Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-21
Protection to the Transit Routes.

| received from the freSlueHt Vi tlc OHil'i
States by Mr.. Henry, his private secretary:
which was read 1t will be found in anoth-
or column.
Mr.. Mason remarked that the rccommcn-
dations made in this message were to he found
in the annual message of the President,
which was laid before Congress at the COM
mencement of this session. That portion OF
the message was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations, and that committee
reported a bill to carry into effect the recon-
mcndations of the Executive. He presumed
it was because that bill had not yet been ac-
ted upon that the President had thought it
wise and proper to send in this special mes
arc urging upon Congress the passage OF
such law. There might be found among
Senators some difference of opinion as to the
expediency of adopting the legislation which
the President recommended; but entertain
ing entire respect for the opinions of the Ex-
ecutivc Department, and the recommends
tons which the Executive was bound to give
to Congress, he should be disposed to consld-
err that it was incumbent upon the Senate
to give to that subject immediate consldera-
ton. lie would propose, therefore, that the
message be referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations, with the view of obtain
ing the opinion of the appropriate committee
- to the e4pediency of acting upon the bill
reported to the Senate by them.
Mr. Clingman said there were several
things in that message that he approved
very much: but he apprehended that there
would be great difficulty in carrying 1t out,
and he thought the difficulty would be in
creased BY some occurrences that had trans
pired within the last two years. In 1886,
| after the Panama occurrences, he had nitro
duced bill authorizing the President To use
force for the very purpose named here, but
it was voted down by IL decided majority III
the other house. Since then the only move
ments that had been made seemed calcula-
ted. in his Judgment, to retard rather than
advance the objects which we have in view.
The President says he has no right to fire q
gun for the protection of our citizens in Mic
aragua: but vet it must be remembered that
Commodore Paulding went to that territory,
not to protect our own citizens, but foreign
ers, and he has met with no censure what
ever from the President; for the Executive
message, while it says he committed grave
error" is devoted to praising his motives and
excusing or palliating the act.
The only way to keep the transit routes in
| good condition is to have a body of troops
there: and that we had agreed not to do
What was the next step? 1t seemed that
there was an effort going on, according to
the papers, on the part of our Executive to
| have Joint occupation by this country,
Great Britain, France, and such other pow
ers as may come into the arrangement. The
question then was, should we protect those
| lines in our own right, or were we going
into Joint occupation with Great Britain
and other European powers? That present
ed very important subject for our consider
alton. We must do one of two things; either
cut loose from the obligations of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty and acquire the right to keep
open the right of way between our Atlantic
and Pacific dOminions, or We must have n
Joint occupation.
Mr.. Mason inquired where the Senator
from North Carolina got the idea, either
Of Joint occupation between the United States
and other powers, or of separate Occupat ton
by the United States. Mr. NJ said he had
never heard of it.
Mr.. Clingman said he had seen things pub
lished in the newspapers Of that kind
There was published last spring, and there
has been published again lately, the WWet
of treaty called the ss-Yrrissari treaty.
Did not the Senator from Virginia know OF
such arrangements being made?
Mr.. Mason replied that he was utterly ig-
norant of any engagement, either made or
prospective, with any European government,
to occupy any portion of Central America for
any purpose. Occupation was one thing,
and transient entering was another thing.
Mr.. Clingman thought it amounted to about
the same, during the time when troops were
actually there.
Mr.. Benjamin did not desire to have the
subject referred to the Committee on Foreign
relations again, as the committee had already
had the subject under consideration, and had
reported upon it. There was a bill now on
the calendar authorizing the President of the
United States to use the public forces of the
United States in the cases therein specified,
and he preferred to takeup that bill at once
and act upon it, He was unwilling that
any responsibility should rest upon him if,
during the recess of Congress it should turn
ont that Notwithstanding these repeated
calls of the President (Which seem to sug-
gest that he has information that makes him
fear IN attack upon the persons or property
of American citizens employed i'll peaceful
passage over that transit,) these threatened
evils should oyertake us. He moved that
all prior orders be postponed, and that bill be
taken up.
Mr.. Seward objected to giving the Presi-
dent power to make war without first obtain
ing the assent Of Congress; and the passage Of
this bill would transfer to him the power Of
making war and preserving peace.
Mr.. Fessenden said that last year we gave
the President power to send the naval forces
against Paraguay. Having succeeded i'll
getting that power, the President now asks
to have power granted him to make war or
commence hostilities against other nations.
The principle is the same with these small
powers as if they were large ones; and he did
not choose to divest Congress of the power
placed in its hands by the constitution. lie
had not enough confidence in the present Ex
ecutive to do so, except in a case of the most
urgent necessity. But we are asked not only
to do this, but to doit blindly. The President
should send the facts and reasons, if not in
open session, at least in executive session:
and if the necessity was shown, Mr.. F. might
be willing to accede to the Presidents wishes.
Mr.. Douglas was reioiced that the Prcsi
dent had called the attention of Congress to
this matter. He believed the President
ought to have the power that he asks. We
have such interests that we ought to have
Al -