The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-19

put this power ia his hands We f 10 accomplish tas Oh
jects contemplated by The constitution. The President
Of the United states ought have the power 70 redress
sudden njuGes upon our citizens, and unages upon our
flag Withhold awaiting the action OF Cohgrcss. The
ecuye OF every other nation earth has that power
under their respective forms Of government II was our
right and our duty to keep open these transit routes
and for any outrages persons property which did
not admit Of delay must give the President power 10
demand and enforce instant redress. This should be
done not only with regard 10 the Central American
States, but also with regard 10 Cuba. We have
had constant troubles, and have unsettled quar-
rcs all the time with Spain, growing out Of
our connection with Cuba The captlin-general OF
that island las ample authority to intiict injury
upon US, but to grant redress; and we must
have authority 70 enforce the release of ship Instantly
when it is seized az Havana instead of going to Madrid
and then back TO Havana and 10 Washington, like cir
cumlocuton Office Either this power must be conferred
the PRESIDENT shall be driven out of the markets
and the ports Of those countries. When a revolution
breaks out the reyolutionists know that they rob
English merchant an English bank, ship.oiwar will
be there and batter down the walls Of their city redress
Is not granted but when the property OF Americans Is
taken il only results in negotiation aud this
10 termination until the revolution Is over, the exist
ing government is turned out and another party has
10 foot the band halt of the time the bill Is never
footed at all Mr. ID. proceeded to say that lac would
confer this power ior single case, but for all
for the present Executive and his SUCCESSORS matter
what their politics might be- He glad the subject
had up, and hoped il would result in definite
ton by granting this power, should be saved from
the necessity of often exercising it,
Mr. DAVIS could not concur with the view taken by
the senator from Illinois lt might be very desirable to
protect American citizens but there higher and
holer duty STILL which TO preserve the constitution
uuimpaTed. lie could not to what limit might
not if the Executive should he invested with the
power TO send the land and naval forces abroad, and
land troops wherever he may please Whenever ambi-
ton any other unworthy passion might prompt him,
he might involve this country in disastrous with
England or France, aud might perhaps behold the
hmilating spectacle Of the flag of the United States
trodlen under foot by powerful nation, and the Amer
lean Congress shrinking from its defence. Our fathers
gave the Executive such power and II it
now necessary 10 go further than fathers went
that fact only marks the dccadenoo of the people.
He would restrict the power TO the single that might
be known exist He would prefer to bear such ills
Ise from the improper treatment OF our citizens abroad
and delay in obtaining justice rather than surrender the
great constitutional right of Congress TO the discretion of
the President s
Mr. GREEN obtained the floor, but yielded to motion
for adjournment and -
The Senate adjourned.