! Mr. BOCOCK You spoke about rumors, newspaper
! statements, &c.
Mr. PECKIIAM Yes | said that we were acting entire
y on runors but did up as better than
another said that the action of the House should
not be based upon such and that we had no
other knowledge Of the facts.
/ Mr., BOCOCK. Mr.. Chairman, my assertion in this mat
is based upon 1t is based the face OF the
treaty ITSELF which purports to have been ratified on the
3Oh of December last the fact that Mr.. Gadsden re-
turned here from Mexico after that date that treaty
then given forth to the world having been made by
him; that it admitted to be before the Senate; that
he then went back to Mexico; that in reasonable time
thereafter this treaty appears and evidently IN purpose
and outline the paper that published previously
i All this was known to the gentleman and in his rery
charitable Judgment should have been regarded some-
thing higher than rumor
This, however is not enough for Defence though The
dlest rumors are the basis of his attacks
Mr. Chairman why, in the of conscience, is it that
all this amenaton and complaint now for the hrst
time in the history OF government created here about
papers not being furnished with a treaty?
Mr.. PECKIIAM. 1t is not the first time, by any means.
4 Mr. BOCOCK Let the gentleman tell me, if he can,
hen in the history of government papers were ever
communicated to the House previous to It's acon on
treaty?
\ Mr. PECKHAM They were called for.
Mr. BOC0CK. ] know they called for in the time
of General Washngtons administration, and were refused
by him and the House of Representatives acquesced
know Also that when President Jefferson purchased Louis
by treaty, and asked the House OF Representatives
pass the laws necessary to carry out said treaty.
solution was offered by Mr. Griswold of Connecticut call
ing for certain papers, and voted down. Mr. RAN
dolph characterized that in language strangely suit
ed 10 the present occasion In debating that resolution
on this floor he said:
And when these laws Ito carry the treaty. about
passed. eneavors made to impede Illustrate the
by setting foot inquiries which mean nothing OF
are unconnected with the subject
= SPNSS'
10 Giyc his views Of the proper occasions to-
calling for information, said:
Information subjects Of the nature of that which the,
were then discussing might be required for two obect
enable the House to determine whether il exPedent
approve which, the face of it, carried proof
its impolicy, or to punish minister's. =
And commend these views of Mr. Randolph to the con
sideration of gentlemen on this floor.
3 Mr. WASEBURN Of Maine. understand that the gen
teman from Virginia Mr. B0cooK admits that the House
has the right to deliberate upon granting all appropria
hons necessary TO carry out treaties
Il Mr. BOCOCk do
j Mr. wASHBURN. He admits too, that the House has
II right to refuse to make such appropriations,
+, Mr. BOCOCK For special reasons it has
Mr. WASHBURN. Then, if the House has the right o
exercising its Judgment in that regard has it also t
right require the communication of papers which may
appear them requisite to throw light upon the subject
matter?
: Mr. BOCOCK admit that the House has the right to
ask the papersmost unquestionably not to require
them but the right to ask for them is which should
he exercised only for good reasons which have not beer
: given in this
Mr.. WASHBURN. Since upon that point, allow
me to say word in this connection in reference the pon
raised by the gentleman from Virginia mr. BococK du
ring the speech of the gentleman from New York [Mr
Perkins Mr.. Chairman this treaty came to this House
if recolect rightly Wednesday last the 2ls OF thu
present month, within week from this time On tha
day it read and referred TO the Committee OF th
Whole 1t printed and laid the table The bill
was introduced Saturday think Now, is there any
here who believesl put it to the candor OF the gentle
man from Virginia Mr. BocooK to say whether he be
eves-that the gentleman from Alabama, Mr.. HousToN
If when the message came House did not know, die
not believe that great many members would desire M
information that contained in the correspondence
And him whether he does not believe that the gentle
man from Alabama convinced that it should be pro
T duccd and that the House should require it, ant
whether he does not believe Also that that gentleman
the chairman of the Committee of Ways and Meanshat
s on Wednesday, Thursday, any day last week. him
self asked the unanimous consent of the House to noduc
resolution calling the President for information
would not have been given and the rcsou
; ton allowed to pass and further whether he docs no
believe that any such demand would have been objected
coming from any other source, at least coming fron
those who might be supposed to be against the treaty?
is believe Mr. Chairman, that if the gentleman from Al
j. ALBANIA Mr. HoUsroNl had asked for the information,
would have been given and cannot but believe that
knew that the information desired believe further
that if had asked for the information, or IT almost an
gentleman who has spoken to-day, with the exception
" the particular friends Of the administration had done Sc
N it would have been refused and that the gentleman roi
ne Alabama knew it.
.t Now yesterday the first day upon which resolu
ton obtain this information could have been introduced
unless by unanimous consent Yesterday, almost the r
ss after the journal had been read the gentlcn'
l. from Alabama obtained the floor and moved that III
of House resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole
i'd the state Of the Union for the purpose OF taking up IL
bill under consideration. Immediately thereupoi
and before the question had been put that notion u
c gentleman from New York Mr. PrcKnAM asked the unal
TO mous consent allow him to offer resolution call
of for this information But the gentleman from Aaban
III refused to withdraw his motion to enable the gentleman
ur obtain that consent and he failed by the same means
IL get in motion to suspend the rules to enable him to
40 so. . =.
n Now Mr. Chairman want to know with what claim
IL fairness gentleman from Alabama nybody else ca
it, that il late for the gentleman from New OF
ask for the information yesterday especially as he Ia
refused neglected TO take any measures to obtain IT hlr
onlfa hc uiUh have done