The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-12
1919 AND 1858.

In January, 1919, discussion arose in the House
OF Representatives the resolutions offered by the
Hon. Thomas w. Cobb, member of that body from
the State of Georgia, questioning the authority of
Gen jackson to enter the Territory of Florida then
belonging to Spain, and indirectly consuming Presi
dent Monroe for not rebuking him for his conduct
in the Seminole war. 1t is useless to enter into a
history of the facts relative to the capture of the
Spanish posts in East Florida by Gen. Jackson. The
resolutions to which have referred, and which
we insert below, indicate the objection which
of the republicans OF that day urged against tho
course of tho administration, and attempted to pro
vide against recurrence of the same
Resolrod That the Committee on Military Affairs be
instructed to prepare and report bill to this House pro-
hibting, in time of peace or in time OF war with any
Indian tribe tribes only the execution of any captive
taken by the army of the United States without the APP
protation of such execution by the President
Raraf That this House disapproves of the seizure
of the ports of Marks and Pensacola and the fortress
Barancs contrary to orders and in violation of the
constitution.
Rssolsad That the committee be also instructed
to prepare and report bill prohibiting the march Of the
army United States corps thereof into any
foreign territory, without the previous authorization Of
Congress- except ii be in the of fresh pursuit Of
defeated enemy of tho United States taking refuge with
in such foreign territory,
Upon these resolutions there wide and able dis
cuson opened in which the first ntellects of the House
participated As will be observed. the first resolution
pointed of legislation growing out of the resou
ton submitted by the Military Committee which disa
proved the proceedings in the trial and execution
Alexander Arbuthnot and Robert C. Ambrister. The
second sapproved the capture of the Spanish posts
unconstitutional and contrary to orders and the third
IL
prevail.
After the House rejected the resolution of
ported by the Military Committee by vote Of l07 to g.
Mr. Cobb then moved the adoption of the second rcsou
ton offered by him in Committee OF the Whole mod
fled in the following words
'esolr That the late seizure of the Spanish posts of
Pensacola and St Carlos de Barancas in West Florida
by the army Of the United States contrary to the
constitution of the United States.
And upon this resolution tho vote stood yeas 70
nays 100 The proceedings do not indicate that any
vote was ever taken on Mr.. Cobbs third resolution
1t is worthy of remark that in 1879 as in 1858, the
whole argument of those republicans who differed
with the administration at that time and upon that
occasion based upon the fact that was assumed,
that great violence had been done TO the consutu
ton in wrestling FROM Congress the right 70 declare
war and placing it in the hands of one who held Of
flee subordinate to the Executive How striking is
the language of Mr. Cobb, in his speech as compared
with the position new assumed by some who differ
with the President his late message to the Senate
transmitting the correspondence relative to the
Walker capture. Mr.. Cobb said in 1919, The true
question before MS is between the United States and
it's own officer Has he exceeded his authority 7
Has he. by exercise of usurped powers, involved
or attempted TO involve the people of this nation in
war without their consent, declared through their
representatives, Sir, it is my painful duty to say
that General Jackson has, in the under consd-
Grafton snatched from the people this most import
ant right of making only by their own consent,
and that cannot approve of the conduct OF the tx